When she’d collected the dishes and she stacked them in the machine then sighed with relief. Breakfast was over. Now she could escape.
“So what would you like to do today, Princess?” Pierce’s words broke into her thoughts. “I’m all yours.”
“Swimming,” Kylie yelled and clapped her hands in delight. “I love swimming.”
Pierce chuckled. “I would never have guessed.” He looked over at Celine as she stood by the sink. “What say we meet at the pool in about forty-five minutes?”
Celine nodded. “I’ll have her ready. That would be more than enough time for her breakfast to settle.”
Pierce cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean, you’ll have her ready? You mean you’ll both be ready.”
Celine stared at him. He wanted her in the pool with them, he in nothing but swim trunks and she in bathing suit exposed to his gaze? How would she keep her eyes off him? After last night, knowing what it felt like to have those broad shoulders beneath her palms, his warm skin pressed against hers, how would she stay calm so close to his near naked body?
No, not a good idea. “I…was thinking of catching up on some…reading.” She floundered for an excuse. Lying had never come easy to her. “Maybe you and Kylie could spend some quality time together?”
Pierce gave her a look that told her he knew she was doing her best to avoid him. Then he shrugged and looked down at Kylie. “Sorry, Princess, Celine doesn’t want to go swimming today. I guess we’ll just have to call it off.”
“No,” Kylie wailed. “I want to swim.”
Pierce shook his head and on his face was an exaggerated look of regret. “No can do. Not unless Celine is going to be here to help me with you.”
“Celine, you have to come,” Kylie cried tugging at her hand. “Please?”
Celine patted her head and with the little girl distracted she got her chance to glare at Pierce. She grew even more peeved when she saw the wide grin on his face. The snake. He’d used Kylie to force her hand. He knew she’d never refuse the little girl. How could he be so low?
Apparently he could go that low and quite easily, too. Without any sign that he felt guilty he smiled and said, “Okay, ladies, meet you here in forty-five. Don’t be late.”
When Celine and Kylie arrived at the pool Pierce was already in the water. His body, sleek and strong, cut through the water as he did laps up and down the pool. When he looked up and saw them he rolled over onto his back and waved.
“Come on in,” he called to them. “The water feels good.” Kylie was the first to respond. Slipping her hand from Celine’s grasp she ran to the edge of the pool and jumped, almost landing on top of Pierce’s head. He laughed and caught her then waved to Celine. “Your turn.”
She grimaced and shook her head. Did he really think she was going to jump into his arms? Not likely.
“Don’t let me come get you,” he said with a grin and hoisting Kylie onto his shoulders he began to swim toward the lip of the pool.
Celine knew not to play around then. Quickly she let the towel fall from where she’d wrapped it tightly under her armpits, exposing her bikini clad-body to his gaze. Pierce stopped paddling and his appreciative stare told Celine he liked what he saw. She could feel her body go pink all over. Wanting to hide herself as quickly as possible she hurried to sit on the edge of the pool then slid into the water, relieved when it flowed over her body. Of course the water hid nothing from his view but it gave her some small comfort knowing that something, though transparent, was covering her.
It took all of fifteen minutes before Celine began to relax. Maybe it was Kylie’s shrieks of laughter when Pierce bobbed her up and down or maybe it was this other side of Pierce that she was seeing - so carefree, playful and even mischievous. He thought nothing of playing tricks on poor Kylie, sinking to the bottom of the pool, making her think he’d disappeared, or swimming up behind to tickle her ear. It was like Celine was seeing the little boy he used to be. She could just picture him - active and naughty and loads of fun. Soon Celine was caught up in the horseplay, too. When Pierce almost drowned her with a tidal wave of water she swung after him, trying to give him a taste of his own wicked medicine. But he was too strong and too fast. As hard as she swam she couldn’t catch up to Pierce and finally she gave up and swam back to Kylie who was giggling uncontrollably as she watched from the shallow end of the pool.
Celine ducked down and whispered in her ear. “Just watch,” she said. “I’ll get him.” Then she put up her right hand, Kylie did the same, and they did a high five.