“Mom!”
A knock comes to the door.
“Or truth or dare,” I add as I stride over and pull it open.
“There won’t be any truth or dare, I promise,” says the far-too-full-of-himself man standing at my door.
“Beau?”
“Hi…Mrs. Hill,” he says, eyeing me up and down, which is a lot more than Greg did.
My face flushes. “Kirsten,” I say, holding out my hand like I’m in a business meeting.
Beau looks at it for a blink.
Please just shake it so I don’t feel dumb.
He does, and his hand feels like solid steel. “Kirsten.” He turns his dark brown eyes on Jack. “You ready, man? Sorry Parker couldn’t come with me. We lost our housekeeper recently, so Parker is making the place shine like the top of the Chrysler Building.” Beau shoots me a look to see if I catch the reference.
I do. “It’s a hard knock life,” I say.
Beau grins. “Exactly! Have a nice evening.”
“Thanks, you too.”
Beau, who’s halfway down the driveway, spins on one heel. “Wish me luck. The wife gets home any minute, and she doesn’t know there’s about to be a party at our place.”
“You’re kidding.” I laugh.
He shakes his head. “Serves her right for running off for a girls’ trip.”
Something disruptive slithers through my center. “Right,” I say.
“Bye, Mom. Hope you and Dad have a nice night.”
“Thanks. Love you.”
I watch, waiting to see if he’s too cool to say he loves me in front of his friend’s dad.
“Love you too.”
My heart melts a little. Today, I needed that more than ever.
CHAPTER6
November
Beau
Chlorine, you’ve got to love it.
I spent my childhood summers at the city pool since we didn’t live close enough to the beach. First as a daily patron—we had a pass—then as a lifeguard during my teenage years. Being in the hotel pool now with Paige, Parker, and a few of his friends from the team is a crisp splash of nostalgia.
I burst through the surface of the water and roar like the sea creature I’m supposed to be. Paige lets out a shriek.
“Where’s her surviving rescuer?” I growl. “Only one remains who can save her.”
“That’d be me,” Lenny says from the edge of the pool. “But I’m not feeling well.”
