Surrender in Silk by Susan Mallery Page A

charmer.”
    She shuddered. “I still hate snakes.”
    “I know.”
    They both smiled, and the tension between them lessened. With a flash of insight, she realized this was what had been missing in her life. Pleasant human contact. Zach hadn’t had enough, either, she knew. The job might have its humorous moments, but for the most part it was intense and grim. Even their week together hadn’t allowed them to laugh. There had been too much passion.
    That was the change she wanted to make. More laughter, like normal people had in their lives.
    She stepped behind him and helped him to his feet. She was shocked at how much more weight he’d lost.
    “Dammit, Zach, you haven’t been eating. How can you expect to get well?”
    “You ever eat when you’re in the hospital?”
    She thought about her brief stays for various injuries. “Not really.”
    “I feel the same way about their food.”
    It was their first civil verbal exchange in seven years. She told herself not to read too much into it, but she couldn’t help feeling relieved. Zach could make her stay pleasant or he could turn it into several weeks of hell. She hoped he chose the former.
    She bent down and grabbed the cane, then looped his right arm over her shoulders and wrapped her left around his waist. Moving in slow, steady steps, she helped him into the cabin.
    Once there, she moved him toward the large bedroom. She’d already pulled down the covers.
    Zach sat heavily on the mattress and glared at her. “I want you out of here.”
    So much for civil exchanges. Guess he wanted to make her as miserable as possible. Two could play that game. After all, she’d had a great teacher. “Yeah, right. You’re in no condition to take care of yourself.”
    “I don’t need you or anyone.”
    “Probably not, but you’re stuck with me.” She knelt on the floor and pulled off his boots.
    “You’re just like every other woman. Butting in where you’re not wanted.”
    She ignored the sting his words produced. How ironic that he thought she was just like other women. She wasn’t like them, but she was doing her best to learn what they already knew. She wanted to understand what it was like to feel pretty, or take pride in preparing a meal, or keeping a house.Maybe she would get brave enough to consider having a child.
    She shook her head. A child wasn’t likely. She wouldn’t trust herself to have one on her own. What did she know about being maternal? And no man had ever wanted her enough to commit.
    She set the boots in the closet, then turned back to Zach. He was staring at her. She wished she could think of something witty to say, but her mind was blank. She could only stare at his handsome face and wish things had been different. If only he’d welcomed her back into his life. They could have healed together, him on the outside, her on the inside. Instead, they were to be adversaries.
    She was about to concede defeat when something flickered to life in his eyes. Just as it had outside. She wasn’t sure if it was longing, or maybe pain. A need for connection. He blinked, and the emotions were gone. But she’d seen them.
    “Sorry, Zach, you can complain all you want, but I’m staying.” She moved toward the door and paused there. “You should be grateful I’m willing to look after you. No one else wants to, and you would never have made it on your own.”
    “I like being alone. I’m perfectly capable of surviving without help.”
    He might like being alone, but she’d grown tired of the solitude. “You can whine all you want,” she said. “But I’m not going anywhere.”
    “Then I’ll take your car and leave myself.”
    She smiled. “No problem. First you have to find the strength to get to my car. I don’t suppose that’s going to happen today.”
    He curled his hands into fists. “Dammit, Jamie, I won’t put up with this.”
    “What are you going to do about it? Try to beat me at arm wrestling? Face it, Zach, you don’t have a choice.