He cursed himself and thumped his fist against the steering wheel. He shouldn't have let her drink so much. He hadn't realized until too late that small women were affected quickly by alcohol. That, coupled with her lack of drinking experience—which she'd tried to hide—equaled disaster. A messy one.
Damn. He should've known better.
He felt like a traitor. He was supposed to be looking after her as well as taking her under his wing. Getting her drunk to the point of throwing up definitely wasn't on the curriculum.
He parked outside her building and walked around the hood to open her door. He lifted her out and her head fell against his shoulder. Her body was light, a perfect fit in his arms, and her hair smelled of lilies. He could get used to that smell.
She stirred then nestled back into his arms. At one point he thought he heard her whisper his name and he stood rooted to the spot, hoping she'd say it again. But she didn't. Maybe she hadn't at all and it was just wishful thinking on his part.
When he reached her door, he set her on her feet and propped her against the wall, holding her up with his shoulder as he rifled through her purse.
"Hey, what are you doing?" she said, stirring. She shoved his shoulder away. And tipped forward like a felled tree.
Zack caught her. "I'm looking for your keys."
"Good. We can't stay out here all night. What would my neighbors think?"
"That you're drunk."
"I'm not." She giggled. "I bet they'd think we're having sex."
He located the keys and with one arm around Annie, unlocked the door. A yelp greeted them.
"Oh, Snoopy, hello, Baby." She wiggled her finger at her dog as he licked her toes. "So are we?" she asked Zack.
"What?"
"Going to have sex?"
"Are you going to fall asleep on me?" he asked.
She wrinkled her brow. "I can almost guarantee it."
"Then I guess not. I hate it when that happens."
She snorted. "Bet it's never happened to you."
He swept her into her bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. He removed her shoes then looked at her face. She watched him, a little glassy eyed, but it was still unnerving. He wished he knew what she was thinking. On the other hand, maybe it was best he didn't.
"Do you want me to help you get undressed?"
She wrinkled her forehead again. "I haven't shaved my legs."
He chuckled. "If you remember anything tomorrow, I have a feeling you're going to regret saying that. How about I just leave you dressed."
"Whatever," she muttered, closing her eyes.
"Oh, no you don't. Not yet." He shook her shoulders until she opened her eyes. "I'm going to get you something to make you feel better. Just wait a minute."
Zack headed to the kitchen, Snoopy trailing behind. He found the ingredients he was after and a tall glass and a few minutes later he had a concoction that would scare away even the grimmest hangover.
"Come on, Snoopy, let's see what words of wisdom your cute little owner's got now."
They returned to the bedroom and found Annie sound asleep, lying on her back diagonally across the bed.
He sat her up and shook her gently. "Wake up. You have to drink this."
She groaned and opened her eyes. "What is it?" She eyed the concoction suspiciously.
"Hair of the dog."
She gasped. "Snoopy!"
The dog, sitting on his haunches, panted happily at his mistress.
Zack laughed. "Not that dog."
"Oh. Good. Guess that's all right then." She drank a mouthful and gagged. "That's awful."
"But it's good for you. Finish it."
"You finish it, I'm going to sleep." She started to lie down but he grabbed her around the shoulders and pulled her to him.
"Ooh, I like it when you get all manly with me."
"I'm not being manly, I'm just trying to get you to drink this. Now do as you're told."
She scowled but drank until the glass was empty.
"Good. Now you can go to bed."
She raised her brows. "You coming?"
"I thought we agreed you couldn't stay awake."
"Oh yeah." She lay down and closed her eyes.
He pulled the covers up to her chin. It was best to leave her dressed. Who knows what trouble he'd get into if he allowed himself to see more of her than he should?
"So what do her boobs feel like?"
He sat down abruptly on the bed and blinked at her. "Melanie's?"
"Who else? Or do you know lots of women with big, fake boobs?"
"I know several. But I've never felt hers so I wouldn't know."
"Yeah sure. She was all over you."
Where was this conversation heading? Wherever, he didn't want to go there. "That doesn't mean we've, ah..."
Annie giggled then yawned. "I bet they feel like watermelons." Her voice faded as she drifted into sleep.
He smiled then leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
He should've left it at that. He shouldn't have kissed her on the lips.
But they looked so inviting, so rosie and sweet. And she was asleep.
Was.
Annie's lips opened in response to his kiss and her tongue flickered out to meet his. He liked the way she moaned and the way her arms reached around his neck and pulled him closer. He liked the way her hands trailed through his hair. And he loved the way her body strained to meet his.
God she felt good in his arms, on his lips. Then it suddenly hit him, with all the force of a punch. He wanted her. His body was eager for her—so eager it was painful.
But with a grunt of frustration, he pulled away. She fell back on the bed like a stone. He hadn't even known he'd been holding her. It wasn't right. Not just because she was drunk but because she was Annie. Perfect little Annie who could disrupt his life and destroy his dreams.
"I have to go," he said quickly, turning away.
"But, Zack..."
Damn. The plaintive note in her voice was so vulnerable, so unlike her that it raked his heart raw. He stopped at the door and turned back slowly. She looked so small, sitting up in her huge bed, blinking at him with those big, ocean-wide eyes, her mouth turned down into a pout. She was sexy. Dangerously sexy.
"Sorry, Annie, but you're drunk and I need to go." He tried to smile but it felt awkward with the taste of her still on his lips. He turned, tripping over Snoopy in his haste.