Page 26 of June 7

"He didn't."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." She inhaled deeply.

Having had sex with Bane, there was no way she would not know if she'd had sex with him—drunk or not. He was a big man. A big man everywhere. But that was information she'd keep to herself.

"Wow." Liz gawked at her. "I don't know whether to be shocked or proud of you."

"What?" She laughed. "Weren't you lecturing me about getting into trouble with Bane?"

"Yeah, but..." Liz whistled. "I've seen the man, and you're nothing like him. You're safe and nice and never cause a ripple—"

"That's not fair." She treaded water. "He's nice, too."

"He's grumpy." Liz moved closer to the wall. "He growls and grunts when he talks."

"He doesn't do that when he's with me." She dipped her head under the water and came back up.

There was times Bane was quiet. But when it was just the two of them and no one else around, he talked just fine."

Liz checked her coiled hair at the base of her neck with her fingers. "You're blind."

"Time will tell, I guess." She motioned her hands. "I'm ready to swim if you are."

"On the count of three." Liz glided through the water, not even counting.

Daisy went after her, staying in her lane, silently laughing. Liz couldn't see that she was as grouchy toward Bane as he was toward her. Maybe that's why it was so easy to fall for Bane. Liz was her best friend. She wouldn't know what to do without her.

Eleven laps later, Daisy stopped and floated on her back. Her arms weakened from the early morning workout. She quickly caught her breath while Liz finished two more laps by herself.

The sun entered the pool area through the glass enclosure. It would remain in the sky above the water throughout the day until three o'clock when the pool lost direct light, and they turned on the underwater lights for the night swim.

Considering half the days in the summer were cloudy on the Oregon Coast, she was fortunate to have sunshine today.

Liz swam over to her. "Okay, you're a big girl. If you want to get involved with the biker, go for it."

She rolled off her back and treaded water. "I didn't know I needed your permission."

"You don't." Liz shrugged. "I'm just not going to give you shit if you keep screwing around with him."

Daisy grinned. Liz's opinion would've never stopped her. They both knew that.

Their friendship worked because they loved and cared about each other. No matter what, Liz was there for her if she needed anything, and vice versa.

"I better get dried off. The kids are going to be here in ten minutes." She pulled herself out of the pool, walked into the office, and stood below the heater blowing from the corner of the ceiling.

As she dried, Chad and Melanie walked in. Liz waved on her way out. Daisy eyed the computer, knowing she had to turn in the sheet with the employees' hours before tomorrow's city hall meeting.

Sierra danced into the office, carrying a coffee in one hand and a sack in the other hand. "Special delivery for Miss Daisy Hill."

"What?" She sat back in the chair. "You didn't have to get me anything."

"I didn't." Sierra wiggled her brows. "A sexy biker standing on the sidewalk asked me to deliver these to you."

Her stomach warmed as she took the special treats. Today was going to be a special day.

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