So Toxic(Bad Boy Next Door Book 4)(133)

Gina drags a chair closer and drapes their towels over the back of it. “You don’t mind if I join you, do you?”

“Of course not. Adam and I were discussing what women want from a guy.”

Gina gets a mischievous glint in her eye. “Really? I have a few things I could share on that subject.”

I have to wonder if Gina knows what her daughter does for a living.

Jen says, “I was explaining to Adam that women are easy. Guys think we’re complicated, but we’re not. It’s all about how a man makes a woman feel.”

Gina leans forward. “She’s so right, Adam. Is there a particular woman you’re trying to woo?”

I keep my eyes trained on her face. Her—um—breasts might spill out of that suit any second. “Well, I do have someone in mind. But she doesn’t think we’re going in the same direction.”

“Same direction?” Gina laughs. “What two people are? Everyone has their own agenda. You just have to decide to work it out so everyone gets something they want from the relationship.”

Sounds reasonable to me.

I should have given more to Kelsey. Kept my doubts about the future to myself. Told her I’d be around longer. Said whatever it was she wanted me to say.

“I’m telling you, Adam. We only want to feel safe and loved,” Jen says.

“Safe and loved? That’s it?” I cock my head. “I don’t know about that. I thought I was making her feel safe.”

Gina’s hands flutter. “Wait. Wait. Safe doesn’t just mean safe from physical harm. She has to feel secure that she’s not going to get her heart broken.”

My asshole puckers.

I fucked that one up when I told her I had no idea where I’d be in a month or a year.

Well. Shit. It’s not like they give out handbooks, Love 101.

A gurgle yanks my attention. Clarissa’s floatie bumps against Maddie’s legs where she stands on the top step. Her hands cover her mouth as Clarissa struggles to get her head above the water five feet away.

I leap from my chair and splash down next to Clarissa, grabbing the strap on her swimsuit. Adrenaline spikes through me as I haul her above water level.

She sputters and coughs, her face turning red.

Well, better than blue.

Gina rushes to the side of the pool.

“Oh, Lord.” She reaches for Clarissa. “Are you okay, Baby?”

“She just jumped in.” Maddie pipes up.

Gina thumps Clarissa on her back. “Kelsey’s going to shoot me for taking my eyes off of her.”

I climb up, sitting on the edge of the pool, feet still in the water. I will my heart to slow.

Seeing Clarissa under the water like that. Struggling. Helpless. My ribs tighten at the thought of her being gone. What that would do to Kelsey. What that would do to me.

After a few more seconds of back pounding from her Granna, Clarissa takes a good, deep breath. She pulls away from Gina and throws herself against my back, her arms around my neck, squeezing for all she’s worth.

I reach behind me and pat her shoulder. “You sank like a rock, Pipsqueak. Don’t do that again. You scared the hel—um—heck outta me.”

She lets go of my neck. Little hands find my face, turning me toward her. She presses a kiss to my cheek.

And that’s all it takes for a grown-ass man to know what love is—a three-year-old’s kiss and silent gratitude.

I brush the water from my eyes, blinking away the sting.

Those aren’t tears. It’s the chlorine.

I grab Clarissa and cradle her tight until she wriggles loose to get into the pool—all of about thirty seconds.

Gina smiles down on me. “She likes you.”

“I kinda lo—” I cover the crack in my voice with a cough. “I like her too.”

For the next hour, I stay in the water. Tucker and Ryan swim over to join in a game of toss a kid. When it’s the girls’ turns, we double check that their floaties are good and secure.

Jen eventually gathers her crew and herds them to the car. Gina and Clarissa follow us out of the pool area to say goodbye.

Maddie gives Clarissa three hugs before she climbs into her booster seat. “You’re my bestest friend now.”

“It was so nice to meet you, Clarissa.” Jen tweaks Clarissa’s nose. “Okay, Maddiekins, let’s get going.”

Clarissa’s bottom lip pokes out, and her doe eyes glass with tears.

I swing her up into my arms. “It’s all right, Pipsqueak. You’ll see Maddie again.”

Gina hikes their towels onto her shoulder and waves goodbye to Jen. “I guess I need to get my girl to her momma, so she can have a nap.”

“I’m headed that direction myself.” I turn toward home, patting Clarissa’s back as she rests her wet head on my shoulder.