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August’s grin reveals a missing tooth. “I want to ride that!”
“Gotta wear your life jacket, my guy,” Griffin says.
I know the man wasn’t actually born wearing jeans and flannel, but it’s weird to see him in board shorts and flip-flops. Like coming across old pictures of The Rock when he had hair. It doesn’t look right.
Grant, on the other hand, looks amazing in his board shorts. But no. I need to show some restraint here.
August wiggles into his red life vest, but as soon as he steps off the beach blanket onto sand, he pulls back. “Too hot.”
“I’ll help you.” Tess grabs both his hands and hops him down the beach, lifting him in the air in giant, giggling jumps.
Hope takes a few cautious steps across the sand. “I should have brought my water shoes.”
“I’ve got you.” Griffin tosses her over one shoulder and churns sand as he runs down the beach until they both splashinto the water. My sister shrieks the whole way, but man, is she happy.
Wren grabs the purple hippo. “Looks like it’s you and me, pal.”
She darts down to the water, throwing herself onto the hippo when she reaches the lake.
“Are you ready?” Grant asks.
Not really. To be honest, the last time I came out here with them was at least five years ago, and I don’t remember actually getting in the water. I spent my time oiled up in the sun or huddled in the shade with a book. But I made it this far—might as well go the last fifty feet.
I pull my knee-length cover-up over my head and toss the teal fabric onto the rest of my things. A gusty groan comes from Grant’s direction. I try to look shocked, but really, I’m just glad my retro red two-piece is as distracting to him as he is to me.
“Sorry.” He grins at me, ruining the repentant act. “You look incredible.”
“This old thing?” I put a hand on my hip. “I only wear it when I want to stun mountain men.”
“Done and done.”
I start to head out across the sand but backtrack to the blanket as quickly as August did. “It really is hot.”
And rocky. It’s probably as close to a sandy beach as we can hope for, but it’s covered in pebbles, too. My poor feet ache already.
Grant moves in front of me, facing the lake. He squats down, looks at me over his shoulder, and gives it an inviting pat. “Hop aboard, princess.”
“Really?”
He drops his eyebrows in silent challenge. “Don’t make me order you to get up here.”
His stern threat zings through my belly. I’m tempted to seejust how in charge Grant can be, but a lake busy with families probably isn’t the place for that kind of test.
I step closer and set my hands on his shoulders.
He dips even lower into his squat. The thighs on this man…whew.
“You’ll have to jump up.”
I can see about three ways this could go where we wind up in a heap in the sand, but I jump anyway. Miraculously, his hands close tight around my thighs, and I rearrange my hold so I don’t choke him. Cargo secured, he strides across the beach to the lake.
I pat his chest. “I wouldn’t mind being chauffeured around like this all the time.”
“You’ve got a deal.”
He wades slowly into the water but doesn’t put me down.
“Are you going to let me go?” I ask.
