Chapter 56

56

DEAN

T he next day stretched on forever. I lounged by the pool at my hotel, trying to keep my mind occupied as I waited for Sarah's time with her father to wrap up. The sun was warm on my skin as I lay shirtless poolside. The blue water was inviting, but I couldn't fully relax. I kept checking my phone, hoping for an update from Sarah.

I wasn't used to doing nothing and I had jack shit on my agenda for the moment. I supposed I could look for a place to live or a job, but I didn't know where I was going to land just yet. I didn't have reports to file or tapes of flights to watch. I didn't have lectures to write.

Nothing.

It was making me a little stir crazy. Even during the last couple of weeks, I had to think about my future and then there was the packing. There was the bar. Now, reality was sinking it. I was clinging to my proverbial life raft to keep from drifting out to sea. I expected there to be moments like this. Moments when I panicked a bit.

Jude warned me I would have these moments. He was right. I just had to remind myself why I did what I did and what it meant for my future. Once I got settled, it would be okay. I had plenty of money in the bank. I could take some time and figure out my next steps.

A shadow fell across my lower body. I looked up to see a beautiful woman wearing a very tiny bikini standing over me. I looked at her, confused and curious. "Hello," I said.

"Hello." She smiled. "You look lonely."

"I do?" I asked with a small laugh.

She sat down in the lounge chair next to mine. "You do. And from where I'm sitting, that should be a crime."

It wasn't the first time I'd been hit on. "Lucky for both of us, I won't be alone for long. My girlfriend will be here soon."

Her smile got bigger. "Are you just trying to get me to go away?"

"No, my girlfriend will actually be here soon," I replied again.

Her eyes moved over my body before she looked at me again. "Alright, I can take a hint. But if you decide you are single, I'm in room two twelve. I am very single."

"Good to know," I said.

She got up and sauntered away. I didn't even go for another look. There was only one woman I wanted to see. Only one woman that I wanted to be with. I closed my eyes once again, soaking in the sun. A slight breeze brushed across me, cooling me down just a little.

Finally, my phone buzzed. I grabbed it like a lifeline. Sarah's name flashed on the screen. "Hey," I said, trying to keep the excitement out of my voice. "How's it going?"

"Good. Are you free?" Her voice was light, and I could hear the smile in it.

"Absolutely. Want to join me by the pool?"

"Sounds perfect. I'll be there in half an hour."

I put my phone down and grinned. I couldn't wait to see her. I had spent all morning waiting for her call. I didn't call her because I didn't want to interrupt her time with her father. They needed to reconnect and repair the relationship that had been damaged by the two of us getting together. Sarah loved, admired, and respected her father. She would not ever be truly happy if she didn't have his approval. I got it. I understood it. I did not want to be the one that got in the way of that important relationship.

True to her word, thirty minutes later, Sarah found me waiting for her by the pool. "Damn, are you trying to attract every woman between the ages of eighteen to eighty?"

I opened my eyes and looked up at her smiling down at me with one hand on her hip. She was wearing a bathing suit and denim shorts, her ponytail threaded through a ball cap. She looked as stunning as ever, but there was something different about her today. She had a pep in her step, and her smile was bigger than I'd ever seen it.

"Hey, you," I said and sat up. "You look hot."

"I'm not sure I like you lying out in nothing but a pair of shorts," she pouted. "You're too sexy for your own good."

I laughed and got to my feet to give her a quick kiss. "But I've only got eyes for you."

She glanced around the pool. "Funny, because I see a lot of eyes on you. Look at you just sitting out here being eye candy."

"I didn't notice."

"Liar." She laughed.

"You look happy. Did things go well with your dad?"

She grinned, settling onto the pool chair next to mine. "Better than I could have hoped. He started by apologizing for how he's treated me, and he explained all the emotions he went through when he found out about us. He said it felt plain wrong, but over time, and with a nudge from my mom—and your arrival in Colorado Springs—he began to see the truth of the matter."

I raised my eyebrows, intrigued. "And what truth is that?"

"That his daughter is in love with a good man."

My heart skipped a beat. "He said that?"

She nodded, her eyes shining. "Yes. He was really open with me. He told me he thinks you're a good man. When he gave it some real thought, he realized he had to get past his own judgment and assumptions. He said there's no better man to love and take care of his daughter than you. If I choose you, then he accepts that."

