“I do. I’m not going to say I miss my mother’s cooking, but I miss their company. My father used to sit out on the back porch and play the banjo. I miss that.”

“The banjo.” It sounded so charming. “Do you play?”

“No. I never could get my fingers to cooperate.”

“My father played the piano. He used to—” She stopped herself again, realigning her thoughts as she rose. “I could never get my fingers to cooperate either. Strawberry shortcake for dessert. Can you manage it?”

“I can probably choke some down, just to be polite. Let me give you a hand.”

“No.” She waved him down before he could rise. “I’ve got it. It’ll just take me . . .” She glanced down as she cleared his plate, saw Diego sprawled belly-up in apparent ecstasy in his lap. “Have you been sneaking that cat food from the table?”

“Me?” All innocence, Zack picked up his wineglass. “I don’t know what makes you think that.”

“You’ll spoil him, and make him sick.” She started to reach down, scoop up the kitten, then realized that considering Diego’s location, the move was just a tad too personal. “Put him down a while so he can run around and work off that tuna before I take him inside.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She had the coffee on and was about to slice the cake when he came through the door with the serving bowl.

“Thanks. But guests don’t clear.”

“They did in my house.” He looked at the cake, all fluffy white and succulent red. And back at her. “Honey, I’ve got to tell you, that’s a work of art.”

“Presentation’s half the battle,” she said, pleased. She went still when he laid his hand over the back of hers. Nearly relaxed again when he simply moved hers to widen the size of the slice.

“I’m a big patron of the arts.”

“At this rate Diego’s not the only one who’s going to be sick.” But she cut him a piece twice the size of her own. “I’ll bring the coffee.”

“I should tell you something else,” he began as he picked up the plates, then held the door for her again. “I plan on touching you. A lot. Maybe you could work on getting used to it.”

“I don’t like being handled.”

“I didn’t plan to start out that way.” He walked to the table, set down the cake plates, and sat. “Though handling, on both sides, can have some satisfying results. I don’t put marks on women, Nell. I don’t use my hands that way.”

“I’m not going to talk about that,” she answered curtly.

“I’m not asking you to. I’m talking about me, and you, and the way things are now.”

“Things aren’t any way now—like that.”