Page 22 of Icebound Hearts

The water is shockingly cold at first, but I adjust by the time my head breaks through the surface again. I shake my hair, sending more water flying, and hear Jake’s laughter bouncing off the high ceiling as I blink the droplets out of my eyes.

“Did you see that, Daddy? Ms. Violet did a cannonball!”

“I sure did, buddy,” Sawyer says, grinning at me. “Nice form. I’d give it a nine point five out of ten.”

“Thanks.” I laugh, slicking my hair back with both hands. “Maybe you’ll see me at the Olympics next year. Here’s hoping they add a cannonball category.”

Amusement glints in his storm-gray eyes. “Fingers crossed. If they do, we’ll be there to cheer you on.”

Our banter feels oddly close to flirtation, and for at least the dozenth time since I moved in with Sawyer and Jake, I wonder if this is all in my head. Am I just imagining things? Letting my own attraction to this man skew my perception?

I don’t know, and I’m honestly not sure whether I hope he is flirting with me or not. In a way, it’s safer to think that whatever vibes I think I’m picking up are purely imaginary. That way the lines between us can stay clear and defined, and there’s no chance of things getting messy or complicated.

Shifting the topic, I turn to Jake, giving him an impressed look. “Andyou, mister! You could be an Olympic swimmer someday. Look at you go!”

He beams at the praise. “I’m really good! Come on, Ms. Violet, let’s play a game! Marco Polo!”

I shrug and look at Sawyer for approval. He nods, so I do too. “Alright, who’s going to be what?”

“You were the last one in, so you’re it!” Jake calls and immediately starts swimming away.

Sawyer’s chuckle rumbles in his chest. “The kid has solid logic.”

I laugh and close my eyes, then start counting backward from ten to give Sawyer and Jake time to put some distance between us.

“Three, two, one. Ready or not, here I come. Marco!” I call.

“Polo!” Sawyer and Jake call back in unison. It’s hard to tell, but it sounds like they’re at opposite ends of the pool.

“Marco!” I call again, listening closely for clues in their response.

“Polo!” Jake answers, suddenly sounding very close to me.

“Marco!”

“Polo,” he says, more quietly this time.

I spin around in the water, reaching for him. I hear splashing and laughter nearby as I flail around blindly, but my hands never find him. He must have swum away, teasing me.

“Okay, let’s try this again,” I mutter. “Marco!”

“Polo!” they call back together, but this time Sawyer sounds closer, so I decide to try to move toward him.

“Marco!”

“Polo,” Sawyer says, sounding like he’s just to the left of me.

So before I call out again, I reach for him quickly instead. My fingers find his chest, which is as solid as a slab of stone, and I jolt in surprise and embarrassment, yanking my hand away as he laughs. My eyes flutter open, and I find him floating in the water in front of me, his face slightly red.

“Guess you got me,” he says.

“That means you’re it, Daddy!” Jake tells him.

But before Sawyer can take his place as the pursuer, the door to the pool opens and three kids who look like they’re about Jake’s age walk in with a woman who must be their mom. Jake’s focus immediately zeroes in on them.

They’re already dressed in their swimsuits and floaties, and each of them is carrying a pool noodle. Their mom makes sure they aren’t getting in the water with anything that shouldn’t be in there, then they race down the pool’s stairs into the water.

“Daddy, can I go play with them?” Jake asks hopefully, and Sawyer nods.

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