Hmm. Maybe I could turn this baby-sitting gig into an opportunity. A research opportunity. “How old is Daddy?”
“Forty-four. That’s double digits,” she said, licking a drip from the ice pop with satisfaction.
I smiled at her. Forty-four. Okay, older, but not as old as Tom, who was forty-eight if I remembered correctly.
“So do you live with Daddy?” I said.
She shook her head. “I live with Mommy.”
Well, that was one hurdle down. I could deal with the whole kid thing better if the kid wasn’t around all the time. “Where’s Mommy today?”
“Home,” she replied, maneuvering the ice pop to catch another drip.
“Where’s home?”
“Brightwaters.”
Just across the bay. A little too close for my comfort. “Where’s Daddy live?” I asked, pumping the kid shamelessly.
She scrunched her nose. “In a condom.”
I bit back a smile. “Condominium?”
Smiling brightly, she nodded her head.
“Where?”
“Brightwaters.”
Uh-oh. That was a bit close to the ex. I wasn’t sure I liked that.
But I supposed I would have to deal with it, if I really wanted this man. A vision filled my mind of Vince at the party the night before. Those broad shoulders. Dark eyes. Big, big hands.
Oh yeah, I wanted him. At least once. Maybe twice.
Okay, maybe I could do with a whole lot of him.
Besides, this kid business wasn’t bad after all, I thought, sinking deeper into the chair. At least I was out in the sun. Relaxing…
“Ohhhhhh!”
I sat up, just in time to watch the rest of Sophia’s ice pop slide off her stick and into the sand. Shit, now what? The kid looked like she was about to burst into tears. I could handle just about anything but tears.
“Sophie, honey, it’s okay—”
The teary face dissolved, replaced by a frown. “It’s Sophia.”
The kid had moxie, I thought, looking at the way her dark brows pulled together over her perfect little nose. She had some cheekbones, too. Just like her daddy. “Sorry,” I said finally.
She seemed to forgive me immediately, beaming me a thousand watt smile. “You want to help me make a sand castle?”
Actually, I had been thinking about taking a nap. Now I glanced at the assortment of buckets and shovels and wished I could shut my eyes and make it all go away. “Maybe later,” I said noncommittally.
Sophia’s face began to crumble again.
“Okay, okay!”
So that was how I wound up on my knees in the sand. After I had wiped off the green goo from Sophia’s hands the best I could with a wet nap I found in Vince’s beach bag, we set to work.
I remembered that I was quite the little castle-maker back in the day. Granted, I didn’t have these fancy molds that Sophia had to make turrets, or a special shovel to carve out a moat. I was lucky my mother and father even remembered sunscreen when they took me to the beach. But as I dug up sand, molded corners, patted down the sides and carved out a few windows, a memory of me and Hope on the beach emerged. I shook it off, focusing on Sophia, her tongue between her teeth as she shoveled out the moat. It was one of the few jobs she could manage, and she had made a mess of herself in the process. Sand covered her everywhere—her knees, her chin and probably elsewhere, I realized, watching as she tugged at her bathing suit bottom.
“Can we go in the water now?” she said.
There was no way to avoid it any longer, I thought, looking at her flushed face and sandy arms and legs.
“Come on,” I said reluctantly as I stood up.
“Yay!” Sophia yelled, jumping up and racing toward the tide.
“Sophia!” I said, running to catch up.
She stopped, turned around, a puzzled expression on her face.
“Wait for me,” I said meekly.
She did, and within moments, we were both standing with our feet in the tide.
I stared out to the horizon, concentrating on the feel of the surf washing up against my legs…
And nearly fell over when I felt a small, wet hand clasp mine. I looked down with surprise and found a shivering Sophia smiling tremulously at me. As if she had given me her trust, then realized she wasn’t sure if I could be trusted.
A wave rolled up, soaking my thighs and practically bowling Sophia over.
“Be careful,” I said, clutching her hand tighter as she squealed.
I shivered, as an image filled my mind of rushing water, tugging at a listless body…
I couldn’t save her. I couldn’t…
I shut my eyes, but that didn’t stop the images. And when I opened them again, I was surprised to feel them fill with tears.
But that was nothing compared to the fear that clutched at me when Sophia wrenched free of my hand.
“Sophia, no!” I shouted, the lump in my throat thickening to panic as I watched her narrowly escape a crashing wave.
“Sophia!” a male voice echoed, and I felt a wash of relief so strong tears did fall. I swiped at them quickly, before turning to see Vince heading down the beach toward us.
“Daddy! Sage and I are swimming!” Sophia yelled, running up the beach to meet him.
Giving me just enough time to swallow the rest of my tears. God, what was wrong with me? I thought I had this under control.
By the time Vince made his way down to the tide, Sophia now hoisted up on one lean hip, I had it under control.
Or so I thought.
“Is everything all right?” Vince asked, his gaze roaming over me speculatively.
“I’m fine. I just—” I looked around wildly, my eyes falling on Janis, who had stood, as if alerted to some trouble. “I need to get back.”
Then, before I had to answer the questions I saw in his eyes, I jogged back up to the blanket, disentangling Janis’s leash from the umbrella stand and heading quickly back toward the lighthouse and home.
Chapter Seventeen
Maggie
If I can’t make it here, I can’t make it anywhere.
oTm was the one who suggested I
