6. Chapter 6

Rachel

Sig gives me a sensual once-over. "I think you make a really great adult."

I snort and try to ignore the way my body heats in response. "Not what I meant."

"Okay, then humor me."

I gesture at the kids, who are laughing as they splash around in the pool. "I bet if I tried to join them, they'd start crying again."

"You were getting along great on the rides."

"They were having fun despite me, not because of me." I shake my head and my shoulders droop. "I've really let them down."

"Why would you say that?"

"I'm not sure where to start…"

"The beginning?"

I shrug and trace the wave shape of Janey's ring. "I'm not sure how much Ada told you, but her daughter, Janey—the kids' mom—was my best friend."

Sig nods.

It still hurts, thinking about her—talking about her—but the words spill out. "She got pregnant in our final year of college. She wanted five kids, at least, but then the car accident…" I swallow hard.

Sig leans toward me, but any thoughts of a pinch war are long forgotten. He takes my hand in his and gives it a squeeze. "I'm so sorry, Rachel."

"Thanks," I smile softly. "I was the kids' godmother. Chris—their dad—grew up in foster care. He didn't want that to ever happen to his kids, so they drafted a will. I promised to be their guardian, but it was just supposed to be for peace of mind not…" I tighten my grip on Sig's hand. "I never thought anything would happen to them. I'd only been out of college for a few years. I'd just finished my latest cruising contract and started on a backpacking trip through Europe when I got the news." I swallow hard. "I flew back for the funeral, but… I didn't stay."

Sig gives my hand another squeeze and lets me talk.

"If Ada wasn't in the picture, I would have stuck around. I swear I would have. I'd never have let anything happen to the kids."

"I know you wouldn't have," Sig readily agrees.

"But I was still so young, and Ada said the kids were all she had left, and she wanted them and I… I… got on that plane. The backpacking trip was a distraction. And then I went back to cruising and got paid to travel and work on my tan."

"Don't forget about all the hard work."

I glance at him in surprise. "Most people don't think of it as hard work."

"You're talking to a guy who's opening a water park. I've interviewed quite a few people who work on cruises."

I perk up. "Really?"

He nods. "Where did you work on the ship?"

"Mostly lessons at the pool."

Sig's eyes brighten considerably. "Swimming lessons?"

I laugh. "No. Scuba diving. On adult-only cruises. Which probably explains why I'm so bad with kids."

"I think you're great with kids," Sig lies. He has to be lying, because the last few days have proven I'm a train wreck.

My shoulders slump. "I'm really trying. I've been studying IT at night for the past year, and I finally got my certification last month."

"You have?" He sounds more confused than impressed.

"I've got a few interviews lined up," I add.

"You don't sound very excited about it."

"Honestly? I'm not." I try to picture myself trapped in front of a computer screen in some dimly lit basement. No sun. No water. No fun. "I'm doing it for the kids."

"You don't need to have a desk job to be there for the kids," Sig says.

"You don't get it, Sig. You own a water park! I don't even have a savings account. I've been spending everything I earn. Life is short. You never know how much time you've got. What kind of guardian does that make me?"

"Kids don't care about savings."

I slide off the duck. "But nanas do."

"Not the one I know. She's got a house and savings. The kids don't need money. They need you."

I shake my head and look away. They are in excellent hands with her. Just not with me.

"I think what you really need"—Sig slides off his duckie and pulls me into his arms—"is a distraction."

And then he covers my lips with his.

He catches me completely off guard as he claims my mouth in a fiery kiss, and just like before, I melt.

I forget where we are. I forget that I wasn't going to do this. I forget that I'm a responsible adult.

All I can think about is the feel of Sig's lips against mine. His hands running up and down my back.

Desire shoots through me.

I want him.

I need him.

I can't.

I pull away and instantly regret it.

No man has ever made me feel the way Sig does. I'm pretty sure no other man ever will.

But I still can't let this happen, I remind myself. Not now. Maybe not ever.

Sig stares down at me, his breath coming out in pants. His pupils are dilated, his gaze glued to my lips, and I almost kiss him again.

Almost.

"Sig…" I whisper softly and place my palms flat on his chest. "If I'd met you at any other time in my life, I would do this in a heartbeat. But I'm supposed to prove to Ada that I'm a responsible adult. I can't just hook up with the first hot guy I meet."

I don't think Sig really gets the point because he breaks into a slow grin. "You think I'm hot?"

I roll my eyes. Like the man hasn't looked in a mirror.

His grin widens. "And you want to hook up with me?"

My cheeks flush. "Of course I want to, but—"

"If hooking up is on the table"—Sig gives me a once-over so hot I almost self-combust—"or in a hot tub…" He gives me a slow, sexy wink. "I'm in."

I swallow hard, because I don't want to say no. I really don't. But I also don't have a choice. "I don't think you get what I'm trying to say."

"I think I do." He takes my hands in his. "Can I be upfront with you?"

I worry my lower lip and nod.

"I've wanted you from the moment I saw you. Naked, fully clothed, any way you'll have me."

My pulse spikes, but I shake my head. "I can't."

"Why?"

"I need to prove that I'm a responsible adult."

"It sounds more like you're trying to prove you're a boring adult when you're perfect just the way you are."

My shoulders slump. "You don't understand."

"I don't, but it's clearly important to you." He takes a step back with a sad smile. "Whatever you need, Rachel."

My heart sinks, even though this is exactly what I wanted. "I should join the kids. Assuming they want me around."

"Of course they do." Sig leads the way. When we reach the pool where the kids are throwing rubber ducks at each other, he claps his hands. "You three, out of the water and over here, now!"

To my surprise, they splash over without argument. And with huge grins on their faces, too.

Sig crosses his arms over his chest. "Okay, ducklings. Spill. Why are you giving Rachel a hard time?"

And just like that, they're back to frowning.

"Sig, don't," I hiss. "It's fine."

All I want is for the kids to be happy. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn a place in their lives.

Sig frowns. "Don't you want to know what's going on?"

What's going on is that they hate me. They're glaring at me like they think I'm a monster. If I admit I don't know what I'm doing as a guardian, maybe they'll give me a break. At the very least, I can figure out what I did wrong so I can do better. For Janey.

I touch her ring for courage and turn to the kids. "What happened, you guys? We were having so much fun when I first got here. What changed?"

Lisa crosses her arms in front of her chest. "You know what changed, Rachel."

"Yeah, Rachel," Noah says, copying her.

I glance at Sig, then back at the kids. I have no clue what they're talking about, and he comes to my rescue.

"If you want to come back to Rubber Duckie World, you're going to explain."

I wait for them to tell him I'm a terrible godmother and I don't know how to act around kids and that every word out of my mouth is wrong and they wish I'd just leave.

But then Anna clears her throat. Her voice shakes as she says, "We just want Nana back."

My heart squeezes painfully in my chest. "She'll be back before you know it."

"No, she won't," Noah cries. "You're lying!"

Lisa glares at me. "You made Nana leave, and you're going to make sure she never comes back."

"I would never do that!"

Noah stomps his foot and clenches his little hands into fists. "We heard you on the phone!"

Anna nods emphatically. "When she called on Monday, we heard everything."

I shake my head as I wrack my brain to try to recall what I might have said. Finally I settle on, "I don't know what you think you heard, but Nana is coming back."

"You're lying!" Lisa shouts. "You want to take us away from our nana, and we won't let you!"

Noah whimpers.

Anna starts to cry.

And I turn pleading eyes on Sig, because now I'm completely out of my element, and I have no clue what to do.