Page 35 of Hot Dad Summer

I stared at him, torn between breaking his pinky finger and holding his hand. We hadn’t sorted anything out after I’d suggested he, Max, and Tyler form a club. I wanted to suggest he take his hand away before he regretted touching me again. The sharp words wouldn’t come out, though. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings but I also didn’t want him to hurt mine. Then there was the fact that I’d slept with Flynn.

I let him keep his hand on me all the way to the beach. I couldn’t relax, though. It was inappropriate just how turned on his touch made me and I felt like I was losing the plot. I’d never been a fast woman. Ever. Around the Calloway brothers, it seemed I wasn’t just fast. I was the fucking speed of light fast.

As soon as we parked at the beach I basically sprinted away from the cart. Flynn caught my arm and pulled me into his side before I could make it very far. Wes walked by and slapped the back of his head before he could say anything.

“Ass.” Flynn rolled his eyes at his brother and let me go to grab one of the coolers I’d packed for the day.

The beach was crowded but people made room for the Calloways. It was weird how much people responded to their presence, almost like they were royalty. People stared at them and they hadn’t even taken their shirts off, yet. Thank God. I wasn’t sure how I was going to function once they all undressed.

The kids wanted to run into the water as soon as they touched the sand so I volunteered to go in with them, just to get away from naked muscles. I pulled my dress over my head, revealing another vintage bathing suit in red polkadot that did all kinds of favors for my body. I was serious about not messing up my hair so I pulled a scarf from my bag and tied it around my head so my hair was protected.

“I think I’m dreaming.” Flynn knelt in the sand in front of me and grabbed his hair dramatically. “My prayers have all been answered, brothers. God sent me an angel!”

I smacked his shoulder. “Stop it! People are staring!”

He grabbed Hazel and Poppy next. “He sent two little demons, too! In the water with you heathens!”

I watched the girls scream and Charlie and Hank take off after them. I’d stop pretending I could keep Hank on a leash so he was just living his best life, stopping in his chase to steal a man’s ice cream cone. I shot the man an apologetic wave and promised him a new ice cream.

“You’re going to have to talk to me eventually.” Wes stood too close to my back and I could tell he’d taken his shirt off by the heat scorching along my spine. “You live in my house, Daisy.”

Even with all the eyes on us, Max’s gaze still stood out. I could feel it on me and when I glanced over at him, he was scowling at me. He quickly dragged his shirt over his head and walked over to me. “Put this on. People are staring.”

I batted his hands away. “There’s nothing wrong with my body. If I want to-”

“Of course, there’s nothing fucking wrong with your body. I just don’t like all these people seeing it. You’re a private person.” Max held his shirt in front of me and nodded at it like I was a dog. “Take it.”

I slapped the shirt out of his hands and spun on my heel. I knew anyone who hadn’t been talking about me staying with the guys were definitely going to start after our tense little display.

Strolling to the water, I spotted Flynn and the kids and waded over to them. Hank popped out from under the water when I got closer and he had a pair of swim trunks in his mouth. We all looked at each other and then Flynn and I tried to casually move our little group away from the evidence that was just floating near us.

Hazel whispered so just our little group could hear. “Where’s the man who was in those shorts?”

Charlie’s eyes were as big as saucers. “What if Hank is eating bigger and bigger things now?”

Poppy grinned. “Isn’t he just the best?”

28

***Daisy***

After the beach I tied a sarong around my hips and chased after the kids without bothering to put my dress back on. I was still wet and there were plenty of people walking around in their bikinis. Fortunately for the other women, they didn’t have their own personal hell sticking to them like glue. No matter what store I went into, one of them was with me. The kids had met up with their friends and were running along ahead of us, having a blast so I’d gone from nanny to a grown woman being babysat by three giant men.

I went into a jewelry store next, just to get out of the sun for a moment. Wes followed me in and stood so close to me that I could feel his breath on the back of my neck. It was driving me insane. I’d dragged us all to the village so I wouldn’t have to be alone with any of them.

Since that plan didn’t seem to be working, I turned on Wes with my hands on my hips. His eyes raked down my body before settling on my face. “Is there a reason y’all are acting like I’m a wayward teen you’re trying to parent?”

His response came back fast. “Put your dress back on and we’ll give you a little space.”

I scowled. “Are you serious?”

“You’re half naked, Daisy.”

I motioned to the people in the store around us. “So is everyone else. I don’t see you policing them.”

“They’re not our-” He cut himself off and looked away. “Men are watching you.”

Maybe I would’ve been charmed by the jealousy if he would’ve been willing to talk to me about what we’d done, instead of just hiding. I blew out a deep breath and spoke quietly. “Well, Wes, I am a single woman now. Let them look. Maybe I’ll find a man.”