Unraveled (Unwrapped and Unraveled 2)

"Advanced. No worries."

"Okay." He watched them play with way more energy than most adults had this time of day. "Your kids get up early."

"You have no idea. They're so excited to surf with you today. They were awake before dawn."

"Sorry."

"Don't be. I'm up that early anyway. Besides, you get to play babysitter for a couple hours, saving me from having to drive them over to my mother's early this morning. I owe you."

"It's no problem."

She slanted a glance in his direction. "You say that now. Wait 'til you spend some time with them."

He grinned. "I like kids."

"Spoken by a man who clearly doesn't have any. You have no idea what you're in for."

"I can handle them."

She swept her hands toward the two digging a hole in the sand. "Have at it, then. I'll come check on you in awhile, make sure they haven't buried you."

He let out a snort, turned and walked toward the kids.

"Hey, you two. Ready to surf?"

Jeff leaped to a standing position. "You bet I am. Though I already know how. I'm pretty good at it, too."

"I don't really know how," Zoey said, her hair wavy like her mom's and pulled back in the same kind of ponytail. She had Greta's green eyes too.

"I'll make expert surfers out of both of you. Your mom said you're both great swimmers?"

Zoey nodded. "She taught us when we were babies. Plus we had to take lessons every year."

"She wouldn't let us anywhere near the ocean until she was sure we weren't going to drown," Jeff added with a typical adolescent eye roll that communicated just how uncool he thought his mother was.

"Your mom is smart. Safety always comes first. You'll need to take that seriously or we won't even step foot in the water. Got it?"

Jeff sobered. "Got it."

"Me too," Zoey said.

"Good. Do you have boards?"

"Yeah. They're kind of old, though."

He tousled Jeff's hair. "An old board's the best kind. I'll go get mine, we'll pick up yours, then we'll get started."

They retrieved their boards and climbed into their wetsuits. Not knowing their skill level, Mitch started with the basics. He wanted to be sure they clearly understood safety first. And despite Jeff's protests, he insisted on life jackets for both the kids, even though Greta said they were strong swimmers. He didn't want to have to worry about the kids falling off the boards and drowning. He wanted to concentrate on their surfing skills. Once he was comfortable with their swim skills he'd abandon the lifejackets.

He went over the basics, then they climbed on their boards and went into the water, swimming out past the waves. He had them sit on the boards and stayed behind them to watch, telling them to catch a wave and ride it in so he could test their adeptness. Jeff got up on the first try and rode the wave all the way into shore with no problem. Zoey was a little off balance and fell after a few seconds, but she was a determined little thing. She turned her board around and paddled like a dynamo right back out there and tried it again. And again. The girl never gave up like a lot of kids her age would. And Greta was right, especially about Zoey. These kids were strong swimmers.

Jeff got up every time, had an obvious natural talent, so Mitch worked more with Zoey while keeping one eye on Jeff, who really didn't need to be watched. After working with Zoey and teaching her how to feel for balance, she did better.

And he was having a great time. They were nice kids, polite and exuberant. After a couple hours they took a break and found a snack shack for something to eat and drink under one of the shady tables.

"You're doing great," he said, taking a sip of soda.

"Thanks," Jeff said. "I really like surfing but we don't get to do it much."

"I'm sure your mom is busy and doesn't have a chance to take you out on the waves."

"She does what she can. She used to take us out more before..." Jeff dipped his head down and reached into his bag of chips.

"Before our dad left," Zoey finished, taking a loud slurp through her straw.

"I'm sorry. That must be hard on you." He didn't want to pry and ask questions about their father.

Jeff shrugged. "He was mean. We don't miss him at all. It's no big deal."

It was a big deal and Mitch knew it. "You have a great mom, though."

"She's really cool," Zoey said. "But she doesn't have a lot of time to do stuff with us anymore. Not like she used to. And even then, Dad never wanted her to play with us. He liked all the attention."

"No, he needed all the attention," Jeff finished with a sneer of disgust.

Such grown-up observations from children. And clearly, their father was a dickhead. He'd like to track the guy down and make him suffer for hurting his children that way. Kids shouldn't have to grow up this quickly. Childhood was fleeting enough. He'd had a great childhood, with incredible parents. Security and love had allowed him to dream big and reach for the stars.

Every kid should have the opportunity to achieve their goals.

He could give Greta that for her children. All he had to do was convince her.

"So what do you want to do when you grow up, Jeff?"

Jeff tilted his head toward Mitch. "Not sure yet. I like the water a lot, but not sure I want to be a surfer. Maybe a marine biologist."

Mitch nodded and grinned. "You live in the right place for it."

"Do you know how endangered some of the species in our oceans are, how the effects of global warming are harming the ecosystems of our seas?"

Mitch gaped at Jeff. This kid was twelve. "Uh, yeah, I am aware of that. I'm just kind of shocked that you are."

Jeff laughed. "Just because I surf doesn't mean I'm stupid, Mitch."

Mitch snorted and shoved his shoulder against Jeff's. "Clearly."

"I want to be in the Olympics," Zoey said. "Swimming. I like to swim and Momma says I'm really good at it. But we can't afford the lessons to take me to the next level."

Geez, both these kids were incredible. "Well, you're still young enough, Zoey. There's still time."

She nodded and slurped again from her straw.

After their break they went out in the water again. It wasn't until Greta tracked them down that Mitch realized it was nearly four in the afternoon. They'd only stopped one other time for lunch, and otherwise had spent the entire day play

ing in the water.

Mitch'd had a great time with the kids. They were fun, attentive, and whip smart. It had been easy to spend the day with them.

Greta tossed towels at the kids. "Time to shower and change. You still have chores to do."

"Okay, Mom," Jeff said, then turned to Mitch and stuck out his hand. "Thanks for the surfing lessons today."

Mitch shook his hand. "You didn't really need them. You're a natural."

His cheeks pinkened. "Thanks."

Zoey threw her arms around Mitch's waist. "I had fun, Mitch. Thank you."

Mitch's heart swelled with an emotion he couldn't name as he hugged her back. "You improved a ton just in one day, miss."

She grinned. "Thanks."

The kids ran off toward the motel, leaving Mitch with Greta.

"You didn't have to spend the entire day with them. An hour would have been plenty."

He turned and walked with her down the beach, letting the sun dry him. "I had fun with your kids today, Greta. They're incredible children."

She tilted her head toward him and smiled. "I think they are. But thank you. I appreciate you giving them some attention. I'd like to give them more."

"You're busy keeping up the motel."

"That's no excuse. They deserve better."

"I can give that to you, you know."

Her smile died. "I don't want to talk about it. I'm not selling the motel to you."

He knew he was pushing it and the timing was off. "Sorry. We won't talk about that." Not right now, anyway.

They walked in silence, side by side, and Mitch had the ridiculous urge to grab her hand and stroll along the sand like lovers.

But they weren't lovers. They weren't dating. They weren't...anything. He had a strong attraction to Greta, but that was physical. Plus, she had something he wanted. That was most likely the lure, and nothing else.

When they returned to the motel, she turned to him. "Again, thank you. I've never seen them so happy. They really enjoyed themselves. I owe you."

"Then have dinner with me tonight."

Her eyes widened. "I...can't."

"Why? Are you working tonight?"

"Well...no. But I have the kids."

"Good. They can come along. You can take me to one of your favorite eating places. It'll be fun."

Fortunately for him, Zoey happened to walk out at just the right moment.

"Can we, Mom? Can we have dinner with Mitch? We can take him to the Galley."