Page 23 of Single Dad Problems
“Give me five minutes, big man. You guys can go outside and collect a few shells before we go if you want.” Ben reached over and gently touched the top of Oliver’s head. “Whoever finds the coolest shell can drive the boat.”
The look of horror on Oliver’s face made me cackle. He winced and shot me a look before holding his hands up to Ben like he was trying to talk him off a cliff. “Children our age cannot legally drive a boat. You could be cited.”
“Ollie’s out! That makes it easier for me!” Beth practically flew out of her chair to get outside first.
Oliver watched the other kids run after Beth and hesitated. “Should I go, too?”
I wanted to pull him close and hug him tight but I forced myself to squeeze my thighs instead. “If you want.”
Noah stuck his head back inside the front door, cutting off a customer trying to leave. “C’mon, Ollie! Let’s go!”
Luke caught my eye and smiled as Oliver hurried after his friends. “You look like you’re going to cry. You okay?”
Groaning, I dabbed at my eyes and sucked in a shaky breath. “It’s just… He’s never reacted this way to any other kids. I feel like I’m watching magic every time he goes with them to do kid things. I’m always worried that I’m not doing enough to make sure he has a childhood. When I see him with your kids, though, I feel like maybe I’m not fucking everything up.”
“You’re not fucking anything up. He’s a good kid, Callie.” Ben reached into his pocket and pulled out a few bills before dropping them on the table and nodding to Cole. “You know the drill. I’m going to grab our stuff so we can go. Everything feels better on the water.”
Cole reached over and cupped the back of my neck. “We all feel like fuck ups sometimes. The proof’s in the puddin’, though, Cupcake. We’ve got four great kids.”
I took a few moments to regain my composure and leaned into his grip. His fingers seemed to find every tense spot on my neck and I had to bite my lip to keep from begging him to continue rubbing me. The way he dug in just right had my brain vacationing on a tropical island. I forgot everything and could only watch in amusement when Fiona saw the cash on the table and frowned at Cole.
“I’m supposed to pretend this is from you again, huh?”
Cole nodded. “Yep. We all know the drill.”
“He’s the only boss I’ve ever had that hasn’t wanted credit for doing anything extra for his staff.” She looked at me next.“He tips hundreds each time he eats out front. As if he doesn’t already pay us more than anywhere else in town would. He’s a good one. If you’re leaning towards any one of these guys, choose Ben.”
Luke scoffed. “He’s alright but he’s not me.”
Cole dug his fingers in just a bit harder and my eyes nearly rolled. “Neither of them have my fingers. Fingers that I happen to know you thoroughly enjoy.”
I gasped, Fiona howled with laughter, and Luke scowled at his best friend. I couldn’t form words fast enough to deny what he’d said, especially when I’d just turned red from head to toe.
“I meant the massage, perverts.”
I covered my face with my hands. “Do me a favor and toss me overboard once we’re out to sea.”
20
Callie
I had a quote from Jacques-Yves Cousteau strumming its way over my brain while I sat at the front of Ben’s boat.The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.Despite living so close to the beach, since becoming a single mother, I might as well have lived in a landlocked state with how much I set foot in the water. I’d been missing out.
I arched my back and tipped my head back so I could soak up all the sun I could get. The warmth on my skin made my eyes heavy and my heart full. The light spray from the sea kissed my bare legs and the salty ocean smell filled my senses. I could feel the sea casting its spell over me.
The kids were at the back of the boat with Luke and Cole and I were alone and at peace for what felt like the first time ever. I trusted them to keep Oliver safe. I trusted Ben to not crash the boat and drown us all. I just felt…content.
I fell asleep at some point and only woke up when Ben sat down next to me. I had a moment of panic when I saw it was him next to me, meaning there was no one controlling the boat.
He smirked at me while squirting a dollop of sunscreen into his palm. “I dropped the anchor so the kids could fish. Nothing to worry about. I didn’t mean to wake you up; I just wanted to make sure you didn’t burn.”
The way the three of them seemed so concerned about me burning in the sun made me want to melt. Even if they were only doing it to touch me; it still made me feel so cared for. And desired. So painfully desired when I had no right to focus on those feelings.
Ben knelt over me and held my gaze as he lowered his hands to my stomach. His large hands covered so much of my skin and the warmth from them was somehow more powerful than the sun. I felt his heat radiate through my body and when he stroked his thumbs over the center of my mid-section, I couldn’t suppress a full-body shiver.
“Jesus, Callie. You can’t react like that when I touch you and expect me to look at you purely as my kid’s teacher.” He stroked one hand higher, until his fingertips caught on the bottom of my bathing suit top. The other hand trailed lower to my hip. “Do you dream of that night? Because I do. Every fucking night.”
I couldn’t form words. I stared up at him as he hovered over me, rubbing lotion into my skin until I thought I’d die. I could hear the kids laughing from the other end of the boat and it should’ve been all I needed to push him away.
