The Daddy Box Set

“Better be, but they are some plans. Can’t back out now.”

My curiosity piqued. “What are we doing?”

“Do you remember the jet skis?” Mischief glinted in his eyes.

“What kind of question is that?” I bit back the urge to roll my eyes at him.

“We’re saddling up the old horse today. I’m giving you another chance to beat me.”

“I won the last time!” I protested.

“No, we decided to go for lunch, and you insisted that I acquiesce to your demands. That’s not winning.”

“If you’re going to deny my winning, what’s the point of the competition?”

“I’ll give you a prize if you win, how’s that?”

“Ooh, can it be lunch at the Spanish place?”

“It’s better than that, but you have to win first.”

“Bring it, Skye.”

“Oh, I definitely will. Be good out there; I think you’re really going to like the prize.”

****

&nb

sp; Sand stung my ankles as we stepped onto the beach. Save for a few tiny gusts of wind though, it was the perfect day for the beach.

We left our stuff in the car and headed, hand in hand, to the jet ski guy. “I haven’t seen you guys for a while.”

He was actually smiling at us as he retrieved our life jackets and keys.

Weird.

James pressed a kiss to my hair; some unfamiliar emotion was flashing in his eyes. It was gone before I could place it. He gave my hand a final squeeze and reached for his wallet. “Go ahead, angel. I have to settle things here.”

James didn’t have to ask me twice. I wanted that prize that he had promised. I had no idea what it was going to be, but if it was better than lunch at the Spanish place, I was winning it. “You’re on, Skye.”

I fastened the straps on my life jacket as I jogged to the yellow and purple jet ski that I favored, revving it up and shooting into the water before James had even started heading toward the shore.

It had been a while since we’d last been out here, but the smooth glide of the watercraft over the gentle swells was still familiar. I weaved around a little to get the hang of it, then spun my jet ski around in a spray of water to watch James approach.

I marveled at the man sitting astride the blue jet ski. The tanned, unmarked skin that I knew to be so soft under my touch. The hard ridges of his delectable body. The way his eyes shone as he skidded to a stop with precision just about a yard away from me. Lips that I would never stop kissing if I had a choice pulled up into a confident smirk.

More than anything, I marveled at the fact that he was mine. That he had been for two years and one month to the day. It was the second anniversary of the day he had first told me that he loved me, and we’d gotten my father’s blessing.

I doubted that he even remembered, but I would never forget that day. It was burned into my memory as the start of the best days of my life.

His deep, smooth voice pulled me from my wonderment. “Same terms as always. First one from the buoy and back to the other wins.”

“You’re on, Skye. Try not to get too wet back there.” I spun my jet ski with another spray of water and raced off, focusing my attention on winning that prize instead of the perfect specimen of masculinity that I would be winning it from.

James drew even with me as we approached the first buoy. I pulled back on the throttle and gunned it. The wind felt amazing in my hair. I felt freer and more relaxed than I had in a long time.

There was something about being out on the open ocean with a gassed-up watercraft and the love of my life hot on my heels that was positively exhilarating.