Page 32 of Summer Escape
"I was surprised, and then I couldn't seem to figure out what was going on. The bathroom was supposed to be empty, but it smelled like lavender, and you were—" A goddess in that tub, one I wanted to explore.
It was wrong, entirely inappropriate. My mind should only be on my daughter, not my enticing roommate.
Saylor sighed. "This is harder than I thought it was going to be."
I wanted to know if she thought that because we shared a bathroom, or it was something more than that. Did she want me too? Did she remember how things used to be and want to see if we still had some of that chemistry? "We have to remember to lock doors and knock before we enter. Maybe I should switch bedrooms with Hayden." Hayden would hate that, but it would put a floor between us, and we wouldn't be sharing a bathroom anymore.
"I think we can do this. We just have to be more careful."
But what about what was going on in my head? I wanted to make a move on Saylor. I wasn't in the right place to be even thinking about starting any kind of relationship with a woman, physical or otherwise. I had my daughter to think about, my future, a job and a career, fixing things with my family.
"I should talk to my parents about going over there for family dinner soon. I've stayed away long enough."
"That's a good idea. Are you going to talk to them about working there again?"
"I'll have to feel things out. But I can't avoid it forever."
"No, you can't. I think the longer you wait to confront them about it, the harder it will be. They'll make assumptions that you don't want to work with them."
That didn't sit right with me. I wanted to return to my place in the company, but I wasn't sure that was possible. Could my brothers and my father depend on me to stick around? I wanted to prove to them that I would. But Hayden lived in Naples. Would they assume I would leave again?
We finished eating, and I sat back in my chair. "The fish was good."
"Hayden asked for white fish."
"I missed eating fresh-caught fish. I miss so many things about living here."
"It's a wonderful break from my life." Then Saylor stood. "I'll clean since you cooked."
"You don't have to do that."
Saylor just gave me a look as she stacked the plates and took them to the sink. She carefully rinsed them, placing each one in the dishwasher. Then she packed up the leftovers and put them into the fridge.
The rain had slowed. "You want to have a fire tonight? I stored some wood in the shed, so we have dry timber."
Saylor smiled. "Why not?"
Outside the clouds had cleared, revealing a sky filled with stars. The waves crashed in the distance, and we could hear the occasional laugh or bark of a dog from walkers on the beach. But we were nestled in the palm trees that surrounded the cottage. The fire pit was close to the pool, surrounded by chairs.
I grabbed the wood from the shed and arranged it in the pit while Saylor grabbed a towel to clean off the chairs.
Once the fire was burning, I sat next to her.
It was the perfect night. I didn't have to do anything or be anywhere until Hayden wanted to come home. I checked my phone, but there weren't any messages. "You think she's okay?"
"If I remember how it was being a teen, they could be practicing how to put makeup on each other or flipping through magazines—" I gave her a look, and she laughed. "Okay, searching for outfits online. Is that better?"
"More realistic. At least she hasn't asked to go to a mall." I shuddered just thinking about the possibilities of her getting into trouble.
"Give it time," Saylor said with a small smile. "I would think parenting at this age is giving them enough independence so that they feel free yet measuring their safety at every turn."
I nodded, feeling seen. "It's a balancing act."
"You're doing a good job."
"I hope so." I tipped my head back to consider the vast expanse of stars.
"Are you getting any help from her mother?"
