Page 73 of August 20

The next five minutes were a buzz of activity while she got Skye ready for the pool. While the girls swam, Dania sat poolside with Brooke. She could enjoy that she'd moved to Seaglass Cove for the first time in a long time.

Big changes were happening, and Skye was thriving.

With her connection to the Havlin Motorcycle Club through Maverick, her social life expanded even more than when she lived in Beaverton.

Most of all, she couldn't wait to go back to Maverick and tell him about her day.

Chapter Thirty Five

Skye bounced into the clubhouse, spotted him with the other members, and pushed her way past men six times her size. When she reached Maverick, he tugged her wet hair.

"I swam." Skye's smile grew. "Mariah can swim, too. I want to go again. Aunt Brooke said I had to ask you. Can I?"

He looked over his daughter's head at Brooke, standing on the other side of the room. He'd gone from having a daughter to losing a daughter to getting her back and gaining a wife. A damn good wife that deserved better than him, but he was going to make sure she learned how much he wanted to make them a family.

Brooke shrugged and sent him a grin. He grabbed his daughter's hand, squeezed, and led her back to her aunt.

But Skye broke away from him, reaching Brooke first. "I can go swimming whenever I want."

Maverick cleared his throat.

Skye looked at him and settled back on her heels. "You squeezed my hand, Maverick. That means yes."

And so, he had. He ran his hand over his beard, letting Brooke take the lead.

"Okay, so we will find time to take you swimming. But you have school. Maverick has work. I have work. It won't be an everyday thing, understood?"

Brooke stroked Skye's cheek, looked at Maverick, and raised her brows. "It looks like she's found an activity."

He leaned over and kissed her. "Good."

"Yeah." She kissed him back.

"Ew." Skye pushed herself between Maverick and Brooke.

Brooke laughed and mouthed, "Oops."

He never intended to keep his relationship with Brooke a secret from his daughter. He'd tried to keep his distance and leave everything in the bedroom to save Skye from any confused feelings she could develop in their new living arrangement.

Plus, he hadn't told Skye how they were related yet, and frankly, the thought of pissing off his daughter or causing more pain in her life scared the hell out of him. He'd grown close to her again and liked where he was with her.

"Skye, my beautiful princess." Dio approached, holding out his arms for a hug. "Where have you been all my life?"

Skye giggled, bouncing in excitement. "I've been swimming."

Dio patted his chest. "Where was my invite?"

"Do you want to swim with me?"

Dio stuck out his lower lip. "Sadly, I must work."

"Where?"

"Here." Dio pointed to the door. "Out there."

"On your motorcycle?" asked Skye.

Dio grinned. "Damn straight."

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