Page 20 of The Deadbeat DILF
“This brings me back to the country club,” Robert said. I tried not to notice the droplets rolling down his wide shoulders.
“I thought lifeguards sit and watch, not swim,” I said.
“You underestimate how many times people got in trouble,” he said. “Kids being silly, women drowning…”
I laughed. “Women drowning was surely not a common occurrence.”
His eyes sparkled. “You’d be surprised. As soon as I clocked on, there’d be some woman or another needing assistance.”
“They just wanted your attention.”
He chuckled. “They did mention that their husbands were busy golfing several times,” he said. “You can imagine it. Bored housewives, wanting something to occupy them.”
“And did you ever take them up on the offer?”
He shook his head. “No. I loved Emily.”
I cringed. “Right, of course.” I’d forgotten he’d been with her.
Robert moved closer. His hair was wet at the ends. “What about you?”
“Have older women ever hit on me? No.”
He chuckled. “No, I meant what was your part-time job as a teenager? Or were you one of those kids who didn’t need one?”
“Ha. No, not at all. I got a job as soon as I was old enough. Mostly waitressing and bartending. You know, for the tips.” He was looking at me with an odd expression. “What?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No, nothing. I just…I assumed you might’ve been like Mike. Having fun in high school, rather than working. I guess he didn’t need the money. His mother and I might’ve spoiled him.”
I forced a smile. “No, I had to work. I…I didn’t grow up wealthy.”
I wasn’t ashamed of my background, but it wasn’t something I admitted frequently. It tended to make people uncomfortable. Most of my coworkers came from families full of lawyers. If I said my mother worked behind a shop counter, and my dad was unemployed more often than not, it would make people think I didn’t belong somewhere as shiny as Ashcroft.
And Ididbelong. I had worked for it.
Robert’s eyes were intent on mine. “I didn’t either,” he said. He moved closer, his hand brushing my arm. “But you know what? Your beginnings just make all of this —” he gestured around the pool “— more impressive.”
I smiled, warmth filling my chest. “Thank you, Robert. That’s really nice of you to say.”
Water gently rocked around us, and I realized our legs were almost touching under the water. I panicked, so I splashed him. Right in the face.
As soon as I did it, I regretted it. What a childish thing to do —
“Oh, no you don’t,” Robert said, and splashed me back. The cool water drenched my hair, and I shrieked.
And just like that, we were splashing each other like elementary school children rather than fully grown adults. Theair was filled with shrieks and laughter as I swam away from Robert, escaping his retribution.
“You’re not going to get away that easily,” he said.
“Feels pretty easy to me,” I called back. “I’m a faster swimmer than you.”
“We’ll see about that.”
My heart was in my throat as I kicked my feet as fast as I could. I’d almost reached the end of the pool when something grabbed my ankle. Robert yanked me towards him, and I screamed.
“Told you I’d catch you,” he said after pulling me in front of him, his arm around my waist so I couldn’t escape. I splashed him, but laughter died in my throat when I realized what we were doing. He was…holding me. And I was so close to him, I could wrap my arms around his neck or hook my legs around him, if I wanted to.
Robert’s smile faded, like he’d realized the same thing I had. His gaze flitted to my lips, and I imagined him leaning forward, brushing his lips against mine —
