Page 13 of Hot Dad Summer

The kids were cackling when I popped back up, cheering Hank on for getting me in the water. I stood up, aware that my hair and makeup were both losing a battle they hadn’t been prepared to fight, and sighed. It was just the cherry on top that Max had appeared on the edge of the cliff, face twisted in worry until he saw me standing there like a drowned rat. So much for looking sexy.

His lips twisted like he was fighting a laugh. “All good?”

What he didn’t see was that Hank had already swam to the edge of the water, jumped out, and run far enough to get a good start. The kids and I watched and they started to say something but I hushed them and moved a few steps back. “Yep. All good. Everything is perfect.”

The hit knocked Max off his feet the same as it’d done me. He shot me a dark look as he fell over the edge of the cliff and joined us in the water. Hank swam over to me as Max came up, face set in a stern frown. “That dog is a damn menace.”

Charlie cackled. “That’s what Aunt Daisy says I am!”

Max’s mouth twitched again and then he did something that sucked all the moisture from my mouth and all the intelligence from my brain. He reached over his shoulder and dragged his shirt off. One second there was a shirt and the next there was a lot of tattooed muscle in its place.

Oh. There were also two silver bars through his small nipples. They stood out against the darker ink and without permission, my brain imagined the taste of the cool metal on my tongue. A breathless giggle escaped my mouth and I was too frozen to try to excuse it.

“Daddy’s got his nippies decorated.” Poppy’s innocent voice pointing out her father’s nipple piercings was enough to break the spell. Especially when Max’s ears turned red.

I snorted, something as unsexy as my hair slicked down to my head, and jerked my gaze away from said nippies. I had to clear my throat to find my voice. “Well, now we know that Hank will launch his body at anyone and everyone to get them in the water.”

The kids, unbothered by Max’s nakedness, swam towards the floating pad anchored to the shore several yards to our north. Hank barked to match their shouts and went with them, leaving me and Max alone. I turned to face them, keeping my face away from Tyler’s older brother.

I couldn’t force myself to look at him but I felt him move closer. I could feel his body heat against my back for just a moment and his breath against my shoulder. My heart tried to beat right out of my chest.

“Tyler’s a fucking moron.”

I twisted around to see the face of the man who’d just uttered those words to me like a dirty promise but he was already moving away, back to me. I wanted to grab his bare arm and make him look at me, make him hold my gaze when he said those words again because I needed to know exactly what he meant by them.

Luckily for both of us, my brain kicked back on before I could. I bit my lip hard to keep my mouth shut and forced myself to look back at the kids. I moved towards them with legs that felt weighted down by lead.

“Come on, Aunt Daisy! Come look at the clouds with us!” Poppy’s sweet voice pulled me the rest of the way out of my lust-induced stupor.

I pasted a grin on my face for them. “I bet I can spot the coolest clouds. Winner gets to raid the candy jars after lunch?”

10

***Daisy***

After swimming in the sun for more hours than we should’ve that day, the kids and I were exhausted by the evening. None of us even felt up to the candy bar. When Wes and Max came home, though, I still pulled myself to my feet and trudged towards the kitchen. I was aware that I looked rough after a day in the sun with my hair and makeup ruined but I was still unprepared for Wes’ doubletake.

I put my hands on my hips and frowned. “Really? Do I look that rough?”

He blinked a few more times and then shook his head. “No! No, sorry. I’ve just never seen you look so…”

“Normal?” I shrugged. “Hank decided to push me into the water and ruined my careful plans of swimming without a drop of water touching me from the neck up. I’ll get started on dinner. Hamburger steaks and mashed potatoes sound good?”

He cleared his throat and rubbed his jaw while looking everywhere but at me. “I’ve got it.”

A jolt of panic washed through me. My therapist would’ve loved to get a play by play of my thoughts right then. “Um, no, I’ve got it. It’s my job. Plus, I like it.”

Wes met my gaze finally and shook his head. “It’s not your job. You’re doing us a favor by nannying the kids. You’ve been cooking and cleaning like we expect you to, but we don’t. I can cook. I promise.”

I wanted to argue. I wanted to shove him out of the way and rush to the kitchen to prepare a feast. I needed to prove that I was worth keeping around. It was that thought that made me take a deep breath and a step back. I was always fighting to prove my worth, even when people didn’t expect anything from me. My parents had made me fight for their love and Brooke had been no different. Still was no different. I’d learned early that I was only as good as what I could do for someone. Years and years of therapy had allowed me to see the pattern but it wasn’t easy to stop it.

“You seem tired. Why don’t you take a bath or something? We have the kids. The house won’t fall apart without you for an hour.”

I nodded even though it made me feel sick. “O-okay. Just holler for me if you need anything.”

“Okay. I’ll holler if I need anything.” He smiled as he mimicked my accent. “Get out of here. And take your demon dog with you.”

Hank, responding as if he’d been called, walked over, long ears dragging the ground and proving that the sun had worn him out, too. He let out a deep sigh as he sat directly on top of Wes’ feet and then he put his head down and started snoring.