Emily was waiting on the porch with the group mother, Miss Ann, wearing a ruffle-trimmed swimsuit featuring the Polynesian Disney princess, Moana. She popped up when she heard the car turn into the driveway, and Rafe grinned at the eager look on her face. She raced towards the car blindly, hands held out in front of her.
“Rafe! CeCe!” She squealed, and Rafe scooped her up and swung her around in a circle before planting her on his hip.
“Hey, kiddo, you ready to go swimming?”
She nodded her head exaggeratedly.
“Hi, Emily,” CeCe said, and Rafe took her hand and placed it on Emily’s arm. CeCe smiled and stroked her.
“I couldn’t get her to put clothes on over her new swimsuit, but she has an outfit in her bag,” Ann explained, passing the backpack to Rafe.
“I like your swimsuit, Em. Have you seen that movie?”
“I watch it every day,” she admitted, and Ann rolled her eyes in agreement. “I can remember it, so it’s okay that I can’t see the TV when I watch it.”
“It’s one of my favorites, too,” Rafe said in mock seriousness.
“Really?” Emily wrinkled her nose and pulled back as if to search his face for a hint of sarcasm.
“Well, it’s not as good as The Little Mermaid, of course, but it’s definitely my second favorite ocean-based Disney movie.”
Emily giggled, and CeCe smiled widely at their playful interaction. She wondered again how he got to be so good with young children. Did he have any nieces or nephews? She wanted to ask him more about his family, but he seemed reticent. What could possibly be worse than what she’d told him about her family?
The public pool was crowded when they got there, the promise of good weather bringing out hordes of families whose children were already getting bored and antsy a few weeks into summer vacation.
Rafe popped the trunk, and Emily and CeCe stood by curiously as he pulled out things that squeaked and squealed and gave off the scent of new plastic as he jostled them. Rafe grabbed one of Emily’s arms and scooted the pre-inflated floatie up to her bicep.
“I’m not a baby,” she whined. “I know how to swim. I don’t need floaties.”
He leaned down and pinched her nose. “Maybe so, but since I have two of you to watch out for, I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“Do I have to wear floaties?” CeCe giggled.
Rafe growled and grabbed her arms, dropping them over his head as he kissed her. “You just hold on to me and I’ll be your lifesaver.”
Rafe slung CeCe’s bag over one shoulder and his own over the other, then reached out to take their hands. They walked in a wide line — Emily, Rafe, CeCe, and Dexter, up to the front window. Rafe paid for day passes for all of them, then they shuffled through the narrow opening into the pool area. They found an empty lounge chair with shade for Dexter and dumped their bags. CeCe pulled out a bowl and filled it with water from a bottle, setting it in front of the service animal.
“Let’s get in!” Emily cried, tugging at Rafe’s hand.
“Hold on, Emily. I think we should put on some sunscreen first. You don’t want to get a sunburn.” CeCe reached for her bag and pulled out a can of spray. Rafe’s face drooped when he saw it, swallowing his fantasy of rubbing lotion all over CeCe.
“Rafe, can you help?” CeCe asked, holding out the can. He took it and doused Emily in a liberal coat of sunblock while she wiggled and squirmed under the cold spray.
“Next!” He turned back to spray CeCe, only she was already smoothing on a coat of lotion from another bottle she had unearthed when he wasn’t looking.
“I like this kind better, but I thought the spray might be easier for Emily,” she explained, but Rafe wasn’t listening. She had stripped off the flimsy cover-up and was stroking her hands up and down her long, tan legs, rubbing in the lotion, the coconut fragrance perfuming the air. Her hot pink, halter-top tankini revealed nothing and everything at the same time. Rafe gulped as his eyes roved over the miles of exposed skin and lingered on the feminine curves accentuated by the snug fabric. It was modest, as far as swimsuits went, but it still left Rafe feeling things that seemed inappropriate for a half angel. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, after all.
“Will you do my back?” CeCe asked, and Rafe grunted, taking the bottle from her. She gathered up her hair and held it on top of her head while Rafe poured out a dollop of lotion. He warmed the lotion between his palms before sliding his hands slowly over the skin above and below her halter top. His fingers shook as he touched her, and lust and longing swirled in his belly.
