Navigating through the course, Theo acted like a kid, and Chelsea fell in love with him all over again. To hear her daughter squeal with delight and jump around so excited started piecing her broken heart back together again.
“I told you Daddy hit the ball all over the place,” Jordan stated after Theo took fifteen tries to get the ball into the little hole. Luckily, there was no one behind them.
“What?” His innocent expression didn’t fool her, not with the mischief gleaming from his eyes. “Maybe I need those lessons now, huh? Your mom seems to be doing okay. Maybe she should teach me.”
“Fine,” she said, narrowing her eyes at the gorgeous man flirting with her. It had been so long she wasn’t sure she knew how to do it. “Stand like this and hold the club firmly. You’re holding it too loose.”
“Firm, you say?” Inching up behind her, he circled his arms around her body and positioned his hands over hers. “Like this?”
The warmth his arms provided was heavenly. “On your own club, you fool.”
“This way I can feel how you’re holding it. Much better, I think. Now, how do I swing?”
“Take it slow. Don’t move too fast.”
“Not too fast,” he said with his mouth next to her ear. “Gotcha. Nice and slow. That’ll help me win?”
Shivers coursed through her at the breathy quality of his voice and the feel of his cheek pressed against hers. His arm muscles contracted, tightening around her, ensnaring her inside the strength of him. God, she needed some of that strength.
“Yeah, win.” Her own voice rushed out on an exhale.
“Swing it, Daddy. Hit the ball. But not too hard or it go too far again.”
She stiffened at Jordan’s orders, but Theo merely laughed, the sound tickling her ear. And her heart.
“Yes, ma’am.” He adjusted the club slightly and sent the ball down to the end of the course. Before he chased after it, he pushed her hair aside and said, “You still smell like a garden.”
What? He couldn’t say that and walk away. Her mind was already a mess with the whole the-daughter-you-thought-was-dead-is-still-alive thing. Now, he was giving her compliments.
Chapter seven
Thisgameofminigolf was getting interesting. It had been five years since he’d done any flirting, not since Chelsea the summer they met, and he shouldn’t be doing it now. Not when he didn’t have all the answers he needed.
But it was fun. Her reactions were priceless, and the little shiver that had gone down her spine when he’d whispered in her ear hadn’t gone unnoticed. Or how she’d leaned back in his arms when he’d put them around her. Her mouth may have told him to use his own club, but her body had said to stay close. He was listening to her body for the moment.
Seeing Jordan so excited was what made this all right. He and Chelsea would find some time to talk, but for the time being it was important for Jordan to be with her mother.
Unfortunately, the looks some of the people from town had been shooting their way were bursting Chelsea’s bubble of happiness at being with their daughter. Why couldn’t folks simply mind their own business?
Although, to be fair, many of them knew his situation and how much he’d struggled raising Jordan by himself over the years. Their concern was warranted. But unless he wanted to walk around shouting out Chelsea’s personal tragedy, things wouldn’t change.
“I did it. I did it,” Jordan crowed as her ball fell into the last hole and disappeared.
“Great job, sweetheart.” Chelsea’s face beamed with pride and brought her back to life. Or maybe Jordan was the reason for it, along with some solid meals the last few days.
“You go next, Mama. Daddy will take all day.”
After grinning at him, Chelsea gave her ball a tiny whack. The tilt of the course sent the ball straight into the hole.
“Can we go get a toy while Daddy is playing?” Jordan asked, her eyes twinkling. Little imp.
“It won’t take me that long, peanut. Watch.” A miniscule tap. Right into the hole. They didn’t even pretend to make this one challenging.
They returned their clubs to the window and spun the ship’s wheel, Jordan jumping up and down like a pogo stick when she won a token for a free game.
“Now, we hafta come back. Next time, you can win, Mama.”
Jeremy inside did a double take at the wordMama,and Theo wanted to tell him to jump in a lake.
