12. Caden
Yawning, I amble down the stairs to find Aspen emerging from Flint’s office, her face drawn as if she’s lost in thought. She doesn’t see me until I fall into step beside her.
“Good morning, sunshine,” I purr, and she jumps, startled.
“Caden!” she gasps and giggles at her own reaction. “Where did you come from?”
“Some women claim heaven,” I tease, and she rolls her eyes, offering me a smirk, the two of us heading into the kitchen. “What was the meeting with the boss about?”
“Oh, he was just filling me in on the adoption and how it’s going,” she says quickly, her cheeks pinkening.
“Ah.”
“Morning, Papa Caden!” Lily calls out as Zoe takes her finished plate from the table. Pike doesn’t look up from his spot at the kitchen island, and the housekeeper gestures at the stove.
“Are you hungry, Doc?”
“I could eat,” I agree. “If someone’s going to keep me company.”
I eye Aspen and Lily meaningfully.
“Aspen is taking me to the park today,” Lily whines, a pout forming on her lips, and I wave a hand dismissively. “Addisyn and her mommy might be there.”
“The park?” I snort. “Which park?”
“The one with the turtle slides,” Lily replies defensively. “And the splash pad!”
“I think Papa Caden forgets that there’s only one park in Cypress Gardens,” Aspen titters.
“Boring,” I intone, falling onto a chair. Zoe brings me a plate, and I dig in right away, continuing to wave my head. As I swallow my first mouthful, I look at my small charge and wiggle an eyebrow. “I have a much better idea.”
As I silently predicted, Lily’s face glows with excitement. She likes my ideas.
“What is it?” Lily asks, sliding back into her chair to stare at me imploringly.
“Oh, I don’t know now. You said you wanted to go to the park with the turtle slides.” I wink at Aspen. “Do you like the park with the turtle slides, too, Miss Aspen, or would you rather go on a real adventure?”
I pop a piece of bacon in my mouth and chew, studying both their faces. Lily bobs her head eagerly as Aspen considers my offer.
“Don’t you have to work today?”
I wave a hand dismissively. “I took the day off,” I reassure her. “I’d much rather spend time with my favorite girl.”
My eyes linger on Aspen for a moment before grinning at Lily.
“I want to go with Papa Caden!” she cries.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Caden.”
All our heads turn collectively toward Pike, who has uttered his first words since I’ve arrived in the kitchen.
“Moi?” I ask innocently. “What do I ever do that’s stupid?”
Pike stares at me warningly. “I mean it,” he snaps. “And you’re not taking them out on the motorcycle.”
“Of course not,” I cackle. “There’s not enough room for the three of us. Ryan can drive us so I can give my girls the undivided attention they deserve.” I pause. “You’re welcome to join us, too, Pike.”
He grimaces and stands from his spot, closing his sketchbook. “No, thanks,” he replies. “I like all my appendages exactly where they are.”
He stalks out of the room, leaving Aspen staring after him in confusion. “What does he mean by that?” she asks cautiously.
“No idea,” I reply. “Go get ready and put on your bathing suits. We’re going to have a fun day!”
* * *
Lily’s shrieks echo across Lake Lanier as she clings to my waist, sandwiched firmly between me and Aspen.
The jet ski tips to the right, dipping dangerously close to the surface and dousing all of us in streams of water as Lily screams again, her delighted laughter music to my ears.
“SLOW DOWN!” Aspen begs, but I’m sure she’s enjoying this as much as Lily.
“More! More! More!” Lily clamors as I swivel the jet ski around, and we zoom back toward my sailboat.
I make two more circles, rendering Lily’s voice raw, and pull us back toward my thirty-foot boat, resting in the middle of the water.
The jet ski bobs along as we near, and I hear Aspen struggling to catch her breath. I shoot her a look over my shoulder, grinning at her disheveled appearance. The windblown dampness of her hair is sexy.
“How was that?”
“Nauseating,” she complains, but she’s choking back a smile beneath her scolding. “You should have warned me it was like that! She’s only four!”
“It’s fun, Aspen!” Lily insists. “You didn’t like it?”
“You’ve done this before?” Aspen asks in disbelief.
I press my finger to my lips. “Don’t tell the others. They get bent out of shape about these things.”
“About you putting Lily’s life on the line?” Aspen challenges. “I can see why!”
Annoyance spikes through me. “I would never endanger her!” I snap, my good mood dissipating. “She’s wearing a lifejacket, and I never go that fast when she’s alone with me. I would die before I let anything happen to her. But she shouldn’t live in a bubble, either.”
Contrition colors Aspen’s face, and she hangs her head. “I never meant to imply… I’m sorry,” she mumbles. “I know you love her and wouldn’t do anything to harm her.”
Immediately, my irritation fades, and I smile. “No harm done.”
I reach for the rope hanging off the stern and secure the jet ski to the boat, lifting Lily onto the ladder leading up first. She scrambles up easily, her sure footing impressing me. Of course, I’ve been taking her on my boat since she was a baby. She’s already a sailor at heart.
I will show Lily everything—no matter what Flint and Pike have to say about it. This child is going to be fearless and independent, not meek and afraid.
My hand juts down to help Aspen up next, but to my bemusement, she’s already on her feet, scrambling up the ladder after the agile toddler who is almost at the top.
Grinning to myself, I stare at her soaked bikini bottoms clinging to the curve of her perfect ass, adjusting myself before making my way to the top to join them.
Aspen kneels at Lily’s front, unfastening her life vest to dry her off, her tangled hair falling in her face. I wish I had my phone on me to capture the photo, but it will be imprinted on my mind for a long time.
I lie down on the deck on one of the towels to let the sun dry me off.
Aspen puts a dry life vest on Lily, knowing that it’s required while she’s on the boat, and then she lies down next to me as Lily skips around the deck.
“What are we doing now? Parasailing? Skydiving?” she jokes, and she sits up, her legs crossed up at her chest.
“That’s up to you,” I reply. “But you have to admit, this is more fun than the park with the turtle slides.”
She gazes affectionately as Lily chases the high of being on the water. “You certainly know how to make a little girl smile.”
“What about a big girl?” I ask, cocking my head up to stare at her, while using my hand to shield my eyes from the sun. “I swear I caught a smile or two in there with you, too.”
She smiles and lies back down next to me. “I’ve never been jet skiing before,” she admits. “It was fun—now that my stomach has resumed its normal position.”
I place my hands on her knees, relishing the gooseflesh that rises on her legs. Impulsively, I trail my fingers up her thigh and brush them gently across her center, still covered in her swimsuit. “I can show you lots of things you haven’t seen before.”
A glow overtakes her face, her gleaming teeth capturing that perfect lower lip.
“Excuse me, Dr. Taylor?” The sailboat’s captain interrupts and stands awkwardly above us.
She quickly moves away from me and runs a hand through her air, clearly embarrassed, and then stands to find Lily. “I’m going to get dressed and change Lily into some dry clothes.”
I nod and watch Aspen scurry away.
“What is it?” I ask the captain, slightly exasperated at having our moment interrupted.
“There’s a storm coming in. And since you have the little one…”
“Say no more. Let’s head back.”
The captain turns to obey my instructions, and I turn to grab my bag with my change of clothes. Lily and Aspen find their way back to me.
“Are we heading back?” Aspen asks. Lily climbs onto one of the lounge chairs and yawns sleepily.
I smile at her.
“Back to land,” I reply mysteriously. But our day is far from over.