Page 30 of Road to Rosalee

‘You have no issues at all, with life, or friends, or family?’ He didn’t reply, turning his suddenly intense focus to making himself a coffee, as his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. She’d clearly hit a nerve. She’d gone too far, all because she felt some strange defensive mechanism kick in – most likely because that was what she was used to with Antonio, or possibly it was the fact that she was keeping that part of her life hidden. She relaxed her stance and touched her hand to Zai’s arm. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be so direct. Are you okay?’

‘Yup, all good.’ His gaze met hers for a fleeting moment before he flicked his baby blues away. ‘Would you like a coffee while I’m at it?’

She knew he was diverting the conversation, and that was okay – they all had their right to privacy. ‘Yes, please. White with two sugars.’

‘Nice, like me.’ He smiled a little now.

Melody lifted the lid of the pot and gave it a stir. ‘You have it the same?’

‘Nope, I’m white and sweet.’ He chuckled, easing the atmosphere instantly. ‘I take mine black with no sugar.’

‘Straight and strong, kinda like you too,’ she offered, playfully.

Grinning, he passed her a steaming cup. ‘Spot on.’

‘Thanks.’ Going to take her first sip, she accidentally spilt it, scalding herself. ‘Shit.’ She quickly placed it down on the bench and spun to find Zai much closer than she’d expected.

He already had the cold tap running. ‘Here.’ He took her hand and held it beneath the steady stream of cooling water.

Melody didn’t know whether she was unsteady from the pain, or from his touch. ‘Far out, it bloody hurts.’ She wriggled on the spot, blinking back an onslaught of pain-induced waterworks.

‘You keep it under the water and I’ll go grab something more to help.’ Returning from the fridge, he gently manoeuvred her and rubbed some soothing aloe vera on the red welts. Then, to her surprise, but also to her delight, he very deliberately raised her hand to his lips and blew. The coolness worked a treat, or was it just him rendering her senseless? Caught up in the moment, she went very still. Her wrist tingled where his fingers were gently wrapped around it. Flustered, she blinked faster, determined not to let him know what effect he was having on her with something so simple.

‘Does that feel better?’ His voice was low and husky.

All she could do was stare at his mouth. A few breath-held moments passed until she snapped back. ‘Yes, thanks, Zai. I’m all good now.’ He released her wrist.

The edges of the mouth she was imagining kissing quirked. ‘Righto. Tell me what I can do to help you get dinner on the table,’ he said.

‘You don’t have to help.’

‘I know, but what if I want to, Miss Melody?’

Melody’s heart melted, and she fought to not visibly swoon over him. ‘In that case, you can set the table, if you like, and I’ll get everything into serving bowls.’ Man oh one hell of a man, he was a charmer – she leant back against the kitchen bench to give her weak legs some support.

He got to it. ‘Make sure you let me know if you need a hand, seeing yours is hurting.’

‘Thanks Zai.’ She really appreciated this man for all that he was showing her he was.

Minutes later, a small wiry bloke wandered in beside a tall lanky bloke, both of them laughing as if they’d just heard the funniest thing in their lives – she couldn’t help but giggle at their snorting chuckles. Slim, the man she’d heard so much about from her father, soon followed – she liked his warm, genuine energy instantly. Then in laboured the man who could only be Hasselhoof, complaining about the day. All of the men were exactly as her father and Zai had described. She was looking forward to their first dinner together, where she could get to know them a little more.

* * *

Zai couldn’t stop staring across the dinner table – damn, she was gorgeous.

The day had dragged on and into forever. Dinnertime hadn’t come quick enough for him, the thought of laying his eyes on Melody again making his heart race that little bit faster all day long. He enjoyed being the one to introduce the men to her, had felt a little bit more of an important part of her life in doing so, and could tell by the initial reactions of Showbags and Tumbles, and their keen interest across the dining table, that they found Melody’s striking features and wittiness just as captivating as he did. And it was okay to admire her from afar, but if they tried to make a move, watch out. His protectiveness was something he tried to put down to the fact that she was Matt’s daughter, and nothing more – well, nothing that he wanted to admit.

Her head tilted to the side as she listened intently, latte-coloured eyes sparkling. She entranced all the blokes, joining in on their banter and conversations. While laughing at one of Showbags’s jokes, Zai watched her yank the hair tie wrapped around her ponytail free. Blonde curls fell over her shoulders, her mane so striking, he longed to touch it. She ran absent fingers through the ends before tugging it back into a knot atop her head.

With his stomach filled to bursting with her amazing food, double servings of it in fact, he fastened his fingers behind his head as he stretched his legs out beneath the table, resting back and enjoying the full-bodied, carefree sound of her laughter. The blokes’ usual repartee had her in stiches, especially Slim’s animated mannerisms, the energy of someone new to chat to giving a fresh vibe to the common kitchen and an added boost to the men’s morale – all but Hasselhoof, anyway. Ignoring the old bugger’s permanent frown, Zai focused all his attention on Melody, and the upward curve of her full, kissable lips – he wanted to do all he could to hear and see more of her merriment while she was here. This gorgeous woman deserved to smile. All the damn time. He was going to make it his mission to make sure she did.

When he’d first crossed paths with her in Matt’s kitchen that fateful day, her unhappiness had hung around her like a suffocating cloak, which was no wonder given she’d recently lost her mother to such a dreadful disease. He’d watched his very own grandmother die of it a few years back – it had been heartbreaking. And a woman needed her mum, no matter how old – he couldn’t imagine losing his own mum, as crazy as she sometimes drove him. Witnessing Melody’s pain and fear that day, he’d so badly wanted to smooth her hair back from her tear-stained face, to comfort her, to take her into his arms and kiss her, to tell her he was going to make sure everything was well in her world again. But knight in shining armour didn’t fit him, and a damsel in distress certainly didn’t become her. As the song went, they were more like two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl. Heading into town had been both to give the Walsh family the privacy they needed for such a revelation, but also because he’d had to get away from her, fast. She did something to him he had never, ever, experienced until now.

‘Cat got your tongue, Hasselhoof?’ Showbags queried, playfulness twinkling in his gaze as he proverbially prodded the village grump. ‘You haven’t said a word all night.’

Removing the toothpick from his mouth, Hasselhoof frowned even deeper across the table. ‘Do me a favour and shut ya trap, would ya, Showbags?’

Showbags pretended to be gobsmacked. ‘Gee whizz, Hasselhoof, anyone would think you didn’t like me.’