She held up a hand to stop Zach from saying something that would launch her into another teary moment—and right back against that perfect chest.
"I know, Zach. I know. I'm really lucky."
He braced his forearm on the doorframe and leaned his head against it, sealing off the opening with his shoulders. Somehow he sealed off the rest of the world too until all she could see was Zach, his chest and those chocolate eyes that melted over her with warmth, comfort and damn it yes, excitement.
"Lady, from where I'm looking, you've had a helluva year," he drawled. "You've lost your husband. Had a baby alone. And now you have some very real concerns for your kid.>"Yeah, just like that. Keep 'em coming if that'll help you stay awake." Zach cruised to a stop in the doorway.
Julia darted around the room like a firefly, stuffing sweat pants, a brush, shampoo into her bag.
She'd slept in his bed.
His sheets would carry her scent when he slept there later.
Zach secured his grip on the car seat. "Need any help?'
"There's not much, but yes, please carry the Portacrib." She reached across the bed and picked up an oversized T-shirt, revealing—
Panties. An orange thong.
Ah, man, he was so not going to get any sleep tonight.
He tried not to look at Julia, but then he would have to look at that underwear. Better to look at her.
Her cheeks pinkened.
Julia wasn't a particularly bashful woman. A holdover, she'd once claimed, from her days growing up in a commune. No privacy had quickly translated into little modesty.
An image blared in his mind, full blown and fully unwelcome, a memory of going to the base pool to check on his girls and make sure they weren't imposing on Julia while he worked through a Saturday afternoon.
Instead of a worn-out pregnant woman he'd found Julia in a bikini, glowing and magnificent even at seven months pregnant. Hot as hell.
Objectively speaking, of course.
More than a few male heads had turned to admire the sensual earth mother, Amazon goddess strolling to the snack bar.
For the first time, Zach questioned how objective he could have been if he remembered the day so clearly. Apparently, the memory had stored itself away just waiting for a weak moment to flatten his sorry butt.
Zach stuffed the thoughts away as quickly as Julia jammed those panties he'd never get to see up close and personal into her bag.
She tugged on socks and shoved her feet into sandals in record time before crossing to him. "Thanks, Zach."
She dropped the bag at his feet beside the folded Porta-crib. Julia grabbed the car seat from him and dashed down the hall without ever once glancing at him.
He followed, watching the glide of her long legs. Thinking back to that poolside moment.
Unwise. Wrong. Impossible to ignore.
Tucking his radio under his arm on his way out, Zach called over his shoulder, "Ivy, hang tough kiddo, and I'll be back in a few minutes for those chapters. Shel, keep an ear out for Ivy."
The screen door banged shut behind him, leaving Zach in the carport. Alone. With only Julia and a yard full of crickets.
She popped the trunk, and he welcomed the excuse to focus on something else. He tossed the crib and bag inside and slammed it shut. Circling around the car, he perched the radio on the seat of his Harley. "You look good, Julia."
Ah hell, again. Where had that come from?
His mouth had apparently staged a rebellion against his better judgment.
Julia buckled Patrick's car seat in the back without turning. "Thank you."