Love and Secrets - Kit Morgan Page 0,33

will.” She tucked the paper into her apron pocket.

Zane smiled and turned to Holly. “Well, is it time to go make ourselves sick with chocolate?”

She laughed. “Sure is!” She headed for the door.

Zane gave Hazel a parting wave then followed Holly outside. “I can’t believe how grown up little Hazel is.”

“Yeah, they do that.”

He smiled. “I really can’t imagine Sophie at that age.”

Holly smiled too, turned, and started for the car.

The sadness he’d seen in her eyes at dinner was back. Zane caught up to her, put a hand on her shoulder, and waited for her to turn around. As soon as she did, he gazed into her eyes, searching. “Holly, honey, what’s wrong?”

Chapter Eleven

Holly bit her lower lip as she walked. She shouldn’t have let her heart have a head start and make her think Zane would stick around. She’d been flirting with danger and knew it. She was just going to have to let him take care of business and then live out his life with his daughter somewhere.

She went to her side of the car where Zane held the door open for her. Holly gave him a smile and got in. She watched him walk around to the driver’s side and sighed. She’d been imagining them out on a picnic with Sophie, taking walks, getting reacquainted. Not that they weren’t doing that now, but she was afraid if she spent too much time with him she’d lose her heart to him. And to Sophie …

Things were better this way. He’d already made up his mind he was leaving Clear Creek. But a week? She might as well pull out now.

Zane drove them straight to his parents’ house but she didn’t mind. They’d share dessert, she’d get to play with Sophie, (if she could pry her away from Mrs. Brody) and then go home. Zane had what he needed for now. Someone to watch the baby, a highchair and new stroller. He was set and could now get down to taking care of business.

When they reached his parent’s house, she waited for Zane to open her door for her, surprised at the way her heart sank with thoughts of him leaving. An emptiness began to fill her, and she didn’t like it. Had she been falling for him in the short time they’d spent together? Not that it wasn’t hard. But it also wasn’t practical. He didn’t know where he was going to settle yet. There were no guarantees it would be Clear Creek.

“There you are,” Mrs. Brody said when they entered the kitchen.

“We brought dessert,” Holly said with a smile and held up the bag. “Chocolate Suicide.”

“I hate that name,” Mrs. Brody snapped. “But it sure is to die for.”

Holly exchanged a quick look with Zane before they burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” his mother asked.

“If you don’t know, Mom,” he said with another laugh. “I don’t know what to tell you.”

Mr. Brody joined them, Sophie in his arms. “What’s all the commotion about?”

“Dessert,” Zane said and took some plates out of a cupboard. He set them on the kitchen table then took a knife out of a utensil drawer. “We can split this up four ways.”

“Shall I make some coffee?” Mrs. Brody asked.

“None for me, thanks,” Holly said. “I’ll never get to sleep.”

“Me neither,” added Zane.

Mr. Brody waved a hand at his wife. “Forget the coffee, dear.”

She shrugged and joined them at the table. “Not too big a piece for me.”

“Fine.” Zane sliced off an end, put it on a plate and gave it to his mother.

Holly watched, noted his eyes kept darting to Sophie, and gave him a gentle push out of the way. “I’ll do this. You’d better see how your child is doing.”

He smiled and handed her the knife. “Sounds good.” He took the baby from Mr. Brody. “There she is,” he cooed and winked. “How’s my girl?”

Sophie gave him a wide grin and blinked both eyes.

Holly laughed. “Okay, that was massively adorable.”

“Babies do so many wonderful things,” Mrs. Brody commented. “Has she been doing that long?”

“No,” Zane said with a laugh. “This is the first time I’ve seen it.”

Holly saw the love in his eyes for his daughter and her heart melted. He was a good daddy. He didn’t think to shirk his responsibility as a father and was willing to do the right thing even if it caused an upheaval.

She closed her eyes a moment. Was it any wonder she could so easily fall in love with him? Again.

But whereas before