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hoebe stiffened and looked suspiciously at Keely. 'Cat in garden?'
'Maybe.' Keely nodded and gave the little girl a smile. 'What do you think? Shall we go and look?'
Phoebe hesitated and then nodded and reached out her arms.
Zach hid his surprise and watched as Keely settled his daughter on her hip, still chatting about the cat.
Damn, she was good with children. Incredibly patient and good-humoured. He knew only too well just how difficult Phoebe could be, but Keely didn't seem bothered by her behaviour. Just incredibly understanding. And smart. She always had a distraction ready, something to capture the little girl's interest.
'You could pour yourself a drink and put your feet up.' Her eyes were twinkling at him and he frowned and shook his head.
'You're the one that's been at work all day.'
'And work is nothing compared to looking after a toddler, as we both know,' she said with a laugh. 'Go on. We're going to look for the cat. Pour me a glass of wine while you're there and I'll be down in a minute. White, please.'
But he couldn't move. Seeing his daughter cuddled close to a woman made his insides twist.
'Are you OK?' Keely's voice was soft and her eyes were concerned. 'Zach? Have I done something?'
'No. You haven't done anything,' Zach said roughly, 'and I'm fine.'
Damn.
It wasn't her fault that his emotions were in a mess. But he was going to have to be more careful in the future. He knew what Keely was like—if she guessed just how raw he was inside then she'd be trying to mother him and sort him out. And that was the last thing he wanted.
'Daddy poorly,' Phoebe said emphatically, and Zach gave a wry smile and ruffled her soft blonde hair.
'Daddy's not poorly,' he reassured her gently, stiffening as Keely touched his arm, her expression still worried.
'Do you want to talk about it?'
'Nothing to talk about.' He detached himself from her touch and walked towards the door. 'I'll go and pour the drinks.'
It was typical of Keely to think that talking would solve his problems, typical of her trusting, optimistic approach to life. He most certainly didn't want to discuss his feelings with her and he had no intention of dumping his hurt or bitterness in her lap. He didn't want to use her in that way. She was still young and naive enough to believe that relationships could end happily ever after. Who was he to disillusion her?
He gave a short laugh. And anyway, if he was honest, talking was the last thing on his mind. What he really wanted to do was drag her into his bedroom and have his wicked way with her. Lose himself in that gentle warmth and amazing passion which he'd glimpsed the previous night when he'd kissed her—
Which was out of the question, of course.
Keely wasn't that sort of person. For all he knew, she might even still be a virgin. But whether she was or wasn't, she certainly wasn't the type to go to bed with a man unless she was emotionally attached. And emotional attachment was definitely off the agenda.
Keely hesitated in the doorway of the kitchen, unsure whether Zach would welcome her presence. He'd been very short with her upstairs and she wasn't entirely sure why, although she could guess. Seeing another woman getting close to his daughter must be hard for him, even if she was only a friend.
So what should she say?
Deciding to keep it neutral, she stepped into the kitchen and settled herself at the table.
'Nice smell.' She gave an appreciative sniff and rested her chin on her palm as she watched him cook. 'What are we having?'
'Nothing exciting.' He reached into the fridge and removed a bag of ready-prepared salad. 'Lasagne OK with you?'.
'More than OK. I love it. Is this mine?' She leaned forward and picked up one of the glasses of wine that he'd poured. 'Zach, I don't expect you to cook for me if I'm living here. I can look after myself.'
He shrugged. 'It makes sense to eat together if we're both in.' He threw a smile over his shoulder. 'Don't worry, it's your turn tomorrow.'
'Deal.' She grinned and took a sip of wine. 'I love your house, by the way.'
