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“How is it?” Will asked. He had his computer on his lap, but his feet were up on the coffee table, and he had a cocktail in his hand. “Bar’s open,” he said, pointing to a natural stone and stainless steel wet bar.
I rolled my eyes. “Maybe I’ll have a virgin pina colada.”
“Good answer, but feel free to indulge after the kids go to bed.”
I wasn’t much of a fan of alcohol, but an icy, sweet drink sounded good, so I checked out the stock behind the bar, finding a cupboard chocked full of snacks along with a refrigerator stuffed with sodas and water. There was also plenty of fresh, tropical fruit and a blender, everything I needed to make us some refreshing treats.
Ava came out from the kids’ room wearing a lime green swimsuit with a little ruffled skirt and water wings on each arm. “I’m ready,” she said.
I came around from behind the bar and squeezed the wings, finding they hardly had any air in them so pried them off her. Harrison joined us, wearing trunks and a rash-guard top, a thick layer of sunscreen splashed across his nose.
“Well, I was going to make us some slushy drinks,” I said. “But it looks like you guys are ready for the pool.”
Will closed his laptop and put his drink aside. “I have a few hours until my meeting with the resort management. Why don’t you settle in and relax a little bit while I take the kids to the pool.”
I was only a little surprised he was offering me time off, since he’d explained that this was supposed to be a family vacation even though he’d be working for some of it. I was all ready to accept, when the kids whined long and loud, reminding me I’d promised to show off my pool skills and teach Harrison a handstand.
“You’ll have plenty of time to swim with Bailey this week,” Will said. They continued to make a stink until he looked at me apologetically.
“I really don’t mind,” I said. “I’m actually itching to get in the big pool.” I’d caught a glimpse of it, and it truly looked like a fantasy oasis of slides, fountains, and waterfalls, plus it was about ninety degrees outside, so the thought of getting in the water was welcome.
Ava grabbed my leg and squeezed. “Get your suit on,” she demanded. I raised an eyebrow at her and she giggled. “Please get your suit on,” she said instead.
“Very nice. I’ll change right now.”
I began blowing up the water wings better as I went to my room and pulled on the brand new one-piece that Will basically bought me. I don’t know if he felt sorry for me when I moved in with only my small duffle full of things I fled Rick’s place with, but he gave me three hundred dollars at the end of my first day with the kids, calling it a signing bonus. His face turned adorably red. “Like in sports,” he said, turning and walking out before I could tell him it wasn’t necessary. And it had turned out to be necessary because I had no clothes suitable for a place like this, certainly no swimsuit.
After I got Freddy settled with a meal and fresh water in my room, we all walked down to the main pool together. There were several other families and couples, either in the water or lounging around under the giant umbrellas. I had a moment of self-consciousness standing with Will and his kids, almost like an imposter. That was silly, though, since I was sure I wasn’t the only nanny at this posh resort. I put Ava’s floaties back on her and we made our way into the water from the steps, while Will and Harrison went the manly route of jumping in the deep end. I promised Harrison I would watch his cannonball so kept my eyes glued on them while I kept a firm grip on Ava as we waded our way up to her chin. The water felt amazingly cool and refreshing and, for the first time since I realized what a mistake Rick was, I felt relaxed and calm.
Until Will peeled off his t-shirt to reveal the kind of body I’d only ever seen in superhero movies. Never in real life. This was not a dad bod I found myself gawking at. He was not just toned but rippling with muscle. There had to be gym time in his life, or else he was secretly also a lumberjack with those arms. And those shoulders. So far I’d mostly seen him in suits or the occasional jeans and t-shirt, but shirtless Will took my breath away.
“You can let go,” Ava said, trying to wrench her arm out of my grip.
“Oh, sorry,” I said, dragging my eyes from her incredibly hot dad.
