Page 111 of Scarred

“Thank you for setting this up, and for including Scar,” I say, turning back to Luna. “She’s having so much fun.”

“Of course I would include her,” she says, scrunching up her nose. “She’s your daughter. Besides, I love spending time with her. She’s my new bestie,” she smiles, glancing at her as she scoops up water from a small hole we dug earlier.

“Bestie, huh? What does one have to do to become a bestie?” I toy with the string on her bottoms and just the small contact against her skin makes me want more.

“Well,” she says, cheekily, “you’re off to a good start.”

“Well, that’s good to know,” I murmur, leaning closer.

“You could get to that status any day now,” she whispers, as my palm grazes her thigh.

I see my daughter out of the corner of my eye, busy with her toys, as I lean closer to her lips.

“I guess I’ll just have to try harder,” I breathe, reaching up and cupping her cheek.

Our breaths mingle as I close the short distance and swipe my tongue across her bottom lip before kissing her softly. She tastes like sunshine, and I could easily spend hours savoring it on her skin.

I release her way too soon for my liking and groan.

“We'd better take that swim now, or this merman is going to look a lot more x-rated when something breaks through to the surface.”

“Oh, my God,” she laughs.

Standing up, I look like I’ve been through a desert storm from the waist down.

“I’m going to find sand for days,” I mutter.

“Ready for a swim, Scarlett? I think your Daddy needs to rinse off,” Luna laughs, holding her hand out to my daughter and putting her hat on the cooler.

“You sandy, Daddy,” Scar giggles and points.

“Maybe that’s because you poured a whole bucket of sand on me.” Scarlett squeals as I tickle her before throwing her up on my shoulders. Her laughter rings out as little hands grip the side of my face as we walk down to the water.

“You thanked me earlier, but it’s me who should be thanking you,” Luna smiles, nudging me with her shoulder. “This has been the best day that I’ve had in a long time.”

“It’s been mine too,” I say, quietly.

Luna smiles as she walks backwards toward the water before turning and running into the waves. She dives in and comes up grinning.

“Luna mermaid,” my daughter says in a whispered awe, as she dives underwater again.

“I think you're right, baby girl.”

Looks like I got my mermaid after all.

“She’s out like a light,” I chuckle, walking back into the kitchen. “I’m pretty sure she fell asleep before her head hit the pillow.”

“The sun will do that to you,” Luna smiles, turning toward my voice before she goes back to cutting up potatoes at the island. With the setting sun in the background streaming through all the windows, I can’t stop staring at her as I stop in the doorway.

After the beach, we headed back to my place for dinner. It just made sense with Scarlett, and since Mae left earlier for her monthly book club with her friends from the Y, we have the place to ourselves.

Which is very fortunate, as my gaze drifts over her white cover-up that looks like one of my dress shirts. It hits her mid-thigh, and the gauzy material gives me glimpses of her black bikini underneath.

Closing the distance between us, I hug her from behind and kiss the side of her neck.

“Mmmm. You smell like coconuts and sunshine,” I murmur, tasting the saltiness of the ocean on her skin.

My hand fists the material at her stomach as I place more kisses on her neck. I hear her sigh against me as her hand stills on the countertop, releasing the knife and leaning her head back further onto me.