Calvin chuckled. “I’ll deliver those myself.” He made his way towards the large pantry.
“You’ve already won her heart,” Adam joked.
Calvin laughed. “It’s nice being loved unconditionally.” He pulled out the box of crackers and poured a handful into a bowl. “I bet you love it.”
Adam chuckled. “Alex was angry with me this morning because I had to go to work.” Adam’s oldest boy had just turned three a few months back. “They’ll be stopping by for lunch.” His smile grew. “We just found out number three is on the way.”
“What?” Calvin almost dropped the bowl of crackers. “Congratulations.” His smile grew as he walked over and shook the man’s hand.
“Merci.” Adam laughed and shook his hand. “I’ll let Lilly know that the family is here. She may bring the kids early so they can play with their cousins.”
Calvin had learned early on that even though Lilith and Sarah weren’t really related, the two best friends had thought of each other as sisters since Lilith had escaped to Silver Cove from hurricane Katrina when she was a young teenager. She’d lived with Sarah and her mother Crystal Holley before moving onto the island and working at the resort with Sarah.
“I’ll take this up. You can send the platter up when it’s ready.” He nodded to the man as he headed back outside.
When he stepped out into the pool area this time, the family was already there, enjoying the water. It appeared that Bella had arrived just before he had, since she was still covered in a long flowing top and was just setting a bag down next to Sarah’s things.
They hadn’t seen him yet, and his steps faltered when Bella pulled off the cover-up and rushed to the side of the pool. He smiled when she executed one of the best cannonballs he’d ever witnessed.
He’d had a moment to enjoy the sexy tanned skin wrapped in a silver bikini before she hit the water with a massive splash. Aurora and Luna laughed. He couldn’t help but think how much she’d changed since the last time he’d seen her.
“Do it again!” Aurora yelled out.
Bella chuckled. “I’m afraid one is all I have in me.” She swam towards the family at the shallow end of the pool.
Then Aurora spotted him. “Calvin, jump in,” she called towards him.
“Sorry, princess, I can’t right now. But I brought you some of your favorite crackers.” He held up the bowl, then set it on the small table next to their chairs.
His eyes kept skirting towards Bella, who was frowning at him and trying to avoid eye contact.
He moved over to the side of the pool as Aurora swam expertly towards him.
“Please?” she asked with a slight frown.
“I’m working. But next time you come to visit I’ll show you how to do a proper cannonball,” he said with a wink.
“That was a proper one.” Bella moved closer to him.
“Oh?” He chuckled and glanced over to Ben. “Your sister hasn’t seen either of our cannonballs, has she?”
Ben laughed. “Who do you think taught her?” He nodded to his sister, then shook his head. “But you can’t teach perfection.” Ben laughed. “Calvin has one of the best cannonballs I’ve ever witnessed.”
“That sounds like a challenge.” Bella smirked.
“Consider it one.” Calvin stood up and dusted off his slacks. “Adam is sending up a snack platter for you. Lilith and the kids should be along soon.” He motioned to the chairs. “I’ll make sure there is plenty of saved space for everyone. We’re pretty booked at the moment.”
“Thanks,” Ben said, shifting Luna in his arms. The kid was holding onto her father tightly. She had yet to learn how to maneuver in the water like her older sister but wasn’t afraid of it as she had been last year.
“She’s getting better.” He motioned to Luna. “I’ll wager by the end of the summer she’ll be another tadpole like her big sister.”
Ben laughed. “We’re working on it.”
“Thank you, Calvin.” Sarah smiled up at him.
“If you need anything…” He nodded to the family and made his way back inside.
For the remainder of the day, he couldn’t get his mind off the image of Bella tucking her legs to her chest and jumping into the water with a huge smile on her face. He’d never seen anything sexier in his entire life.
Chapter Three
Spending time with her family improved Bella’s mood considerably, and she was sure this was the best decision she’d made in a long time.
Just spending an hour in the water with her nieces had lifted the heavy burden from her shoulders. Playing with Aurora and teaching Luna how to swim had worn her out.
Just before lunchtime rolled around, Lilly and her two kids, Alex, who was three, and Brooke, who was the same age as Luna, arrived.
They all sat around the pool area enjoying the lunch that Adam brought up from the kitchen himself. The kids hit the pool again shortly after until it was determined to be their nap time.
After everyone left, she decided to stick it out at the pool and rested back to enjoy the sun and some quiet. She hadn’t planned on falling asleep, but sometime later, a shadow fell over her, causing her to jerk awake.
“Sorry.” Calvin smiled down at her. “I just came to check up on you.” He motioned to the seat next to her and she nodded. “You might want to put some sunblock on soon.” He motioned towards her.
She glanced down, but since her eyes had yet to adjust to the light, she shrugged. “I was about to head in,” she lied, thankful she had on a pair of dark sunglasses so he couldn’t tell that she wasn’t fully awake yet or that she’d been asleep in the first place.
“Did you enjoy your visit with your family?” he asked.
“I did.” She smiled. “My nieces seem to like you a lot.” She shifted to sit up a little.
Hearing Calvin’s chuckle had her insides doing little funny flips. God, he’d grown even more sexy over the years. His smile melted her knees and insides.
“I know the way to a woman’s heart.” He leaned forward. “Cheese crackers.” His smile doubled.
She felt her entire body ignite. “They were pretty good,” she admitted.
“Adam orders them direct from France.” He shrugged and waved to a few guests as they passed by. “I hope everything was to your liking.” Her eyebrows shot up in question. “Lunch, that is. Do you need another drink?” He glanced over to her tea, which she’d forgotten about.
“No, thank you. Everything has been wonderful.” She glanced out over the pool to the waters of the bay beyond the green grassy yard. “Then again”—she turned her eyes back towards him— “I don’t think I’ve ever been here when things weren’t perfect.”
He nodded. “If you need anything during your stay…” He started to get up, but she held up her hand to stop him.
“While I’m here…” She swallowed. She needed to talk to him but had wanted to wait until her brother and Sarah weren’t around. “I would appreciate the inn’s discretion. I’m here to escape and don’t want the news to get out that I’m on the island.”