Zach nodded and made his way out into the hall only to return a moment later. “You can help me if you want,” he said as he held the blade of the saw so that the handle was in her reach.
She looked dubiously down at the saw, and then back up to him. “Um, I’d probably ruin everything.” Truth was, she hated how helpless she felt about all this. That she depended on her landlord to get things done.
Zach shrugged. “That’s what I’m here for. I won’t let you fail.”
His words lingered in the air and Danielle couldn’t help the feeling that swelled in her chest. Was that true? Was it bad that she wanted it to be true? That she’d been so alone for so long that finally having someone here to carry the burdens that once plagued her so much was like water to a desert?
Forcing herself to open up her mind, she wrapped her fingers around the handle and held it out. She moved to the drywall and pressed the saw into it.
“Hang on.” Zach’s voice had taken on a playful hint as suddenly, his chest was pressed into her back and his hand wrapped around hers. He was pulling her away from the wall and she could feel the rumble of his laughter in his chest. “We don’t want to do more work than we have to. Let’s just cut out the parts of the wall that are damaged.”
Too stunned by his closeness to speak, Danielle just nodded. The air around them stilled as Zach stood there with his body pressed against her and his skin touching her own. His warmth radiated through her body. If her heart had been pounding before, it was hammering now. So much so that she was pretty sure that he could feel it.
Did he know what he was doing to her? If he did, what did that mean? Did she want to know?
“Let’s start down here,” he said guiding her hand lower and putting pressure on the saw so that it sliced through the drywall. Once he showed her the direction and pace with which to cut, he let go of her and stepped back. Cool air surrounded her from the lack of his presence. She wanted to ask him to come back. Tell him that she hadn’t been held in a very long time. That histouch seemed to open a dam inside of her that she thought she’d boarded up. Or at least had convinced herself that it would never open again.
But, standing next to Zach in this bathroom, she realized, that what had felt like a permanent solution was just a temporary fix. A lame attempt to protect her heart and to protect Jesse’s heart. How could she be so unwound from just one touch? One glance? Was she really that lonely or desperate?
Forcing those thoughts from her mind, Danielle decided to focus on the task at hand. Once the wall was fixed, then she’d face the feelings that were growing in her chest. But obsessing about them right now wasn’t going to help anyone. She didn’t want to do something she might regret. That had happened once when it came to Zach and she wasn’t sure she could walk away a second time. Her heart could only stand so much pain.
Chapter Nine
The feeling of Danielle pressed against his body seemed seared to Zach’s skin. Every point of contact was still tingling even after he let her go. His heart pounded as he watched her cut the damaged portion of the wall away. It was taking every ounce of self-control not to reach out and take her in his arms again.
To kiss her like he wanted to.
Fisting his hands, he forced all those thoughts and feelings from his mind. Why he was even allowing them to plague his mind, he didn’t know. Hadn’t he learned from his past mistakes? She was not his. She would never be his. Not eight years ago and not now. The sooner he got that through his head, the better.
Danielle turned, giving him a small smile. A curl had escaped from her hair. His stomach lightened as he took her in. She was beautiful. More beautiful than any memory he had replayed for years after she left.
“This isn’t so bad,” she said.
Zach nodded as he stepped toward her, desperate to do something. It was killing him to just stand there and stare. “Yeah. You’re a natural,” he said just as the last chunk of drywall was removed.
Her cheeks flushed as she stepped back, allowing him room to work. After pulling off the damaged portion, he gathered the pieces and brought them out to the hall. After leaning them against the wall, he turned to find her standing behind him with a few smaller pieces in her hands. Her eyes widened as he stared down at her.
“I, um…” Her voice trailed off as she lowered her gaze. Then she set the pieces down next to the pile he’d just created and moved toward the bathroom.
Zach cursed his pounding heart and swirling thoughts. What was the matter with him? He needed to get his head on straight.
Back in the bathroom, he measured the hole and then focused on cutting the sheetrock. Once the piece was ready, he brought it into the bathroom and set it against the wall. Perfect fit.
Turning, he motioned to the drill and screws that were sitting on the counter. “Can you grab those for me?” he asked.
Danielle nodded and brought them over. She crouched down next to him, looking as if she didn’t know what to do.
“Get a screw and drill and secure the drywall to the stud,” he said, trying to still his heart as it pounded in his chest. She was so close that he could smell her coconut shampoo as she shifted to get a better look at what he was motioning to.
Zach cleared his throat as he pushed his feelings down.
It was pure torture squatting down next to her, securing the drywall. Once it was done, he stood and stepped away. Danielle seemed to have the same desire because she moved just as fast as he did.
“I think I’ve got it covered from here,” he said, giving her a small smile and hoping that she wouldn’t fight him.
Danielle just nodded and excused herself. Her cheeks were flushed and Zach couldn’t help but hope that it was because ofhim. That she might be feeling the same for him as he felt for her.
After the drywall was taped and mudded, Zach washed his hands and put away his tools. He flipped off the light as he left the bathroom. Not sure where to go, he made his way into the living room where Danielle was curled up on an oversized chair. A book was lying on her chest and her eyes were closed.
