“Thanks for holding Joel. You must be Gary.” The smile Carla gave him was pleasant, but nothing like the adoring one she’d worn when addressing Steven.
“Nice to meet you,” said Gary, relinquishing Joel to her. He wondered what Katie had said about him.
“Can I go out on the sailboat?” Dax whined. “For my birthday? Since I didn’t get to go jet skiing?”
“I’m sorry, Dax, but you don’t have a lifejacket.” Carla’s grin faltered, her brows twisting with anxiety.
“But I’m a good swimmer. I don’t need a lifejacket.” Dax’s chin jutted forward.
“I’m sorry, but that’s the rule, Dax,” she said. “Besides, it’s not polite to ask.
”
“You never let me do anything!” Dax yelled. “I hate you!”
He turned and ran, racing across the sand to the large beach blanket, where he plopped down and sat with his arms crisscrossed, like his legs. Meanwhile, Cade escaped Katie’s grasp, once again running dizzying loops in the sand, accompanied by a high-pitched squeal that might’ve been an attempt at singing.
“I’d better go talk to him.” Carla sighed, her eyes showing her fatigue. “Dax is really a sweet kid. Katie can explain.”
She trudged back toward the blanket like she was on her way to get a root canal, Cade wailing and frolicking beside her.
Steven let out a long, low whistle. “Looks like she’s got her hands full.”
Gary moved to stand awkwardly beside Katie, unsure whether she would let him hold her hand with Steven there. He got his answer when she wrapped her arms around her waist.
“What’s the story with Dax?” Gary asked.
Katie glanced toward the blanket, where Carla was attempting to talk to the boy, who had his face turned in the opposite direction.
“Two months ago, Carla lost her sister and brother-in-law in a car accident,” said Katie. “Carla got custody of all three boys. Evidently, Dax is angry, and he’s taking it out on Carla.”
“Poor kid.” Steven shook his head as he sat on the hull of the boat.
“Poor Carla,” said Gary. “How do you discipline a kid who’s hurting like that?”
“I don’t know,” said Katie. “I was hoping today would be good for Dax. I feel so bad this happened.”
She worried her lower lip between her teeth, which, unfortunately, made Gary think about kissing her. And once the thought had crossed his mind, he couldn’t make it go away. Since she wasn’t even inclined to hold his hand, a kiss was probably out of the question.
“Sorry we made the situation worse,” Gary said. “It really wouldn’t be safe for him without a life vest. But if they wanted to rent one, I wouldn’t be opposed to taking Dax out. What do you think, Steven?”
He shrugged. “Fine by me. But I wouldn’t risk it with the younger one. I think he’d dance right off the boat.”
“I’ll try to get Carla alone and ask her about it.” Katie shuddered. “Maybe she doesn’t want Dax out there, even if he has on a lifejacket… with the sharks and all. I know I wouldn’t.”
Gary bit his tongue. He couldn’t belittle her fears, especially after she’d been so courageous the day before, almost exuberant about the motorcycle ride by the time they made it back to the shop. Even she admitted there was no logic to it, since riding motorcycles is statistically far more dangerous than swimming in the ocean. She claimed the phobia must be in her DNA, as both parents were equally afraid.
Steven stood up and tossed his head, flinging his wet hair off his forehead. “Why don’t we go sail for a bit and come back in twenty minutes or so? Just let us know what Carla decides.”
Gary helped him push the catamaran back into the waves, glad to have something to distract him from Katie’s enticing lips. The way she kissed him yesterday… good gravy! Did she respond with that much passion because she thought he was a bad boy with a tattoo?
I may have to go get some ink.
Just as Katie reached the beach blanket, Dax stomped off toward the water’s edge, grabbing a flimsy, lime-green float and dragging it behind him.
“Come on!” Dax motioned for Cade to follow him.
“Don’t go back in the water unless I’m with you!” Carla called. “Just play in the sand, or come help me make a sand castle.”