Chapter 4
Nash
Ineed to hurry up, but I can’t stop smiling over what Caleb just said. It was adorable.
He’s probably out there beating himself up for his slip of the tongue, and all that does is make me want to walk out there and tell him he doesn’t need to be embarrassed, that I liked it, but it feels too soon.
We haven’t even known each other for twenty-four hours, and the last thing I want to do is scare him off.
So I bite my tongue and focus on finishing my shower, even if my head isn’t cooperating.
It’s strange, being around someone I actually want to flirt with, and feeling like I’m doing a terrible job of it. Hell, maybe I was the problem on every date I’ve ever been on over the years. Maybe they wanted to teleport away from me too.
I still can’t believe I invited him to sleep in our hotel room, but I just knew I needed more time with him.
There’s something about Caleb that makes me want to lean in instead of playing it safe.
There’s a curiosity there, and a pull I haven’t felt in years.
I don’t think I’m imagining the way our conversations keep skimming the line of flirting—or so I think—and after that slipup, I have to think we’re both aware of it.
I hurry through my shower, toweling off quickly before pulling on my dry clothes.
My chest is buzzing as I grab the door handle.
I have to get it together before I walk back out there.
The last thing I want is for him to feel like I’m laughing at him, when really, I’m just…
hoping he’s feeling a fraction of what I am.
I take a deep breath before opening the door. Caleb is laying on the bed while the boys are looking through the desk drawers for whatever reason.
“Pool?” I ask.
“Yes!” Sam yells as he and Benji run toward the door and yank it open.
I grab my keycard and water before seeing Caleb’s bottle sitting on the TV stand. I pick it up and give him a questioning look. He nods, and I hand it to him.
“Thank you,” he says shyly before we both make our way out the door to bring the boys downstairs to the pool.
They’re practically bouncing off the walls, already animated about doing cannonballs, who can hold their breath the longest, and whether the water will be warm or not. All I know is I’m glad they can entertain themselves, and I don’t have to go in.
Caleb walks beside me quietly. When I turn to look at him, I have to remind myself not to stare, but the urge is there. His blond hair is still damp, and he smells like citrus from the shower, making me want to bury my face in his hair.
As soon as we get down to the pool, I pull out the keycard to swipe us in. The moment we step inside, warm, humid, chlorine-filled air immediately hits us. There are a few other kids already playing in the pool, but it’s not crowded.
The boys don’t care at all that there are other people in here. They waste no time kicking off their shoes and tossing their towels down on the nearest chairs before cannonballing into the deep end.
Caleb and I both chuckle as we smile and wave to the other parents and grab the boys’ stuff to bring it over to where we’re actually going to sit.
“Dad!” Benji yells. “You have to count for us! We’re going to see how long we can hold our breath.”
“Alright.” I chuckle.
“Go!” Sam yells, and I start counting out loud to make sure they know I’m participating.
Caleb is quietly laughing as we both watch them hold their breath underwater.
“Thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-three.” I count before Sam pops up.
“Thirty-four, thirty-five.” Then Benji comes up, gasping for air.
“I got thirty-three, you got thirty-five,” Sam updates Benji.
“Let’s go again!” Benji exclaims, and they’re right back under.
I can’t help but smile as I think about how if I hadn’t walked up to Caleb this morning, none of this would be happening. Benji would’ve spent the day mildly disappointed, skiing a few runs, and wishing someone else had come with us.
Instead, he’s glowing, having the time of his life.
“I’m glad they get along so well, ” Caleb says after a moment with a big smile on his face. “Benji’s a good kid.”
I glance over at him and smile back. “So is Sam.”
He nods, then looks down before looking back out at the kids. “He doesn’t usually warm up to people this fast. I think today has been good for him. He seems to really like Benji.”
“Benji is very social, just like his sister, Emma. I’m sure he was dreading being stuck here with just me again tonight.”
Caleb leans back in his chair and stretches his legs out in front of him.
His shirt rides up just a little when he moves, revealing a sliver of skin, and I rake my teeth between my lips.
It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been with a man.
All I can think of now is what his skin would feel like under my hands, what he’d sound like if I kissed down the length of his stomach, and what it would be like to have him beneath me, eyes glazed over and trusting me to take care of him.
“I doubt that,” he says quietly, almost like he’s saying it to himself.
Fuck, I’m in trouble.