“All done,” he groaned after just a few seconds. He probably hadn’t done a great job of rubbing it in, but he didn’t dare linger. He was glad she couldn’t see the way his face and body were reacting.
“Thank you. Do you want me to do yours?”
Rafe’s stomach clenched, and his knees wobbled a little bit at the thought of her soft hands massaging lotion into his back, and he couldn’t resist the offer. “Sure, thanks,” he said, handing her the bottle, his voice hoarse.
She rubbed the lotion in quickly, her movements efficient and nonsexual, but the feel of her hands on his skin still sent quivering jolts of pleasure straight from her fingers to his center.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Emily squealed, distracting Rafe’s fantasies.
“Hold your horses, short stuff!” Rafe grabbed Emily by the waist and gave her a tickle that sent her squirming then scooped her up under his arm. He grabbed CeCe with the other hand and rushed them over to the water.
On impulse, Rafe tossed Emily into the pool then dragged CeCe with him as he jumped in after. Their surprised screams punctuated the air as their bodies broke the water, sending a splash of water spraying in every direction.
CeCe gasped and sputtered, “Rafe, I can’t believe you did that!” as soon as her head popped up out of the water. She wiped the water from her eyes and slicked back her sopping wet hair from her face, looking shocked and flabbergasted.
Rafe guffawed as he pulled her in and kissed her nose, reaching out for Emily simultaneously. “What? You’re not one of those prissy girls that likes to get in slowly, are you?” CeCe just rolled her eyes at him. Her hands met his chest and slid down, and her fingers trembled at the feel of his smooth muscles. He was trim but firm, with a bulge under each pectoral and slight ridges cutting across his abdomen.
“That was fun! Do it again, daddy!” Emily cried out, and the familial title stunned him. It didn’t mean anything, Rafe told himself, gulping. It was just a mistake. A slip of the tongue. But he couldn’t ignore the intense feelings that swelled up inside him.
CeCe quirked her lip. She’d noticed Emily’s slip as well, and she wondered what Rafe thought of it.
He didn’t say anything, he just grabbed Emily and hauled her up onto the ledge of the pool then climbed out beside her. “You asked for it!” he hollered, lifting her up above his head and tossing her into the water. She squealed and laughed as she fought her way to the surface, the blue water around her sparkling under the summer sun.
They played a few rounds of Marco Polo before some of the kids around them mentioned ice cream, and Emily begged to get some. The lifeguard blew the whistle indicating it was time for adult swim, so Rafe helped the girls out of the water and back towards the lounge chair where Dexter was snoozing. They both plopped on the plastic chair, looking exhausted, and snuggled up together.
Rafe gave a soft smile at the adorable image and dug his wallet out of his tote bag. “What kind of ice cream do you want?”
Rafe joined the long line at the concession stand, his eyes constantly swiveling back to check on CeCe and Emily. Eventually, the woman in line behind him caught his eye.
“I noticed you and your family. Your wife and daughter are both blind? You’re so good with them.”
“They’re…” He started to tell her that they weren’t his family but stopped himself, smiling as he digested the compliment. “Thanks,” he said, instead of explaining.
His pride swelled at the idea of someone mistaking him for a father and husband. He couldn’t think of anything he’d rather aspire to.
He returned with his wallet stuck beneath the waistband of his shorts, a strawberry shortcake bar in one hand, a Dora the Explorer bar in the other, and his own American bomb pop between his teeth, freezing his lips. The treats were overpriced, and Emily’s Dora bar looked more like a deformed alien than the hispanic explorer, but the pleasure of the girls’ faces when he handed over the treats made them worth every penny.
Dexter immediately popped up at the scent of ice cream and laid his head on Emily’s lap, begging for a sample. She petted him but didn’t offer him a lick like last time. He satisfied himself by licking up the drips that plopped onto her thigh.
When the ice cream was gone, they got back in the water and played together for another hour before Rafe and CeCe encouraged Emily to join the other kids who were having a race. She was nervous at first, but as soon as she realized she could swim just as fast as some of the older kids, she forgot about her blindness and lost herself in the game.
