SEVEN

So much for living a solitary life, Zane thought, catching his reflection in the rearview mirror as he pulled into the parking lot of Haven's biggest park. "Don't know if I'm up for this."

"Can't be any harder than being a door knocker on the mean streets of Mosul," Asher replied.

"And that's where you'd be wrong," he said quietly. "People have never been my thing, and the older I get, the truer it becomes."

Asher turned and raised an eyebrow. "Hawker men do not shy away from shit. And that includes a small woman who bears a striking resemblance to Tinkerbell's dark cousin. Olivia looks at you like you hung the moon and stars, so dig deep, brother, and pull out that bad-ass Green Beret grit and throw a little her way."

"That doesn't make sense," he replied with a snort. "This is more of a SITFU situation, and I need to suck it the fuck up."

"Whatever, I speak Navy, not Army."

"I'm not even interested in Olivia, so…"

Asher tilted his head out the truck window and grimaced. "Don't be lying when we're in a parked car. I'd like at least half a chance of escaping before lightning strikes and God sends down his wrath."

Zane let out a breath. "It hasn't even been a week."

"Meaning?"

"Olivia has been in my life for exactly six days. On the first day of our acquaintance, she got herself invited for a full tour of the house and a two-hour conversation. By the second day, I was returning her dog and coming up with a long list of the things I'd like to do to her if…well, never mind."

"Don't stop, Z. You've got me on tenterhooks."

"You were there on day three and saw how she weaved her magic spell and made herself irresistible. Jeez, it was so obvious with the whole soup offer. Is any man strong enough to resist something like that?"

"Certainly not one who was part of an Army Spec Ops team."

Nodding, he felt a fraction better since his brother clearly understood what he was up against. "By day four, I was agreeing to free her damn Ferris wheel and am now single handily responsible for making her dreams come true. I mean, the woman has powers I haven't begun to understand."

"And what happened on day five?"

Feeling sweat trickle down his back, he shook his head. "That was by far the worst." He glanced over. "She told me that she had a crush."

Asher slapped his hand on his thigh and grinned wickedly. "Damn, devil woman. Doesn't she have any shame?"

"No! And not an ounce of mercy since what man could resist Olivia Bennett's big chocolate-brown eyes and wicked smile when words like that are flung around?"

"Not someone with any sense."

"Damn straight." He rested his hands on his closely shorn hair and gusted out a breath. "And on day six, she kicked me in the nuts and asked me to help with the kids."

"You might as well grab a ring, propose, and be done with it."

He spun his head around and let out a bark of laughter when he saw his brother's knowing smirk. "I'm serious, man." He waved his hand toward the park filled with rides and booths. "This is my nightmare, yet here I am, ready to walk into the damn fire."

"Love ain't easy, man."

"This isn't love; it's insanity."

"Same thing."

"Yeah, I can't argue." He pressed his hands into the seat. "I'm on a damn seesaw and can't predict where my mind will be from one minute to the next. One second, I'm confident I can stay away, and the next, I know it's impossible."

"What's your next move?"

Zane leaned forward, caught sight of Olivia, and felt a tiny explosion in his head. Boom went his heart and every objection he'd crafted over the last few days. "Hope I freaking survive whatever happens on day seven."

"If you don't, rest easy and know I'll bury your corpse with all the respect it deserves."

"Appreciate it, brother." He climbed out of the truck and stalked toward the woman who single-handedly was blowing up his carefully laid plans.

***

Had someone told him he'd have grubby little munchkins sitting on his lap and hanging on his back, he would've laughed in their faces. And yet, that's precisely what was occurring—along with an additional three sitting on his feet. Blowing out an exasperated breath, he glanced at the little boy whose hands dug into his shoulders and shook his head. "I'm not a jungle gym, Sam. Slide down and get your butt back in line, so you can have your face painted."

"You're not allowed to say butt," Kelsey announced. "Big trouble is coming your way!"

"Doubt it," he muttered as he looked down at the girl with freckles. "And why are you still here?"

Kelsey ran her fingers over the spider decorating half her face and smiled. "Because you're a superhero. I need you to make my brother Norman disappear when he's done with the ring toss."

"Why do you want to get rid of him?" he asked as he lifted the girl off his knee and set her on her feet.

"Because he tries to use his kung-fu moves on me."

Before he could respond, Kelsey scrambled back on his knee. "Liv, are you gonna help me out here?"

Lifting her eyes away from the unicorn she was painting on a child's arm, she shook her head. "Nope."

"Want to think about it for more than a second?"

"Not really." She waved her hand at the group of kids surrounding them. "You're in charge of keeping me fed, crowd control, and…"

"Anything else you decide?" he finished with a snort.

"Yes!"

