Love Rekindled (Love Surfaced)

by Michelle Lynn

  “Dada!” Em screams, and my head lifts to search out Brad, half expecting him to be coming out to pick up his girl, but I don’t see anyone.

  She starts running toward the locker rooms. “Em!” I yell to stop her, but her footsteps continue. “I’ll be right back,” I say to Katie.

  “No, you’re good. Go ahead,” Katie tells me, so I pick up our bags and jog after her.

  At the last minute, she detours from the doors and dodges left behind a pillar.

  “Dada!” she yells.

  Catching my breath, I see Brad in his jacket and ski cap facing the wall. My eyes roam down to see two sets of feet, and if I’d inspected further, I would have noticed the red hair sooner.

  My stomach drops to the floor at the same point Em hits his legs. “Dada!” He finally turns around, and I exhale all the tension that just gripped me with pain.

  “Hi.” He looks at Em and then to me.

  “Oh, my God, you look just like him.” My eyes focus on the indent in his chin and his mysterious eyes. His hand reaches up and slides off his skull cap. His dark hair is neatly styled just like Greg’s.

  “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

  The girl steps up to his side, taking his hand in hers to show some sort of claim.

  “Oh.” I break from the fog. “I’m Taylor Delaney, Brad’s girlfriend.” Em comes to my side, turning shy that the man in Daddy’s jacket isn’t Dada. I pick her up in my arms. “This is his daughter, Emerson.” He smiles, appeased by my answer. “I knew your brother. I’m sorry.” The words cannot do much at this point I know, but what else do you say?

  That was a lesson I learned after my mom died. Sorry might not help you, but it makes the others feel useful, because in all honesty, a casserole won’t diminish the pain. If anything, it gives you extra time to address it.

  “Thank you. He talks about you both a lot.” Cayden’s hand hangs in the air, and I quickly grab a hold of it.

  I’m sure my cheeks are flushing as red as the girl’s hair. “Oh, I’m sorry. Is this your girlfriend?”

  The girl’s eyes narrow at me and Em.

  “Um . . .” He hesitates and I figure maybe I should mind my own business. She hits his arm. “We’re new.” He’s honest, which makes me like him even more. Greg was similar in his mannerisms with the girls. Never a promise, but he never used them either. A true gentleman, unlike Brad—the old Brad that is.

  “Is she fixated on that waterfall again?” Speaking of, Brad barrels down the hall from the men’s locker room in his swim trunks and sandals.

  I bite my lip, thinking back to last night and how I really hope there’s a repeat tonight. He finds us in the corner, cocking his head at first in confusion as to what we’re doing until he catches sight of Cayden and the redhead, who I’ve yet to be introduced to.

  “Dada!” Em turns around and wiggles her body to be freed from my grip. I set her down and her little feet can’t go fast enough. Brad continues walking, scooping her up in his arms on his way to me.

  “You are late for your swim lesson,” he tells her, tapping his finger on her nose. She giggles, doing the same to him.

  “I’m pretty sure you aren’t going to penalize her,” I say, and those perfect, white teeth shine my way.

  “I can’t show favoritism.” His hand casually slides along my back and he gives me a small kiss. “So you met Cayden?” The redhead clears her throat. “And Quinn,” he adds, but his voice loses the happy inflection.

  “Yes, Em was confused because he is wearing your jacket.” I raise my eyebrows to say maybe me too.

  He chuckles and shakes his head. “No faith.” I’m glad there’s no hurt in his eyes for the fact that maybe initially it scared me, but I think anyone would have the same reaction.

  I snuggle into his chest, and Em places her hand on my cheek. “He’s wearing your jacket and he had a ski cap on, what was I to think?”

  Cayden and Quinn stand there, probably wondering what they are witnessing.

  “I get ya. Cayden forgot his jacket this morning, so I loaned him the one you bought me.” He does remember, there goes that pitter-patter in my heart. Brad must notice the lovey-dovey gleam in my eyes. “No faith.” He shakes his head with his usual smirk in place.

  “Yeah, sorry for the confusion, Taylor.” Cayden’s eyes convey his remorse, and I wave it off. “Quinn was going to sit and watch me swim today.”

