Page 5 of Voyage with Dad's Best Friend
“I…err, don’t know. That’s where I’ve gotten so far.” I play with my hands on my lap.
Chapter 5
Dan
It’s all I can do not to pull Elle to me and kiss her.
She’s John’s baby girl, I remind myself. Yeah, but that shouldn’t stop me from a friendly conversation with her. She’s been reading, or trying to read that romance book all morning. But I doubt it’s that interesting because she isn’t turning the pages. I’m teasing her when I ask her to tell me what the story’s about, but now I’m all hot and bothered. An older man and a billionaire, huh? Is she making it up to tease me?
I’m tempted to pick up the book and read for myself, but I don’t. The blush on her face tells me she’s embarrassed.
I should leave her alone, but I can see she enjoys our conversation. Her eyes never leave me for long, and she blushes. I’m used to having women’s attention, including young women’s, and I’m able to ignore most of them. But Elle’s attention knocks me off balance. What the hell is happening to me?
“Are you interested in anything else other than books?” I continue.
“Yeah. I like playing the tennis, hiking, and swimming.”
“That’s right. Your dad told me you won the swimming competition back in junior high.”
She blushes. “Wow. Thanks for remembering it.”
“No problem,” I say, smiling. “I would like to see you swim one day.”
Her eyes brighten and she blurts, “I can show you now. I have my bikini in my suitcase.”
“Your bikini?” I gulp as I imagine how good she would look in it.
“Yes,” she says, unaware of my dirty thoughts. “Shall I put it on? I’m dying to swim in the ocean.”
“No!” The haze in my mind clears right away. “No, Elle. You can’t swim in the ocean.”
“Why not?” She pouts, looking disappointed. “The sea is calm.”
“There’re all kinds of unseen dangers,” I insist.
“But you told Martha it felt great to swim in the ocean, and I’m sure you do it a lot,” she argues.
She has a point, this sassy girl. I stifle a smile. “We’re different. I have to make sure you get home safe.”
“But…” she doesn’t give up.
“No buts,” I say adamantly. “You can swim in my house once we get back to Santa Barbara.”
“Really?” she says smiling. “That’ll be nice. I miss your pool.”
I recall Elle has been in my house when she was little, before she knew how to swim. “You were afraid of water back then,” I say. “And you clung to your dad, crying.”
She covers her face. “That’s so embarrassing!”
“Not at all,” I say, chuckling. “You were adorable.”
My voice is maybe gruff, because she shudders at the sound. I have the impulse to stroke those pink cheeks, but again I don’t.
Just then I hear a splash and the next thing I know is she’s drenched in water.
“What happened?” She shrieks and scoots toward me.
“Dolphins,” I say, patting her back while gazing at the fins rising and falling in the water right next to the boat.
