She blinked. “Difficult how? Watching her? She’s very good.”
He gave her a lazy grin. “No, stealing another kiss. But don’t worry. I’m a pretty smart guy. I’ll work it out.”
He ignored her gasp, peeled off his shirt, and knelt in front of Zoe. “Race you to the water?”
“Yeah!” She jumped up, grabbing his hand, and they ran past the lifeguard into the waves.
He didn’t have to look back to see the simmering heat in Avery’s hazel eyes, or the frustration emanating from her gorgeous body. The image was clearly outlined in his imagination, so he focused on playing with Zoe and ignoring the woman who was wrecking his peaceful vacation.
He hadn’t experienced this much fun in a long, long time.
Why did the man have to look so hot in a bathing suit?
Avery tried not to gawk at the endless amounts of olive-toned skin, with the perfect sprinkling of hair dusting his chest, arms, legs, and tapering to that silky line that disappeared into his waistband. How were his abs so cut for a man who sat behind a desk? Those biceps and calves were taut and muscled. His ass was tight. But the biggest surprise was when he turned around and displayed the magnificent tattoo on the back of his right shoulder. An intricate compass inked his skin, seemingly with great detail she couldn’t study from this distance.
The compass fascinated her. Not only because she’d never pegged him as a man who’d ever get a tat but also because of his choice of ink. It was a symbol that seemed to contradict the man she thought she knew. She couldn’t stop staring at it, or the way his muscles bunched when he moved, or the sexy sheen of sweat glistening on his bare skin.
Her body was going haywire in the company of a five-year-old.
She was losing her damn mind.
Pulling out a few fresh peaches from her bag, she adjusted her chair in the sand and pushed her sunglasses up her nose. “Want some fruit, sweetie?” she called out.
“Yes!” Zoe barreled over, reaching out with sandy hands.
Avery laughed. “Go wash them in the ocean or your peach will be crunchy.”
“Ew!” She took off, and Avery kept watch while she rinsed her hands, then got distracted by shells littering the shoreline.
“Can I have one?”
Avery looked up. In the glare of the sun, Carter’s eyes crinkled at the corners, and those full lips held a sexy tilt, like he knew she’d been ogling him before but refused to admit it. “Sure.” She handed it over, pretending his half-naked body wasn’t interesting at all.
He bit into the ripe fruit, and a trickle of juice spilled over his chin. Her throat tightened as she imagined licking over the same trail and ending with her lips on his.
“Now that’s a thought I want to know,” he drawled. Amusement danced in his misty-blue eyes.
She ripped her gaze away and rummaged in the cooler for a juice box. “Trust me. You’ll never know.”
He laughed and took another bite. “Nothing like a good challenge to spur a man on.”
“Is that what this is to you—a challenge?” Suddenly, all the twisted feelings inside her leaked into her voice with pure frustration. “Is the sudden flirtation and interest in me boredom? An itch to finish out your vacay with some fun in the sack? Why don’t you tell me what this is really about, Carter?”
He finished his peach, and wiped his hands on a napkin. Then regarded her with an intensity that made her squirm. “None of the above.” His voice came out like sand and gravel, raking across her ears. “But I don’t have all the answers yet. I’m attracted to you. I want to spend more time with you. I want to kiss you again, and touch you in all your secret places and give you pleasure. This is all brand new to me, too. But if none of this interests you, I’ll respect it and back off. Just say the word.”
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. God, it’d be easier to just send him away and get back to her busy, crazy life. But deep inside, she wanted all of it. The idea of exploring this attraction was too appealing to turn down. Maybe it was time to take a chance and see what they could be together.
He waited for her response. Patience and a fierce demand mingled in his gaze, daring her not to lie. Sexual awareness skittered through her.
But she wasn’t ready to admit it. Not yet.
She took the safe route and avoided the question entirely. “You’re very good with Zoe,” she finally said.
She held her breath, wondering if he’d push, but his shoulders relaxed, and he allowed her the space. “I like kids. They’re honest and pure with their intentions. I like the way they look at the world without blinders.”
She tilted her head. “I guess I figured you’d find them messy, emotional, and a bit inconvenient.”
His rich laugh made her belly drop. “Sometimes. But the good outweighs the bad. I love the way all three of you banded together to support Zoe after her dad died. I know his death will always affect her, but she’s a happy, vibrant little girl.”
Her heart softened. He seemed to always be surprising her. “I think we were all lucky to have one another. Just like Ally was lucky to have you.”
Surprise flickered over his face, but before he had a chance to respond, Zoe came rushing back up to the blanket, her little hands full of shells. “Look what I got! Mommy says when I bring home a unique shell, it can go in the garden, but we can’t have any of the sames,” she babbled. “Can you help me find the good ones?”
“Definitely. Here, let me take them so you can eat your peach first. Looks like you got sandy all over again, princess.” He transferred the shells to her pail of water, grabbed a clean towel, and dusted off her fingers. Zoe ignored her Sofia the First beach chair and plopped her tiny butt next to Carter.
Smiling, Avery handed her the peach and juice box, watching while they chatted away and Carter began sifting through the various shells. The warmth and genuine interest on his face told her there was no pretense. He wasn’t trying to show off to get Avery into bed. This was a man who knew how to relate to kids and owned who he was. What a beautiful surprise.
A stirring in her gut rose up and crashed over her like a wave. Her dream of a future husband and father had always been a misty fragment of perfection—a list of black-and-white traits on paper that added up to a man worthy of her. But right now, a longing clawed to the surface, and the only sharp image in her vision was Carter Ross.
Shaken, she buried her thoughts and focused on the moment. It was a beautiful day at the beach, and she rarely got time off. For today, she’d have fun and soak in every ray of sunshine. Gabe was on call for emergencies if Taylor needed him, her phone was switched to silent, and the hours stretched before her like a gift.
Carter seemed to sense her shift of energy. They picked out their shells, Zoe finished her peach, and he stood up. “Ready to jump some waves, ladies?” he asked, extending both of his hands.
Zoe bounded up and grabbed at his fingers. “Yes! But not too far, because the water tastes yucky.”
“I’ll keep you safe. Avery? Ready to jump?”
She froze. The words stirred in the hot air with a much deeper meaning. His gaze dared her to join them. Her hesitation was brief, but enough to show her next actions weren’t done on impulse.
She stood up and took his other hand.