Royal Holiday Baby by Leanne Banks

shook her head. “It’s not my place.”
    So frustrated she could scream, Tina tamped down her feelings and finished helping Hildie in silence. All the while, her mind was going a mile a minute. This was ridiculous. How were she and Zach ever going to be able to communicate effectively if she didn’t know what had caused him so much pain? She had to find out. She formulated a plan. The day after tomorrow, she was going into Dallas and she was going to get some answers.
    â€œI’m going to heat up a plate for Zach and take it upstairs,” Hildie said.
    â€œI’ll do it,” Tina offered.
    Hildie shot her a skeptical glance. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? He’s probably as cranky as a bear with a sore paw.”
    â€œSince I caused the injury, I should make amends,” Tinasaid, stiffening her back. She knew full well that Zach would likely give her the cold shoulder.
    After heating the full plate of food, she grabbed two ice cold beers from the refrigerator and climbed the stairs to his suite. Gently tapping on his door, she stood and waited. No answer. She tapped again, this time more loudly.
    The door swung slightly open and Zachary stood there wearing a towel slung around his hips and, she supposed, nothing else. His hair looked ebony from the wetness. His eyelashes surrounded his blue eyes in spikes of black and water droplets dotted his wide shoulders and muscular pecs. Her gaze drifted downward to the fine hair that arrowed down his flat abdomen.
    All male, all man, she thought, her stomach dipping to her feet as she remembered that night they’d shared together. It had been months ago, she reminded herself. And everything was different now.
    â€œIs that for me?” he asked, pointing to the plate she held.
    She nodded. “Yes, yes, it is.”
    â€œBring it in and I’ll put on some clothes,” he said and she followed him inside his suite. Domain, she corrected herself. Definitely his domain, she thought as she couldn’t resist the urge to shoot a searching glance past the open door into his bedroom. Huge bed, she noticed. Sheepskin rugs surrounding the edge of the bed. Bedside table with a lamp and a couple of books. She wondered what he was reading. Was it for pleasure or business? Since she’d come to the ranch, Zach had seemed all business. She’d seen another side of him. Had that been a complete anomaly?
    Wearing a half-unbuttoned shirt and a pair of jeans, he reentered his office/living room. “Thanks for the food. I’m assuming both beers are for me since you’re not drinking?”he said more than asked with a wry suggestion of a grin. “You thought I might need more than one?”
    He popped the top on the first bottle and waved toward the sofa for her to sit. Taking a seat opposite her, he placed the plate on the table beside him.
    Surprised at his lack of hostility, she lifted her shoulders in confusion. “You seemed tired and I don’t think I helped matters. I apologize for taking matters into my own hands.”
    â€œI imagine it’s what you’ve always done,” he said and dug into his meal.
    She opened her mouth to protest then changed her mind. “Within certain parameters,” she said. “There were always the opinions of advisers and my brother.”
    â€œBet that drove you crazy. Always having to answer to someone. Would have driven me crazy,” he said and took a long swallow from his beer. “My middle name isn’t Grinch or Scrooge just because I like a little notice when my house is gonna be turned into a temporary hotel.”
    Tina felt another twist of regret. “I know that. Again, I apologize. It’s not as if this is my home. It’s yours.”
    He met her gaze for a long moment that made her heart skip over itself. “We’ll see,” he said. “I talked with Bob, Sheree’s husband, then I talked with Doyle, a friend of mine