Rhett pulled into the garage on the main level, thankful Pete Grayson’s brother had lent them their timeshare. No worries about picking up a key or dropping it off. Andi bounded from the car.
“Can we go, huh? Huh? I never did see the sea before. It’s so blue. And foamy. Can we go, huh, huh?” She leaped about him clutching his clothes.
He laughed and glanced at Jules’ somber face. “Perhaps we should before I’m assigned to an insane asylum. Let’s check out the house first.”
On the second level, he unlocked the door, and they traipsed through to the sliding glass doors facing the ocean. Andi jumped up and down and pointed. “There it is. Look, look. I think I see a sea turtle already.”
* * *
Jules pulled the sunglasses from her face and glanced around the interior. The ocean accents and the navy carpet set off the white walls. The roomy kitchen’s light cabinets gleamed in the dimness at the back of the house. Andi pranced to the doors and tugged at the handle.
“Hold on. Let me unlock it.” Rhett’s deep voice rumbled with laughter.
She clutched at her throat. This was going to be harder than she’d imagined. Rhett all relaxed and laughing burned a yearning inside her. The house appeared so homey, fitting for the perfect family vacation. He slid the door open, and the salty smell of the ocean greeted her. She stepped through the opening.
The wind whipped at her hair, and she pressed the sunglasses back on her face. Rhett secured the door as Andi took off screaming with glee down the stairway toward the water. She and Rhett followed at a more leisurely pace across the shaded balcony.
“You okay?” He paused at the bottom of the wooden stairs and studied her.
Her feet stumbled as she tread into the hot mushy sand, and he steadied her. Those cursed tears coursed to her eyes, and she flicked her gaze over her shoulder, back to the deck and took in Adirondack chairs and table, desperately trying to ignore the effect his hand had on her equilibrium. “Yes.”
His head swiveled toward Andi who laughed and splashed in the ankle deep water as the tide pulled back out. “You seem a little quiet.”
“I’m fine, Rhett.” She spoke over the roar of the waves. Oh, that wasn’t a good answer. It was a dead giveaway. Why not just blurt about the depression gurgling in her belly at the thought of spending two weeks pretending she didn’t love him? “Hey, how could I not be fine? Look at it. One of the most magnificent places God ever created. Get in the sea foam, Carsen. The vacation starts now.”
She clenched her teeth to stem more tears and hurried away from him to join Andi.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Jules crossed her arms and stared through the glass doors in her room into the inky darkness. From the third story, with the light off, she could make out the white tips of the waves as they made their continuous journey of climbing the sand. A few couples strolled the beach, arms interlinked, heads pressed against one another. The muted sound of the rushing sea kept time with Jules’ sighs. Her neck burned. Too much fun in the sun with Andi and not enough sunscreen. The corner of her mouth quirked. The child seemed determined to do everything in one day.
She glanced to the red digits on the small clock next to the bed. Ten-thirty. Andi was long gone to the world, and she was…hiding. Rhett had taken up residence in the large living room below with the T.V. on. She strode to her private bathroom to grab the aloe vera in the dark and managed to knock over several other bottles in her effort. With a groan, she flicked the light on, grimaced, and righted the mess. Her eyes scanned herself in the mirror. Her face was a rigid mask and her cheeks glowed a bright pink. Nice, attractive—not.
“Chicken liver.”
She scraped at the switch and the room went dark. The gel cooled her hot skin, and she returned to the same brooding spot in front of the glass. So this was the plan. To stand here every night for the next two weeks. Brilliant. She clenched her teeth and slammed the bottle on a nearby dresser. The unpacked suitcase beckoned, and a new untouched novel lay nestled in her tote, but she ignored both.
Constant images of Rhett interacting with Andi haunted her mind. His laugh, his smile, his playfulness, his protectiveness, his strength, his blah…really? She slapped a hand to her head. He wasn’t perfect after all. And she shouldn’t be up here fantasizing like some sixteen-year-old in the Senior hallway. Why couldn’t she get over this? She was an adult. So he looked fabulous in his trunks. She crossed her arms. With his naked chest. She tightened her jaw. And muscular shoulders. She rolled her eyes. And here she was, back to square one.
