We had a wonderful day. We swam and played by the poolside under the morning sun, then still dressed in our swimsuits, she helped me cook and clean while she chatted my ear off. After lunch and a short rest, we went back into the water. It was nearly four when we came back upstairs. I put on the music and we danced like mad savages. It was fun and by the time we stopped we were both panting.
I planned to take off when Christian came home, but Annie was already asking me to stay for dinner. As much as I wanted to hang out with her more, I knew I shouldn't stick around. Not tonight.
"Please?" Annie pleaded. "Daddy will make something good for us to eat and we can stay up late because it's Friday! Please, please, please?" she begged.
“You're a persistent little thing when you want to be," I stated with a grin as I dried off the dishes and placed them into the cabinet. "But maybe not tonight, Annie."
Annie responded by whining and pouting. I knew she didn't mean to be a brat, but she was lonely as hell. She wrapped her arms around my waist and laid her head on my stomach as she pleaded again.
"What's going on?" Christian asked as he stepped into the kitchen.
Wow, he was back early. Thank God, I had slipped my robe over my bikini.
"Daddy!" Annie yelled as she released me and wrapped herself around his waist instead. "We played games and we went swimming and we danced and... and..."
"Oh, yeah?" Christian encouraged. He had no problem listening to Annie's plethora of updates about our day. Instead of being irritated the way I'd seen some busy, high-powered parents get, he always smiled indulgently and paid her his full attention. Often asking her questions and laughing at the silly jokes she'd told until she would wear herself out and simply hug him tightly.
"Can Hannah stay for dinner tonight?" she asked eagerly.
"Annie," I said wearily. "I told you that it wouldn't be a good idea tonight. Maybe another time."
Annie pouted and I watched her little cheeks turn red. I could see her about to lose it, but I gave her a little look and she quickly stopped. As much as I adored her, the tantrum wasn't going to get me to stay. I wouldn't award that behavior and she knew it.
"Please," she begged.
"You could stay if you wanted," Christian said quietly. "We're not doing anything and it wouldn't take me too long to whip up a meal for us."
I chewed my lip indecisively. Christian's expression had softened since the morning, and I couldn't stand the sound of Annie begging me for anything. I wanted to see her smile, not make her miserable. I slung the towel in my hand over my shoulder. "Okay, okay, I'll stay for dinner."
Annie grinned. "Yay!"
I walked over and pinched her nose to make her giggle. "Now go upstairs and get ready for a shower. We need to get that pool water off of your skin and get you into some proper clothes."
"Can I wear PJ's to dinner?" she asked.
"Ask your father."
Christian seemed to think it over before he shrugged. "I don't see why not… as long as it doesn’t become a habit."
"Yes!" she yelled and took off in a flash.
I watched her go before I sighed and shook my head. "That girl is going to make all of my hair gray before its time."
"You're just now discovering that?" Christian asked with a raised brow. "I've been going gray since she was two. Congrats, you get to share in these joyous moments with me now."
I laughed nervously as he laid his briefcase on the table. I hadn’t forgotten about the day before and what we did. My laughter died a sudden death and I intentionally busied myself with wiping down the counters. It was better than seeing that cold look in his eyes again.
"Can we talk?" Christian asked quietly.
I glanced up at him.
His face was serious, but it didn't have as hard of an edge. His hands were buried in his pockets as he looked at me curiously.
I laid the towel down and nodded. "Yeah, sure. Why not?" I tried to smile. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I'm sorry about last night. I shouldn't have let things go that far and make you feel uncomfortable about it."
I stared at him. "I thought maybe you were mad at me," I said quietly.
"Mad? No, I enjoyed it. That wasn't the point." He shook his head as if to wake himself up. "I shouldn't have made a move like that and I shouldn't have let it continue. Look, I don't do relationships. Ever. So I'm sorry if I led you on."
I blinked at Christian. Not ever? I wanted to ask him so many questions, but instead, I choked it all down. I shouldn't feel any pain, but my stomach dropped and suddenly, I felt horrible. I nodded at him and forced a smile. "Oh, I understand. I'm not that great with relationships either," I said, and tried to shrug it off.