By now, the woman’s lying back in the lounger, sated and flushed. Obviously, I can’t approach her at the moment, so instead, I move stealthily to the kitchen sink and wash my hands there. It’s only at this changed angle that I do a double take. Holy fuck, is that …? No way, it can’t be. The last time I saw her, she was just a gawky adolescent with pimples on her chin and a halo of frizzy brown hair.
But now, it seems that my buddy’s daughter has grown up. What was her name again? Angela? Raquel? No, Rachel. Unlike me, Maurice got married right after college, and he and Mina started their family almost immediately. They had a baby girl who was the cutest thing, and I’ve said hello to Rachel over the years. But I never paid much attention, because my energies were focused on the worlds of glamour and beauty and not some gawky, knobby-kneed child. But it seems that the beautiful Rachel Champion is all grown up now, and I’m just the man to show her what comes next.
After a half hour, Rachel sits up and stretches her arms above her head. Her entire body undulates with the movement and I see once again just how generous those curves are. Then, the gorgeous woman gathers her bathing suit and slips her arms through a see-through cover-up before making her way back to the cottage. Damn, that cover-up does almost nothing because I can still see the shadow of her nipples, as well as the dark triangle between her thighs.
But Rachel has no idea that I’m here, so she pulls the sliding glass door open with nary a care in the world. It’s only then that she sees me sitting on the couch, her eyes popping open with surprise.
“Uncle Max?” she squeals, immediately clutching the cover-up even closer.
I nod with a smile.
“Hi, Rachel. Long time no see. And you know you don’t have to call me Uncle Max anymore. We’re both adults now, so just Max is okay.”
Of course, it’s absolutely heinous that this sweet girl even called me “uncle,” but after what I’ve seen, she can call me anything she wants. After all, it seems that we’re both guests at the cottage, and I want to make the most of our joint vacation.
5
Rachel
What the hell is my dad’s friend doing here?
“Hey Rach,” Max Wyndham says with a smile. “Long time no see.”
I gawk at the handsome man, stunned and shocked. Holy shit, did my gorgeous uncle just see what I did by the pool? My cheeks turn bright red when I contemplate the possibility. Oh god, oh god. When did he get to the cottage?
“I-- I didn’t know anyone else was here,” I stammer.
Max smiles mysteriously.
“I just arrived, but I’ll be honest: I thought I was going to have the place to myself. What are you doing here?” he asks.
I stare at him.
“My mom invited me. In fact, I thought I was going to be here by myself. Did you talk to Mina before coming?”
He shakes his head, still smiling. God, Max Wyndham is gorgeous. He’s my dad’s friend from high school, and although he and Maurice couldn’t be more different, they’ve somehow managed to stay the best of friends even after thirty years. But while my dad is portly with a balding head and a big tummy, Uncle Max is the opposite. He must be at least six foot three with broad shoulders, chiseled features, and blue eyes that are sparkling mischievously right now. Oh god, he must have seen.
“It seems our wires have gotten crossed somehow,” the older man says nonchalantly. “I’ve been overseas for a couple months now, so your dad offered me the cottage to unwind the last time we talked. Maurice said nobody would be here.”
I nod.
“Well, I guess my parents didn’t check with one another before offering the cottage because my mom told me that it was unoccupied. Well, it’s okay. I can leave and give you your privacy,” I say in a hurried tone, pulling the wrap closer around my curves. “I know you have a big-time career as a make-up mogul, so I don’t want to intrude.”
The handsome man merely cocks his head.
“No, it’s fine, honey. I have a career, but so do you, right? Do you still work as a midwife?”
My eyes widen a bit. “You know what I do?”
The older man chuckles at my surprise, revealing even white teeth. How old is Max now? Forty-eight? Forty-nine? He must be the same age as my dad, but his vibe is completely different. He’s sexy and compelling, and the strands of grey at his temple only make him appear experienced and worldly. This man is catnip for women, and he knows it.
Meanwhile, Max chuckles again, a low rumble that makes my toes curl. “Rachel, you have to know that your dad never misses an opportunity to brag about his one and only baby girl, right?”