Disclaimer: I don't own them except for the kids!

Wanted: Someone Who Cares, Part 3

Thad jerked back into his chair, his eyes coming to glare at his brother leaning against the doorframe. "No," he snapped.

Penny turned her face away and glanced out the window, her cheeks flaming. She pressed her hands against them before lowering them. She looked back at the dark haired man standing by the door. His eyes immediately caught her attention. They were the same clear ice blue of Thad's.

Zach smirked at his brother's hostile look. Shrugging he walked over to the table. "Since my brother is too busy thinking of ways to kill me, I'm Zach, his younger brother," he said, smiling down at her.

She smiled back. "It's nice to meet you, Zach. I'm Penny."

"A pleasure to be sure," he replied as he took her hand from the table and kissed the back of it. He could feel his brother's glare growing malevolent. "Thad told me about you last night when he came home."

"He did?" she asked, looking back over at him. His eyes were narrowed on his brother before they turned back towards her. "You told him about me?"

"He asked me why I came home so late. I told him it was because I was with you," Thad replied, shooting Zach another look before giving her a half smile.

"I can see that he didn't exaggerate. You're just as pretty as he said you were," Zach said with a mischievous grin.

Thad felt like throttling his brother. Zach had always enjoyed mocking him, knowing exactly how much he would let him get away with. He was pushing it. ".Zach."

"Yes?"

"Could you let go of Penny's hand and come here," he snapped as he stood up and walked out of the kitchen.

Zach raised an amused brow and looked back at Penny. Her eyes were widened at Thad's back. "Don't worry about him, he never likes to be caught doing something he shouldn't. But if I was him, I would try too," he replied, kissing the back of her hand again before releasing it. He turned on his heel and went after his brother.

Penny stood up and brought the hand that he had kissed against her. She could still feel the embarrassed heat on her face. Closing her eyes, she covered her face with her hands. "What did I almost do? I was going to let him kiss me and I didn't want to stop him. I love Anthony. He's always been there by my side since we were kids. He's always loved me and I almost let someone else kiss me," she thought, making her heart clench painfully. With a deep breath, she got herself back under control and turned back towards Dylan, who was watching with wide eyes. "Oh, Dylan, someday, you'll understand. But for now, let's clean up those crumbs on your face," she said with a smile and pushing the incident to the back of her mind.

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Thad waited for Zach in their father's study. The clock on the desk ticked softly. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and looked out of the window towards the side lawn. "You baka! What the hell were you thinking? You almost kissed someone else's girl!" his thoughts yelled at him. He heard the door click shut. Turning he faced Zach, who was leaning against the door. He growled. "What the hell are you trying to do?"

"Why are you so bent out of shape for? I did you a favor by interrupting, didn't I? I mean, you did say she belongs to someone else, didn't you? I saved you for making yourself feel a shit load of guilt, you should thank me instead of thinking of ways to kill me," Zach sighed crossing his arms over his chest. "Or was I wrong, did you want the guilt that would come along with kissing her?"

Snorting, Thad let his fisted hands fall to his sides. "It seemed right at the moment. I do know.that kissing her would have been wrong.she was just listening to me and."

"And her attentiveness and her compassion, couple that with her simple beauty made you act impulsively," the dark haired Merquise supplied. He shook his head. "And you implied last night, there was no attraction. You are a baka."

"WHAT!"

"You. Are. A. Baka."

"And please, tell me why I'm a baka, Zachary?"

"Because you know you are. You're attracted; you just don't want to admit it. That makes you a baka, but at the same time, I can understand why you would be. Penny is unavailable. That ring on her finger says as much, but even I have to admit, she is something to look at. I mean she does have the most incredible green eyes behind those glasses of hers. I barely noticed them once I saw her eyes. One could lose himself. And her skin is smooth and silky too. I realized that when I kissed the back of her hand," said Zach as he laced his fingers behind his head. He disregarded the nasty look his brother was beginning to pin on him. "What are you looking so mad for now?"

