With Otto in the front passenger seat, Derek used his rearview mirror to get a glimpse of Hannah sitting in the back. This morning he had helped her paint the bedroom of her new house, but Amber had showed up, which meant he hadn't had a chance to kiss Hannah again.
All day he'd thought of kissing her. Caleb's warning about squeaky clean boy scouts still pricked his conscience from time to time, but he had built up his excuses. Hannah knew he was no boy scout, and she hadn't exactly fought him off when he'd kissed her yesterday on the back porch of her house. If it hadn't been for that stray cat …
For the trip to the lake she'd changed into a skimpy, pink-and-green sundress that floated over her legs and hugged her breasts. She looked so cute and sexy he had trouble concentrating on his driving.
As they pulled up in the parking lot, he snuck another glance at her in the rearview mirror, and she winked at him, causing his blood to tingle. Damn, it was going to be hard keeping his hands to himself. They both got out and waited while Otto maneuvered himself and his crutches out of the vehicle. Derek had forewarned Hannah not to leap to his granddad's aid, as that only irritated him.
"This place has changed since I was last here," Otto said as he slowly limped toward the water. "Too many people. And kids. Too much noise."
"It's quieter over there." Hannah pointed to a stretch of grass away from the barbecues and picnics. There were a few wooden benches shaded by trees and overlooking the lake. "Why don't we grab one of those benches? It looks like we'll catch a nice breeze coming off the water there."
"I can get there on my own," Otto grumped. He paused, glancing at Hannah and Derek. "You two can go off on your walk or whatever." His tone was slightly more conciliatory.
Derek and Hannah stood and watched as Otto slowly hobbled away.
"He's not too bad on those crutches," Hannah said.
"He's a fighter, but he does need a care assistant. I have another person starting next week, but I'm not holding my breath." And he only had another week before he was due back in L.A. If he couldn't find a care assistant for Otto, the only alternative might be a nursing home. That was a battle he dreaded, a battle he'd probably lose. And then what? Would he have to give up L.A. and everything he'd achieved and move back in with his granddad? He wasn't relishing that.
"I hope it works out." She shaded her eyes against the blazing sun. "It's too hot for a walk, and that water looks great. Do you want to go for a swim?"
His problems faded at the prospect of seeing Hannah in a bikini. He'd already noticed the bikini straps underneath her skimpy sundress.
"Sure." He tried to sound cool but inside he was thrumming with anticipation.
They walked down to the beach and dropped their bags in an empty spot. Derek was already wearing his board shorts, so all he had to do was pull off his T-shirt. Hannah stripped off her sundress. His throat dried at the sight of her in an orange bikini, the triangles of the top hugging her full breasts, while the bottom scrap of fabric molded her lower belly. She looked as luscious as a slice of mango, and it was all he could do to stop himself sliding his hands over her warm, smooth skin.
He realized he was breathing hard and staring at her, making no attempt to hide his mental undressing of her. She was staring back at him, too, but when their gazes collided she glanced away.
"Come on," she said hurriedly. "I'm dying in this heat."
He followed after her as she hustled to the water. Every brain cell of his was glued to the hypnotic sway of her butt in front of him. The sun beating down on his skin was nothing compared to the lust scorching inside him, so it was good to reach the water and dive in. The cold water gave him camouflage, but did nothing to cool his libido. No chance of that when Hannah was nearby. The sun gleamed on her wet skin, and the droplets of water clinging to her body only made him want to grab her and kiss her more.
"It's been ages since we did this," she said. "Remember those scorching Sundays during summer when it was too hot to do anything?"
Only too well. He remembered coming to this lake with Caleb and Hannah. Sneaking glances at Hannah in her bikini, just like today. He remembered his raw jealousy when Rick had tagged along and monopolized her attention. Well, Rick was gone forever, and he was here with her.
"I remember you shrieking when I got you with my water gun," Derek said.
She laughed. "You hit me square in the face! It stung."
"Now I feel bad about that. Here, you can get me back. I'll be a sitting target."
"I don't have a water gun."
"Well, use your hands. Improvise, woman."
She smacked the water, spraying it full into his face. He spluttered and blinked. "Go on, again."
She used her legs to kick water at him, and he stood there, not dodging an inch.
"It's no fun if you just stand there and take it," she complained.
"You want me to squeal? Okay." He clutched his hands together and mimicked a few girly shrieks until she burst out laughing.
He waded closer. Desperate to touch her, he thought maybe he could duck her in the water as an excuse. A sudden blast of water hit the side of his head. Taken completely unaware, he wiped his eyes to see a kid smirking at him a few yards away with a giant water gun in his hands.
"Sorry 'bout that!" a man called out before he sternly addressed the boy, "Bobby, you shouldn't have done that. Apologize right now, please."
The boy's face fell. "Sorry, mister," he mumbled at Derek.
"Uh, don't worry about it. He was just fooling around like I was." Derek waved at the man and boy to show there were no hard feelings.
The father guided the boy away, and soon they were happily horsing about in the water.
"Kids, huh?" Hannah said.
"Yeah." Derek cast another glance at the father and son. They looked so at ease with each other. How did that happen? "They look like they're having fun."
"You sound envious. Are you thinking about having kids one day?"
He swung back to Hannah, shocked by her question. "What? Jeez-no!"
"You don't have to act so horrified." She wrinkled her brow at him. "Don't you ever want children?"
He was standing waist-deep in cold water, yet he was sweating. "I haven't thought about it much, but I don't think I'd make a great parent. Not with my upbringing."
"I think you're selling yourself short. Just because your mom neglected you doesn't mean you would neglect your kid. I mean, if we went by your reasoning, then I shouldn't have kids either because of what my mom did to me and Caleb."
Neither she nor Caleb talked much about their mom running off when they were young, but Derek knew it had scarred them deeply, knew because he hid his own scars from when his mom had abandoned him. He eyed her cautiously. "So, you want to have kids?"
"One day in the future." She lifted her shoulders. "A very long day away. When I've finished school and got a good job."
"You'd make a great mom."
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You think?"
He touched her cheek. "Yeah, I do."
"Oh, Derek." She placed her hand over his, clearly moved by his words. "That- Thank you. And I don't care what you say, you'll make a great dad, too."
He doubted that, but it was kind of her to think so. They stood together for a while, not talking, just touching each other while sunshine and water shimmered around them. Then a group of teenagers ran shrieking into the lake, breaking the moment.
"Is your granddad okay over there by himself?" Shading her eyes, Hannah peered toward the bench where Otto sat. "Maybe we should go talk to him."
"He likes being on his own," Derek said. "Besides, often I don't know what to talk to him about."
"We've got some clients at the nursing home who are solitary, too. You know what I find works? Photo albums. Even the quietest resident perks up when they start talking about their old photos. It jogs their memory, helps them remember the good times."
Derek nodded. "I might try that sometime." Although he wasn't sure Otto had many good times to remember. Or if he had any photo albums to start with.
Hannah squinted at the sun which had passed its zenith. "My evening shift starts at three," she said. "I can't be late or my boss will chew me out again."
He pressed his lips together. Earlier today, while painting with Hannah and Amber, he'd heard all about Vera, the starchy supervisor who resented Hannah for reasons unknown. Derek's hackles rose as his protective instincts kicked in. How could anyone not like Hannah?
"I won't make you late."
Their time together was running out. Not just here today at the lake, but in general. He had to return to L.A. in a week. After he left, when would he see Hannah again?