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“You’ve done this before?” Aspen asks in disbelief.
I press my finger to my lips. “Don’t tell the others. They get bent out of shape about these things.”
“About you putting Lily’s life on the line?” Aspen challenges. “I can see why!”
Annoyance spikes through me. “I would never endanger her!” I snap, my good mood dissipating. “She’s wearing a lifejacket, and I never go that fast when she’s alone with me. I would die before I let anything happen to her. But she shouldn’t live in a bubble, either.”
Contrition colors Aspen’s face, and she hangs her head. “I never meant to imply… I’m sorry,” she mumbles. “I know you love her and wouldn’t do anything to harm her.”
Immediately, my irritation fades, and I smile. “No harm done.”
I reach for the rope hanging off the stern and secure the jet ski to the boat, lifting Lily onto the ladder leading up first. She scrambles up easily, her sure footing impressing me. Of course, I’ve been taking her on my boat since she was a baby. She’s already a sailor at heart.
I will show Lily everything—no matter what Flint and Pike have to say about it. This child is going to be fearless and independent, not meek and afraid.
My hand juts down to help Aspen up next, but to my bemusement, she’s already on her feet, scrambling up the ladder after the agile toddler who is almost at the top.
Grinning to myself, I stare at her soaked bikini bottoms clinging to the curve of her perfect ass, adjusting myself before making my way to the top to join them.
Aspen kneels at Lily’s front, unfastening her life vest to dry her off, her tangled hair falling in her face. I wish I had my phone on me to capture the photo, but it will be imprinted on my mind for a long time.
I lie down on the deck on one of the towels to let the sun dry me off.
Aspen puts a dry life vest on Lily, knowing that it’s required while she’s on the boat, and then she lies down next to me as Lily skips around the deck.
“What are we doing now? Parasailing? Skydiving?” she jokes, and she sits up, her legs crossed up at her chest.
“That’s up to you,” I reply. “But you have to admit, this is more fun than the park with the turtle slides.”
She gazes affectionately as Lily chases the high of being on the water. “You certainly know how to make a little girl smile.”
“What about a big girl?” I ask, cocking my head up to stare at her, while using my hand to shield my eyes from the sun. “I swear I caught a smile or two in there with you, too.”
She smiles and lies back down next to me. “I’ve never been jet skiing before,” she admits. “It was fun—now that my stomach has resumed its normal position.”
I place my hands on her knees, relishing the gooseflesh that rises on her legs. Impulsively, I trail my fingers up her thigh and brush them gently across her center, still covered in her swimsuit. “I can show you lots of things you haven’t seen before.”
A glow overtakes her face, her gleaming teeth capturing that perfect lower lip.
“Excuse me, Dr. Taylor?” The sailboat’s captain interrupts and stands awkwardly above us.
She quickly moves away from me and runs a hand through her air, clearly embarrassed, and then stands to find Lily. “I’m going to get dressed and change Lily into some dry clothes.”
I nod and watch Aspen scurry away.
“What is it?” I ask the captain, slightly exasperated at having our moment interrupted.
“There’s a storm coming in. And since you have the little one…”
“Say no more. Let’s head back.”
The captain turns to obey my instructions, and I turn to grab my bag with my change of clothes. Lily and Aspen find their way back to me.
“Are we heading back?” Aspen asks. Lily climbs onto one of the lounge chairs and yawns sleepily.
I smile at her.
“Back to land,” I reply mysteriously. But our day is far from over.
