Page 50 of Kiss Kiss Bang
“She can swim,” Olivia said as he neared. “Not great. But enough so that you don’t have to go in with her if you don’t want to.”
“Good to know. But I want to go in with her.”
“Okay,” she said, sitting back and relaxing a little. How she’d managed to have such a consuming career while raising a child was amazing. But it was moments like this, where she relaxed and let him take control of the situation, that he loved most.
* * *
Olivia had tried really hard not to stare at him when he walked out shirtless wearing only navy blue swim trunks that hung dangerously low on his torso. He grabbed a metal pole and began to scoop out some leaves from the pool using a net. Every time he brought the pole up, the muscles on his shoulders and biceps contracted. His gait was long and confident and . . . “Holy shit,” she whispered.
“Mommy? You said a bad wod.”
She looked down at her daughter who was right by her feet inside the pool and patted her head, unable to concentrate. “Sorry, sweets. Why don’t you go see if Joey needs help?”
She needed a moment to just enjoy the view. He was tall and lean but still muscular, not in a bulky way, but in an I can kick your ass but look fan-fucking-tastic in a tuxedo sort of way. Very James Bond, she thought as she wiped at the little bit of sweat on her forehead. When he finished he put the pole back and then padded toward her.
“Come in with us.”
“I don’t think I should. Stiches.” She pointed to her chest.
“You can dry the area afterward and you’ll be fine. It’s been two days.”
“I don’t want to risk an infection.”
He sat on the chair next to her and her eyes went to his bare feet. Maybe it was to avoid drooling over all those abs, but she’d never thought of feet as sexy before.
“I hope we’re not crashing any plans you may have had,” she blurted out, suddenly flushed from being too close to him when he wasn’t wearing much.
“I had no plans. Spending a hot day lounging around the pool with you and your daughter is the plan for today. A good plan, by the way.”
They were both looking at each other, the attraction electric, when cold water splashed around them, wetting them both. “Gotcha!” Sophie giggled.
Joey wiped his face dry with his palms and then looked at the giggling little girl. “Of course you picked the biggest water gun I have.”
“You can’t get me. Nani nani poo poo,” she sang, sticking her tongue out at Joey and then running back excitedly. Joey jumped to his feet and grabbed a little plastic water gun from the trunk.
Olivia watched with a huge smile as he filled the little gun and then walked with it in his hand as if he was still in the military. With every step he took forward, Sophie took one back with a nervous little giggle. She tried to shoot him again but her gun had run out of water. “Ha!” Joey said, and then ran full force, grabbing her over his head and making as if he was going to toss her in the pool. “One . . . two . . .”
Sophie was laughing so hard she couldn’t even speak. “And three!” he yelled, but didn’t toss her. Instead, he gently put her back down on her feet and then started squirting her with water.
At one point, Sophie started chanting, “Get Mum. Get Mum.”
Olivia stood up, putting her hands up in surrender. “Oh no. No no no,” she laughed, and when Joey, who’d been aiming the little gun at her, fell silent she looked at him puzzled. His eyes had moved down and she noticed the robe had opened and he was staring at her bikini-dressed body.
The way he was looking at her . . . it wasn’t the stare of a man who gave a shit about stretch marks or scars or stiches. It was a look of lust and want and her pulse spiked. She quickly closed the robe and ducked just as Sophie started wetting her.
It had been the best day.
After the pool, Joey had grilled some steaks and they wanted to eat outside but the putrid stench coming from the ocean was horrible, so they had to move things indoors.
By eight o’clock, Sophie had been so exhausted she fell asleep watching a home renovation show in the living room. Joey had carried her to the room and the two of them tucked her in.
“How about some wine?” he asked, once Sophie was in bed and they were back in the living room.
“Sounds good.” He poured her a glass and he took out a beer for himself.
“I had fun today,” he said.
“So did we. You absolutely made Sophie’s day.”