"It's important to keep your woman happy," Sam announced as he leaned against Zane's shoulder. "When my dad doesn't do it right, he has to sleep on the couch with the dog."

Zane watched Olivia fight a smile and knew that if he ever took the woman on for real, she'd light his world up in ways he couldn't imagine. Not that he was considering it.

Kelsey pushed her small fingers into his side, and he looked down. "Girl, you need to quit poking me."

"Why? It's the only way to keep your attention."

"Have you thought of just saying, Mr. Hawker, I have something to ask you?"

"No."

Telling himself he wasn't entertained, he rolled his hand. "Try it next time."

"You need to get Ms. Olivia a corndog. And a lemonade."

"Might as well get a funnel cake, too," Sam added. "My mom loves them and gets real happy whenever she has one." He wiped his nose on his shirt. "Maybe you should get two, just to be safe."

"You hearing this, Liv?"

"Yes, indeed."

Pinning her with a gaze, he watched an indecent smile form on her full lips as the fair's noise and the children"s chatter fell away. Within a second, there was nothing but the two of them grinning at one another like complete fools. No demons yelling, ghosts whispering, or voices telling him what he wanted wasn't possible. It was just him and Olivia in their own world.

Seconds later, the distant sound of music filtered back into his consciousness, and he realized he'd become that guy.

The one he'd always felt sorry for and silently mocked—the one staring at a woman with at least two dozen kids as witnesses.

"Anything you want to add?"

Olivia dug her teeth into her bottom lip and swirled her paintbrush in a glass of water. "I agree with the premise of a man taking care of his woman…"

"And?"

"A woman should also take care of her man. No one comes before the other."

Nodding, he lifted Kelsey off his knee, peeled Sam off his shoulder, and then stood, holding his hand out. "What do you say to a lunch break?"

"Yes," she said quietly. "A hundred times, yes."

"Okay, munchkins, we're out. Find some other people to crawl on; we'll be back in an hour." A chorus of moans and groans followed the announcement, and he ignored it as he picked his way through the kids and took Olivia's hand. "Ready?"

"I hope so."

"Me too," he murmured, leading her away from the tent.

"Can I say I told you so?"

"Is there any way to stop you?" Zane asked.

"Not really." Olivia stretched her legs out and rested her head against the bench. "It's taken less than half a day for the local kids to become your biggest fans, just as I predicted. Add to that the many invitations you received to stop by Jasper's bar for a drink, and I'd say you are one popular man."

Zane ran his hand over the right side of his face. "Liv, it doesn't make any sense. People were intimidated by me before half my face was scarred up, and kids have always given me a wide berth. I'm not a man people have ever gravitated to. All the attention and offers are making me mighty uncomfortable."

"Because it's new or because you find the world too peopley and prefer solitude?"

"Both," he replied quietly. "The stick-up-my-ass warrior thing usually keeps people at a distance. Have I lost my touch?"

"Possibly. But I'm guessing your vibe has changed since retirement. I think you're giving off a gentlergiant thing and less I'll decimate you if you irritate me thing. And, let's face it, the fact you're hanging out with me gives you all kinds of street cred."

Zane snorted. "No doubt."

Shoving her hand into his side, she gave him a good pinch. "Don't doubt my magic powers."

"Believe me, babe, I never considered it for a minute."

"Can I give you some well-intentioned and completely non-self-serving advice?"

"Sure, if something like that even exists."

"You may want to turn down the sexy loner vibe. Because if you keep it turned to ten, your driveway will be filled with willing women, and you'll have a freezer filled with casseroles."

"What kind of casseroles?" he asked with a laugh.

A knot of possessiveness bloomed in her chest, and she told herself to ignore it. "I'm guessing you can get the answer fairly quickly when you go through the stack of phone numbers shoved into your pocket."

Zane rested his hand along the back of the bench. "I'm detecting a note of jealousy, which makes me think you're feeling some kind of way about the phone numbers I allegedly have."

Moving away, she pursed her lips. "That's ridiculous." Feeling his big hand curl over her shoulder, she glanced over. "You're a free man and can do whatever you want."

Moving close enough so their legs touched, he tugged her against his side. "The last five minutes is the only time you haven't been well inside my personal space. And that tells me you're not being honest."

She pushed her top lip out, studied the townspeople who filled the park, and didn't know why she was trying to lie. It wasn't like she hadn't already confessed to having a crush. The chance of subterfuge had long disappeared, and she might as well own up to the fact that she was in the green-eyed monster's grip and be done with it. "Zane…"

"Yeah, Liv?"

"I might be the tiniest bit concerned that you're going to find one of the beauties too delicious to resist. You just started finding me not repellant, and I'd hate to miss the chance of …"

"What, babe? What would you like to have a chance at?"

