Page 16 of Twins for the Silver Foxes

Arthur and Rylandcarried everything over to the tables. Hannah had convinced Liddy to leave the pool and settled in on one side of the table, leaving the three of us to cram into the other side.

The meal passed quicklywith a flurry of questions from Liddy. She wanted to know everything about the pool, our house, our jobs. For a three-year-old, she had a deep need for knowledge, and even when her questions came out with a few words missing, we always understood the gist of it and answered without hesitation.

The whole thinggave me an idea.

With Liddy fedand exhausted from the pool, Hannah scooped her up from the table. “I’d better give her a bath and put her to bed.”

“Will you come back out?”I wiggled a beer bottle back and forth. “Just for one more?”

She hesitated,her gaze roaming across each of our faces then the pool. The blue deepened, and a slight hitch in her breath sent a shot of adrenaline pumping through me. “Yeah, I’ll come back.”

I resistedthe urge to fist-pump the air by gripping my hand into a tight fist in my lap.

Arthur waiteduntil Hannah walked into the house and closed the glass door behind her before rounding on me. “What are you up to?”

“Testing the waters, my friend.”I stood and pushed the beverage cooler closer to the pool, then jumped into the crystal clear water. I swam laps back and forth until my arms turned to jelly and Hannah returned to sit on the edge of the pool, her feet dangling in the water.

Arthur and Rylandremained at the table until I swam over to Hannah and handed her a beer. She cracked the cap and took a deep pull. Her throat dipped, the slim column glinting gold as the sun fell, painting her in glorious tones that breathed life and vitality. She kicked one foot toward me.

“So. What are we doing?”

You,I wanted to say. But I couldn’t risk it yet. She needed a little priming first. “Up for a little game?”

One brow raised,skeptical. “What kind of game?”

God I lovedthe sultry sweetness of her voice. It mingled with the night air. My cock twitched, and I swam backward away from her. “Truth or dare.”

“That juvenile game?”Arthur scoffed as he slid into the water and swam toward us.

“It’s onlyjuvenile if you pick stupid dares or inconsequential truths.” I locked eyes with Hannah. “Neither of which I plan to do. Are you in?”

She eased into the water.The transition from mother to relaxed participant happened in a blink and I almost missed it. “Who’s going first?” She splashed water toward me. “I think it should be you since it was your idea.”

“Excellent point.”Arthur ducked beneath the water and grabbed my ankle. He gave it a jerk that was part warning, part playful. I kicked free from him and paddled around Hannah.

“Fine. I’ll go first.”

“Truth or dare, Scott?”Hannah turned in the water so I stayed within her sight. Was it because she didn’t trust me, or she wanted to watch me? Either could be true. I stopped swimming and treaded water to stay afloat.

“Dare.”

Challenge sparked in her eyes,a look I was coming to love. She tapped her chin with one finger as she thought it over. “I dare you to do a belly flop off the diving board.”

“Ouch.”I rubbed my stomach, already anticipating the pain. “Done.” Swimming over to the edge, I hauled myself up and onto the diving board. I blew her a kiss while standing on the end, jumped once, and splayed my arms and legs. The blow knocked the air from my lungs and hurt like a son of a bitch, but it was worth it to hear Hannah’s gasp and see the worry when I flipped onto my back and floated over to her. “Your turn. Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”She shook her head with a grimace. “Almost afraid to choose dare after that.”

“You didn’t think I’d do it?” I smirked at her when she blushed. “It’s fine. Most people underestimate my level of audaciousness. Ryland, you ask her a question.”

Ryland proppedhis elbows on the edge of the pool and watched Hannah through lidded eyes. Yeah, we were all sinking fast for this girl. “If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?”

“Security for Liddy,”she answered without a shred of hesitation. “She deserves that. It’s not her fault I slept with a douchebag who ran off and left us with nothing.”

The realityof her situation settled between all of us. I’d known a little about her history, but it hadn’t truly sank in until that moment. “I’m sorry.” I whispered the words, and she gave a short shrug.

“Does that mean it’s Ryland’s turn?” She ducked beneath the water, then popped up and climbed onto the flamingo float she’d bought. The sight of her laying there intoxicated me. Everything about her drew me in, made me want to get closer.

“Yes. Truth or dare, Ryland?”

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