Page 134 of My All American Girl

“You look happy. Did things go well with your dad?”

She grinned, settling onto the pool chair next to mine. “Better than I could have hoped. He started by apologizing for how he’s treated me, and he explained all the emotions he went through when he found out about us. He said it felt plain wrong, but over time, and with a nudge from my mom—and your arrival in Colorado Springs—he began to see the truth of the matter.”

I raised my eyebrows, intrigued. “And what truth is that?”

“That his daughter is in love with a good man.”

My heart skipped a beat. “He said that?”

She nodded, her eyes shining. “Yes. He was really open with me. He told me he thinks you’re a good man. When he gave it some real thought, he realized he had to get past his own judgment and assumptions. He said there’s no better man to love and take care of his daughter than you. If I choose you, then he accepts that.”

A huge weight lifted off my shoulders. This was the best news I could have asked for. “That’s incredible, Sarah. I’m so happy to hear that.”

She gave me a playful smile. “Don’t get too comfortable, though. He still needs a bit more time. But I don’t think your friendship is ruined. I think you two will work through this. It’s more about him seeing me as a woman than a wide-eyed sixteen-year-old being thrown into a man’s world.”

“Wise words,” I said. “That’s good progress.”

“Progress indeed,” she agreed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “He even mentioned wanting to meet up with you and get to know you better as my boyfriend and not as the pilot.”

“That sounds great,” I replied, surprised that he proposed such a leap from his initial judgment. It dawned on me that it wasn’t even about getting his approval anymore. It was the recognition of me as a man who loved his daughter unconditionally.

“But right now, I think we both need some pool time.”

“I’m ready.” I grinned. “Let’s see what you’re wearing under those shorts. If it’s a thong, don’t you dare take them off. That ass is for me and me alone.”

She giggled as she stood up and undid the button. “Do you really think that’s my style? Have you met my father?”

“Good point.” I laughed.

I watched her strip out of the shorts and kick off her sandals. She pulled off her hat and let her hair down. “Damn,” I said and let out a low whistle.

The bikini was gorgeous on her. She looked so different. So womanly. So gorgeous.

“Hey, eyes up here, mister,” she chided playfully, but there was a sparkle in her eyes that hinted at her appreciation for my admiration.

I laughed. “You got me there.”

She sauntered over to the pool’s edge, her confidence radiating with each step. Then with a cheeky grin thrown my way, she launched herself into the clear water without any hesitation. I watched her sleek form disappear under the surface and then come back up again moments later, her hair slicked back and droplets of water dripping down her face.

“Race you to the other end?” she challenged. Her lips curled into a teasing grin as she climbed out of the pool. Water sluiced down her body.

“Bring it,” I said, discarding my sunglasses.

With an exaggerated whistle, she gestured to the other end of the pool, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “On your mark. Get set…”

Before the last word could escape her lips, I dove into the pool, propelling myself through the cool water with swift strokes. A startled yelp, followed by a splash, told me that she had hit the water right after me. I knew she was a strong swimmer, but I had no intention of losing this race. Thankfully, the pool was empty. Everyone else was enjoying the lounging part of the pool.

Halfway across, her hand brushed against mine. We were neck and neck, each pushing harder to reach the opposite end. The splashes we made grew louder as we neared our finish line. With a final burst of energy, I touched the edge just a moment before Sarah. Gasping for breath, I turned around to see her emerging from the water, her hair wild and eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

“That was close!” she declared, grinning at me. “I think it’s safe to say you won this round.”

“I did, didn’t I?” I grinned back at her.

“But maybe you cheated a little.” She laughed and splashed me.

Feeling lighter than I had in weeks, I splashed her back. “Catch me if you can,” she said and dove under.

“Challenge accepted,” I cried out, diving after her. The pool’s bottom was a blur of blue and white tiles as I chased her, weaving between intermittent lines of light that filtered through the water’s surface. She was a good swimmer, no doubt about that, but I wasn’t about to let her off easily.

Sarah was fast, her strokes efficient and graceful, but I was closing the gap. She darted toward the pool’s shallow end. Just as she reached it and began to surface, I caught her ankle and pulled her slightly back before letting go and breaking the surface myself.

We spent a while goofing off together like kids. She made me feel young and carefree, and I loved every second of it. We swam and played, splashing each other and laughing until our sides hurt. Soon enough, the playful atmosphere shifted. Sarah swam closer with that look in her eyes. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her against me. Our lips met, and the kiss quickly deepened, becoming more heated.

“Maybe we should go someplace quieter—and private,” she murmured in my ear, her voice sending shivers down my spine. “We have a bit of an audience. I don’t want to get us kicked out of here. I’m still the daughter of a respected man.”

I didn’t need any more convincing. “Let’s go,” I said.

We swam to the edge and climbed out of the pool. We grabbed our towels and quickly dried off. I gave her my shirt to pull on over her nearly naked body. We scooped our things up and quickly made our way to my hotel room. The ride up in the elevator was tense. We both knew what we wanted.

Once inside, I barely had time to close the door before Sarah was in my arms again. We kissed passionately, our damp bodies slapping together. I backed her toward the bed, our wet bodies pressed together as we tumbled onto the mattress.