"If you didn't have Quat, you would flirt with her in a second, wouldn't you?"

"I flirted with her and I am marrying Quat. I may be taken, but I'm not blind or stupid."

"And what would Quatrina say about that?"

"She's not talking to me or didn't you notice at breakfast this morning? However, if she were, she would slice me into a thousand pieces."

"And yet you'd do it anyway," Thad said as he let the anger drop away. "I suppose I should apologize to her for what I almost did," he said softly.

"She seems like the type that's understanding enough. But if I hadn't come in and interrupted, would you have still kissed her?" Zach asked, arching his brows over his questing ice blue eyes.

Thad looked away, unable to answer.

"I thought as much. Well, I should be going into the office today to see what orders Miss Victoria has for me. More than likely our cousin will give me an earful about a certain someone before getting to the orders. I swear, these past few months she's been under so much stress I'm surprised she hasn't cracked yet. The idiot could try a saint," Zach replied as he opened the door. He paused halfway out and looked back over his shoulder at his pale haired brother. "One word of advice though, Thad. I would watch what you do with Penny. She's a nice girl, not Julia. Remember that if you attempt kissing her again."

He flinched from Zach's last remark. His little brother always knew how to make an impact without trying. He made it easy. "He should've been the blond one since he takes more after dad that I do," he muttered as he looked out the window again. He knew he was more emotional, a little more irrational, like their mother. Sighing, Thad left the study and walked back to the kitchen. He stood there, silent in the door, watching her as she walked back and forth in front of the windows with Dylan. His son was fast asleep in her arms. It made a bitter smile touch his lips before it quickly disappeared. "He usually falls asleep after lunch, but not that quickly."

Penny turned at the sound of his voice. He wasn't looking at her; he was looking at his son in her arms. "When you and your brother left, I cleaned him up before I finished my own lunch. I've only been walking with him the last ten minutes or so." She eyed him as he walked back over to the table and sat down in front of his unfinished sandwich. "Thad?"

"Yes?"

"Did you really tell your brother I was pretty?"

He stared at her back for a moment. "In so many words, yes. I think you're attractive," he replied as he looked back at his lunch. "But you're talent, is extraordinary. And I will do everything I can to help you. I'm sorry for earlier, I let my emotions get the better of me."

She turned around again and looked at him. He wasn't looking at her. Closing her eyes, she walked over to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right, I understand."

Ice blue eyes went up to look into hers. There was a smile on her lips. He smiled as well. "I'm glad that you do," he said softly as he reached up and covered her hand with his. "Why don't you find my mom, so she can take Dylan up to her room for a nap. She'll be in the family room practicing her yoga. I'll be finished in a minute and we can head back to the studio. All right?"

"All right," she said as she felt his hand squeeze hers before pulling away.

He turned his head to watch her leave. Once she was out of the room, he let out a pent up breath and rested his head on the heels of his hands. "She can only be a friend, the sooner you get that through your skull, the better."

Later that night.

On the table between them sat a take out container filled with French fries. Penny took a long sip of her chocolate shake being held by her knees as she sat on the couch. Her eyes were closed as she tilted her head back and rested it against the cushions. One eye peered open as she felt a tap on her forehead. Blue eyes looked down at her, filled with amusement as he dangled her notebook in over her head. "I'm not writing anymore," she said with finality.

"Oh come on, you can't give up yet," teased Thad as her expression grew mutinous. He saw her eyes give the notebook in his hand a baleful glare. "Keep on looking at it like that, the paper will burst into flame."

"That's the whole idea. I just don't have the patience to be a good writer."

"You can do it, come on. Stop hiding in that chocolate shake and write some more."

She gave him a dirty look as he dropped the notebook onto her legs and took the milkshake from between her knees to put it on the table. "You're being a pain, slave driver," she mumbled as she picked up her discarded pencil from the floor. She swung her legs around and grabbed some fries from the table, eating them as she looked down at the papers in her lap.

