Wicked as Lies (Wicked & Devoted 3)

Zy looked Tessa’s way. She nibbled on her plump pink lip, and he swallowed back lust that didn’t belong in this conversation.

“Are you okay with that?” Tessa looked worried that he’d object. “I only have a sofa for you to sleep on and a newborn who still has her days and nights confused…”

Zy didn’t think twice. “Sure. I’m not picky about where I sleep, and noise doesn’t bother me. I’ve got my stuff on my bike. If we’re a go, I can bring it in.”

While he figured out how to resist coming on to the intriguing blonde who probably didn’t have sex on her mind.

Tessa let out a sigh of relief and smiled. “Great.”

The colonel stood. “Why don’t you grab your gear so you and I can board up this window? Then I’ll leave you two alone.”

Ten minutes later, the window was boarded up and the colonel had gone with a wave and a promise to check in. The moment Tessa locked the door after him and turned back to Zy, the room felt too small, the air somehow hard to breathe. Not just because he loomed tall, though he did. Not just because his probing blue eyes asked a thousand questions without a word. Not even because his massive shoulders filling out an athletic shirt above his obviously strong body made her realize how unnervingly male he was. It was everything about him. The tribal tattoos that peeked out under his sleeves. His large, capable hands. The hawk-eyed way he watched her. Even the stitches on the side of his head and the dark bruising that flared from his temple down to his square jaw.

The last thing she needed or wanted was to be attracted to any man, especially a hot one seeing her at her unbathed, sleep-deprived worst. And he would be here for nearly a week.

“So…” She gave him her blandest smile. “Thanks for coming to help me.”

“No problem.” He sent her a concerned stare. “You okay?”

His gaze, like his question, felt too perceptive.

The longer Tessa stared back in silence, the more tongue-tied she felt. He stood too close. Her nerves buzzed. Even her skin tingled. “Cash rattled me a little, but I’ll be all right.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah,” she assured him as much as she assured herself. She had to stop being ridiculous and think responsibly. Think like a mom. “Um, make yourself at home. Have you eaten dinner? I was just cooking and I’m sure I have enough for two.”

Sharing with him was only right since he’d come to help her. Besides, she couldn’t starve him, especially after he’d been so recently injured.

All true…but eating with him meant she’d have to stay close to him.

“My stomach would appreciate it,” he accepted. “I couldn’t bring myself to eat Chinese takeout leftovers.”

“How does meatloaf and mashed potatoes sound?”

“Like heaven.”

“Good. Since it’s a little chilly tonight, warm comfort food sounded good.”

“Warm comfort food always is. And unless you count hospital food—which I don’t—I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in forever.”

“It won’t be much longer. Feel free to get yourself settled while I finish up.”

“I can do that later. Need any help?”

He wasn’t too macho for domesticity?

“Mind setting the table?” She gestured to the little nook beside the kitchen. It needed to be done, and it would put space between them.

“I’ll take care of it.”

Tessa turned back to her potatoes and started the burner. She couldn’t deny that she was pleasantly surprised. Then again, Zy wasn’t Cash, and she shouldn’t have assumed that if her ex would shirk a simple task, the big, bad warrior would as well. After all, she and Zy worked for the same man, who would probably threaten to peel his hide from his body if he was anything less than polite.

From the holder on the counter, she plucked up a pair of napkins, then grabbed a couple of forks from the drawer before setting them on the kitchen island between them. “Salt and pepper shakers are in the sideboard next to the table, along with the placemats.”

He scooped everything up. “On it.”

“I don’t have a beer or anything hard to offer you. Sorry.” She wasn’t drinking while she was breastfeeding, and after what happened tonight, she didn’t really want to encourage any man imbibing.

“I’d rather have water.”

Zy worked with relative speed and stealth. Tessa couldn’t deny that having him nearby made her feel a lot safer. And strangely content. She’d grown accustomed to the only sounds in the house belonging to her, Hallie, or the TV. Hearing another adult made her feel less lonely.

But the fact she couldn’t tune out his all-male, all-warrior vibe rattled her. Then again, what woman could ignore any six-foot-four man full of buzz cut and muscle?

Less than two minutes later, the table was set. His competence shouldn’t surprise her. Cash had been a talker. Zy was seemingly a doer. And the colonel only hired the best.