Page 81 of Beach Vibes

Orchid and Linnie both grinned.

“Thank you, Rick,” they said together, then ran off.

“It wasn’t that bad,” he told her, pulling her close. “I like their company.”

“I’m glad.”

She stared into his eyes and thought that she’d gotten very lucky that first day they’d met. He was so sweet, and she liked being with him. Even better, he’d been great with all the kids. No snapping or over-monitoring. No hint that he was secretly a jerk like Paul.

“I’ve missed you,” he told her. “I’m sorry work’s been so difficult.”

“I’ve missed you, too. As for work—it’s important. And with only a couple more weeks in my quarter, I’m plenty busy myself.”

“But you still want to go away with me,” he clarified. “I’m going to start looking at hotels.”

“I can’t wait,” she told him. A weekend away sounded perfect,she thought. Just the two of them alone. No responsibilities, nowhere to be.

“Good. We’ll get something on the calendar in the next week or so.”

“Perfect.”

He released her and turned to where Orchid and Linnie were running around the table.

“She sure has a lot of energy,” he said.

“I think it’s all the excitement. Normally she’s a little quieter. She’ll crash soon, and I’ll put her to bed.”

“Does she ask about her father?”

The question was unexpected. She shook her head. “Not really. She knows she doesn’t have a father but nothing beyond that. Sometimes I wonder if she assumes he died. After all, her cousins don’t have a mother. But eventually she’s going to want to know more.”

“What are you going to tell her?”

Although his voice was gentle and she sensed Rick was only asking the obvious, she couldn’t help feeling judged. Or maybe she was doing it to herself. She’d been the one to party in Cancun and end up pregnant.

“Some version of the truth. I haven’t figured out exactly what that is yet, but I’ll get there.” She wanted to be honest, but didn’t want to give her daughter more information than she could handle.

He put his arm around her. “She loves you, and she’ll understand.”

Jana hoped he was right.

“How long did you and Dex go out?” he asked.

She stepped back and spun to face him. She was sure she looked like a cartoon character with big eyes and her mouth hanging open, but she couldn’t help it.

“What are you talking about? Dex and I never dated.”

Rick stared at her intently. “You sure?”

“I think I’d know if I dated someone. Dex and I are friends. I’ve known him most of my life. We’re family.” Was Rick worried about Dex? “There’s nothing between us, I swear. There never has been.”

Rick didn’t look convinced. “He has a thing for you.”

“Not possible.” Dex into her? Hardly. “I know he has the whole former star thing going on, and that can be intimidating, but you don’t have to worry. Dex is like another brother.” She moved close. “He’s not the one I’m interested in.”

She waited for Rick to relax and smile at her, only when he did, she couldn’t help thinking he was pretending rather than believing, which made her sad. Of all the things he could be worried about, Dex was absolutely not ever going to be a problem. There’d never been a hint of anything between them, and there never would be.

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