Page 43 of Tight Ends & Tiaras
Fuck, that looked dangerous.
Johnny and I watch her from the bow. Sienna gives me a big, beautiful smile that’s every bit as bright as the sun. Damn, she’s a cool chick.
“Dude!” Johnny yells at her. “You’re kicking ass, Sienna!”
I elbow him. “Don’t distract her.” But hell yeah, I’m proud of her.
“I want a turn,” Janelle shouts into my ear.
I turn to see her wobble toward me with Lily in her arms. Swear to God, my life flashes before my eyes. If Olly were to hit a rough patch of water, those two could go careening over the edge.
Sweat breaks out on my body, and I ignore my thundering heart as I take the baby from her and sit my ass down. With my other hand, I grab the back of Janelle’s shirt. “Hold on to the edge of the boat or sit down.”
I know she’s trying to balance like Johnny, but she doesn’t realize his thighs are braced along the bow.
She rolls her eyes at me and clings to Johnny’s arm, which works for me.
I don’t bother lecturing Janelle. She won’t listen to me anyway. She dismisses every concern I have like I’m a dunce. Maybe I am. But I don’t think it’s wrong to want to protect Liliana and Janelle from getting hurt.
Not that Janelle is a priority exactly, but she is Lily’s mama, and having grown up without a mom, I would never wish that on my daughter.
The kid kicks and squirms, eager to get out of my arms. I hoist her up so she’s standing on my legs and can get a good look at the lake, but I wrap an arm around her so she’s secure.
“Check out Sienna, baby. Are you gonna ski like her?” I soften my voice, and she stills, so I keep going. “Bet you’re gonna be super athletic, huh? You’ve got powerful legs. You could snowski or waterski. Or be a kicker on my football team.”
I chuckle at that thought. I’m sure I’d have my heart in my throat the whole time I’d watch her do any of those activities, hating the thought she could get hurt, but it’s probably unreasonable to cover her in bubble wrap and lock her in her room until she’s thirty.
Sienna does a few more tricks and then drags her sexy ass onto the boat. What was that old movie? Fast Times at Ridgemont High? My older cousin was always talking about that movie and how hot Phoebe Cates looked in a bikini. But that actress has nothing on Sienna. This girl is so effortlessly sexy, I want to eat her up.
She tosses off her life vest while chatting with Olly and Johnny, who are both complimenting her crazy skills, but I’m so entranced by her, I don’t hear their conversation.
Water slicks down her tight little body, and then she pulls her hair out of that wet bun, and it goes trailing down her shoulders. Over her mouthwatering tits that are pebbled so hard, they’re like beacons through her wet bikini top.
But then—wakeup call—my kid, who’s still standing on my thighs, nearly takes out one of my nuts, reminding me that I can’t be perving on Sienna when I have bigger fish to fry.
Sienna towels off, laughing and exclaiming how much fun she had on the water. We circle back for her other ski, and Johnny scoops it up and starts explaining what Janelle needs to do.
When Sienna drops down next to me, I lean toward her. “Where the hell did you learn to ski like that?”
The question must catch her off guard because she nibbles her bottom lip. “My dad’s friend. He toured, doing exhibitions and competitions.” She shrugs. “I spent a summer in Tahoe when my parents were in the middle of their divorce, and I got ski lessons from my dad’s buddy.”
Huh. Not what I thought she was gonna say. “As great as you ski, that’s kind of a shitty tradeoff.”
“The worst part is I didn’t know they were getting a divorce until I got home and all of my dad’s stuff was gone.”
Damn.
“Sorry to hear that, sunshine.” I hook my arm around her shoulders and pull her in for a hug. I don’t know why I’m always hugging this woman. I’m not exactly known for being affectionate, but I hate seeing anything other than a smile on her beautiful face.
Which reminds me... “What was that quote you yelled before you jumped in the lake earlier?”
“A line by Ralph Waldo Emerson. To me it means living life to the fullest. Without regrets. Without always looking in the rearview mirror or questioning your intentions.”
There’s something really attractive about a confident woman. Not to mention I love that she’s so damn smart.
Lily turns to her and claps. “Wok. Wok. On wa-wa.”
Sienna and I stare at each other as we try to decipher what the midget said. “Walk on water?” Sienna says. “Oh, she saw me ski and thinks I walked on water. Aww.” She takes Lily from my arms and points out to the lake. “See that guy over there? He’s skiing. It’s like walking on water.”
