Wanted A Real Family(37)

Jase could obviously see how she’d choked up. “You lost all your photographs from when Amy was a baby?”

“Yes. Scrapbooks, too. I’ve been trying to write down what I remembered—about the first time she rolled over, her first tooth, her first steps. You think you’ll remember, but sometimes those memories get all mixed up as time slips away.”

Jase came over to her and put his arm around her shoulders.

“From this day forward, you can record it all.”

“Your photographs today will help. Thank you.”

As if Jase was uncomfortable with her gratitude, he dismissed it. “Photos are easy for me. No thanks necessary.” Then to put the conversation back on a practical footing, he said, “The insurance investigator must realize you’d never willingly let something important to any parent go.”

“I told him about what I lost, but I don’t know if it matters to him.”

“Well, all of it matters to you. Let’s get out that hose, have some fun and take more pictures. Why don’t you and Amy change into something you don’t mind getting wet.”

“What about you?”

“I’m fine.”

“I guess that means you think you’re going to hold the hose and not get wet?”

“I don’t like that look in your eye,” he teased.

“We’re going to have to take turns. That’s fair.”

“And we do need to be fair.”

As they once more made eye contact, the attraction between them was still potent. Though they were fleeting, she remembered each of their kisses. She remembered his touch. Most of all, she remembered that neither of them trusted very well right now...that neither of them wanted to take an emotional risk. But she enjoyed being with him and he seemed to feel the same way about being with her. Tonight they were going to have fun.

Amy ran over to her and Sara stooped down, hugged her and swung her around. “Hi there, Bitsy Bug. How was your day?”

“I played hopscotch with Mr. Jase.”

“I can see that. What else did you do?”

“We played froggy. Mr. Jase has a computer.”

“It’s my tablet,” Jase explained. “I downloaded an app for her to play. She seemed to like it.”

“Can we get one, Mommy?”

“Not right now, honey. But Jase suggested we wash off the chalk with the hose and play in the water for a while. What do you think? You can play in your swimsuit.”

Amy was all for that, so Sara took her inside and they both quickly changed. By the time they returned out front, Jase had attached the hose to the spigot. He showed Amy the nozzle with its fan spray, cone spray and shower spray, and told her to pick one to wash off the blue chalk. She did and the two of them started on one of the squares. Then all of a sudden, Jase shifted the hose so Sara got sprayed. She squealed as the cold water hit her tank top and shorts.

“Just remember, I get a turn,” she called to him.

“Oh, I remember.” Then he sprayed Amy and she squealed, too. As each blue number and square disappeared, they all got wetter. Jase picked up his camera, snapping photos whenever the hose wasn’t aimed at him. When he took control of the water spurts, he would aim the nozzle up in the air and the drizzle would sprinkle down on all of them. The sound of Amy’s giggles filled Sara’s heart. Jase knew how to play with kids and she loved that fact. He and Amy were coconspirators as they sprayed Sara, but then she grabbed the hose and yanked it out of his hand and turned the tables on him. Pretty soon, he was as wet as they were.

They were all laughing and unaware that someone was watching.

Sara was bent over, her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath when she spotted the very expensive boots. Her eyes traveled up a pair of creased jeans and a starched snap-button shirt until they landed on Liam’s handsome face. She wondered if he’d been at some kind of meeting, or if he always dressed like this around the winery, casually chic.

He winked at her. “Looks as if everyone’s having fun.”

The wink unsettled her, until she reminded herself that Liam no doubt flirted with any woman in sight. “As much fun as I’ve had in a long while,” she said, knowing it was true.

The hose was lying on the ground and Amy was dancing in and out of it, playing her own little game.

Jase came over to stand beside Sara. “On your way out for the evening?”

“Matter of fact, I am. I just had to see your dad about something first. A friend of mine opened a new restaurant in Sacramento, and I’m driving down there for the night.” He held up a hand. “Don’t worry. Everything’s under control here.”