Collide (Collide #1)(47)

"Emm-mi-me is here!" Theresa hooted out.

Gavin looked to Emily and laughed. "Like my Jaws impersonation?"

"It was decent," she replied as she got into the water. She smiled. "But I'm pretty sure I could do a better one."

He smirked and cocked an incredulous brow. "Oh, you think so?"

"No," she smiled. "Just kidding."

He laughed and reached for a large multicolored beach ball. "Okay, so how's about a friendly game of pool volleyball?" He flashed a smile. "Girls against boys, of course."

Emily raised her chin in playful defiance. "Bring it, Blake."

With both teams positioned on either side of the net, the game began. The kids screeched into a loud burst of laughter when Emily jumped up, spiked the ball onto Gavin's head, and knocked his sunglasses clear off his face. After Gavin resurfaced from retrieving the sunken shades, his eyes trained on Emily as he smiled with a guaranteed promise of retaliation. She gave a quick high-five to Theresa and shot Gavin a smirk - quite pleased with herself by the point gained for the girls.

Tossing his arm around Timothy's shoulder, Gavin whispered something into his ear. He chucked his sunglasses onto a beach chair and eyed Emily with a devious smile. She knew he was up to no good. She shook her head and laughed. Before she could warn Theresa of her uncle's mischievous intentions, a tidal wave of water splashed into her face - courtesy of Gavin.

Emily let out a gasp, spitting water from her mouth. She shot Gavin a smirk and splashed him back. With all his little might, Timothy tossed the beach ball over the net, scoring a wicked point for the boys. Startled by the sudden attack, Theresa began to cry out in hysterics. Without hesitation, Gavin swam over to her and scooped her into his arms.

Perched on the pool stairs, Gavin cradled her. "Theresa, Uncle Gavin's sorry, honey. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Uncle Gaffin, you hurt Emm-mi-me," she sniffed.

"No, Theresa, he didn't hurt me." Emily held out her arms, coaxing her to sit by her. Theresa sat herself in Emily's lap. "He just splashed me, that's all."

Theresa sniffed again. "Uncle Gaffin is a meanie; you should hit him."

Gavin playfully frowned as his eyes widened. "You think she should hit me?"

Theresa giggled and nodded.

Gavin looked to Emily and shrugged, pointing to his arm. "I guess Colton and Melanie are raising some hostile children," he laughed. "Take your best shot, doll."

Smiling, Emily acted as though she hit him, and Gavin howled out in his best wounded voice.

Theresa laughed, quite satisfied by the blow.

"Mom said you made my daughter cry, Gavin?"

Gavin turned around and smiled. "Hey, Mel. Yeah, I scared her a little, but she's okay now. Aren't ya, squirt?" He tickled Theresa's toes.

She laughed and kicked her feet away from him. "Uncle Gaffin's girfend hit him for me."

With a sweep of her arm, Melanie motioned to Timothy to get out of the pool. She then tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder, quirked a curious brow, and smiled in Gavin's direction.

"She's not my girlfriend," Gavin laughed, standing up. "She's Dillon's girlfriend. Emily, this is my wonderful sister-in-law, Melanie."

Holding Theresa's hand in hers, Emily rose to her feet and smiled. "It's nice to meet you."

"The pleasure's all mine," she said, returning the smile.

"Your children are adorable," Emily said.

"Thank you, but I bet you'd beg to differ when they're screaming and fighting with one another over a box or something crazy like that."