Page 73 of Chasing the Sun

“That’s why we have a pool,” he added, “so Daddy doesn’t have to go to the beach.”

“Have you been to the beach since you’ve been here, Chloe?” Victoria asked.

“No, but I’d like to go.”

“Did you hear that, Bryce? Chloe needs to visit Naples Beach while she’s here. You should take her.”

He looked at each of them and threw up his hands. “Fine. I guess we’re going to the beach!”

Chapter 24

Bryce trudged across the sand, weighed down with beach bags and two beach chairs that he’d dug out of the garage. He was flanked by Chloe carrying a picnic basket and Molly happily swinging a bucket of sand toys. It always amazed him how many items were required to spend a few hours at the beach, especially with children. The joy on his little girl’s face made it all worthwhile, though.

“How’s this spot?” he asked after they’d walked to a slightly less crowded section of Naples Beach.

“Fine with me,” Chloe said, looking almost as happy as Molly. He was curious if her good mood was due to the amazing sex they’d had or if it was being at the beach. If he got the chance, he might ask her, though he shouldn’t be thinking about sex when his daughter was around.

He set up their chairs while Chloe spread out some towels. Molly immediately plunked down in the sand and started to dig a hole with her child-sized shovel. They’d only been there a few minutes, and already, the sand was everywhere.

He sat down on his beach chair, removed his shirt, and shoved it into a beach bag. When he turned back around, Chloe was standing beside her chair, untying her black cover-up, the same one she’d worn the other night.

He was wearing sunglasses, and Molly’s back was to them, so he felt free to watch Chloe disrobe. She slid the cover-up down her shoulders to reveal a floral print tankini (he only knew this because Molly was wearing the same style) that was more modest than her other swimsuits, yet it still showcased her beautiful, lean body. He assumed that she’d chosen it because Molly was with them or maybe because they were in public. He smiled at the thought that she’d saved her bikinis just for him.

She pulled a magazine out of her beach bag, sat down beside him, and settled in.

“It’s gorgeous,” she said, looking out to sea.

“Yes.” He was thinking of her more than the scenery, though. She’d put her hair up in a floppy bun, exposing her long, graceful neck to his ravenous eyes. He spotted a small red mark where her neck met her right shoulder and realized he’d been the one to put it there. That reminded him of all the other places he’d kissed, and he forced himself to look away.

His hands were itching to touch her, but the three of them had already applied sunscreen before they’d left home, so he couldn’t offer to put any on her. Sighing, he resigned himself to reading, one of his favorite pastimes, but with Chloe sitting so close, he knew it’d be hard to concentrate.

What was happening to him? He hadn’t known her that long, but already he couldn’t get her out of his head. Sure, the sex was great, but there was more to it than that. He hadn’t wanted to spend this much time with a woman in forever, and it unnerved him.

Chloe suddenly touched his forearm, almost as if she’d sensed something was up. “Everything okay?”

He nodded. “Everything’s great except for the sand stuck between my toes.”

She giggled. “So, Victoria wasn’t exaggerating.”

“Nope.”

“Sorry if we forced you to come here. I could have waited and come by myself.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Let me guess. You’d be worried about my safety.”

“That’s part of it.” He wasn’t sure he was ready to share the other reason—that he didn’t want other men gawking or hitting on her. Luckily, Molly chose that moment to interrupt them.

“Can we go in the water now?” She stood up from where she’d been digging, and he and Chloe both laughed. She was covered with sand from head to toe.

“Sounds like a good idea,” Chloe said and immediately stood up.

He started to get up too, but Chloe waved him back down. “I got this,” she said with a sweet smile. Then she turned to Molly. “C’mon, sweetie. Let’s go clean you off.”

He watched them walk hand in hand to the water’s edge, and something about the scene touched him. Chloe had been worried about taking the job because she’d never nannied before, but to look at her, you’d never know it. She was excellent with Molly—patient, kind, attentive, and caring. She might not believe it, but she was a natural.

Seeing them together, one might think Molly and Chloe had known each other forever. He loved watching them interact and was grateful that Molly had another strong female role model in her life. Too bad it was only temporary.