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Besides, since Austin had a conniption fit any time she stepped too far out of his sight line, napping back at Danny’s condo wasn’t an option.
Across the stretch of cement, Danny yanked the shower chain, ending the spray in a trickle. Shaking the droplets from his hair, he strode toward Mary Elise, the loose-hipped grace of his walk leaving her longing to trace the band of those low-riding cutoffs.
“Are you okay here while I swim? You know Darcy.” He jerked a thumb toward their tomboy bombshell hostess sprawled in a lounge chair with a beer at her ringside seat for Bo’s concert. “And you’ve met Julia Dawson, right?”
“Come on over,” Darcy called from beside the woman Crusty had called Julia—wife of the prior Squadron Commander. The earthy blonde—Julia— wriggled her red toe-nails while her toddler son gripped them and giggled.
More families. More couples.
Mary Elise shook off the senseless frustration. Time to cut the self-pity garbage.
Already Daniel was sneaking into her life and mind in so many ways. And now he had to soften her heart with sensitivity in making sure she didn’t feel abandoned or awkward in the group. Yet, he achieved it without plastering himself to her side possessively as Kent had done.
No thoughts of Kent. Not tonight. Just enjoy the moment. “I’m fine, thanks.”
Daniel knelt beside her. “I’ve got Austin now. Go visit or whatever.”
Music and swirling water whispered a wake-up to her dormant creative muse. “In a minute.”
He canted closer. “Are you okay? Everyone’s being nice, right?”
Mary Elise struggled to keep her eyes on his face. She surely didn’t want the sensual domino effect that would come from roving eyes, anyway. She’d seen his chest quite well a few seconds ago.
Now to try and forget those muscles. Just a body, right? And she knew well what he looked likewithoutthe jean cutoffs. How really good he looked without them. Her heart rate kicked up a notch.
She willed her eyes to stay locked with his. “Everyone’s been great.”
And they had, welcoming her, yet not asking the umpteen questions that scrolled across their eyes every time she slipped and called him Danny instead of Daniel.
“Yeah, they have been awesome.” He glanced back at his guitar-plucking buddy. “I’m still wondering how Bo financed both those bikes on his salary. I’m thinking lieutenants must be making more these days.”
She couldn’t help but marvel at the surprise thoughtfulness of the young bachelor, the pair of shiny mountain bikes a fun gift these world-weary kids would probably never forget.
Bo’s speeding fingers slowed on the strings. “Every kid should have his own bike. Better for the little fellas to cruise the local sandbox for hot chicks,” he said, dismissing his own generosity while he packed away his guitar.
Darcy wadded up a napkin and pelted him. “You’re just trying to score points with unsuspecting women like Hot Tub Hannah over there.”
A wicked twinkle lit Bo’s baby blues. “Do you think it’s working?” He directed the power of that lady-killer gaze toward the blonde in the steaming oasis at the end of the pool and received an encouraging grin in return. Bo stood. “My cue to soak away my troubles. Thanks again, Crusty, for introducing me to Hannah. I owe ya’ one. Don’t hesitate to call me if you need a sitter.”
Daniel pushed to his feet. “So you can hit on my neighbor, then take my brothers cruising sandboxes?”
“The park’s a great place to meet women. Joggers and dog walkers and babes lounging on picnic blankets.” His twinkling eyes took on a rapturous gleam before he landed back in the present. “Not that you need any of that now. Have fun you two.”
Winking, Bo pivoted away to jog toward the hot tub, lowering himself into the frothing bubbles beside Hannah.
Mary Elise chewed her bottom lip. With everyone assuming she and Danny were a couple in the making, it would be simple to let herself slip into that notion, as well. But while she might be willing to take pleasure from living where she could, not at so high a price. If she allowed herself to soften around Danny any more, she would crack and spill all.
“Go swim,” she said. “Play. Whatever.”Please. Now.
He searched her eyes for an extended second before backing a step. “All right.” He turned to Trey, the boy scowling in a pool chair with his knees hugged to his chest. “Hey, kid? Can you swim?”
Trey sniffed. “Of course I can.”
“Good. Hold your breath.” He scooped his brother up and launched him airborne toward the center of the pool.
Trey shrieked, closing his mouth with a gasp seconds before he landed in the water. Daniel cannon-balled a foot away from him. Spray sluiced a giant wave over the side.
Years slid away to the countless times they’d played in his parents’ pool. God, she’d hated it when he’d dunked her. Until she’d learned to dunk him right back.