"Uugghhh, why do I open my mouth?" Moving her leg away, she studied her red Converse. "You don't have to hang out this afternoon. I can handle the kids myself."

"Didn't take you for a wimp, Liv."

"What does that mean?" Pushing his arm off, she stood. "I'm fearless!" She rolled her shoulders. "Okay, maybe that's too strong a word. I'm…mostly willing to do something about my happiness, no matter what it takes."

"Which, for the record, is sexy as hell." He levered himself off the bench and took Olivia's hands. "And admirable."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Feeling her shoulders stiffen, she dropped her head. "Maybe we should sit. I can't keep looking up at you and not end up with a crick in my neck."

"Of course." He collapsed on the bench. "Guess the foot of difference in our heights makes that inevitable."

Olivia sat and crossed her legs. "There isn't a whole foot."

"I'm six foot three, and I'm guessing you come in at right around 5'3."

"I beg your pardon; I'm five foot four and one quarter."

"Good to know."

"What were we talking about?"

Zane lifted his sunglasses off and tucked them into his T-shirt. "You and me."

Looking up, she swallowed. "Now you're giving off a big-bad wolf vibe. Should I be worried?"

"No."

Pulled into his sea-green eyes, she felt his enormous hands gently land on her face, cradling her with more care than she thought possible. Leaning into the moment before his mouth landed on hers, she imprinted the memory so she'd always have it.

Months from now, she wanted to recall with crystal clarity just how full her heart felt. Closing her eyes, she inhaled his delicious scent and let the anticipation in the air push them closer.

Zane's mouth brushed hers, and she tasted lemonade as she got a glimpse of what life could be if she could kiss him every day. His short scruff offset his soft lips, and every nerve in her body was yelling: more. Digging her hand into his shirt, she felt the strong beat of his heart and told the butterflies doing the cha-cha in her chest to go for it.

Their mouths fused, and life as she knew it was gone forever.

Dramatic overstatement?

No doubt.

But anything less would insult the absolute best kiss of her life.

Hearing a deep growl rumble in his chest made her move closer and give every last bit of herself to the mating dance their mouths were performing with ease.

Lips parted. Tongues tangled. Claims made.

The man kissed like he meant it, and it was the most perfect: hello, that's who you are, kiss, and yes, I'd like to do it for the rest of the day, so I can learn you, one.

Why, she couldn't say. The mechanics were the same as the ones she'd had with other men, but the effect of Zane's kisses was singular.

Feeling his hands move to her waist, she smiled against his mouth as he pulled her into his lap. She gripped his bulgy muscles and let her tongue glide against his. He met her stroke for stroke, and just before she started rocking against him, she heard the sound of children's laughter.

She opened one eye, saw a group of at least a dozen to their left, and pulled her mouth away from Zane's.

"Babe…"

"Audience," she said with a rough voice.

"So?"

"Under the age of consent."

"I think he got her a funnel cake," Sam announced loudly.

Kelsey snorted. "He got her two."

Olivia bit back a laugh and was about to slide off Zane's lap when she felt his grip tighten on her hip. "Honey, we've put on enough of a show."

"And if you get up, we'll be hitting an R rating."

Looking down, she noticed the hard ridge against his jeans and knew instantly his big dick energy was literal. "Uhhhhh…"

"Looking at it with hungry eyes is not helping."

She cleared her throat, tore her eyes away, and nodded. "Of course."

"There's a bunch of kids waiting to get their faces painted," Sam announced. "Are you two done kissing, or what?"

Zane gave the kid a stern look. "Don't mess with another man's game, and show a little respect."

Sam stood up straight and gave a salute. "Yes, sir."

"I want all you rugrats to go back to the tent and tell the kids that are waiting that we'll be back in fifteen minutes," Zane said with a firm tone. "Any questions?"

Kelsey raised her hand. "I have one?"

"Go ahead," Olivia said.

"Can I be the flower girl at your wedding?"

Stunned, she blinked twice and leaned into Zane. "Well…"

"Go back to the tent as I asked, and we'll think about it," Zane confirmed.

The pack of kids ran off with Kelsey leading them, and Olivia decided that asking what he meant by we'll think about it wasn't wise. Did she want him to be a little serious? Yes, she sure did. But she recognized how crazy that was since they'd only had a couple of promising conversations. "I'm ready for my funnel cake."

"I bet you are," Zane replied with a laugh as he lifted her off his lap.

She smoothed out her T-shirt and was about to let her eyes drop when she heard a growl. "What?"

"Eyes up, babe. We've got a long afternoon ahead of us."

"For your information…"

"Yeah?"

"Oh, never mind." She spun around, marched toward the row of booths offering food, and told herself she had everything under control.