He grinned when he heard her mutter "slave driver," as he sat down across from her and took a sip out of his fudge brownie milkshake. He picked up the piece he was working on for Dylan and sat down on the floor. He glanced up at her again; this time she was absently sucking the salt off one of her fingers before reaching for another fry. It made his mouth go slightly dry, but his position also gave him a view of the shadows beyond the top button of her shirt. One of his hands fisted on the floor next to him before it relaxed. "It's been way too long since I've been with a woman. I should start thinking about getting a girlfriend so I can get someone else's out of my head," he thought with a quiet sigh.

Every once in a while she felt his gaze on her. She couldn't help but smile though when he had said she was attractive. Most people tended to miss that about her because of her talent. They always heard her before they saw her. The words in front of her blurred for a moment and she covered her yawn with the back of her hand. She could hear the scratching of his pencil on his paper. "Thad?"

"Hmm?"

"What time is it?"

"Quarter past ten."

She leaned forwards, propping her elbows on her knees. "How much more do you have to do?"

Thad looked up at her then. "Not too much more. I might have to make some adjustments later on, but I would have to play it first to hear it to make sure. Would you like to hear me play it?"

She shook her head. "Yes." She stood up and followed him into the other room where the piano was. The warmth radiating from his body made her want to slide closer to him on the bench, but she made herself stay where she was.

He ran his fingers over the keys once before starting to play. His eyes were centered on the sheets of paper in front of him, but at the same time the scent of her tickled his nose. The part she had helped him write came up; he had decided to play it the way she had done it. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her smile when she realized this.

As the last notes were being played, she found herself sitting closer to him again. There was a lump in her throat and her eyes felt hot. When he had finished playing, she let out a pent up breath. "That was so beautiful, Thad," she said looking into his eyes.

"Thank you. You look like you want to cry," he teased softly as he dared to put his arm around her and give her a brief hug. Her hair felt so silky and smooth against nose and lips, and he could smell the scent of warm coconut.

"I know, but it was so.it just made me want to cry," she said, her voice choked with some laughter and tears from his teasing. "It feels so good to be this close to him. He feels so warm," she thought as she unconsciously pressed herself closer to his side.

Feeling her movement, he held her tighter, all the while, reminding himself that she could only be a friend and nothing more. "So, do you think there has to be any changes?"

Glancing up at him through her lashes, she shook her head. "I wouldn't change a thing about it. It was wonderful. I don't think I could have written such a piece, especially not one that long."

She was starting to feel way too good in his arms and the way she was looking up at him now, made him want to claim her lips with his. "Release her before you do something stupid!" he warned himself, but he didn't let go, deciding to prolong this torture he was putting himself under. He had to learn control around her. It was necessary. "I think you could do something like this. You just need a little more work and.a little more patience," he laughed.

"Very funny," she sniffed as she turned her nose up in the air, but his laughter was infectious, making it burst from her lips as well. She decided to snag a little retribution. "Well at least I can sing."

"Ah, but you haven't heard me sing yet, so."

"So."

"Want me to sing, so you can judge?"

"All right. I would like to hear what your voice sounds like, Thad Merquise."

He sat up and took a deep breath. Turning to face her on the bench, he smiled as he sang out the chorus of one of his favorite songs.

"I don't wanna touch you too much baby

'Cos making love to you might drive me crazy

I know you think that love is the way you make it

So I don't wanna be there when you decide to break it"

Penny stared at him wide eyed. His voice was incredible. The soft rasp in his voice made her skin tingle. "I'm definitely impressed," she replied, her voice oddly breathless and warmth in her cheeks.

Thad grinned at her expression. "I told you I could sing." The lyrics had made color stain her cheeks. "Besides being impressed, what did my voice sound like to you?"