She spun and marched to her closed door. The only way to cure this was to dive in, neon face and all. She opened the door and took the stairs in a flutter of steps on silent stocking feet. Downstairs, the quiet struck her, and she paused on the landing. Had he set the T.V. to flip off and fallen asleep? She came through the hallway and passed the kitchen on the right. He sat in the recliner with a book in his lap. As she drew closer she realized it was his Bible. Oh, Lord, you’re killing me here.
He raised his face and sucked in a deep breath as she entered. “Hey. You get everything unpacked?”
She shrugged, sat on the plaid couch, and grabbed an old Reader’s Digest off the glass coffee table. “Kinda.”
He grunted an answer and continued to stare at her.
“Don’t let me keep you from your reading.” She flicked the pages of the magazine in her lap.
He closed the Bible. “Actually, I’m done. You want to sit out on the balcony?”
Yes, the balcony, where it was even more close and intimate. Great idea. She blinked at him. The sun had darkened his face, and his eyes shone like sapphires. Simply too difficult to resist. “I suppose.”
They both rose, and he held the door for her. “Oh, what about Andi?”
“I’ll check on her in a few moments.” He eased the door shut.
She settled into the farthest Wedgewood blue chair, inhaled the cool air, and firmly fixed her eyes on the ocean. The ever-present wind had calmed, and low tide pulled the water back to display an expanse of damp white beach. The methodical swish of the waves lulled her frazzled nerves.
He motioned to the fire pit. “We’ll have to roast some hot dogs and marshmallows.”
“Mmm. Andi would love that.”
“And what do you want?”
Her head snapped in his direction. Boy, was that a loaded question. “Huh?”
He took a breath and gestured toward her with his hand. “Look, you’re being a good sport about coming for Andi’s benefit, but if you’d like do anything in particular, let me know. You deserve a little enjoyment, too.”
She pulled her feet under her and leaned on the table between them. Would his mouth drop if she told him what she really wanted? She hugged herself and stayed on subject. “Honestly, a large part of a trip to the beach for me is just that. I want to be on the sand with the water lapping my feet. I had a great time today.”
* * *
Rhett let his eyes rest on her. Jules’ reactions proved difficult to decipher today. Who was he kidding? She was hard to read anytime. Guilt lay heavy on his soul, knowing she’d spent most of the afternoon playing with Andi in the sand and surf. The woman didn’t have to spend every waking moment tagging along to their chosen activities. Perhaps she even desired to be on her own. A twinge of discomfort made him squirm in his seat. Distant voices neared as a couple walked past the house.
“Well, we’ve got plenty of time here, so just holler if something grabs your attention. And don’t worry about the cost.”
“Okay.”
He drummed his fingers on the table, and his eyes flicked back to the departing couple. She stirred in her seat, and he spoke, fearing her exit. “Nice balcony.”
“Uh-huh.”
Lame, Carsen. “It’d be great for parties, or a big family.” Or an idiot to talk about inane subjects to a gorgeous woman.
“I suppose.”
He studied her when she turned her head to catch sigh
t of another couple up the beach. What he really wanted was to move this table and press his chair against hers. Then he’d reach to pull the band from her hair and watch the strawberry blond mess tumble down. He’d run his hand through it, rest his arm on her shoulders, and lean in with his lips against her ear. Her smell would envelope him, a sweet soft scent, while her tresses grazed his face as he laid a kiss behind…
He jumped in his seat, cleared his throat, and pulled his gaze away.
“Did you get bitten?”
His brows gathered, and he glanced at her, careful to shield the desire in his eyes. “What?”
“You jumped like a mosquito or something bit you.”
He turned his eyes to the surf and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Oh, no. I’m fine.”
He drew in a deep breath. Andi. That’s why he was here. Andi. He clenched his fists. Being here, one on one with Jules, in the moonlight, on a serene beach didn’t necessitate him baying at her like a wolf. What had he decided in Chicago? That he needed less of Jules’ presence, not more. Yet here he stared at her, maximizing this moment, romanticizing the encounter.
