I float around the pool—the forgotten cool aunt—as Alex rates both the kids as they do various jumps and dives into thewater. The man has endless patience. I would have encouraged them to do something else after ten or so jumps.
“Well, he’s good with kids.” Val surprises me, whispering over my shoulder.
“Yes. He’s made that abundantly clear all day.”
“Hmm. He also made it abundantly clear that he wants to—”
“Yeah, yeah.” I interrupt, looking over my shoulder at my grinning sister, who shrugs and swims off. I certainly don’t need her telling me what I already know. This man is sucking me into his vortex fast.
Movement draws my eye to the water in front of me. I expected it to be one of the kids; instead, it’s Alex. He pops up, dripping water just like he did in that movie. What was it called? I don’t think my brain’s working.
He stands close. I look over his shoulder and find my family engrossed in a game of Marco Polo. The back of his hand grazes mine, and my eyes find his again.
“Hey, you,” he says, looking at me with wonder. Or maybe surprise.
“Hello.” I swallow as his eyes bore into mine. The intensity makes me uncomfortable, so I search my brain for something, anything, to say. “You have an excellent house.”
He laughs, tangling his fingers with mine. Not holding them … more like … playing with them. The simple sensation threatens to melt me right into the water of this pool.
“You made that clear earlier when you couldn’t keep your mouth from hanging open.”
I cover my mouth with my hand and feel the tiniest amount of heat filling my cheeks. He steps slightly closer and slowly pulls my hand down. “No need to be embarrassed. I’m a big fan of your mouth, and it gave me another reason to look.”
When I didn’t, couldn’t, respond, he continues in hushed tones. “Would you like me to tell you the other reasons I like your mouth?”
“I got you!” Peter screams as he and Micah crash near us, bringing me back to the reality of where we are and who we’re with.
“I’m gonna go to the bathroom,” I say in a panic.
When I come out of the bathroom a couple of minutes later, Alex is standing in the hallway looking as handsome as ever, but shockingly sheepish.
“I’m sorry I followed you. I … I just …” He cuts the distance between us in half. “I don’t know. There’s just something about you that makes me feel the need to be near you.” He comes to stand right in front of me, almost trapping me between himself and the wall. “I don’t know what it is, and I certainly can’t explain the insanity of feeling like this after knowing you for two days, but I … you …” He smooths a damp curl out of my face, sending my pulse skyrocketing. “You have themost beautiful hair.” His sheepishness is gone as he gently slides his hand down my jaw to cup my chin, slowly bringing his thumb to my lower lip and torturously moving along its surface. Once again, my brain refuses to work. “I mentioned I’m a big fan of your mouth.” My breaths stutter as he erases the space between us and sets his cheek against mine, then whispers, “You have the most perfect pink lips, and I’m always finding myself on the edge of my seat waiting for what you’ll say next. That’s why I love your mouth, in case you were wondering.”
Then he steps back and walks toward the pool, leaving me in a puddle behind him.
The man shocks me at every turn. Less than forty-eight hours with him has made me want to have eight black-haired, blue-eyed babies with accent confusion. Ideally, they would have his accent, but if we lived in North Carolina, that wouldn’t last. We could visit England frequently, but that would cost a fortune. Not that that would matter, I guess. Good grief. No. I’m not looking for complicated. I’m looking for someone who simplifies things. Not for someone who would absolutely turn things upside down. Right now, I’m tilting, but need to bring myself upright again.
15
Alexander
There’sastrangesilencein the car. Despite the relatively short ride from my house to the hotel, I think the kids may be asleep. Val and Micah aren’t talking. Maybe they’re tired too, or maybe they’re giving Ivy and me space to talk. But we aren’t and I’m stressed.
Did I scare her by coming on too strong? I wanted to kiss her. It might have been too soon, but the way she reacted to me—her ragged breathing and the way she looked at me—told me maybe it wouldn’t have been. I’d planned to ask her to join me for some of the things with my aunt’s riddles, but would she want to? I think she’s got into her head. I mean, of course, it wouldn’t be easy. The logistics aren't simple. We would have some things to figure out, but it would be worth it. Or it couldbe. And nowI’minmyhead. I met this woman yesterday and I’m considering the possibility of a huge life change for her.
I don’t really know her. Still, something inside me wants to keep trying, and see where things go.
“Would you sit here with me for a minute?” I ask as I pull up in front of the hotel.
“Sure,” she says. I tell her family goodnight and she promises to be up shortly, and then we’re alone.
“Thank you for everything,” she says. “For showing us your home and letting us swim. Oh, and for dinner, it was really good.”
“Next time we’ll go somewhere that has food the kids will like.”
“Next time? I … I’m not so sure there should be a next time. Why would we—”
“Because I would love to see more of you. Get to know you.”
