Chapter 10

I force air into my lungs. It does nothing to calm my nerves, but at least I’m breathing.

“Coming!” I call to Adrian and turn my attention back to my phone. “It’s just my employer. I’m sure the kid I’m taking care of needs something. I have to go. I’ll call you later."

I don’t wait for him to respond before hanging up the phone and launching for the door. Adrian stands on the other side, still in his slacks, his shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbow. He seems to take me in for a moment, and my cheeks flush a little as he surveys me.

“Grace was hoping you would read her story before bed.” He finally says.

I nod dumbly and just about step out of my room before he says, “Perhaps a robe is in order first.”

I look down and only then do I realize that I’m standing there in a thin nightgown he can probably see through and that’s barely long enough to call itself a gown. With how much of myself is showing, there is little left to the imagination.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” I stutter and shut the door in his face to rush back to the bathroom for my robe.

When I come back, he gives me the small mercy of not saying anything as he leads me to Grace’s room.

Three bedtime stories later, I’m tucking her into bed and heading back to my room. It’s hard to say no to that little girl.

The next morning, I rise on time and get Grace ready for breakfast. When we get down to the dining room, there is a packet of paperwork sitting on the table with my name on it. The packet contains everything about Grace I might need. Her doctor, her allergies, the address for her various lessons and tutors, as well as her schedule for the summer.

Adrian doesn’t join us for breakfast. I find myself looking to the door more often than I should be. Though he did say he worked a lot. He’s probably gone already.

I munch on my toast and skip down the schedule for the day to see swimming listed right after breakfast. I feel woefully unprepared. I don’t own a swimsuit.

“Well, Lily, looks like we’re swimming this morning. Shall we get ready?” I ask and watch as her face lights up with excitement.

I help her get ready and then go to my room to look for a pair of shorts and a shirt.

“Lily, this one is for you!” Grace says excitedly rushing into the room. She’s carrying a blue swimsuit and holding it out to me with a huge grin.

I take it hesitantly and check the size. It should fit. Where did it come from? How many women come and go from this house, that Adrian feels the need to have extra swimsuits on hand for them?

I think about refusing, but Grace’s smile and hopefully eyes sell me. So, I thank her and go to put it on. It’s modest, but the fit and shape accentuates my curves, and the color brings out my eyes.

“Alright, Grace. Lead the way to the pool.” I say, coming out of the bathroom. She takes my hand and rushes excitedly out the door.

Grace is babbling on a mile a minute as we walk from the house. It’s such a difference from the quiet withdrawn child she had been yesterday. I do my best to engage in what she says, encouraging her to keep opening up and just be herself, but I almost stop dead in my tracks when I see Adrain leaning against the side of the pool house.

He’s dressed in swim shorts and appears to be waiting for us. A broad smile lights up his face when Grace lets go of my hand and runs for him.

“What are you doing here?” She demands as he wraps her in a hug.

“I took the day off.” He tells her, releasing her and wrapping his hands around her waist. “I wanted to see how your swimming was coming along. Let’s find out.”

Grace laughs as he picks her up, walks her to the edge of the pool, and promptly drops her into the water. I gasp and rush forward a bit. The pool looks deep.

Adrian laughs when he sees my face. “Don’t worry. I swear the child is part fish.”

Sure enough, Grace’s head pops out of the water, and I let out a breath as she giggles and swims expertly to the other side of the pool.

“How are you settling in?” Adrian asks, eyes still on Grace as she swims from one end of the pool to the other.

“Alright.” I answer, “Just finding my feet, but Grace is an amazing kid. She makes it pretty easy. I’m glad to work with her.”

“She seems happy too.” He grins and turns to survey me. “The suit fits you well. Good.”

I look down. I almost forgot I was wearing a strange woman’s swimsuit, and I get a little self-conscious. Which is probably why the words: “Yeah, I must be the same size as the previous woman” come out of my mouth.

The soft chuckle that follows makes me want to swim to the bottom of the pool, find a rock to hide under, and never come out.

“Not at all.” Andrian answers as Grace climbs out of the pool and immediately dives back in off the edge. “I got that suit for you yesterday. I wasn’t sure you would think to bring one. Grace loves the pool, so you’ll be spending a lot of time out here this summer.”

“Makes sense.” I nod, though I can’t shake the speculation of how he knew my measurements well enough to get a suit that fit this well. Well, the man did see me with my shirt off and his hands were all over me a few nights ago.

Nope. Not thinking about that.

“Lily come play!” Grace calls to me, and I excuse myself to go to the ladder of the pool and swim over to my charge.

Adrian wanders over to the lounge chairs, stretches out in one, and closes his eyes.

I try to avoid looking at him, keeping my attention on Grace as we play in the water. It’s hard to do with his muscled, gorgeous physique on full display like that.

No. I’m not thinking about that either.

The sound of my phone ringing has me pausing our game and I climb out of the pool to check it. It’s Julian.

“Hey.” I answer, stepping to the edge of the deck so I’m less in Adrian’s ear shot, but I can still keep my eyes on Grace as she splashes in the water.

“How’s the job going?” He asks.

“Good.” I answer. “I’m with the kid at the pool right now.”

He chuckles a little. “Well, watch yourself around all the rich old men with their beer-bellies. They might start hitting on you.”

My eyes wander to Adrian for a brief second still sunning himself with his eyes closed. The only beer-belly here is a six pack and I’m pretty confident it won’t be hitting on me ever again.

“What’s up?” I ask. “Is something wrong?”

“Just heading somewhere I really don’t want go.” He sighs. “I could use a pep talk.”

I don’t really have time for a long encouraging chat. I need to get back to Grace. So, I take a breath and say, “I’m sorry you’re having a rough day. Wherever you’re going, just do it and get it over with. Everything will be alright. We can chat tonight, and you can tell me all about it.”

“You’re right.” He agrees.

“I have to get back. We’ll talk later.” I promise, and we end the call.

I put my phone away and head back to the pool. A prickle at the back of my neck has me glancing at Adrian. He’s still lounging on the chair, but his eyes are open and he’s looking at me with an expression I can’t decipher.

I look away quickly as I lower myself back into the water to resume mine and Grace’s game.

An hour later, we’re drying off and heading back to the house for lunch. Grace is hurrying ahead, babbling excitedly about the chocolate bars we’re having for dessert. I grab the towels and sunscreen and hurry after her, when my foot hits a wet part of the deck.

I feel my leg jerk out from under me and I know I’m going down. I twist, trying to regain my footing, or at least land on my knees when I feel a solid form behind me, grabbing a hold of my waist to keep me upright.

Except, between my weight, and the slickness of the deck, Adrian loses his footing as well and we both go down. His grip doesn’t loosen, and I give a small shriek as I land on top of him, and he takes the brunt of the fall.

It takes a minute for the pain in my knees to register, and when it does, I realize what has happened. Adrian shielded me from colliding with the ground, but my knees have landed on either side of him. His hands still grip my waist from where he lies beneath me and as I meet his intense dark eyes, I stop breathing entirely.