His being hungered to spend more time with her, to get closer to her. He craved her. He gritted his teeth. God help me. He wouldn’t reduce her to a bodily desire. He closed his eyes. Idiot, it’s more than that and you know it. Way more.
He stood. “I better check on Andi.”
“Okay.”
He stepped inside, slid the door shut then paused and observed her through the glass. Her head lowered. Was she thinking, praying? Did she regret coming? He exhaled. His arms ached to gather her and find out. Sense her warm body against his. His eyes flicked to the surf. He blamed the ambiance for this desire that gripped him. This protectiveness. Protectiveness? Yes, he longed to protect her, even desired her, but there was something more….
* * *
“Goldie’s coming today. Woohoo.” Andi danced about the sand, raising her plastic shovel high.
Jules’ allowed her rigid face to crack into a small smile and stretched her legs on the wooden recliner. She couldn’t drop her aloof façade yet. Once more week remained. “Yes, but I don’t think they’re getting here till late. We probably won’t see them until tomorrow.”
“Oh, boo.” Andi flopped on the white sand.
“Come here, and let’s put more sunscreen on.” She looked over her sunglasses down the beach. “I don’t know where your dad went.”
By the third day, Rhett had taken up jogging on the beach. Today, he was well out of sight.
“He’s running.” Andi jogged toward her in exaggerated poses. “Run, Daddy, run.”
Jules threw her feet to the sand and pulled the chair under the shade of the huge blue umbrella. She shook the spray can and shot a fine sheen of sunscreen across Andi’s shoulders. With her dark complexion, she was already as brown as a bean. Rhett, too. Pooh.. She’d promised she wouldn’t think about his handsome tanned face. She glanced at the peeling skin on her shoulders with disdain.
“Can I sit with you?”
“May.” Jules corrected. “You mean now that you’re all greasy?”
Andi grinned and wagged her head in exaggerated nods. “Uh-huh.”
“Sure.” Jules reached for her watch as the child settled next to her. The late hour had her glancing down the beach again.
“I’m hungry.” Andi lay back and closed her eyes. She wedged her little body closer to Jules.
Jules fumbled around in her tote, pulled out a clean towel, and covered her. She wrapped her arms around her and snugged her close. “I know. It’s about dinnertime. Your father will be back soon.”
Andi stirred and sat up a bit to fix her eyes on Jules’. “Do you like my Daddy?”
Jules stiffened. “Of course I do.”
Andi shook her head and blinked her slanted dark eyes at her. “No, no. I mean…really like him.”
“I…” Yikes. What to say? Lie? Or risk telling the truth? “I really like him.”
Andi’s small face screwed up. “I prayed for you.”
Warmth spread throughout Jules’ body, and a smile tugged at her mouth. “Well, thank you, Andi. I can always use prayer.”
Andi brow creased. “No. I prayed for a mommy. And it was you.”
“I—oh.” Jules pursed her lips. “And did your Daddy know about that prayer?”
“Of course. I said it ev-er-y night.” She slung her fists with emphasis.
Oh, dear. “And what did he say?”
The child’s face puckered again. “I don’t remember.”
Jules sucked in a breath. No good comes from pumping a child.
“I was afraid you wouldn’t like him, and then you might leave.”
She adjusted herself against the hard recliner. “What do you mean?”
“Tabitha’s mommy left.”
Jules rubbed the towel gently against Andi’s face to remove the sand. “Who’s Tabitha? Was she in your class at school?”
“Uh-huh. And now she moved.” She snuggled her shoulder. “Please don’t leave, ’cause I’ll be sad.”
Tears pricked Jules’ eyes, and she clutched the child’s comforting body to her own. “I won’t leave.”
Her heart sped up. Isn’t that what she’d done before when the pressure built up? She’d left. Left Hannah, her job, her friends. She smoothed the child’s thick hair behind her ear as tears trickled down her face. Was she destined to do that again? Please, God, don’t allow me abandon this sweet child. She needs my nurturing, my stability. Even when it gets so hard to be with Rhett, please strengthen me to endure it. I can’t let her down.
