She blinked.
Okay. He could do this long enough for Sarah to run to the bathroom. No big deal. But when he just stood there, hoping he didn’t drop or break her, her heightening-in-color face crinkled.
“Uh, don’t do that,” he begged. “Your mom will be back soon.”He hoped. “We don’t want her wondering why you’re all red-faced and unhappy.”
At his voice, the quivering stilled. But apparently, she wanted him to keep talking because when he didn’t, her lower lip went out into the world’s most heart-wrenching pout. Nervousness grew in Zach’s belly. What did a burly soldier say to a five-month-old?
“You have a good mom and dad.”
Jeannie’s lower lip retreated a bit and her blue eyes stared up at him expectantly. Okay, he needed to keep talking. Anything.Just talk.
“Your dad was one of the baddest soldiers I was ever privileged to serve with, and I mean that in the best, most complimentary way. We’d been on a search and rescue when our company was surrounded. There wasn’t a way out. We all knew it was likely our end and it’s nothing short of a miracle that we survived. There’s no one else in the world I’d rather have had by my side that day than your dad, Lukas, Matt, and Riley.”
Jeannie made a noise that might have been a happy coo.Keep talking,Zach.Just keep talking.
“Lukas got out and started iSecure. He’s made a fortune catering to the rich and famous, and who knows how many governments’ security needs? Me? I’d do anything if I could get medical clearance to reenlist. Or, currently, get back to work for iSecure. One little blackout spell and Lukas decides I can’t take on any new assignments until January because I need a vacation. I thought the spells were gone. I hadn’t had one since prior to going to work for Lukas, but maybe not?” He sighed. “Can’t say I blame him, since Doc says I have to go thirty days without another spell before I can drive.”
That one hurt. Big time. For months, he’d been incapacitated and not able to do for himself. Numerous surgeries and painful hours of therapy had helped him get some semblance of his life back. Not the military life he craved, but he enjoyed his work at iSecure. Jeannie gurgled something and Zach drudged on, saying whatever popped into his head. The kid liked being talked to. He was a highly trained soldier. He could do anything for a few minutes to get a job done.
“Your mom is a good cook. Those cookies I pilfered out of the kitchen are worth you growing in your teeth.” Growing in her teeth? Was that what babies did? Why didn’t he know these things? It wasn’t as if he thought Santa delivered a full set of incisors and molars on one’s first Christmas. “She makes a mean beef stew, too, but since that’s for the guests tomorrow, we won’t mention how the container may be two bowls short of where it started.”
Harry gave a yelp, as if agreeing on the tastiness of the soup he’d shared a little of. Or maybe the dog was warning him they both should stay out of the stew? Keeping a tight hold around Jeannie, Zach glanced at where the dog eyed him. Shared soup or not, Harry was ready to leap to action should Zach do a single thing wrong with the baby. If he headed toward the door with Jeannie in tow, he suspected he’d be fighting for his life.
“Good dog,” he praised and meant it, grateful Jeannie would grow up with Harry to keep a watchful eye. Zach would have given the dog a pat, but both hands were full of baby. He wasn’t loosening his grip in case Jeannie decided to give an unexpected jolt. Plus, he probably should wait until Jeannie was safely back in her mother’s arms prior to petting the on-alert dog. “In addition to having a good mom and dad, you’ve got a great dog. Harry is one smart guy.”
The dog gave a single bark that sounded a lot like,Yep.
Knowing he needed to keep talking as every time he got quiet for more than a few seconds Jeannie’s lip went out, Zach rambled on, mentioning the weather when he could think of nothing else to say. Of course, that led to him saying how windy the day had been, and that led to Blondie, aka Isabelle Davis.
“I don’t think she liked me very much,” he told the baby, deciding she was a decent listener when she stuck two fingers in her mouth and happily began sucking them, all the while keeping her eyes trained on Zach. “Maybe you could use some of your baby magic and put in a good word for me at your Christmas tree decorating party.”
“Who?”
Had Sarah purposely snuck up on him to check out how his babysitting gig was going? Even if she had, how had he missed her presence? That he had made his right temple pound. He’d always prided himself on being completely aware of his surroundings. Maybe he was having more of a head trauma relapse than he wanted to admit.
“I was talking with Jeannie about the wind.” He thrust the baby toward her.
“You were asking Jeannie to put in a good word for you with the wind?” Sarah wasn’t buying his cover.
No wonder. But she did take Jeannie. Giving her back had him feeling off-kilter, which was odd since holding her had felt so strange.
“Doesn’t the wind whisper into every woman’s ear?” he said flippantly, while debating whether he wanted to discuss Isabelle.
Would Sarah point out that he’d only be there for a week and should stay away from her friend if he admitted that he found Isabelle fascinating?
Sarah shifted the baby in her arms to where now both she and Jeannie stared at him. “But you’re hoping the wind whispers into one particular woman’s ear?”
Why not tell her? It wasn’t as if he’d hid his interest when he’d seen Isabelle at Lou’s, nor did he expect Bodie not to mention the run-in to his wife. He doubted his brother-in-arms kept anything from Sarah. There might be a few things he hadn’t told her for her own protection, but he’d guess Sarah knew more about his friend than anyone. The evidence was in how they looked at each other.
“I met someone today.” At Sarah’s interested and lack of horrified look, he continued, “The wind blew us together. Or, more accurately, blew her wedding checklist to me from across the courthouse.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “You met Isabelle?”
“You guessed who I meant based upon a wedding checklist?” His stomach knotted with a similar intensity as it had when Sarah had handed him the baby.
Sarah laughed. “It doesn’t take your background to figure that one out. You mentioned the courthouse. Isabelle works across the street and is the ultimate list maker.”
Impressed, he nodded. “I bumped into her again at Lou’s when Bodie and I ate lunch. By the way, Bodie said to tell you that Lou sent goodies for you and that he left them in the fridge.”