  Brad clears his throat, which is usually a sign he might not agree with something. “Just make sure there’s no distractions. This might be a dumb question, but where’s Ava?”

  Quinn laughs and touches Cayden’s arm. He doesn’t pull her in, but he doesn’t move either. “Her parents picked her up. I’m off now.” She smiles brightly and pushes out her chest a little.

  “Oh,” I speak out loud, when really that should have been an internal thought. “You’re the nanny?” My mouth needs to shut.

  “How did you know?” she asks.

  “Oh, um . . .”

  “We need to get going. She’s going to have like fifteen minutes in the water. Remember to work on the butterfly for the majority of the time. Shorter breaths. The last half hour, work on your endurance only, not form.”

  A twinge of arousal zings at my center from witnessing Brad being so authoritative.

  “Got it. Have a good class, Emerson.” Cayden gives her a small wave.

  Brad wraps his hand around mine, tugging me a little down the hall.

  “It was nice meeting you both,” I holler, twisting in Brad’s hold as he pulls me through the family locker room doors.

  Once we’re secure on the opposite side of the doors, Brad quickly undresses Em and shoves everything in the locker.

  “I was talking,” I say.

  “You were about to get me in trouble. The conversation we had about the obsessed nanny was between us. Plus, I don’t want Cayden to think she’s the athlete groupie type. I think being with her boosts his self-esteem.”

  He snatches my purse from my arms and throws it in the locker as I stand there awestruck at how caring my boyfriend is.

  Unable to resist, I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him all over his face. “You’re such a sweetie. I love you.”

  He laughs, his hands latching around my waist. “Don’t tell anyone.”

  “I’m going to tell everyone.” I dislodge from his hold and run to catch Em before she escapes through the doors to the pool. “Em, did you know your Dada is a great guy?”

  “Dada, love.” She tilts her head and dreamily stares over at her dad. There goes that pitter-patter again.

  His large arms shelter around us and pull us to his strong chest. “I love you both.” He kisses the tops of our heads and steals Em from my arms. “Time for swim, little one.”

  I watch my two favorite people break through the doors with tears threatening to fall. Happy tears.

  Twenty minutes later, Em is screaming because her swim lesson is over. Either that or the fact that Tyler, Brad’s next swim lesson, is currently where she wants to be—in her Dada’s arms.

  I shuffle her away, because it’s obvious Brad can’t concentrate with his daughter screaming his name. Cami bounces out of the office to save the day, and I’m grateful to see her.

  “Why is Em so upset?” She pouts her lips at Em, but that doesn’t deter her tears. She holds the office door open for us. “Come in.”

  I walk in with Em in my arms. Wes is at his desk, working on some spreadsheet. “Hey, Wes.” My voice sounds as exhausted as my legs feel. He swivels around in his chair.

  “How are you?” His usual smile has lost some of its luster, and I can’t help but recollect what Brad told me about the business.

  I plaster on my biggest and widest smile, covering up the fact that he shared it with me. His grin turns down, and I realize I laid my act on too thick, giving away the fact I know.

  “Cami, why don’t you take Em on the slide?” He reaches over and presses the button for the small children’s wate
rslide to start up.

  “What a great idea.” She strips off her top and shorts, leaving her in a cute boy shorts swimsuit combo that shows off her amazing flat abs. Man, what children do to your body.

  She swoops Em up from my arms. “Waterslide time, baby.” She twirls the two of them, gearing up the excitement of the event. Cami is full of energy. Em’s frown turns into a smile, and soon they’re out the door.

  Wes stares at me for a minute, holding his hand out to the vacant chair at a nearby desk. I slither over, sliding into the chair, wishing I would have refused Cami’s invitation into the office.

  “So, he told you?” His lips purse. “Should have assumed.”

  He leans back in the chair, his hands locked behind his head.

  “I’m sorry, Wes, but know that I wouldn’t tell anyone.”

  “Especially not Cami.”

  “No.” I raise my finger in the air. “Although, I do think you should discuss it with her.”

