Emergency: Mother Wanted

Keely watched with concern as he strode out of the room. He was upset. He was definitely upset.

So what should she do about it?

Should she ignore it? Let him bottle it up?

Or should she follow her instincts and see if he needed a friend...?

CHAPTER SIX

Keely hesitated outside Zach's office and then tapped gently on the door.

He should have finished writing the notes by now but there was no sign of him emerging from his office. And she was worried about him.

She tapped again and gingerly opened the door, stopping dead when she saw him standing with his back to her, his powerful shoulders tense as he stared out of the window at the snow-capped mountains.

'Zach?'

He didn't turn. 'The notes are on the desk.'

Keely closed the door behind her, refusing to be daunted by his discouraging tone.

'I don't want the notes.' On impulse she turned the key in his door and then stood for a moment, wondering how best to break down the barriers he'd built around himself.

He turned to face her, his eyes tired. 'This isn't a good time.'

'I know that.' She hesitated, knotting her fingers together anxiously. 'But I was worried about you'

'I'm fine, Keely.' He looked at her for a moment and then turned back to the window. 'And I need to be on my own.'

She ought to be taking the hint and leaving him to his own thoughts, however painful, but she sensed how much he was hurting and couldn't leave him alone.

'Please.' Her voice was soft. 'I want to help, Zach.'

'How?' He gave a harsh laugh. 'No one can help. Not even you.'

Keely felt her heart twist. There must be something she could do—surely just knowing that someone cared must help a little bit?

She closed the gap between them until she was standing so close they were almost touching.

His dark jaw was tense. 'I really don't want to talk about this.'

'Well, you should,' she said bravely, ignoring his curt tone. 'You told me that if things upset me here, I should talk to you. I think it's time you followed some of your own advice, Zach. Tell me why you're upset. Talk to me. Was it the baby being born?'

He swore fluently under his breath and his blue gaze was menacing. 'Keely, I don't need to talk. I don't want to talk.'

His words throbbed with pain and on impulse she stood on tiptoe and hugged him, the same way she would have hugged Phoebe if she'd been upset.

Standing rigid in her embrace, Zach lifted his hands and gripped her arms tightly, clearly intending to remove them.

'For God's sake, Keely.'

His words were like a shower of cold water.

What on earth was she doing?

'I'm sorry.' She stepped back, mortified, realising that he'd misinterpreted her actions. Bother. It had been a simple hug. Nothing more. But he'd thought... He'd obviously assumed...

She closed her eyes, thoroughly confused and embarrassed. Now what?