“Do it!”
“I’m not asking you, Jones. I already know your answer.” Zeke lifted me out of the water and grinned up at me. “The kids have spoken.”
“Zeke!” I screamed as I was tossed through the air like I weighed nothing, and then again once I came back up, out of the water. It was so cold, I felt like my nipples had curled up and died instantly. “I don’t like you!”
Zeke laughed easily and wagged his brows at me. Stroking his hand over his seemingly permanent five o’clock shadow, he turned his playful look to Caroline and Grace. “I see more pretty girls ready to be tossed into the ocean!”
I stood in chest-deep water and shivered until my body finally got used to the cold and the sun warmed me from above. I watched as Zeke played with his nieces and nephew, making them laugh. He was good with them. When I found myself wondering why he didn’t have any of his own, I forced myself to shut down those personal thoughts and get involved with their play.
By the time we were all ready for lunch, even Jones was having a hard time hating me. We ate sandwiches and drank juice on our towels while Zeke acted out a story for the kids. They were all so enamored by his larger-than-life personality.
I realized that I was, too. He was a bit like watching fire dance. It was exciting and a little nerve-wracking, not knowing what was coming next. The kids still somehow managed to slowly nod off, even Jones. Under the umbrella, stretched out next to each other, they all napped.
I stretched my towel out in the sun and grabbed the sunscreen. “They have the right idea.”
He settled next to me and grabbed the lotion. “Let me help.”
I laid flat on my stomach and rested my head on my arms. “Just don’t get any ideas.”
“What kind of ideas?”
“Any kind.”
He trailed his fingers down my spine and groaned. “Too late.”
I rolled my eyes. “Just focus on the lotion, Zeke.”
The back of my swimsuit was just a couple of strings that tied the modest front together. I felt them tug and give way under his hands. Then his hands were there, rubbing lotion into my back with strong strokes that made my toes curl. I meant to rip him a new one for untying my top, but I was afraid he’d stop rubbing me.
Zeke ran his big hands over my shoulders and down my back, loosening every tight muscle I’d ever had in my life. I thought he was finished when his hands left my body, but a second later, he was settled at my ankles, rubbing lotion into my calves. Higher and higher, he smoothed the sunscreen onto my legs, rubbing and stroking until I was a blob of a woman under him. When he got to my thighs, he acted like we’d known each other for years and were way more familiar with each other than we were. His thumbs dipped too close to my core for it to ever be considered decent, but the rest of his fingers were digging into the muscles just under my ass, melting them.
I moaned low in my throat. “Go any higher and I’ll have to kick your ass.”
“Sorry. Forgot where I was for a second.” His voice was husky, his hands frozen just under my ass. “Although, it might be worth the ass-kicking.”
I grinned, unable to not feel flattered. “Tie my top back, handsy.”
He did as I asked and then sank into the sand beside me. “Actually, I’m going to go for a swim. I’ll be back.”
I waved him away, not caring. He’d just massaged me into a stupor. I was pretty sure a bomb could detonate next to me andI wouldn’t care. At some point, I nodded off, just to be jolted awake by Grace climbing onto my back.
“Autumn, I need to go pee.”
I blinked away the last of my sleep and sat up, easily rolling Grace off. “Okay. Let’s go pee.”
“Uncle Zee is playing with Caroline and Jones. He said to let you sleep, but I need the potty and he just said to go in the ocean. That’s gross.”
I laughed and looked out to find Zeke chasing after Jones with Caroline on his shoulders. He grinned when he saw me watching him and then went right back to uncle time. “You’re right. Peeing in the ocean is for the fish. We’ll find a real bathroom.”
We both went to the bathroom, and when we got back to the beach, we found Zeke, Caroline, and Jones building a sandcastle. Grace rushed over to help, and Zeke broke away to come sit with me.
“Thank you for watching them while I napped. Pretty sure that’s not how it’s supposed to go, though.” I made a face. “I’m actually sure that your brother would be tempted to fire me for napping on the job. Especially while the kids are near the water. I might be the worst nanny ever.”
“Nah. The sun is just draining. I was watching the four of you.” He shrugged. “I happen to think you’re the best nanny. I’m only sad that my nanny growing up didn’t look like you. She was a tiny little woman with a big pouf of gray hair, and she always had spit gathered at the corners of her mouth.”
“Did she keep you in line?”
His devilish smile made me laugh. “No one could. I’ve always been the bad twin.”
