“I’ll bring some when I come back.” I keep my eyes on Theo, where it’s safe.
The kid asks more questions than a standardized test, which can get exhausting, but I’ll take them over having to face his babysitter. Suddenly, he jumps and turns around to run back over to her. Of course, today is the day he doesn’t want to sit here and drill me about superheroes.
“Joshlyn! Finn’s gonna bring us ice cream!” he says, making Josslyn laugh.
The sound makes my chest ache a little. I force myself to look at her, and once again, struggle to breathe. She’s wearing a red one-piece bathing suit that dips to the valley of her breasts. It’s a conservative swimsuit, one even my mom would wear. But dear God, on Josslyn, it looks obscene. Even more so now that I know every dip and curve underneath it. I try to fight myself from drinking her in, but I fail miserably. Fuck. Everything about this woman is…
“Here you go,” Liam says suddenly, and tosses me a bottle of water. I catch it midair and thank him.
“Ice cream is forafterwe eat our lunch,” she says sternly, looking at Theo before she glances over at me. “Hey, Finn.”
“Hey.” I clear my throat. She didn’t miss me checking her out. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
Jesus.What is wrong with me? I uncap the water bottle in my hand and take a small sip. Maybe drinking will keep me from saying stupid shit until one of us leaves the kitchen.
“I didn’t know you’d be here either.” Her eyes sparkle as she says it, and I swear, she’s picking up on my discomfort. She smiles at me, then Liam. “Have fun golfing.”
“Have fun pretending you’re a mermaid.”
She tilts her head. “How am I supposed to do that if Prince Charming is going golfing?”
I nearly choke on my water.Is she referring to me?I cap it and cough once, then twice, and finally, I clear my throat. Liam and Josslyn are both looking at me. Thankfully, Theo the inquisitor is busy putting his toys in a bag.
“I’ll only be gone a few hours. Maybe we’ll have time to role-play when I get back,” he says, making her laugh hard.
I, on the other hand, am now glaring at him.Role play?This man is engaged! The words are on the tip of my tongue when Josslyn speaks again.
“I guess I know what I’m getting you and Sarah for your wedding.”
“Oh, she’ll love that.” He laughs again.
I still don’t find it funny.
Josslyn snorts a laugh and reaches her hand out. Theo automatically takes it with a huge smile on his face, and I realize he’s completely enamored with her. Of course, he is.Who the fuck isn’t?
“Let’s go,” she says. “The sun is beaming today and your mom wants us out before noon.”
“Why?” Theo argues as they start walking to the back door.
“Because you get red as a tomato.”
“So?”
“Sunburns hurt.”
“Do you get sunburned?”
“Not as easily as you.” She opens the door and Theo steps out, dropping a few toys, which she bends over to pick up. I’m going to die in this kitchen.
“Why not?” Theo asks.
“Because my skin is much darker than yours.”
“Your skin isn’t...” His words are cut off by the glass French door shutting between us, but I can’t seem to tear my eyes away as I watch them.
When they get to the edge of the pool, Josslyn bends over and whips her hair forward to gather it. She puts it in a messy bun and starts laughing at whatever Theo is telling her. I watch as she lathers him up with sunscreen, even lifting his shirt before she applies some on herself. Everything she does is riveting—the way she laughs, talks, and reprimands him.
“Uh, Finn?”