  His eyes stare into mine like I’m boring him with my long-winded stories, not thrilled in the least with my opinion on the matter.

  “Or not,” I add.

  “I need to ask you a few questions because I’ve only known Brad for six months or so. He seems like a good guy, but he approached me about something today.”

  This topic peaks my interest. The only thing I know is that Brad is helping him figure out a business plan that will keep the center running.

  “What do you think about that?” I’m vague, hoping to find out information I haven’t been trusted with yet.

  “Can I trust him?”

  That’s a loaded question that I just answered myself, even though my mind zoomed into Crazyville only an hour ago when thinking he was in the corner with some hot redhead.

  “I do.” I’m confident in my answer, and in all truth, he can. Brad might have cheated on me and he might have done some shitty things in his past, but deep down, he’s a good guy.

  “I know about senior year in college with Tanner McCain.”

  Doesn’t everyone? It made Sports Center.

  “He’s clean, Wes. He just needs a chance to prove himself. What exactly did he ask you?”

  He tilts his head to the side. “So, you don’t know?”

  I shake my head, and he mimics me, chuckling lightly to himself.

  “He asked me for a cut of the business. That he’d find us an investor, but he wants a part.”

  So, he really is finding his place. The tears shouldn’t be ready to tumble out of my eyes, but I can’t stop them. He’s not only finding happiness with Em and me, but also in his career. He’s struggled for so long.

  “Are you crying?” Wes springs up, grabs a tissue, and hands it to me. “Why?”

  I wipe my eyes. “I’m just happy.” He wouldn’t understand if I told him.

  “You don’t have to cry, Tay. I’ll do it. Not like I have much choice anyway. Plus, he’s got some good ideas, and he’s a damn Einstein with business plans.”

  I smile like a proud mother at my boyfriend’s mad skills in the business world. He always tries to portray himself as the dumb jock, but a few conversations with him and people realize differently.

  “Yeah, he’s perfect.”

  “Oh, damn, your opinion means nothing. You’re fucking in love with him.” He shakes his head, but his grin says he’s happy for me.

  “So, are you going to bring him into the business?” I choke out the question past the tears streaming down my face. Everything is falling into place.

  “Most likely. We just need to agree to a few things.”

  I clap my hands, unable to hold back the excitement buzzing through me. Wes gives me the stern, fatherly look, and I sulk back into my chair. “I mean, that’s cool.”

  “Get out, Tay. Go admire your man, because he’s about to call it a night. All his other lessons cancelled due to the weather.”

  I stand from my chair and close the distance to him. Bending over, I kiss his cheek. “You won’t regret taking a chance on him.”

  He flashes a genuine grin at me. “Neither will you. He’s crazy about you both.”

  As I walk out of his office, I inhale the deepest breath I can muster in the humidity-filled space.

  Brad

  “SHE’S BEING STUBBORN AGAIN,” I yell into the kitchen where Taylor is finishing preparing some trifle dessert thing to take over to my parents.

  “You can only blame yourself,” she calls back, and I hear a bowl crash to the floor.

  Once I wrangle Emerson into her coat after five attempts, I rise to my feet to investigate the commotion.

  Taylor is sitting on the floor with chocolate pudding at her feet. “Tay,” I sigh, taking a seat next to her.

  I swipe a finger full off her arm, placing it in my mouth. “It’s awesome.”

  “It’s ruined.” She sobs into her hands, and I wrap my arm around her shoulders, persuading her reluctant body to move to mine.

  “I told you, my mom doesn’t expect you to bring anything.”

  Taylor was more than happy to go to my family’s house for Thanksgiving when I asked her last night. Maybe because her dad’s a jackass, her sister is a druggie, and who the hell gives a shit about Sam. That elation that came over me when she accepted was short-lived when I was sent out in a snowstorm for supplies to make this trifle, which turned into this fiasco that has ruined my entire Thanksgiving morning.

  “You don’t show up empty handed, Brad.” Her voice is muffled in my button down shirt.

  Thinking there’s not much I can say in this moment, I place a kiss on her head with the hopes it will calm her down.