Rafe and CeCe propped up their elbows on the edge of the pool behind them and let their legs float out in front of them. Rafe longed to share his thoughts with CeCe, how he felt the compulsion to heal Emily and adopt her, but instead they chatted about inconsequential things like their favorite music and movies. He still reveled in learning every detail about her, he just wished he could share some of his own secrets.
He had no idea that CeCe had the same feelings about Emily.
Her heart ached for the little girl, and CeCe let herself fantasize about the idea of bringing her home with her. Could she and Jessica take care of a child like Emily? Would social services even consider her? CeCe doubted it, but it didn’t stop her from wanting it. Her deeper fantasy included Rafe as husband and father, but CeCe knew the relationship was too new and fragile for her to be considering things like that.
Maybe her mind was clouded by infatuation, but to her, Rafe seemed perfect. He was smart and fun-loving, patient and compassionate, and best of all, he didn’t seem the least bit bothered by CeCe’s blindness. Her heart buzzed like a swarm of locusts every time she got close to him, and tiny fireworks ignited all over her body every time they touched. Even like this with their arms barely brushing, CeCe could feel every inch of his skin sparking against hers. When he kissed her, she thought her heart would combust.
In books, they always talked about the intense looks lovers gave one another, and CeCe wondered if she and Rafe ever shared those. She tried sometimes to show him how she felt with her eyes, but she had no idea if she was successful. He would get quiet when she did that, and she wondered if he was feeling the same thing or thinking she was strange for staring at him with blind eyes.
When the whistle blew for adult swim the third time, the trio exited the water, and CeCe encouraged Emily to use the bathroom. Rafe led them over to the ladies’ room and promised to wait by the door for them.
He was leaning against the wall, letting the warm sun relax his tired limbs when the accident happened.
He saw it as if in slow motion — a skinny, young boy in bright blue trunks took off running away from the older boy who was chasing him with a bucket of water. The older boy caught up quickly and tossed the pail of water, sending a wave crashing against the smaller boy’s head, startling him. The victim veered towards the smooth, tile edge of the pool and lost his footing on the wet surface, his feet flying out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground on his side, his arm tucked under him. His scream of pain shattered the stunned silence that had surrounded the action.
On instinct, Rafe raced towards the boy, pushing through the throng of people to get to him. The child was crumpled on the ground, wailing, his arm twisted under him at an unnatural angle, and Rafe thought for sure the limb was broken.
“Oh my God, Tommy!” the mother screamed, her nails raking her face. “We need a doctor!”
“I’m a doctor,” Rafe answered, instantly swinging his head around to search for CeCe. She was still in the bathroom. What would she do if she found out now? He didn’t think she was ready yet. He breathed a sigh of relief and dropped to the ground next to Tommy to assess the damage.
When Rafe was sure there was no head trauma, he helped the boy sit up and gingerly flexed each part of his arm, starting with his fingers. The boy yelped when Rafe got near his shoulder.
“I don’t think anything is broken, but it looks like his shoulder is dislocated. I can probably do a reduction here, but you might want to take him to the hospital for it. You’ll want to get an x-ray, anyway.”
The boy’s mother looked at Rafe warily, trying to decide if she trusted him. After a few seconds, she nodded. “Should I call an ambulance?”
“You can if you want, but you can probably drive him there yourself faster. Less scary for him, too.”
“Tommy, can you walk?” the mother asked, her face scrunched with worry.
The boy nodded, and she helped him to his feet so he could keep one arm wrapped around the other. The crowd parted to allow them passage.
“Thank you,” the mother croaked, turning back to look at Rafe.
He smiled and nodded, his eyes scanning the crowd again to look for CeCe. She was just emerging from the bathroom.
“You’ll be fine, Tommy, I promise,” he said, pushing his way towards the bathrooms. The crowd murmured around him, and he prayed they wouldn’t say anything to him around CeCe. He hadn’t really done anything so hopefully they wouldn’t, but his heart still pounded with nervousness, and he wanted to get out of there. He knew he had to tell CeCe the truth eventually, but he was waiting for just the right moment. He didn’t know when that would be, but he was hoping he’d recognize it when he saw it.
