“You can borrow my clothes if your clothes get too wet,” he offers, knowing exactly why that’s a bad idea. But as I glance back at Ava and the hopeful look on her face, I heave a sigh, giving in. I strip out of my shirt, staying in my tank top, beyond grateful that I chose a plain bra and underwear this morning. I can’t imagine wearing a thong and getting into a pool with a nine-year-old is appropriate. I feel Baz’s heated gaze on my skin as I take Ava’s hand, guiding her back into the water with me. He’s obviously a good teacher because, as soon as we get in, she breaks away from my hold, showing me what she can do on her own.
Still nervous, I stay near her. I also do it, so I don’t have to look at Baz. Too many memories are in this pool and the Jacuzzi next to it. Flashes of his hands on my skin, his tongue burning a trail of fire across my flesh, his mouth on mine, making me come—all of it appears in sporadic flashes that suddenly have my body feeling overheated.
Ignoring him works out as long as he isn’t part of our conversation, but as soon as Ava includes him, I sneak a glance at him and stifle a groan. He’s propped up against the ledge of the pool, half his body submerged, leaving the upper half on display. His arms are propped on the ledge on either side of him, making him look confidently lazy. He looks incredibly sexy like this. And he doesn’t even have to try. It’s just from him sitting in a fucking pool. Droplets of water roll down his chest, but it’s the look in his eyes as he stares at me that causes my stomach to fill with butterflies. My heart gallops, and I quickly look away, trying to pretend he didn’t just catch me checking him out.
The sexual tension between us only gets worse the longer we’re in the pool. I’m all too glad when Ava announces she’s tired. I damn near hop out of the water with her and rush inside. I brought a bag for her with a change of clothes and hair products to fix her hair. Baz offers us the guest bathroom, where I let Ava shower, then wait for her to dress, so I can fix her hair.
By the time she’s showered and clean, she crawls onto Baz’s couch, and without being asked, he turns the TV on for her. Some Disney show plays that she’s immersed in. Her eyes are a little droopy from all the swimming, so I know she’s going to conk out soon. I’m in the guest bathroom, wringing out her swimsuit, when I feel his presence.
“Here are the clothes. You can shower, too.”
I turn, shaking my head. Being naked in his shower is way too intimate. I can’t. “It’s fine. I can wait until we get home. Plus, I don’t want to leave her sitting out there for too long.” Baz rests his shoulder against the doorframe, watching me intently.
“She’s asleep, if that makes you feel any better.”
My eyes widen. “Already?”
“Just take a shower, Mackenzie. All your stuff is still in my bathroom. I can wait out on the couch with her.”
I hesitate for a bit but give in eventually. I’m being ridiculous. It’s just a shower. With a sharp nod, I walk past Baz into his bedroom and head straight for the en suite bathroom. I don’t want to look around out of fear it’ll give me other ideas that certainly don’t need a home in my head.
I’m just setting down the clothes he gave me on the marble sink when I see him hovering near the bathroom door. Swallowing, I turn around, my hands gripping the ledge for support.
“Yes?”
He steps inside the bathroom, consuming the space, stealing the air from my lungs, making his luxurious bathroom suddenly feel like we’re in a bathroom on an airplane. He stops right in front of me, close enough that I feel his body heat. I feel all his wants and desires because they match my own.
“There’s one box Dan forgot. He planned on bringing it later this week. There are some of your clothes in it. Figure you could use these.” I look down, just now noticing the fresh pair of underwear and the bra in his hand. My cheeks flame with heat, and I nod jerkily, snatching them from him.
“Thank you.”
He nods, but he doesn’t make any move to leave, just stands there so close yet so far away, infuriating me.
“Is that all?”
“No.” He steps into me, one hand settling on my hip, making me gasp, and the other sliding around my neck. His whole hand engulfs me, making me long to feel his touch in other places. Arching my neck back, he leans down, hovering his lips just inches from mine, staring down at me. “Tell me to stop. Tell me this is a bad idea.”
My throat constricts. His hold on my neck shifts, and his thumb traces my lower lip in tantalizing motions that have my core clenching. Just as he starts leaning in, and I feel his lips almost touch mine, I whisper, “This is a bad idea.”
He changes his course, pressing his lips against my neck, and I just about fall apart. If I wasn’t gripping the counter, and his hand wasn’t holding me upright, I would’ve fallen into a puddle at his feet by now.
Without another word, Baz leaves me in his space to shower with an aching core and a throbbing heart.
After hanging out with Ava before bed, I lie next to her for a while, enjoying the silence and the comfort of being near her. This has become nightly routine for us. After getting cleaned up for bed, we head into her room and watch some TV before she falls asleep. She’s an easy child. I thought school nights would be a lot harder to get her to bed on time, but when I say it’s time for bed, she doesn’t even argue. She just smiles and tells me good night as she snuggles into me and falls asleep.
Feeling beyond comfortable next to her, I start to doze off, but jerk awake at the sound of the doorbell. Slowly, it takes me a beat to push myself upright and reach for my phone. Baz had the security company install the Ring app, so I open it, checking to see who would be outside this late. I never have visitors. The only person who ever comes over is Dan, but I know this can’t be him.
My brows dip into a frown when the camera outside shows that no one is there. I wait it out, wondering why someone would ring the doorbell then leave so quickly. An unsettled sensation churns in my gut, but I try to tamp it down. Could be an accident. Maybe they realized they had the wrong house, and that’s why they left.
Swallowing thickly, I press the playback button on the app, checking to see who rang the doorbell. My stomach bottoms out when I see a hooded figure casually stride up the steps wearing a black hoodie, shielding their identity. They ring the doorbell, then stand for several seconds, before walking away. My hands are shaking as I set my phone down. I climb out of bed with Ava and start pacing, wondering if I’m overreacting.
It could be kids. Maybe it’s nothing sinister? I wonder if I should call Baz, or Dan, at the very least, but it’s already ten o’clock, and though I know he’ll be awake, what will he say?
He’s all the way over there, and I’m here.
I’m no longer his problem.
Slamming my eyes shut, I inhale a deep breath, trying to settle the wild thoughts running rampant in my mind.
“Pull yourself together,” I mumble to myself, as I flick on Ava’s nightlight and head down the hallway back into the living room and kitchen. I left the lights on out here while I was getting her ready for bed. I start flicking off the lights but startle at the sound of my phone chirping, followed by the doorbell. Again.
My heart is pounding in my chest, my feet rooted to the floor. My stomach cramps with fear, and I keep still, trying to listen for any sounds outside, but it’s dead quiet. Almost too quiet. My hands tremble as I reopen the app, and sure enough, there’s no one there again, but as I replay the footage, the same black hooded figure is there.