Page 64 of At the Edge of Surrender

Last thing I was about to do was disappoint her, so I pushed to standing and held up a finger. “Give me one second. I just might have an idea.”

I backed the couple of steps to the picnic table and sat down on the bench facing them, and I leaned over and untied my boots, shucking them and my socks from my feet. Then I rolled my jeans up the best that I could.

It only brought them to about midway up my calves, but it was going to have to do.

Standing, I lifted my arms out to the sides. “How’s that?”

Maci cracked up like it was the funniest thing she’d ever seen, head tossed back and face tipped toward the sky. “Are you gonna go swimmin’ in your jeans, Mr. Kane?”

“Guess I am.”

My attention drifted to Emery. To Emery who was toiling. Not sure if she should give or reject this idea.

Maybe what she was really contemplating was gathering Maci back up and running.

Shield her from the threat I brought.

Except, I didn’t want to be that.

Didn’t want to be a threat or a detriment.

This thing deep inside me that was flaring hot.

The only threat right then was the fact that I was getting ready to burst from the seams.

Wendy broke the tension that stretched between us. “Why don’t you all go swimming for a bit, and I’ll set up our picnic?”

A frown pinched Emery’s brow. “Are you sure, Mom?”

Wendy’s gaze landed on me, studying for a moment, her reservations palpable though hedged in hope. “Yeah, you three go on. I’ll handle this.”

Maci hopped into the air with her hands thrown above, hands clapping in time with the bounce of her feet. “I already got sunscreen on so the sun can’t bite me, and mybavin’suit is on under my dress, so I’m all ready! Watch!”

She tore out of her dress to a pink one-piece bathing suit she had on underneath. A dolphin splashing out of the ocean was printed on the front.

“See, Mr. Kane! I got a dolphin because dolphins are so smart, just like me.”

Affection roiled.

Brimming and building.

“I bet you are very smart.”

“Well, yeah, no way are they gonna win me at cards.”

She turned to Emery. “You got yourbavin’suit on, too, Auntie Em? We gotta get in right now!”

It was the first time I allowed myself to fully look at Emery today.

Probably shouldn’t have.

Probably should have kept my unruly eyes on the child in front of me.

On what was important.

But there I was, taking her in where she stood itching ten feet away.

Woman wearing short jean shorts and a fitted beige tank, flip-flops on her feet, toes painted this dusty pink.

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