* * *
Oh, he couldn’t wait to dip into the water to cool off. He’d jogged way too far. Sweat glistened on his skin. Jules had taken his mind prisoner, he’d caught a second wind, and his legs just kept churning. At first, running took his thoughts away, but now it opened his brain to think. Up the beach, his eyes fastened on the sight of Jules and Andi on the recliner. She cradled his daughter and stroked her hair. His heart lurched. The woman really cared for Andi. Just like…a mother.
He stopped cold and walked in circles, glancing their way in that intimate moment. How was he going to keep resisting her? Man, why resist? He blinked. Keeping her at arm’s length seemed moot at this point. Every fiber in his being wanted to stride over and plant a kiss on her sunburn-swollen lips. He puffed his cheeks out full as he exhaled. That wasn’t the deal.
He gripped his tank top in his hand and turned toward the sea to let the wind caress his hot face. God, I’m weary of sticking to this agreement. Yet Jules gave no indication she wished their relationship would evolve into something deeper, so why should he push it? If anything, she’d drifted father away since they’d arrived. Except for the first night, she’d sequestered herself upstairs after Andi’s bedtime. He’d virtually had no moment alone with Jules.
He set his hands on his hips and hung his head. A heaviness settled in his gut. This was what he’d wanted, right? A nanny. Someone to help out with Andi and nothing more. Ding, ding, round over. Well, old boy, you got your wish. Congratulations.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Jules rolled over on her mattress. Something thumped against the frame of her bed, and she jerked up.
“Jules, I’m scared.”
Andi. Oh, of course. Jules wiped the sleep from her eyes. “Of what?”
“The storm. Can I lay with you?”
Jules pushed into a sitting position and reached for the child who wasted no time scrambling under the light blanket. She inhaled deeply and checked the clock. Two thirty-seven. The drumming of raindrops on the roof pulled her completely into consciousness, and she flicked her gaze to the blinds that covered the sliding glass doors. Wind gusts whipped the water drops, splatting them against the pane in a cadence of angry snaps. Lightning lit the room and thunder boomed. Andi huddled next to her.
“It’s okay. It’s just a thunderstorm.” A movement caught her eye at the doorway and she
gasped. Rhett. Jeepers, he’d scared her. Andi must have left her door open when she entered.
He knocked as he stood framed in the opening, and Jules pressed a hand to her chest to calm her thumping heart.
“Jules?”
“Yes?”
“Is Andi with you?”
“Yes.”
He gave a sigh. “Thank goodness. It alarmed me when her bed was empty.”
She chuckled softly. “It must be one scary night. You spooked me at the doorway.”
He moved toward the bed with a quiet laugh. “I guess so. Sorry.”
“Hi, Daddy. The storm’s too loud.”
“I know, Peaches. Listen, how about we go to my room? These wind gusts are pretty strong. I’m not comfortable with you girls here in a bed smack dab in front of a large glass door.”
Despite knowing his thoughts were on protecting his daughter, warmth spread through her at the thought of being included. It’d be safer for Andi to be back in Rhett’s bedroom since he didn’t have a slider.
“Yes, Andi go with your dad.”
Rhett pulled his kneeling daughter into his embrace.
“No. I want my Mommy, too.”
The raging storm continued outside, but everything became still in the dark bedroom. Jules couldn’t breathe, and her heart squeezed. In the shadows, Andi grunted and leaned away from her father in an effort to reach her.
Rhett coughed. “I agree.”
Jules trembled and cleared her throat. “You two go ahead. I’ll get my robe.”
Andi sighed and pressed her body against her father as he turned to head toward the door.
Jules rose and pulled the slinky fabric from the chair near the window with unsteady fingers. The storm outside matched her emotions. She’d been wrong. She wasn’t a nanny. She was Andi’s mother.
* * *
The last day. Thank goodness. Jules guided Andi toward the child-size keyboards. The gloomy morning after the storm made a perfect occasion to shop for Goldie’s birthday.
“Doesn’t she like music? How about this?” Jules held up a pink and white keyboard with jeweled buttons.
Reviving Jules Page 21
