Page 28 of One Hot Daddy

"Thanks," she breathes, slightly out of breath.A few hairs have escaped from her elegant style, and I have the ridiculous urge to tuck it behind her ear.

"Dad, hurry up!"Henry shouts from somewhere near the entrance turnstiles."The lines are getting longer!"

I reluctantly release Jennifer's hand, and we push through the throng of families.The admission fee makes my stomach drop to the floor, but the kids' excitement is infectious enough that I hand over my credit card without too much grumbling.

"This place is mental," I whisper to Jennifer as we're swept along by the crowd toward the changing rooms.

"You're the one who suggested it," she reminds me, but she's grinning.Her cheeks are flushed from the heat and excitement.

"Temporary insanity brought on by cricket-related panic."

The changing rooms are chaos incarnate.I help Henry into his swim trunks while trying to keep track of where everyone else has gone.Dad emerges looking surprisingly fit for his age in navy swimming shorts, while Mum appears in what can only be described as a swimming costume from nineteen-fifty-two, complete with a ruffled skirt.

"Very fetching, Mum," I tell her.

She sniffs."It's practical, dear."

I'm about to respond when Jennifer emerges from the women's changing room, and my brain short-circuits completely.She's wearing a simple black one-piece, but there's nothing simple about how it hugs every curve of her body.

"Is this appropriate?"she asks, tugging self-consciously at the neckline."It was the only one they had in my size that wasn't covered in flamingos."

"It's perfect," I say, my voice embarrassingly hoarse."Very...suitable."

Dad elbows me in the ribs."Close your mouth, son.You're catching flies."

I snap my jaw shut.Jennifer's cheeks flush pink, and she busies herself with arranging her clothes in a locker.

"Right.Where are the children?"I ask, desperate to change the subject.

Henry has already claimed the tallest water slide and is dragging Charlotte toward it while Amelia pretends she's not interested in the Wild-Wild River ride.I spot them weaving through the crowds of sun-soaked families.

"There," I point toward the towering monstrosity known as The Water Coaster, which Henry seems determined to conquer."Though I'm not entirely sure I want to follow."

Jennifer laughs, a sound that somehow cuts through the chaos around us."Come on, it'll be fun.When's the last time you did something completely ridiculous?"

"This morning---when I suggested coming here."

She bumps her shoulder into mine."Don't be a spoilsport.The kids are having a great time.Isn't that the whole reason we came here?To act as silly as the children?"

"Maybe," I say slowly."But with six adults and four children to wrangle, this might turn into an apocalyptic disaster.I can picture you and me and the grandparents getting arrested for child endangerment because we let them try to most frightening ride in the park."

Jennifer smiles gently and sighs."A place like this has rules and safeguards.They'd never stay in business otherwise."

"So, you're telling me to stop being such a stick in the mud.Correct?"

"Yep."She slips her arm around mind."Give it a try, at least.What do you say, Fletcher?"

The last thing I want to do is become a crotchety old man before I'm even forty.But...

Jennifer leans dangerously close to me, whispering in a sultry tone, "You're not fooling me, Mr.Murgatroyd.I've experienced your wild side firsthand.Unleash it again now, but in a family-friendly way."

She's spot on, of course.I've tamped down my wilder instincts simply because I am a father.But here in this ridiculous water park, I suddenly realize I want to get crazy with my kids.

Chapter Fourteen

Jennifer

We have all put on our swimsuits at last.The joyful screams and shrieks of Fletcher's children make my heart swell.I can tell by his expression that his heart's about to burst too.His grin encourages me to do the same, and I love seeing him this way.An adventure at a place like this might change everything for this family---and for me.