“Did she love you?”
“She claims she did. I don’t think so though. I think she only wanted to start things up again because her biological clock is ticking and she doesn’t have any other prospects at the moment.”
“Oh.” Dusty looked at her lap. That spark of hope she’d been feeling flickered and died.
“Jesus, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring that up.”
“It’s okay. At least that’s one thing I don’t have to worry about.”
“What?”
“My biological clock, of course. What a load off my mind.” She put her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands.
“Come on, darlin’.” Zach quickly signed the credit card receipt and stood up. He helped Dusty to her feet and brought her hand to his lips. The bristly brush of his beard against her skin comforted her. “You’re the only woman I want, biological clock or no. Let’s go home and make love all night.”
When they got home, Dusty wanted to check on Jemma and the kittens, so she and Zach headed for the barn. One of the kittens was having trouble nursing. His mouth was slightly deformed and he couldn’t latch on. It had been many hours since the kittens had been born, so he was near starving.
“Is there a vet you can call?” Zach asked.
“She’s out of town,” Dusty said. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’ll have to take care of him tonight.”
“We’ll take care of him,” Zach said. “But I have to tell you, I’m clueless. Chad would know what to do, but I always stayed away at birthing time.”
“I don’t have any cat formula, so he’ll have to make do with cow’s milk. We’ll dilute it and warm it up and then drop it on his tongue with a syringe. He’ll have to sleep in the bedroom with us.”
“The more the merrier.” Zach curved his lips into his adorable grin.
Dusty smiled back, cradling the kitten in her arms. “Come on. We’ll make a bed for him and feed him, and once he’s settled, I’m all yours.”
But Nigel, as Dusty had named the kitten, turned out to be high maintenance. It took Dusty over two hours to get him fed and settled, and she was exhausted when she finally joined Zach in bed. He kissed her, told her he loved her, and cradled her in his arms, where she stayed until the kitten wailed for her again.
* * *
Watching Dusty care for the helpless kitten throughout the night, Zach fell in love with her all the more. He vowed to make her a mother. Somehow. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d prayed, but he did so now, silently pleading for Dusty’s life. If things didn’t go right, how would he live without her?
When Dusty crawled back into bed shortly before dawn after nursing the kitten once more, she climbed on top of Zach.
“Are you awake?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry I’ve kept you up all night.”
“Darlin’, I’m so happy to be here with you. I couldn’t give a damn about sleep.”
“In that case…” Dusty lifted off her T-shirt.
Zach sucked in his breath at the sight of her breasts falling gently. This woman would take his breath away for the rest of his life. He hardened instantly.
“I was determined to leave you alone,” he said.
“I thought you wanted to make love all night.”
“I did, but you’ve been up all night tending to the cat. I didn’t want to bother you.”
“You’re hardly a bother.” She lowered her head and twirled her tongue around his nipple. She feathered tiny kisses over his chest, up his neck, and nuzzled his Adam’s apple. “Zach?”
“Hmm?”