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“Look,” I say, pointing to Kincaid who is in the pool, relaxing as he floats on the top. I know the man is wearing a lifejacket because it means he doesn’t have to use much energy just to float and chill, but Jace doesn’t have to know that.
“He can’t swim?” Jace asks, more awe in his voice than there should be if the child actually knows how to swim.
I know he wants to appear bigger and older than he is. I hate that Carlen and Janet put him in the position that life is already a competition rather than just letting him be a damn kid.
Jace doesn’t complain further when I crouch in front of him to snap the buckles on his life vest.
Luca’s squeal of delight when Oracle picks him up and tosses him a foot or so in front of him fades for the briefest second as he dips below the surface of the water.
I step forward, ready to light into his ass when Luca comes up sputtering with a huge smile on his face, begging to be tossed again.
“I bet,” Hound says to Jace as he approaches, “if you ask nicely, Oracle will toss you around too.”
Jace doesn’t even look back at me in his urgency to get into the pool.
“You looked like you were ready to kill him,” Hound says.
“I mean, shouldn’t he ask me first?”
“You didn’t seem concerned last year when it was my kids getting thrown around in the pool,” Hound says.
I frown.
“Life is different when the kids are your responsibility, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know how to be a dad,” I mutter to Hound.
“You put sunblock on them and life vests. I’d say you’re doing just fine.”
“I didn’t consider that issue with the damn car seats,” I complain. “What would’ve happened if we’d gotten into an accident? It was really irresponsible.”
“Parenting is a series of hits and misses. Sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get it wrong. No one was hurt, so there’s no sense in beating yourself up about it.”
I nod. The man has like five kids of his own with Kincaid’s daughter, Gigi. He has to know a thing or two by now.
“I just think—”
My words stop suddenly at the squeal from the other side of the yard.
Sutton is squirming at the sight of the pool and the other kids playing.
My eyes, however, are locked on her mother. Jesus, the woman is absolutely stunning with her long dark hair piled on her head. She has changed her clothes but isn’t wearing a bathing suit. She has on a tank top and shorts that make me wish I had a couple hours alone with her.
St. Louis was still too chilly for her to wear anything but pants, but New Mexico is always warmer during the day. I have no doubt the pool is still a little too cold for anyone with a lick of sense, but it won’t stop me from climbing in just to try and get control of what this woman makes me feel.
I watch as Mila looks around the pool area. I have no doubt that she’s looking for me since I’m the only person she really knows, but I hate the way her gaze gets snagged on many of the guys out here.
I look around the pool, trying to see what she sees. It’s no secret that all of us are fit. It’s a requirement of our job. It’s hard to stay safe in the field if you get winded or if you aren’t able to prevent things from falling on you. One of the benefits is getting looked at the way she’s looking, only she’s not being exactly subtle.
“She looks like she’s in shock,” Hound says. “May want to mark that territory.”
“She’s the mother of my little girl,” I say, not attempting to hide the disdain in my voice.
“Make sure Oracle knows that,” he says, nodding toward the pool.
The man who was tossing the kids for fun now has his eyes locked on Mila.
Hound laughs when a territorial rumble bubbles out of my chest as I start to walk toward her.
