He shoved his hands into his pocket and waited, a big grin on his face. The wind lifted the bottom of Zoe’s dress. She had the loveliest legs and the most tempting thighs. He sucked in a breath and thought of football. Of his agent. Of any damn thing that could put his mind to non-carnal thoughts.
Zoe opened the screen door, her eyes widening. “I didn’t think you’d be back...”—her eyes flicked down to SmithAnn—“so soon.”
He bet she didn’t. He grinned at his new niece and got on his knees. “Hi, I’m Christian.”
SmithAnn’s brown eyes mimicked her aunt’s, but for an entirely different reason. “It’s you!” She threw her arms around him, nearly over toppling him. “Prince Ian!”
Zoe grabbed her niece and pulled her away. “What in the world are you talking about?”
“I show you!” The little girl tugged on her arm, then placed a chubby hand on Christian’s. “I show you.”
As her niece led them into house, Zoe couldn’t stop glancing at her husband. He was back. Seriously in the flesh back and had brought groceries. Bags of food covered the island in her kitchen. Suitcases were piled up by her front door. He really was serious about moving in with her.
“Mind if I put my things in your closet?”he asked.
She frowned at him. “Do I have a choice?”
SmithAnn let out a cheer and did what all almost three years old could do. Turn on the flat-screen and work the DVD player. “Prince Ian and Uni!”
Zoe smacked her mouth with her hand, laughing as Christian appeared on screen. He wore a gold crown and brandished a sword at a cartoon fire-breathing dragon. The perky sparkling unicorn, Uni, appeared by his side. They worked together to rescue the princess. However, the princess ended up saving them from her pet dragon who had only needed a nap to be less cranky.
“I’ll have you know that’s some of my finest work as an actor.” Christian’s voice was in her ear, hot breath caressing as his hands touched her hips. “Want to be my princess? I swear I’ll put something harder and larger than a pea in bed with you.”
“Only you could take a children’s fairy tale and make it lascivious.”
“Only you could say the word lascivious and make me want to bend you over the dining room table.” His hands slid lower, cupping her bottom. “Have I told you how lovely your ass looks when I’m taking you from behind?”
She elbowed him in the stomach and he grunted, his hands falling away. “Not while my niece is here.”
“When our niece leaves then.”
“SmithAnn is spending the night.” That should fix his royal horniness.
SmithAnn ran back to them and tugged on his shirt. “Come watch with me. Please?”
Perfect. Let him have to be around a two year old for the rest of the day and night. He’d be out the door before dessert was served. She started toward her office.
“Where are you going?” he asked, eyes widening as panic set in.
“I’ve got work to do and as my husband it’s your job to entertain our niece while Melanie and Carter have a date night. Don’t forget to fix her a snack.” Striding down the hall, she grinned in satisfaction. “Let’s see how long you last.”
Every twenty minutes Zoe would stop writing and sneak a peek at her niece and husband. At first Christian sat stiffly on the sofa beside her, apparently unsure of how to deal with a toddler. But after the third check, he and SmithAnn were having a tea party on the floor.
His face was caked in makeup while barrettes made his hair stick out in odd places. A child’s dress up hat perched on the front of his head while a feather boa wrapped around his broad shoulders.
“My tea and biscuits are quite delicious, Princess SmithAnn. I’m so delighted you invited me.” He leaned down, pressing the back of his hand against one side of his mouth. “However, I would appreciate if you’d tell the hippo with the wonky eye to stay home next time. Can’t hold his tea and keeps hitting on Miss Kitty. Bad form, I say.”
SmithAnn giggled, clearly enchanted with him.
Frowning, Zoe leaned against the wall. It didn’t look like he was in any mood to leave.
“Uncle Christian, how long you staying?”
Pale blue eyes met Zoe’s, pinning her to the wall with the emotion behind them. “Forever.” Despite the makeup and silly wardrobe he wore, she’d never felt more attracted to him.
Or as in love.
She could barely form the words, “Time to clean up for supper.” She struggled to maintain a semblance of control. Lightheaded, she tried breathing deeply. After a few measured breaths, she pulled out pots and pans, filling them up with water and a vegetable mix that she planned to stir-fry.
Christian stood, picking up SmithAnn and following her to the kitchen. All the groceries had been put up and the kitchen was sparkling clean.
“You did this?”
“SmithAnn and I did, didn’t we?”
Her niece nodded in agreement. The sparkly tiara she wore tumbled to the counter.
Zoe picked it up, examining the headpiece. The gems looked real. Her eyes flew to Christian. He was busy seating his newest fan at the kitchen table and providing art supplies.
“Be right back. I need to wash up. And here you go, my lady,” he said with a flourish of his hat.
SmithAnn giggled as the yellow and green concoction was placed on the table beside a familiar wooden bowl of fruit. He’d actually kept that? Her heart flipped in her chest.
“Did you buy this for SmithAnn?” she asked.
“Yes, it came today,” he said and walked away, all masculine grace.
She eyed the crown again, turning it around and around as the facets caught the light. “Are these real sapphires?”
He turned and cast a smile at her. “Perhaps,” he said with a wink. He disappeared down the hall.
“That’s so not funny. You can’t give a two year old real jewelry.” The bathroom door shut. “Christian?” She set the pretty tiara on her own head and sneaked a look at herself in the mirror hanging over the buffet in the dining room.
“Totally fake,” she said as she pulled it off. She walked back to the kitchen and set it on top of her fridge.
He returned a few minutes later, face freshly washed and golden hair free of her niece’s artistic hair skills. He placed a kiss Zoe’s cheek, then wandered over to her iPod dock.
Soft strains of Colbie Caillat’s old hit “I Never Told You” filled the air. Water bubbled in the pot, cooking the noodles for a macaroni and cheese dinner that Melanie never let her daughter have, but at Aunt Zoe’s what momma didn’t know…