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Tossing a cover-up on over rabbed a towel Downstairs, the girls were patiently waiting foroverthe door shut behind o”

They scampered across the lawn like puppies, and I walked fast to keep up Beyond the black fence, I sahere Dex was reclining in a lounge chair, the back propped all the way up so he could see all the way to my patio door His feet were crossed at the ankle, his arms were folded over his chest, and he didn’t look all that thrilled as we approached I wondered if he’d been hoping I wasn’t home

“See? Told you he was hairy,” Hallie said to me

Luna raced ahead “We found her!” she cried, trying unsuccessfully to open the gate “She said yes!”

Dex got out of the chair and caate “I see that”

“Hi,” I said, ignoring the way ht of hinificent as I’d ihters thought His six-pack abs were taut beneath golden skin, and my eyes immediately wandered to the trail of hair beneath his belly button and the V lines that showed above his waistband

As the gate swung shut behind

I quickly looked up and tried to smile “Hoas church?”

“Fine” His dark hair et and lasses

“The girls got you in the water already, huh?”

“Yeah” He ruffled his hair in a boyish gesture “I keep trying to get them out of here, but it’s impossible”

“Well, it’s a gorgeous day,” I said, walking over to where Hallie and Luna had duht at the foot of their dad’s chair “And school starts in what, just over a week? Gotta enjoy this while you can”

The pool was crowded and there were no other lounge chairs available, but Dex round “Here You can sit”

“Thanks, but I don’t think the girls asked h Hallie and Luna had already ju for me to join them

“You don’t have to swim if you don’t want to,” he said “I told them not to bother you”

“It’s no bother,” I said, reat oing to put some sunscreen on real quick”

I leaned over and pulled a can of SPF 50 fro my face and shoulders and chest a quick mist “Want some?” I offered