9. Gianna

CHAPTER 9

I can't remember the last time I've been in a bathing suit, but here I am. The boys asked if we could get into the pool so they could swim, and there's no way I could say no with those big eyes of theirs pleading with me.

So I borrowed a bathing suit from Maddie, who had to come and hear Ethan talk. Thank goodness Dalton's been down at the barn since we've been in the pool because I'd much rather be around him fully dressed than wearing a bathing suit that is too small for me.

I'm throwing small toys in the pool while the boys chase to get them when I see Dalton and another man walking out of the barn. When I realize they're heading up toward the house, I hold my breath in anticipation. As they approach, I realize I'm at a disadvantage. Dalton has his hat low on his head, and even though I can't see his eyes clearly, I know they're on me. I'm standing on the steps of the pool with the water to my ankles.

The closer they get, the more self-conscious I get. The towel is right behind me, and I could easily grab it and wrap it around myself, but I don't do it. I've worked hard on being comfortable in my own skin, and even though I still have bouts of self-consciousness, I'm not going to let it win.

Dalton and the man both stop next to the pool, but neither of them say anything. As soon as Ethan and Evan see them, they start splashing them, and I'm happy to see that Dalton is laughing instead of getting mad about it.

At least he's smiling until he looks over at his friend, who is openly staring at me. Dalton practically growls at him, "Go on in. The key is hanging on the hook…. You know where it's at."

The man nods, tips his hat at me, and then disappears inside the house. Dalton walks closer to the pool, and the gruff voice he used before is softer as he talks to me and his boys. "You guys having fun?"

"Yes!" they both scream.

He laughs, pushes his hat back, and looks at me. "What about you? You having fun?"

The smile on his face makes me ask, "Yeah… how old are you?"

He doesn't seem surprised by the question. "Thirty-eight. How old are you?"

He gives me a challenging look, and I could tell him that you're not supposed to ask a woman her age, but I'm sure he knows that and doesn't care. "I'm twenty-five."

He bites his lip and nods his head with a jerk. I'm embarrassed that I blurted out the question, and I lift my hand to shade my eyes when in fact what I want to do is hide behind it.

Ethan walks to the edge of the pool. "Dad, are you going to get in?" Dalton was worried about him and that maybe he'd stop talking again, but he shows no signs of it.

Evan starts to jump up and down. "Yeah, Dad, get in and play with us."

I can see the indecision on his face, but it doesn't last long. "Sure, I'll get in."

They both start hollering, and Dalton laughs as he starts walking to the house. "I'll be right back," he calls over his shoulder.

As soon as he disappears in the house, I try to catch my breath. For the love of jelly beans, I'll never survive it if he comes out here in swimming trunks. I gasp. Or shirtless. I'm about to be in a full-blown panic when the door swings open. As soon as I see that it's Dalton's friend and not the man himself, I start to breathe again.

The man walks toward me with his hand out. "I'm sorry. I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Miller. The foreman."

I put my hand in his. "I'm Gianna."

He wraps both hands around mine and holds on to it. He smiles real big at me. "Oh, it's a pleasure, Gianna."

"Hey, Miller! That field is not going to bush hog itself," Dalton hollers out as the screen door slams behind him.

He's off the porch and next to Miller and me in an instant. I pull my hand from Miller's and avoid Dalton's gaze. The two men talk, and Miller is laughing as he walks away. "Gianna, it was nice meeting you."

Instead of answering him, I wave and then return my attention to the boys. They are now having me count how long each of them can stay under the water.

With Dalton standing beside me, he counts for Ethan while I count for Evan. We're not touching, but I can still feel the heat from his body. I was right earlier. I am not prepared for a shirtless Dalton, and the longer we stand next to each other without touching, without talking, the more intense it all feels.

When the boys get his attention and he's talking to them, I take the opportunity to look at him, and once I do, I can't look away. The muscles on this man are insane. He grabs a football that the boys had been playing with and throws it into the pool, and the boys chase each other to get it.

He catches me looking at him. "You okay?"

I swallow hard. It's not like I can tell him that I'm having a mini panic attack over seeing him bare-chested or anything. He's going to think I'm psycho or something. I try to be smooth with my answer, but it comes out with me mumbling like an idiot. "Yeah, uh, I'm okay."

He looks at me with doubt and something else. There's a smirk on his face, and I don't know what to make of it. "Really? You look a little flushed."

I slap him, and as I raise my hand, I know I shouldn't do it. As soon as my hand hits his chest it's like an electric current shoots up my arm. He grabs on to me and holds my hand against his chest.

"Stop," I gasp.

He tilts his head to the side, still smiling. "Why won't you look at me, Gia?"

A little embarrassed, I shrug my shoulders. "Please, you know why."

He gives the innocent look pretty well. "What do you mean? Why are you all flushed?"

I pull my hand from his grip and then wave toward his naked chest. "Please, you know what you're packing there."

As soon as I say it, I know I chose the wrong words. I start to stutter. "I didn't mean what you're packing… I mean, come on, look at you. Any warm-blooded woman is going to flush when they come face to face with that."

I bring my hand to my face and cover it with a groan. Oh my God, did I just say that out loud? In a muffled voice, I ask him, "Can we please ignore the fact I just said that?"

Before he can answer, Evan and Ethan are wanting our attention, and I'm saved from further embarrassment. I try to put some distance between Dalton and me and focus on the kids.