Expecting His Secret Heir by Dani Wade

a hand’s breadth between their chests. Their lips were even closer.
    Zach’s heart moved into double time. Remain impassive. But he couldn’t when his entire body was straining to press in close and make contact in the most primitive way he knew how. Touch.
    Their breath mingled. He allowed one point of contact. Only one, when he wanted so many more. He reached out with his other hand and curled it around her waist, soaking in the warmth of her body beneath the T-shirt she wore.
    â€œOh, I’m gonna stick pretty damn close, sweetheart,” he said, relishing her eyes going wide with something akin to nerves. “I’ll be keeping an eye on every move you make. Every word you speak. Every picture you take.” No matter how creepy that might be.
    He could be dedicated to his job, couldn’t he? “No more snooping behind my back.”
    â€œRoger that,” she whispered.
    It was the barest brush of her lip against his that broke the hold she had over his body. That accidental contact shook him to his core—which was the last thing he wanted her to know. So he stepped back. Removed his hand. Controlled his breathing.
    And met her gaze. He could have sworn she’d just gotten exactly what she wanted.
    Which filled his mind with images of other times she’d gotten what she wanted, only they were much more intimate things, things he didn’t want to remember when he was standing this close to her.
    Then she threw him off guard again. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
    Zach blinked, not switching gears fast enough. “What?”
    â€œI’m sorry that you’re angry with me.”
    He met her eyes, studying their green depths, not sure if he wanted to go back to the time when he’d known her before. But his body spoke before his mind could catch up. “But you’re not sorry you left?”
    Her expression flattened, her pale skin going almost white. The spare sprinkle of freckles on her cheeks stood out in contrast. “I didn’t have a choice,” she finally said.
    â€œZach?” someone called before he could push for more. He forced himself to pull back, to let his arm fall to his side, to clench his teeth together so he wouldn’t ask why. Then he deliberately turned his head to the side, blocking her out.
    Because he didn’t need to know why. Knowing that she had walked away was more than enough.

Six
    â€œZ ach, are you ready?”
    Sadie tore her gaze from Zach to look at Jacob Blackstone, who stood about five feet from them. To her embarrassment, she had to blink a moment before her gaze would focus on him. Instead she wanted nothing more than to turn back to Zach and press her lips to his. No matter who was looking.
    So close.
    But Zach wouldn’t be there waiting. He strode toward his future brother-in-law, not looking back. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
    â€œReady for what?” she asked.
    â€œThey’ve cleared us to take a preliminary tour inside before the workers go into the parts of the building that were damaged to start cleanup.”
    She glanced at Zach’s retreating back. For someone who said he wasn’t letting her out of his sight, he sure was moving away at a fast clip.
    â€œAre you coming?” Jacob asked. Sadie found herself on the receiving end of his inquisitive look.
    â€œYes, if I may,” she said. Apparently, Zach wasn’t so far away he hadn’t heard that, because his shoulders had straightened, hard.
    Jacob led her back to the trailer and got some boots and coveralls in her size. Once she was dressed and had collected her camera, she approached the men again where they stood with two soot-covered figures with clipboards. She steeled herself as Zach turned toward her, but he held out a bright yellow hard hat. “This, too,” he said simply.
    Jacob introduced her to the fire inspectors, then they headed for the building entrance. To her surprise, a large