  “You aren’t a guest; you’re family,” I insist, but her response is a huff. “You and Em are family.”

  Well, this is not how today is going to go, not on our first Thanksgiving.

  I draw back, my finger resting on the bottom of her chin, urging it up so I can see her eyes. Those ocean blue hues are filled with despair.

  “We are showing up as a family. You and Em are my family. Maybe not on paper yet, but in my heart. So, I never want to hear that again, got it?”

  A slow grin spreads across her lips, but still she says nothing.

  “Got it?” I repeat.

  A slow nod matches her grin. “Okay.”

  “Settled. Let’s clean up and get this girl in the car so she can sleep.” I grab a roll of paper towels to wipe up the mess.

  “What about the trifle?” She stares down at the discombobulated disaster spilled on the floor.

  “It can stay here. Go finish getting ready. I got this.”

  She leans into me, her breasts rubbing against my arm. I reach around, gripping her ass when her lips meet mine. She falls back on her heels, and suddenly, I’m not thinking about cleaning, but rather getting messy.

  “I’m sorry,” she murmurs against my lips.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for.” I smack her ass and she scurries out of my hold and out of the room.

  An hour and a half later, my daughter and girlfriend are asleep as I pull my truck into my parents’ driveway. Wasn’t I the one at Creadle’s at six this morning with Cayden?

  I park my truck alongside a rental sedan, and when I glance over to the McCain’s driveway next door, I see Dylan’s GTO is there. I’m guessing we’re the last to arrive. Not that it matters, Thanksgiving around here is pretty casual.

  I nudge Taylor lightly on the arm, but she only rolls her head to face the window. The two consecutive nights of lovemaking are taking their toll on both of us, but how am I expected to sleep next to her without being inside of her? Not possible. Seeing my nice attempts aren’t working, I slowly and gently move my hand between her legs. The leggings are going to make this much easier on me. Moving my head to the curve of her neck, I kiss the smooth flesh as my finger slides along her center. After I apply a bit more pressure, she springs awake, almost hitting me with her flailing arm.

  “Brad!” she screeches. “Em’s in the car.” She glan
ces back to a comatose little girl.

  “She’s asleep, and I tried to be nice. You should be happy I didn’t go further.” I venture over to my side of the car, turning the ignition off.

  “Should I be happy or disappointed?” she flirts back, surprising me every time she opens her mouth.

  “Don’t worry, I have plans for you tonight.” I wink and her cheeks flush pink.

  “We’re at your parents’; Em will be in the room with us.”

  “She’s going to spend some quality time with Grandma and Grandpa,” I counter, and she rolls her eyes.

  “That didn’t work out so well last weekend.”

  “Then her aunt.”

  She shakes her head, probably not believing it can happen. I can’t deny that a small part of me agrees with her line of thinking.

  We both exit the truck and she rounds the back to retrieve Em while I grab our bags. Looking at the closed garage door, I’m surprised it hasn’t been sprung open before I parked. Then again, the golden child is home.

  I key in the code to the garage and the door opens. Taylor looks at me, and I give her a reassuring nod. She overthinks my family. We walk through the door, and in that moment, I hear Piper’s scream.

  “They’re here!” She rushes over to us, punching me in the shoulder. Tanner arrives in the doorway, leaning on the frame, watching the scene unfold with a damn ‘told you so’ smirk on his face. It’s still nice to see my best friend, especially when I’m no longer the fuck up I used to be.

  “Nice to see you, too,” I say, dropping our bags along the wall to pull her in for a hug. I wrap my arms tightly around her shoulders and sway back and forth.

  She fights me, her small fists punching me in the stomach. “I’m mad at you.”

  “Oh, come on. You always forgive me.” I release her and she stumbles back, right into her Prince Charming’s arms.

  “Oh jeez, you two. Let them come in first.” My mom shows up in the doorway of the small hallway from the garage door.

  Piper and Tanner back up, never taking their eyes off Taylor and Emerson. I wait for Taylor to step up to me, and then we walk in together. Emerson is tucked into her neck as normal, but when I hold my hands out for her, she easily switches spots.