Jordan
“Pack sandwiches. We’re taking the boat out today.”
I haven’t sailed since last summer and I’ve been itching to get back out on the water. A nice wind kicked up today, giving me the perfect excuse. It’s a cover. Frankly, I need to have Riley to myself again.
Those big blue eyes search my face. “But what about the treehouse?”
She looks so unsure I almost give in. Those eyes have a power over me that’s borderline frightening. “The treehouse can do without us for a few hours.” When Riley makes a promise, she keeps it and she promised Eli a treehouse before we leave in a few days.
Riley puts Maisie back in the playpen, pets her head. “I feel bad for Eli.”
The woman I’m falling hard for has a heart as big as the sun that’s barely visible on the horizon behind the bank of clouds rolling in.
She lifts the sunglasses I bought for her yesterday in town off her T-shirt and puts them on. I nearly pissed myself laughing when she tried to give me money for them. Sometimes I can’t believe she’s real, that this world hasn’t ruined her yet.
“We just took care of his daughter for three months. We’ve done all that we can do for him.”
She looks so cute when she’s pensive I walk over and tip up her chin, kiss her gently. She rakes her fingers across my chest and I instantly get hard. I don’t know what it is about this woman but her touch breathes life into me.
An image flashes in my mind…Riley holding a baby, our baby, and my pulse races. For a single suspended moment so much joy explodes in my chest that it robs me of oxygen. Then I remember I can’t have kids and it all comes crashing down. Kids, a family––I’ve never even considered a family. Not with my history.
“Turkey or ham?”
“Turkey.”
The day for us to return home is quickly approaching and with each passing hour I’m getting a growing sense of unrest. Of something unresolved.
“Where are you two going?” Eli asks when he sees me prepare the boat. I push the cooler of drinks onto the deck, the bag of food Riley packed for us.
“Taking the boat out,” is all I tell him. “Did you find a nanny?”
We haven’t been able to leave for that reason. He can’t take care of her alone, and I would never leave Maisie with him without one.
Eli nods. “A retired nurse who lives in town.”
“Good.”
“You guys are leaving soon?” He looks off, at the horizon. Something in his voice gets my attention. We’ve had a fractious relationship since the day we met. First friends then rivals, then friends again. All because of Laine.
“Have to. I have to get back to work.”
I suspect he was dragging his feet on the nanny to keep us here. Not that Eli would ever admit it, but he’s lonely and having someone, anyone, but especially a woman like Riley in the house changes everything. Nothing seems hopeless anymore. I know from first hand experience.
“We’ll be back soon Eli. Promise,” Riley tells him as she walks past him and boards the boat.
He nods.
I know how he feels. I know that sense of loss, and how it colors everything else. But I finally have a chance at happiness, and I’m not going to give it up.
Riley
“Jordan…”
“Hmm.”
We didn’t get very far. We sailed around the bay, found a deserted cove, and dropped anchor. We’ve been below deck since. The man is insatiable. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, but I would like to see sunlight once in a while.
I rake my fingers over his chest, circle his nipples, and he’s fully erect again. “I’m going for a swim.”
“Water’s cold.”
“I don’t care. I haven’t gone swimming in…forever.”
His head comes off the pillow. “Did you bring the red swimsuit?”
His smirk makes me laugh. “So you did like it.”
“Too much, baby. I liked it too much. I got hard in public.”
A grin spreads on my face. “I’m flattered.”
“You should be,” he grunts into the pillow. “That doesn’t happen to me, ever.”
“Come on,” I say, stroking his erection.
“You can’t leave me like this,” he practically howls.
How does he not have chaffing on his dick? It’s the hardest working organ on his body. I’ve had more sex in one week with Jordan than I had in the two years I dated Jimmy.
“You’ll survive. Come with me.”
On deck I watch the bank of clouds in the distance creep closer. The weather is mercurial here on the Cape, especially the wind. It can cut you in two on a gusty day.
Taking my long-sleeve T-shirt off and my shorts, I jump in the water in my bra and underwear. The red swimsuit is tucked in the drawer at home because someone led me to believe it was too sexy.