Page 58 of Between the Lines

I snap my eyes to hers, searching.

She shrugs. “I kind of gathered that you and your dad weren’t exactly fishing buddies.”

I smirk. “That’s a very polite way to put it, but yeah. You’re right.”

Crickets chirp in the distance, and I move my legs lightly through the warm pool water.

“For the record, I never thought you were like that . . .” She stumbles over her words, tucking her head down. “I never thought you had impure intentions when you offered to help me.” She lifts her face, and the air leaves my lungs.

I force a smile. “Good, I’m glad. I’m happy to be helping you. You’re essential.” My voice sounds robotic, and my throat grows hot with each passing second.

Each second I’m not honest with her . . . about how I feel now . . .

“I know, I know.” Fia rolls her eyes with a small smile. “And for the record, I’m painfully single.”

I blink, confused, my head twitching to the side. What?

Fia’s face reddens as she grips the side of the pool, blurting out, “So like, I won’t be having any guests over. Who wants to date a single mom who barely has time to remember to do laundry?” She laughs, but it’s strained.

“I mean . . .” I say, and our eyes linger a moment too long.

Fia kicks her legs, her pink-painted toes moving in the water. Her lips hang open, and for a moment I think she might say something more, or I might let something slip I shouldn’t.

The water stills between us as the moment stretches.

But then a cry comes through the baby monitor.

Fia’s gaze darts to it, her movement too quick as she pulls her legs out of the water and jumps up, monitor in hand. Her bare feet drip water onto the stone pavers as she takes a step away.

She flashes a sad smile my way. “Duty calls.”

I bob my head, desperate for one more moment with her.

As she walks through the guesthouse door, I call out, “Good night,” but she doesn’t hear me.

I continue to swim, because if I don’t get this energy out of my body, I’m afraid I’m going to go straight to her door and finish telling her what I wanted to say.

Anyone would be damn lucky to date you.

24

Fia

Idon’t have much time to think about the way Caden looked at me, like he was on the cusp of something more. I don’t have time to think about how water beaded across his broad chest as he stood mere inches from me. Or how our discussion rode the line, inching towards something personal, something intimate.

All of it was cut short by a cry that pulled me right back to my reality.

I have a little girl who needs me. Who needs me to not get derailed by confusing feelings over a man who continually keeps saving the day. Eventually he’ll tire of it.

When I spring through the bedroom door, Daisy’s standing in her travel crib, with fat, hot tears streaming down her face, waiting for me.

I switch on the lamp in the corner of the small bedroom and check her gums. They are red and agitated.

“Shit,” I murmur, looking around the room like a First-Time Mom Manual will suddenly appear out of thin air.

Daisy was sleep trained at a young age. It was the only choice I had because if she didn’t sleep, I wouldn’t either, and my opportunity at a full-time job would be out the window. We’ve slept apart for almost a year now, but tonight I break my own rules.

I draw the curtains to darken the living room and make a nest in the corner of the sectional. With her little warm body against my chest, I recline in the cocoon of pillows, and we stay like that until one in the morning when I wake to the sound of Hamburger darting around the space.