If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(49)

She sighed a little as he lifted his head. "You're addicting, Jeremy."

"Right back at you."

"But this—whatever this is—it's just a summer fling. We both know that." She felt like it was important to state that reminder out loud, so neither of them would forget, especially her.

"Do we need to put a label on it?" he challenged. "Do we need an end date?"

"I just want to make sure we're on the same page, that one of us doesn't have the wrong expectation." Again, she was talking mostly about herself, because Jeremy seemed to be fine with the way things were, but she was being a girl and already feeling far too much of an emotional attachment to him. It was just sex, a fling, a moment in time, she told herself. It didn't have to be more, and it really shouldn't be more.

"It's going to be fine, Mia. We're in sync, in all the ways that matter." His sparkling smile was followed by another hot kiss. "See you soon."

She closed the door behind him and found herself smiling all the way up the stairs. Jeremy Holt had a charming side, and she was definitely charmed.



*



Angel's Bay boasted several beaches, but today's event was being held on the main beach by the harbor. Jeremy knew from experience that the summer sand castle building competitions were a popular event in town. It didn't matter that it was a Thursday morning; there would be plenty of people happy to take a day off on this warm summer day.

As he'd predicted, the parking lot was almost full by the time they arrived, and they were lucky to get one of the last few spots.

They got out of the car, taking a moment to gather together a cooler, a large tote bag filled with shovels and pails, another overflowing with beach towels, and then the grocery bags packed with food that they'd gotten at the deli.

He swung the heavier bags over his good shoulder while Mia took the food and Ashlyn volunteered to carry two extra towels.

"I never realized that when you get a child, you also acquire a lot more stuff," he told Mia as they walked toward the beach.

She smiled back at him. "I have a feeling you used to travel light before this."

"Very light," he agreed, happy to see her earlier tension had evaporated. "What about you?"

"I haven't traveled much at all. With six kids, family vacations were usually within driving distance: Los Angeles, San Diego, Lake Tahoe, Russian River, those kinds of places. I did go to New York with a college roommate one year and spent two weeks in Paris during grad school. I've also been to two bachelorette parties in Las Vegas, but that's about the extent of my travels. That's why I had to live vicariously through Aunt Carly."

"There's still time to see the world."

"I'll get to it. What about you? Are there any places you haven't seen yet?"

"Many places. I haven't spent much time in Italy outside of Rome, and I've never been to Ireland or Scotland. I'd also love to bike through the French countryside, maybe do a wine tour."

"That sounds like fun."

"Maybe we can go together. It seems a crime that an expert in art history hasn't been to all the amazing museums in Europe."

"I would love to spend a few months in Italy, travel through Spain, hop over to Greece and eventually make my way to Russia."

"Maybe you should travel before you get your next job."

"There's a little thing called money stopping me from that," she said.

"Is it just the money that's stopping you, or the idea that traveling seems too frivolous for a practical woman like yourself?"

"You're getting to know me a little too well."

"And you didn't answer my question."

"Probably both. So where do you want to set up?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Close to the water, if we can find a spot."

"It's so crowded. I had no idea this many people would be here. I didn't expect live music," she added, tipping her head to the small stage where two guitar players and a drummer were warming up. "Or trophies. This is serious."

"It is serious," he said, noting the table next to the stage filled with trophies and ribbons. "I hope your creative artistic side is ready to come out to play. We need to help Ashlyn make this castle better than any of the others."

She raised an eyebrow. "Are we seriously competing?"

"Of course. It's a competition. If we enter, we're going to try to win. Otherwise, why play?"

"Just for the enjoyment, the pleasure of the activity?" she suggested.

"You can have the pleasure of building a sand castle any time. This is a contest."

"Got it. We're going for the gold."

"Absolutely."

"Let's go over there." She led them down the beach another thirty feet.

They spread out a blanket and put the cooler and bag of groceries on top of it. Jeremy dumped the beach tools into the sand and tossed the towels on top of the blanket.

"I brought some sunscreen," Mia said, kicking off her flip-flops. "Did you put any on Ashlyn?"

"Not yet."

"Ash, let me put this on you," Mia said to the little girl, who had already stripped down to her two-piece pink and white bathing suit. Mia knelt down on the blanket and lathered Ashlyn up. When she was done with his daughter, she looked up at him. "Do you need some?"