Page 30 of Chasing the Sun

“It’s okay. I know what my flaws are, and I’m working on them. I can’t keep my little girl under lock and key, though sometimes, I’d like to.”

Finally, his erection had gone down, and he felt like it was safe to get out of the water. “Well, I think I’m ready for bed now,” he said and stood up. He turned to step out of the tub and realized his trunks had slipped down in the back. He’d grabbed the first pair he’d found, and they were a little loose on him.

If he’d been alone, it wouldn’t have mattered, but he didn’t want to flash the nanny his butt crack. He reached a hand around to pull them up, but then he caught eyes with her, and she was staring right at his behind. She didn’t look disgusted, so hopefully, he hadn’t revealed too much. He gave his shorts a quick yank and stepped out.

Then came another problem. In his haste to get into the tub, he’d forgotten to bring a towel. He glanced around the pool deck, thinking Molly might have left one behind, but he was out of luck.

The next thing he knew, Chloe had gotten out too and was standing with her back to him. Rivulets of water ran down her spine to the waistband of her bikini bottoms. He admired the curve of her back, her narrow waist, the flair of her hips, and her tight, round bottom. She walked over to the chair where her towel was, and his gaze drifted down to where her butt cheeks had escaped the confines of the bikini bottoms. The sight was common enough, but on her, it was especially tantalizing.

Then she turned around and might have caught him looking.

“I forgot a towel,” he muttered.

“You can use this one.”

“What about you?”

“After you dry off, you can go inside and get me one.”

“Or we can do it in reverse.” This is by far the dumbest conversation I’ve ever had with a woman!

She laughed. “Are you trying to prove that you’re not the cranky, overbearing guy you described yourself as?”

“Overbearing? I believe I said overprotective.”

“Oops!”

He chuckled, which seemed to be happening more often lately. He was starting to feel more at ease around her, which was nice but also dangerous. He shouldn’t be enjoying her company this much, nor should he have been in the hot tub with her when Molly wasn’t home. And he definitely shouldn’t be picturing her naked.

They stood dripping water onto the floor, seemingly frozen in place. Finally, he said, “Ladies first. I insist.”

She smiled and then started drying off. He knew he shouldn’t, but he watched her every move. First, she skimmed the towel down one arm and then the other. Then she brought it to her chest and tipped her head back, exposing her swanlike neck to his hungry gaze. She slid the towel down her throat and over her breasts, even patting her cleavage. He swallowed hard, grateful she wasn’t looking at him. She was too focused on drying off and didn’t notice how aroused he was getting.

Next, she used both hands to glide the towel down her stomach, her pelvis, and the front of her legs. When she bent forward to reach her toes, the curves of her creamy breasts peeked out of her bikini top.

One would think she was stripping instead of drying off, given how entranced he was. When she stood back up, she laid the damp towel over the back of the chair and said, “There. Now I’ll go get you a towel.”

Can you grab me a defibrillator while you’re at it? “Thanks,” he said, willing his heart rate to calm down.

When she turned to leave, he noticed she hadn’t dried off her back. He almost said something but decided not to. She was dry enough to enter the house, and besides, he couldn’t take much more of this. As if he hadn’t been tempted enough, he watched the sway of her hips as she walked away.

So much for feeling relaxed and ready for sleep!

Chapter 11

The next day, Chloe and Elle were strolling down the sidewalk in Naples’s shopping district when Chloe brought up Bryce.

“So, I met the ex-wife,” she said when they’d stopped in front of the Lilly Pulitzer store.

“Victoria? Isn’t she sweet?” Elle gushed.

Chloe wrinkled up her nose. “Almost too sweet, don’t you think?”

Elle giggled. “You’re such a skeptic.”

“In the cases of exes that are congenial, I am. What does that really mean, anyway? Do they still get together for drinks or an occasional romp?”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous. Come on, let’s go inside.”