"I don't know how to describe it.it was very.um." she trailed off; having a hard time saying the words that she thought accurately described it. She felt her face get warmer. ".Suggestive," she replied, swallowing, ".and.sexy," she finished, not being able to look him in the face. Heat was flooded her features at an increasing rate. She dared to look up at him again to find him smirking.

"You're not the first one to say so, but you are the first one to blush while saying it," he laughed, chucking her under the chin. His fingers lingered for a moment before he let his hand drop to his side. That blush of hers was endearing. It had been awhile since he made a girl's face go bright with color. "But please don't stop blushing on my account, you look cute while doing it."

She couldn't help but giggle softly from his ribbing. "You certainly like to hand out a lot of compliments."

"Only to ones that deserve it."

"And I do?"

"You're pretty. You're talented. I can't find a thing missing."

There was a gentle look in his eyes when he said that. She smiled again, flustered from her looks being complimented more than her voice and musical ability. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything at all, Penny. For only knowing you for two days, I like you a great deal. There's nothing I would want to change about you."

"You're very sweet, Thad."

He ducked his head and rubbed the back of his neck. Smiling sheepishly, he met her eyes again. He remembered his brother's words. "One could lose himself in those eyes. And her skin is silky and smooth." Clearing his throat, he turned his head away from her, hoping, she didn't take notice. His eyes fell on his watch. "Why don't we call it a night? I don't want to have you out late two nights in a row."

"All right. I am a little tired," she confessed as she let herself be helped up from her position. The touch of his fingers twined with hers made sparks shoot up and down her back. Following him from the room, they hurriedly cleaned up their impromptu picnic on the table. "I'm ready," she announced as she held up her guitar and hoisted her satchel over her shoulder.

He took her bag from her and placed it on his shoulder with his. "I'll help you get this out to the car. No need for you to carry everything yourself."

She nodded and followed him out into the softly lit parking lot. She dozed lightly on the way back to her cousin's home. Grateful for his help, she faced him in front of the closed door. "I had another wonderful day, Thad."

"I did too. It's nice getting to work with someone like you. It was a pleasure," he replied, his tone warm.

That voice of his, even when he spoke, flowed over her, making her heart race like it did when he sang to her. "Will we do this again tomorrow?" "Absolutely. I'll come by and pick you up again. Good night, Penny," he said as he boldly wrapped his arms around her and gave her a tight hug.

Closing her eyes, she wrapped her arms around him and returned it. "Good night," she whispered.

He leaned away and looked down into her face. The image of kissing her flashed through his brain, but he squelched the urge and settled to pressing a fraternal kiss on her forehead. "Tomorrow then," he said as he let go of her completely and walked down the steps to his car.

Her skin burned where his mouth had touched. She waved as he drove off. Sighing, she opened the door and went it, closing it silently behind her. She lugged her stuff back to her room. And as she started to get ready for bed, she caught the scent of his cologne. Sniffing her shirt, she felt a rush of sensations. But the light caught her ring, bringing her back to sanity. "Remember Anthony," she sighed reluctantly as she finally crawled back into bed.

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Thad walked through the silent house, stopping once in his parents' room to retrieve Dylan before going up to the third level. His son cuddled against him, still asleep. It made him smile as he put out a whimpering yawn before he was put down in his room that connected to his. "Good night, my son," he murmured, brushing one hand over the crown of moonlit hair before he went back to his room. The smell of coconuts teased his senses as he shrugged off his blue shirt. "Penny," his thoughts sighed faintly. Climbing into bed, he stared at the ceiling as he laced his fingers behind his head. "As much as you like her, you know you can't. Friends are all you can be. Don't do anything that would jeopardize that," he told the quiet room before he finally drifted off to sleep.

A/N: Here's the next installment. I hope you enjoyed. I couldn't resist using a few lines from Def Leppard's "Love Bites." I love that song so I thought it would be a nice addition to this story. XOXO!!