Page 102 of The Enemy Face Off

Beth

"Come wif me, Daddy!"

"Uhhh…"

"Go on," I urge Milo, who's hesitating at Jonah's request.

"I'm not sure I'm going to fit," he says quietly to me before peeling off his shirt, and holy guacamole, that is one sight I can never get enough of.

Smooth skin, broad shoulders, muscular arms, a well-defined chest, and abs. So many abs. If Milo is looking for a post-hockey career, he would make a killing as a romance novel cover model.

Not that I'd want countless other women—and possibly some men—ogling him.

Okay. Scratch that.

If he wants to take up a new career, I'm sure something like hand modeling would be a great fit for him.

After I get in my obligatory ogling, I remind myself where I am—Milo's backyard.

Who I'm with—Milo, his kids, and Boden.

And what Jonah is asking—for Milo to join him in the temporary inflatable pool Milo bought since he was unable to find any contractors to build an actual pool until the fall.

"You'll be fine," I reassure him.

Josie and I are sitting on a blanket, enjoying the shade of a large California Sycamore. She looks up from her book and giggles. "But Daddy's too big."

I pick up my phone, knowing this is a moment worth capturing. "That's exactly the point," I say to her with a smile.

We watch as Milo carefully steps into the pool.

He was right. He barely fits as he awkwardly attempts to fold himself into the tiny pool. His knees are practically up to hisears, but Jonah couldn't be happier, splashing water everywhere and giggling.

It's the cutest thing ever.

I'm in awe.

Milo treats Jonah the way any father should treat his son. What does it matter if they're not connected by blood? They're joined by something much deeper—love.

Milo truly is Jonah's father.

I lift the phone. "Say cheese!"

"Don't you dare?—"

"Excellent, thank you," I say, showing the photos I snapped to Josie, who lets out a delighted shriek. "Daddy's face. He looks like an ogre."

I cast my gaze to his oversized body in the undersized inflatable pool. "Yeah. That tracks," I say with a smile.

He smiles back at me, and I don't know if it's the cuteness of seeing him in the pool with Jonah, or the fact that he's shirtless, or if it's spending every day together since our first date at the fair two weeks ago, but in case there was any doubt, this anti-love girl is falling for Milo.

Big time.

And the crazy part?

I'm not scared.

Okay, let me rephrase that. I'm atiny bitscared. But the fear bubbling up in me is residual pain from my past, it's got nothing to do with how I feel about Milo.

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