had to have at least three
bedrooms.
Toni’s gaze inched up to a room at the top. Through the
spotless panes, she saw the edge of lacy white curtains. Brows lifted, she took
in the rest of the place, noticing a “for sale” sign hanging from the porch
rails to the left. Placed there just in case someone missed the billboard?
“You’re selling your house, huh?” She swung her head from it
to him. “This is your house, right?”
Turning off the engine, Zach nodded. “I’ve been trying to
get rid of it for nearly a year. In this crappy economy there haven’t been any
takers.” He popped his door and came around to her side.
She stopped hauling her saddlebag from the cab’s floor and
stared at his hand, offered to help her out. His warm, dry palm and gentle
strength made Toni feel fragile and clumsy at the same time.
The moment her feet hit the ground, any other man would have
released her hand. Zach did not. Eyes meeting, they stared at each other. With
a mind of their own, her fingers curled over his.
She saw the effect on his face, the spark of desire in his
eyes. She eased closer.
Out of nowhere, a group of birds flew to her right,
squawking, their wings rustling, their noise interrupting the moment.
Zach’s head tilted to their hands, her proximity. Releasing
her fingers, he leaned into the cab to collect her jacket and helmet.
Saddened at the loss of his touch, Toni dragged her gaze
over his tight ass and powerful thighs, her own tensing with need.
He straightened.
Wearing a mask of nonchalance, completely at odds with her
accelerating heart, she asked, “Did you buy this place as an investment?”
He draped her jacket over his arm, propped her helmet
beneath it, then inclined his head to the house. “This way.”
Toni followed him into a small foyer that smelled of lemon
furniture polish and the lingering scent of bacon, no doubt from his breakfast.
She regarded the gleaming hardwood floors and the white wainscoting beneath the
pale yellow walls. A pair of antique-looking chairs with needlepoint backs and
seats flanked a mahogany accent table. On it stood a brass lamp with a
gold-fringed shade. Gracing the walls were landscapes painted in delicate
pastels.
Was he divorced? Had his ex-wife decorated this place, then
allowed him to keep it as part of the settlement?
Toni turned away from the paintings, noticing Zach had
already left the foyer and was now yards away, waiting for her at the bottom of
the stairs.
As she passed a doorway to the left, she snuck a look at
what appeared to be a formal living room, complete with a stone fireplace and
Victorian-style furniture upholstered in rose brocade to match the color of the
walls.
She reached him. “This is a really nice place.”
He gave her an amused smile. “Want to buy it?”
“Give me a raise and I’ll consider your offer.”
Brow cocked, he climbed the stairs without comment, leading
her down the narrow hall to the first door on the left.
She stopped in the center of the room, her head swinging
right, left, her gaze unable to take in everything quickly enough. A brass
queen-sized bed dominated the snug space, its crocheted comforter and pillow
shams an ecru shade dotted with pink rosettes. Gauzy ivory curtains decorated
the tall window. A dressing table with a circular mirror graced the wall to the
right. To the left stood a display case with numerous dolls wearing vintage
clothes identical to the little girl in that ancient movie Pollyanna .
A flood of memories bore down on Toni, along with longing so
fierce it stole her breath. She remembered being a little girl, having a
bedroom as feminine and welcoming…as safe as this. She recalled the comfort of
her father’s arms surrounding her, telling her she was precious, wanted,
welcomed, loved. He’d always be there to protect her.
She could still taste her hopelessness when he’d died.
Zach came up beside her, the wood floor groaning beneath his
weight. Quickly, Toni turned her
bedrooms.
Toni’s gaze inched up to a room at the top. Through the
spotless panes, she saw the edge of lacy white curtains. Brows lifted, she took
in the rest of the place, noticing a “for sale” sign hanging from the porch
rails to the left. Placed there just in case someone missed the billboard?
“You’re selling your house, huh?” She swung her head from it
to him. “This is your house, right?”
Turning off the engine, Zach nodded. “I’ve been trying to
get rid of it for nearly a year. In this crappy economy there haven’t been any
takers.” He popped his door and came around to her side.
She stopped hauling her saddlebag from the cab’s floor and
stared at his hand, offered to help her out. His warm, dry palm and gentle
strength made Toni feel fragile and clumsy at the same time.
The moment her feet hit the ground, any other man would have
released her hand. Zach did not. Eyes meeting, they stared at each other. With
a mind of their own, her fingers curled over his.
She saw the effect on his face, the spark of desire in his
eyes. She eased closer.
Out of nowhere, a group of birds flew to her right,
squawking, their wings rustling, their noise interrupting the moment.
Zach’s head tilted to their hands, her proximity. Releasing
her fingers, he leaned into the cab to collect her jacket and helmet.
Saddened at the loss of his touch, Toni dragged her gaze
over his tight ass and powerful thighs, her own tensing with need.
He straightened.
Wearing a mask of nonchalance, completely at odds with her
accelerating heart, she asked, “Did you buy this place as an investment?”
He draped her jacket over his arm, propped her helmet
beneath it, then inclined his head to the house. “This way.”
Toni followed him into a small foyer that smelled of lemon
furniture polish and the lingering scent of bacon, no doubt from his breakfast.
She regarded the gleaming hardwood floors and the white wainscoting beneath the
pale yellow walls. A pair of antique-looking chairs with needlepoint backs and
seats flanked a mahogany accent table. On it stood a brass lamp with a
gold-fringed shade. Gracing the walls were landscapes painted in delicate
pastels.
Was he divorced? Had his ex-wife decorated this place, then
allowed him to keep it as part of the settlement?
Toni turned away from the paintings, noticing Zach had
already left the foyer and was now yards away, waiting for her at the bottom of
the stairs.
As she passed a doorway to the left, she snuck a look at
what appeared to be a formal living room, complete with a stone fireplace and
Victorian-style furniture upholstered in rose brocade to match the color of the
walls.
She reached him. “This is a really nice place.”
He gave her an amused smile. “Want to buy it?”
“Give me a raise and I’ll consider your offer.”
Brow cocked, he climbed the stairs without comment, leading
her down the narrow hall to the first door on the left.
She stopped in the center of the room, her head swinging
right, left, her gaze unable to take in everything quickly enough. A brass
queen-sized bed dominated the snug space, its crocheted comforter and pillow
shams an ecru shade dotted with pink rosettes. Gauzy ivory curtains decorated
the tall window. A dressing table with a circular mirror graced the wall to the
right. To the left stood a display case with numerous dolls wearing vintage
clothes identical to the little girl in that ancient movie Pollyanna .
A flood of memories bore down on Toni, along with longing so
fierce it stole her breath. She remembered being a little girl, having a
bedroom as feminine and welcoming…as safe as this. She recalled the comfort of
her father’s arms surrounding her, telling her she was precious, wanted,
welcomed, loved. He’d always be there to protect her.
She could still taste her hopelessness when he’d died.
Zach came up beside her, the wood floor groaning beneath his
weight. Quickly, Toni turned her
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