“Hey guys, I’m getting hungry. Who wants to go get some pizza?” he asked, popping up next to them as if he’d been there all along.
“Yay, pizza!” Emily jumped up and down, yanking on Rafe’s hand.
“Sounds good to me.” CeCe reached for Rafe’s other hand like it was the most natural thing in the world, and Rafe couldn’t hold back the smile that split his face in half.
Emily didn’t want to take off her swimsuit, but they did manage to persuade her to put some clothes on over it. CeCe pulled on her cover-up, and Rafe was simultaneously relieved and disappointed, but the image of her in a swimsuit was permanently seared into his brain and would likely feature in all his dreams for the near future.
Rafe grabbed their bags and loaded everything into the trunk. CeCe was braiding her wet hair when Rafe climbed into the car. “Am I too much of a mess to go into a restaurant?” she asked, and Rafe turned to look at her.
Her hair was wet and tangled, her nose and cheeks sunburned, and her eyes were bloodshot from the chlorine, but Rafe meant it when he said, “You look beautiful, CeCe.” He wouldn’t be prouder to be seen with her if she was dressed to the nines with perfect hair and makeup.
“What about me?” Emily asked from the backseat.
Rafe turned around to look at her. “You’re so adorable it ought to be illegal,” he said, and meant that, too. “One look from those puppy dog eyes and you could convince people to do anything.”
Emily giggled and squeezed Dexter’s neck, and the dog climbed into her lap and licked her. “Oof,” she groaned at the furry invasion, holding him back by his floppy, blond ears.
They ate pepperoni pizza and talked about their favorite cartoon characters till they agreed that Tweety Bird was the cutest and the Coyote was the funniest. Emily’s eyes grew droopy once her belly was full, and she slumped against CeCe’s shoulder and eventually dropped her head into CeCe’s lap and fell asleep while the adults talked. CeCe stroked Emily’s messy, bronze hair till it was smooth and let the feeling of contentment wash over her.
When they were ready to leave, Rafe slid out of his side of the booth and pulled the table away from CeCe and Emily so he could reach in and lift her up. He carrie
d Emily to the car and laid her in the back seat where Dexter took over as pillow.
“What do you think will happen to her? Do you think someone will adopt her?” CeCe asked, glancing back at her.
Rafe’s gut clenched at the question that kept him up at night. “I don’t know. She has a tough journey ahead of her if she doesn’t regain her sight, and not everyone would be willing to help her through it, but there’s still hope that she might get her vision back. Most people do, eventually.” He looked at CeCe nervously, wondering how she would take his comment.
“I know. I hope she does. I know it’s crazy, but I wish I could adopt her.” CeCe’s voice dropped to a whisper.
Rafe’s heart lifted like a kite catching a gust of wind. Maybe his fantasy wasn’t too improbable after all.
“Me, too.”
“Really?” His admission floored her, and she didn’t know how to respond to it.
The air between them vibrated with unspoken questions neither one of them was brave enough to voice.
Emily barely woke up when they dropped her off at the group home. Rafe carried her in and laid her on the sofa, and she stirred just long enough to wrap her tiny arms around him.
Rafe fought down the myriad of confusing feelings that had simmered to a boil and kissed her forehead in goodbye. He took CeCe’s hand and squeezed it tightly, needing an outlet for the emotions.
“So what’s the status of her case, Ann?” Rafe asked.
“Well, since her parents are both deceased, she’s a ward of the state and eligible for adoption, but we can’t even find a regular foster home willing to take her at this point, so I guess she’ll just stay here for now. It’s great that you two are willing to spend time with her; I have so many, my hands are full.” She grimaced and ran her fingers through her wiry, gray hair, leaving it sticking up wildly.
“I plan to come see her again later this week,” CeCe said, and Ann nodded.
“Thank you, it really means a lot. You two are all she talks about, you know.”
Rafe gave a small smile, guilt weighing heavily on his heart. How could he walk away from this? Thoughts churned in his head, and he decided he would at least look into the requirements for becoming a foster parent. He didn’t know how he could possibly do it on his own, but he knew he had to do something. Emily was too special to linger forgotten in a group home.
Date with Destiny Collection: Angel Romance Series: Books 1 - 4 Page 52