A huge weight lifted off my shoulders. This was the best news I could have asked for. "That's incredible, Sarah. I'm so happy to hear that."

She gave me a playful smile. "Don't get too comfortable, though. He still needs a bit more time. But I don't think your friendship is ruined. I think you two will work through this. It's more about him seeing me as a woman than a wide-eyed sixteen-year-old being thrown into a man's world."

"Wise words," I said. "That's good progress."

"Progress indeed," she agreed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "He even mentioned wanting to meet up with you and get to know you better as my boyfriend and not as the pilot."

"That sounds great," I replied, surprised that he proposed such a leap from his initial judgment. It dawned on me that it wasn't even about getting his approval anymore. It was the recognition of me as a man who loved his daughter unconditionally.

"But right now, I think we both need some pool time."

"I'm ready." I grinned. "Let's see what you're wearing under those shorts. If it's a thong, don't you dare take them off. That ass is for me and me alone."

She giggled as she stood up and undid the button. "Do you really think that's my style? Have you met my father?"

"Good point." I laughed.

I watched her strip out of the shorts and kick off her sandals. She pulled off her hat and let her hair down. "Damn," I said and let out a low whistle.

The bikini was gorgeous on her. She looked so different. So womanly. So gorgeous.

"Hey, eyes up here, mister," she chided playfully, but there was a sparkle in her eyes that hinted at her appreciation for my admiration.

I laughed. "You got me there."

She sauntered over to the pool's edge, her confidence radiating with each step. Then with a cheeky grin thrown my way, she launched herself into the clear water without any hesitation. I watched her sleek form disappear under the surface and then come back up again moments later, her hair slicked back and droplets of water dripping down her face.

"Race you to the other end?" she challenged. Her lips curled into a teasing grin as she climbed out of the pool. Water sluiced down her body.

"Bring it," I said, discarding my sunglasses.

With an exaggerated whistle, she gestured to the other end of the pool, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "On your mark. Get set…"

Before the last word could escape her lips, I dove into the pool, propelling myself through the cool water with swift strokes. A startled yelp, followed by a splash, told me that she had hit the water right after me. I knew she was a strong swimmer, but I had no intention of losing this race. Thankfully, the pool was empty. Everyone else was enjoying the lounging part of the pool.

Halfway across, her hand brushed against mine. We were neck and neck, each pushing harder to reach the opposite end. The splashes we made grew louder as we neared our finish line. With a final burst of energy, I touched the edge just a moment before Sarah. Gasping for breath, I turned around to see her emerging from the water, her hair wild and eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"That was close!" she declared, grinning at me. "I think it's safe to say you won this round."

"I did, didn't I?" I grinned back at her.

"But maybe you cheated a little." She laughed and splashed me.

Feeling lighter than I had in weeks, I splashed her back. "Catch me if you can," she said and dove under.

"Challenge accepted," I cried out, diving after her. The pool's bottom was a blur of blue and white tiles as I chased her, weaving between intermittent lines of light that filtered through the water's surface. She was a good swimmer, no doubt about that, but I wasn't about to let her off easily.

Sarah was fast, her strokes efficient and graceful, but I was closing the gap. She darted toward the pool's shallow end. Just as she reached it and began to surface, I caught her ankle and pulled her slightly back before letting go and breaking the surface myself.

We spent a while goofing off together like kids. She made me feel young and carefree, and I loved every second of it. We swam and played, splashing each other and laughing until our sides hurt. Soon enough, the playful atmosphere shifted. Sarah swam closer with that look in her eyes. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her against me. Our lips met, and the kiss quickly deepened, becoming more heated.

"Maybe we should go someplace quieter—and private," she murmured in my ear, her voice sending shivers down my spine. "We have a bit of an audience. I don't want to get us kicked out of here. I'm still the daughter of a respected man."

I didn't need any more convincing. "Let's go," I said.

We swam to the edge and climbed out of the pool. We grabbed our towels and quickly dried off. I gave her my shirt to pull on over her nearly naked body. We scooped our things up and quickly made our way to my hotel room. The ride up in the elevator was tense. We both knew what we wanted.

Once inside, I barely had time to close the door before Sarah was in my arms again. We kissed passionately, our damp bodies slapping together. I backed her toward the bed, our wet bodies pressed together as we tumbled onto the mattress.