I tried to keep from staring at him, as he and Harrison swam over to us, not sure why I was getting so hot and bothered. I was sure I was off men for a good long time, if not forever, after Rick. But Will wasn’t just sexiness personified, he was sweet and honest and kind, all the things Rick could never hope to be. Will adored his kids and worked hard. I could see how much pride he took in his magazines, especiallyDream Travels, the one he was currently writing the article for about this resort. He grabbed Ava and swirled her backwards through the water, making her shriek with laughter. Our eyes met and he winked. I nearly hyperventilated.
What was wrong with me? Why did I get a flutter all of a sudden? The wink was good-natured and meant nothing. It didn’t matter if I was attracted to Will or not, anyway. He was my boss, and so far, the best one I’d ever had. Without him, I’d still be sleeping at the shelter, wondering who was going to take care of my dog while I worked, scared to death they’d get bored and ditch him somewhere.
So what if Will was the most perfect man to ever walk the face of the earth? So what if he winked at me and maybe even thought I was a little bit cute? None of it mattered except keeping my job.
Chapter 5 - Will
Maybe swimming together was a bad idea. I already knew my nanny was beautiful. It took all my willpower not to stare at her the few minutes a day I saw her when she gave me the daily rundown of the kids’ activities. She never wore anything overtly sexy, but she always made me think of sex. That had to be something wrong with me. Even now at the pool, I couldn’t tear my eyes off her lithe curves in that demure black one-piece suit she had on. There were at least a dozen women around wearing the barest scraps of fabric and showing much more skin, but they paled in comparison to Bailey.
There definitely had to be something wrong with me. I couldn’t turn around and go back to the casa, because I wanted to spend time with the kids. Spending time with them the past few days had been heavenly. I was more focused because I was slowly catching up with my work. They were much more calm, fought less, and didn’t whine as much. I had Bailey to thank for that, and there was no way I was going to jeopardize the peace just because I wanted to peel that sleek black fabric away from her creamy skin and … nope. Those were the kind of thoughts I couldn’t have.
I needed to just be glad that the kids were happy. So what if I wanted to be happy, too?Guilt.Full blast of it. I’ve had both my brothers, every single friend, and a couple different therapists assure me that Callie would want me to move on. Find love again. But could I really ever do that? If the mere fact I might have wanted to filled me with soul crushing guilt, I wasn’t sure I could.
I reminded myself that it was a moot point, at least as far as Bailey was concerned. It was less than a week, but things were going better than I dared to hope. She was actually working miracles with Ava and Harrison as far as I was concerned. I couldn’t lose her, and not because she was the first woman in two years to make me remember I had a working cock.
I forced my libido back in its cage and enjoyed the time with the kids. Ava was slowly but surely getting over her trepidation in the water, and I wondered if Bailey broached the subject she’d consider swimming lessons again. She’d refused to go back after the first time she had to put her face in the water and accidentally inhaled. She still went in the pool every chance she got, but I hated that she relied on her floaties all the time. Harrison, on the other hand, was a fish and had already mastered the underwater handstand Bailey showed him.
I couldn’t believe how relaxed I was. The last time we attempted a beach vacation, Harrison sent the nanny, who he called the Sandman because he thought she was so boring, running to her suite in tears after throwing a live crab at her. I tried to go it alone for the rest of that afternoon, but Ava almost got swept out to sea and was hysterical. When I finally got her calm and settled on the beach, Harrison kicked a bunch of sand on both of us, then ran off and hid, taking half the resort staff three hours to find him. My kids were demons on the best of days but with Bailey, the miracle worker, in charge, they almost resembled angels.
“Daddy, look!” Ava yelled from the edge of the pool. Without her water wings.
Bailey stood in the water with her arms out. I felt my jaw dropping in disbelief and even Harrison swam over to watch. Ava held her nose and flung her body over the side, curling up her legs to make a respectable splash when she landed in the water. Bailey immediately grabbed her and helped her paddle to the side, where she got her water wings back on her.
