10. Dalton

CHAPTER 10

I love my kids, I really do. Hell, I'd do anything for them, that's for sure. But I would love just ten minutes of uninterrupted time with Gianna. She's been really quiet since I came out of the house, and even with my teasing, she's not opening up. I get the boys to play a racing game where they swim across the pool, run around the house, and then a few more obstacles before running back to us. Each time they take off around the house, I try to draw Gianna into a conversation, but she just gives me yes and no answers.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" I ask her.

She nods, peering around the house like she's looking for the boys even though we both know it's going to be a bit before they make it all the way around. "Did Miller say something to you?"

She bites her lip and shakes her head as she covers her arms over her chest. "No."

I look her up and down and can't get over how beautiful she is. I have to keep reminding myself that she's off limits. She's thirteen years younger than me, and right now she's helping with my kids. I shouldn't be looking at her the way I am, but I can't help it. She has quickly turned into an obsession for me.

The boys come running back to the pool and jump in, and Gianna and I declare a tie.

"Get in, Dad," Ethan begs.

I step into the pool, splash them and then sit down on one of the stairs. The boys both laugh and so do I, but Gia uses this time to try and escape. "I'm going to let you boys play while I go in and fix some lunch."

"Stay," I demand and then soften my voice. "Please, stay."

The boys both look at me and then at Gia, waiting to see what she's going to say. It's obvious she doesn't want to say no to Ethan and Evan's pleading eyes, so she nods and shifts her weight to her other leg. She's standing awkwardly next to the pool, and I wish she'd just tell me what's bothering her.

"Get in," I tell her.

She points at the pool. "In there?"

I laugh. "Yes. You know you're hot out there with the sun beating down on you. Get in."

She shakes her head. "I'm fine out here."

I move my leg so she can sit on the step next to me. "Get in the pool, Gia."

She rolls her eyes at me, getting a laugh from the boys, and then gets into the pool and sits gingerly on the stairs a few feet away. As the boys jump around on the other end, I scoot closer and lean toward her. "I'm sorry."

She whispers back. "Sorry for what?"

I hate being the reason that she's lost her smile, but it's obvious that it's me. "You were all smiles until I got here. I'm going to hang for just a few more minutes, and then I'll go."

She puts her hand on my knee, and then as if realizing what she did, she pulls her hand back. "Don't leave. It's not you… it's me."

The sincerity on her face has me wanting to know the truth. "Why?"

She tugs at the strap at her shoulder. "I haven't been in a bathing suit in years."

I can't help it. I instantly look down her body. "And what? Are you uncomfortable—"

She cuts me off while avoiding my eyes. "Yeah, uh, the boys were so excited, and I didn't want to tell them no. Maddie was kind enough to loan me the suit, but it's too small and well, not something I'd usually wear."

She points at her bare midriff as if it's something unfavorable, and that's crazy to me. From the moment I saw her in the bathing suit, I've been practically drooling over her. Hell, I had to practically push my foreman out of here because she's so fuckin' beautiful, and she doesn't even have a clue.

I put my hand on her leg. "Gia."

She stops talking, but she doesn't look at me, and I lean in closer. The boys are jumping around in the pool doing their own thing, and I'm completely focused on the beautiful woman sitting in front of me. "Gia, look at me."

She raises her eyes, and I see the self-consciousness there. Fuck I wish I could show her how beautiful I think she is. "You're a fuckin' bombshell, Gia."

She starts to shake her head, and I wrap my hand around her thigh and squeeze. "Believe me when I say it. I haven't been able to take my eyes off you. You're beautiful, honey."

She bites on her lip, and I groan, wishing we were alone. All at once, the boys jump into the pool, splashing the both of us. Just like that, the moment is gone, but at least she's smiling again.

The rest of the time, I can't resist touching her. I let my leg touch hers. When her hair falls across her face, I brush it back, tucking it behind her ear. It's like every excuse to have my hands on her, I take it.

When the boys say they're hungry, I hold Gia's hand and help her out of the pool. We all dry off, and when we walk into the house, I'm holding her hand again. I should let her go, but I keep holding it the whole way in.

The boys are racing up the stairs, and I can't bring myself to yell at them for dripping water through the house.

With her hand in mine, Gia says, "I'm going to put some clothes on, then I'll get lunch out."

I nod, looking her up and down, making sure she knows that I like what I see. "Yeah, you should probably do that." I lean in. "Because I'm having trouble keeping my hands off you."