Kezia stared up at him, fighting to keep her jaw from sagging. The top of her head only reached his chest—his really big chest, framed by broad shoulders and cut biceps. Delizioso!
Ben’s face, ruggedly arresting but by no means pretty-boy handsome, creased into harsh lines as he glanced toward the family room and Zoe’s chirpy voice.
“I don’t know anything about being that kid’s dad.” He scraped a hand over bed-rumpled, sandy brown hair.
“You’ll learn, Ben. And you’ve friends and family who’ll help.”
He made a low rumble in his throat and shrugged, so crestfallen that she stepped forward and hugged him. That’s what she did when one of her four older brothers got upset. She ignored all their machismo bullpucky and hugged the hell out of them.
Kezia’s breasts brushed the hard wall of Ben’s body and warmth spread in concentric circles outward, prickling pleasurably across her skin. Oh my. Part of her wanted to cuddle closer like a kitten, but then his abdominal muscles contracted on a sharp inhale, his body pulling away a fraction. She froze, nose to a tee shirt scented with lemon laundry detergent and freshly woken man.
A man who was not one of her brothers.
She jerked away, her hands sliding from around the taut, unyielding flesh at his waist. Shoving her fists in her cardigan pockets, she dropped her gaze. Ben still clutched the basket of muffins in one white-knuckled fist.
Awwk-warrd, as Zoe would’ve sing-songed.
Stretching a tight smile on her lips, she backed up another step. “So. Coffee?”
“Kezia?” A little rough, a little edgy, the questioning note in his voice went unanswered as Zoe popped through the family room doorway, dragging Jade behind her.
Saved from imminent humiliation. Thank you, bella.
“Mamma, can we have a muffin? Jade’s starving.”
“If it’s okay with Jade’s . . .” What would Ben call himself? Kezia glanced sidelong to where he leaned against the wall—tall, stoic, and smooth as black ice. “With Ben.”
He shrugged. “Sure. Jade, this is Ms. Murphy. She’s Zoe’s mum and a teacher at the school.”
Jade’s eyes remained downcast, her hand limp in Zoe’s grasp. “Hello, Ms. Murphy.”
Sympathy for the girl overshadowed her previous embarrassment. “You can call me Kezia.”
“Okay.” The girl twisted one pigtail around and around her finger.
“How about some hot chocolates?” Ben asked.
“Yes, please!” Zoe squeezed Jade’s hand and whispered something in her ear.
Jade nodded and tucked closer to Zoe’s side.
“Come on through.” Ben gestured to the door behind the girls.
Kezia followed them into a large sunny room, dominated by a dark-red leather couch and a flat-screen TV. Sliding glass doors opened onto a wide deck, with unobstructed views of Oban and the choppy waters of Halfmoon Bay harbor. The connected family room and kitchen were decorated in the style she’d expected, comfortable and masculine, but not boring. Not with the two enormous canvases mounted on the wall.
Ben turned and caught her staring. “Harley Komeke’s early work.”
“Wow. They’re incredible.” She tilted her head at the graphic black, white, and red traditional Maori symbols blended with skill into a jaw-dropping oil painting. “You have good taste in art.”
YOU ARE READING
Melting Into You
RomanceBen Harland is, by his own admission, a bit of a grouch. He doesn’t do soppy chick-flicks and he’s hen-picked enough as it is with his mother and two younger sisters on his case. He sure doesn’t need any more drama in his world. But life has a way o...
