“You’re both welcome anytime,” he offered. “Even if I’m not here. I’ll give you the code to the front door and let Franny know you will be using the pool.”
Harley scissored her legs, stirring the water. “I wouldn’t want to impose.”
“Daniel belongs here,” he insisted, keeping his voice low so only she heard. “And I want you to feel comfortable, as well.”
“That’s really nice of you,” Harley murmured. “And Daniel will be thrilled to swim whenever he wants.”
Grant glanced at Harley’s profile, drinking in her fond expression as her gaze lingered on her son. Although Grant knew he should focus on Daniel as well, being close to her awakened strong cravings. He wanted to pull her into hi
s arms and savor the yielding softness of her body. The urge to touch her was only partially sexual in nature. He longed to reconnect with her and physical contact was an easy way to communicate his desire for her company.
“Tell me about your life in Thailand,” he said, curious to discover how she and Daniel had been living.
“Sure, what do you want to know?”
“Start with why you ended up there.”
She smiled. “Aside from the fact that it’s a fascinating country, it has a relatively inexpensive cost of living, which has attracted a lot of foreigners. You can’t beat the tropical climate and modern conveniences are readily available, including good medical care. On top of that, the Thai people are incredibly friendly, and the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. I love how exotic it is with the brightly colored markets and the ancient temples, and yet I can go to an English-speaking movie on a whim.”
“Sounds like the best of both worlds,” he said. “Where did you live?”
“For the last year, I’ve been renting a small house in Hua Hin. It’s a seaside town two and a half hours from Bangkok where Thailand’s royal family built a summer palace in the twenties. It has beautiful beaches, great seafood restaurants and a jazz festival, but what I love most of all is the small-town feel and the sense of community among the expats.”
Grant was surprised to discover that her description stirred his interest. He’d never considered living abroad, but she was definitely making a case for immersing himself in other cultures.
“You sound like you miss it,” he declared, this realization sparking concern about her future plans. How long would he have with Daniel before she was drawn back there?
“I really do. The country’s long history means there’s so much to learn and explore. The slower pace and our simpler lifestyle really allowed me to tap into my spiritual side.”
“I have to admit, you seem very different from the girl I met at the TCC ball.”
Only the tiniest twitch of muscles at the corner of her eyes indicated that she’d been bothered by his use of the term girl instead of woman to describe her.
“Oh, I’m that.” Self-deprecation shaded her smile. “Back then I was spoiled and selfish. Seeing for myself how happy people are who have so much less than I do has really changed my perspective. It’s why I decided to live a much more minimalistic lifestyle. I don’t scrimp on anything for Daniel, but why spend a hundred dollars on a meal when I can visit a street vendor and get a delicious bowl of noodles for a handful of coins?”
Daniel swam up to them and latched on to his mother’s legs. “Come swimming, Mommy,” the boy demanded. “I want you to throw me.”
“I’m a little tired,” she said, glancing Grant’s way. “And I’ll bet he can throw you much farther than I ever could.”
“But I want you.”
Mother and son locked gazes like a pair of dueling swordsmen while an unspoken argument raged between them. The intense bond between mother and son reminded Grant that Harley was raising her child by herself in a foreign country. He—who’d never felt particularly understood or supported by his parents, a fish out of water amongst his own family—envied what Harley had with Daniel.
The strength of his feelings only intensified his discomfort. He’d never expected to have a family of his own and never imagined enjoying such a tight bond with another person. Nor until this minute had he ever wondered what it would be like to know someone so intimately that you recognized what they were thinking. Fearing rejection, he’d shied away from opening himself up to such an potent connection. Yet, by cloaking himself in detachment, he’d achieved the same results. He was alone.
Raw emotion sliced through his chest in the second before Daniel nodded and turned an enticing smile on Grant.
“Can you throw me really far?”
Given Daniel’s reserve toward him when they met at the clinic, Grant had anticipated a long stretch of winning over the boy. Instead, it seemed all it took to get into his son’s good graces was a swimming pool and a willingness to play.
Grant gave his son an impish grin. “I sure can.”
After an hour of horseplay, Daniel and Grant emerged from the pool to torment Harley by shaking their wet heads and showering her with chilly droplets. She shrieked in dismay and scrambled out of reach. Half an hour earlier, she’d retreated to one of the lounge chairs, giving Grant space to be with his son. As much as he appreciated the uninterrupted opportunity to bond with Daniel, Grant felt as if her absence had made his joy incomplete. Now, however, as her rich laughter wrapped around him like an affectionate hug, he basked in the good fortune that had brought her back into his life.
They retreated to the covered patio where his housekeeper had set up lunch. Daniel dominated the meal with chatter about his visit the prior day to the Owens family ranch where Harley’s best friend Jaymes was raised.
“I’m going to be a cowboy when I grow up,” Daniel announced. “Just like Sam.”