Page 31 of A Moon Lake Christmas Hero

“Hey, do you or Claire have a swimsuit Erin could borrow?”

Erin lowered her brows and shook her head.

“Sure.”

“Great, we’ll swing by in a minute.” I ended the call and grinned. Though I wiped that grin off my face as soon as I glanced at her before focusing back on the road. “What?”

She shook her head. “I don’t appreciate you managing my life.”

I scoffed. This was hardly managing her life.

“You needed a swimsuit. I made it happen. Nothing more, nothing less.”

She looked out of her side window but said nothing, which was completely unnerving.

When we reached the parking lot of the Moon Lake Inn, Lisa was already waiting for us even though it had started snowing.

I made a U-turn, and Erin lowered her window.

"Good morning." Lisa leaned inside, bringing a gust of cold air with her. She rubbed her gloved hands together. "Hey, girlies. Must be nice having that heated pool on a day like this."

Marley and Ally giggled and nodded.

“Hey.” She handed Erin a small bag. “I hope it fits, but I think we’re almost the same size.”

Erin smiled. “Thank you.”

“No problem. Have a nice day,” she said and knocked on the side of the car and straightened.

She didn’t look sheepish or anything, which I was thankful for.

This was why I loved Moon Lake. Why I would never move away, at least not as long as Marley and Ally were growing up. I loved the community, the people in my circle of friends. Of course, the broader population of Moon Lake would be a different story. The rumor mill alone was a beast.

But even though news traveled fast, most people weren’t overtly mean about it, just immensely curious.

We drove home, got changed, and met up in the living room. The girls grabbed Erin’s hands and pulled her to the corridor that led to the poolroom. They waited until I opened the door, which was our golden rule. No swimming alone.

The floor-to-ceiling windows showed the falling snow outside, creating a magical contrast with the steamy warmth inside. Christmas lights reflected off the water's surface, casting dancing patterns across the walls.

This was another one of the perks of this house and another reason I was reluctant to let it go.

I handed Erin a towel from the stack, and when she dropped her robe, I almost swallowed my tongue. The royal-blue two-piece didn't leave much for the imagination, but at the same time, somehow enhanced her slim lines and gorgeous breasts. Breasts I’d kissed and fondled last night.

And I wanted to do it again.

Every night.

"Let's go!" Abby screamed, and they ran toward the pool steps, their excited voices echoing off the glass walls.

Erin and I followed.

“Is everything okay?” I asked her.

“Maybe it was a mistake.”

“A mistake?”

“Last night. I usually don’t have sex with someone I hardly know.”

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