Together, they made their way to the seating area. Zy held back, waiting to sit until his boss took a recliner and Tessa settled on the sofa.
He slid into the remaining chair. “What’s going on?”
Tessa and the colonel exchanged a glance, then she spoke. “My ex came by tonight, intoxicated…”
Zy listened to the whole story, getting more pissed with every word. Cash Bennett sounded like a dipshit of the first order, and the fact that his uncle would lift his crooked finger to have the douche freed before he even made it to the station annoyed the fuck out of him.
“I’m worried he’ll come back,” the colonel said. “Drunk is one thing, but the kind of anger it took to bust in the window with a flimsy board worries me. And he threatened her.”
That sent Zy’s temper soaring. Sure, he’d always hated assholes who bullied women, but this felt somehow personal. “Absolutely. What would you like me to do, sir?”
Hopefully, beat the shit out of her ex. That was a public service he could feel good about.
“You two can help each other for a bit. Zy needs a place to stay temporarily. He didn’t get to look for one before he got injured in Mexico. He also needs someone to help him change bandages and check the gashes on his back. As you can see, Tessa needs help repairing the window, protection, and a deterrent in case this asshole returns. What do you say? You up to hanging here for a few days?”
Zy looked Tessa’s way. She nibbled on her plump pink lip, and he swallowed back lust that didn’t belong in this conversation.
“Are you okay with that?” Tessa looked worried that he’d object. “I only have a sofa for you to sleep on and a newborn who still has her days and nights confused…”
Zy didn’t think twice. “Sure. I’m not picky about where I sleep, and noise doesn’t bother me. I’ve got my stuff on my bike. If we’re a go, I can bring it in.”
While he figured out how to resist coming on to the intriguing blonde who probably didn’t have sex on her mind.
Tessa let out a sigh of relief and smiled. “Great.”
The colonel stood. “Why don’t you grab your gear so you and I can board up this window? Then I’ll leave you two alone.”
Ten minutes later, the window was boarded up and the colonel had gone with a wave and a promise to check in. The moment Tessa locked the door after him and turned back to Zy, the room felt too small, the air somehow hard to breathe. Not just because he loomed tall, though he did. Not just because his probing blue eyes asked a thousand questions without a word. Not even because his massive shoulders filling out an athletic shirt above his obviously strong body made her realize how unnervingly male he was. It was everything about him. The tribal tattoos that peeked out under his sleeves. His large, capable hands. The hawk-eyed way he watched her. Even the stitches on the side of his head and the dark bruising that flared from his temple down to his square jaw.
The last thing she needed or wanted was to be attracted to any man, especially a hot one seeing her at her unbathed, sleep-deprived worst. And he would be here for nearly a week.
“So…” She gave him her blandest smile. “Thanks for coming to help me.”
“No problem.” He sent her a concerned stare. “You okay?”
His gaze, like his question, felt too perceptive.
The longer Tessa stared back in silence, the more tongue-tied she felt. He stood too close. Her nerves buzzed. Even her skin tingled. “Cash rattled me a little, but I’ll be all right.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah,” she assured him as much as she assured herself. She had to stop being ridiculous and think responsibly. Think like a mom. “Um, make yourself at home. Have you eaten dinner? I was just cooking and I’m sure I have enough for two.”
Sharing with him was only right since he’d come to help her. Besides, she couldn’t starve him, especially after he’d been so recently injured.
All true…but eating with him meant she’d have to stay close to him.
“My stomach would appreciate it,” he accepted. “I couldn’t bring myself to eat Chinese takeout leftovers.”
“How does meatloaf and mashed potatoes sound?”
“Like heaven.”
“Good. Since it’s a little chilly tonight, warm comfort food sounded good.”
“Warm comfort food always is. And unless you count hospital food—which I don’t—I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in forever.”
“It won’t be much longer. Feel free to get yourself settled while I finish up.”
“I can do that later. Need any help?”
He wasn’t too macho for domesticity?
“Mind setting the table?” She gestured to the little nook beside the kitchen. It needed to be done, and it would put space between them.
“I’ll take care of it.”
Tessa turned back to her potatoes and started the burner. She couldn’t deny that she was pleasantly surprised. Then again, Zy wasn’t Cash, and she shouldn’t have assumed that if her ex would shirk a simple task, the big, bad warrior would as well. After all, she and Zy worked for the same man, who would probably threaten to peel his hide from his body if he was anything less than polite.
From the holder on the counter, she plucked up a pair of napkins, then grabbed a couple of forks from the drawer before setting them on the kitchen island between them. “Salt and pepper shakers are in the sideboard next to the table, along with the placemats.”
He scooped everything up. “On it.”
“I don’t have a beer or anything hard to offer you. Sorry.” She wasn’t drinking while she was breastfeeding, and after what happened tonight, she didn’t really want to encourage any man imbibing.
“I’d rather have water.”
Zy worked with relative speed and stealth. Tessa couldn’t deny that having him nearby made her feel a lot safer. And strangely content. She’d grown accustomed to the only sounds in the house belonging to her, Hallie, or the TV. Hearing another adult made her feel less lonely.
But the fact she couldn’t tune out his all-male, all-warrior vibe rattled her. Then again, what woman could ignore any six-foot-four man full of buzz cut and muscle?
Less than two minutes later, the table was set. His competence shouldn’t surprise her. Cash had been a talker. Zy was seemingly a doer. And the colonel only hired the best.
“Where’s your baby?” he asked.
“She fell asleep shortly after Colonel Edgington arrived. I expect we’ll have just enough time to sneak in a meal before she wakes. At least I hope. Mind pouring us each some water for dinner? Glasses are to the right of the sink.”
“You got it.”
By the time he finished and they danced around each other in the small kitchen, she pulled the meatloaf from the oven. She’d made it big, hoping she’d have leftovers tomorrow. Wishful thinking now, but she was safe tonight, and she had Zy to thank. If Cash made the mistake of coming back, the sight of her temporary bodyguard would have her ex pissing his pants.
She laughed.
“Something funny?” Zy asked.
Tessa looked up from whipping her potatoes. “I was just thinking that if Cash returns, he’ll be mighty surprised.”