Barefoot Bay: When You Touch Me (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Marilyn Baxter Page A

therapists. Did that make her a bad person? To be so focused on money? To let her emotions get so out of control?
    She heard Sam speak to Poppy as he exited the villa on his way to the pool deck. Dropping her tote on the sofa, she unbuttoned the cover-up and began to remove it. No, she’d wear it as long as possible. On the other hand, she didn’t want to do a pseudo striptease by the pool.
    “It’s a cryin’ shame about that man.”
    Jillian had been so deep in her silly thoughts she hadn’t heard Poppy enter the living room.
    “I overheard him talking to his mama when I brought the towels. He kept telling her over and over that your massages were helping and that he was going to be okay. No matter how old they are, a mama never stops worrying about her child.”
    And neither did an aunt. Jillian had heard the story of how Poppy used the money she collected in her swear jar to bring her nephews from Jamaica to Mimosa Key. And even though her own family was safely here, she continued to send money to the orphanage to help others.
    “He’s fine, Poppy,” Jillian said to reassure the woman.
    “Oh child, you and I both know he’s finer than frog hair split three ways. He’s way better than fine, and if I was a little younger I might be swooning over him like all the other women around here. But I don’t want nobody thinking Poppy Washington is a cougar, you know.” She laughed heartily and her whole body shook.
    “Well, I’m not swooning.” Jillian stood ramrod straight.
    “Ah, right,” Poppy said, stretching out the last word.
    Jillian didn’t like the woman’s tone. Did she suspect something? Know something? Did she really have bionic ears? She hoped the villa’s dim lighting hid the flush creeping up her neck.
    “I’d better go get my hands on him,” Jillian said and pointed to the pool.
    “You do that, Miz Jillian.” Poppy winked. “You get right out there and do that.”
    “Massage. Therapeutic massage. That’s all.”
    “Uh huh,” Poppy said just before she closed the front door behind her.
    “Are you coming?” she heard Sam call from the pool. “The water’s great.”
    Jillian slipped off her cover-up and flip-flops and braced herself mentally before heading to the pool. She stepped out just in time to see Sam execute a perfect flip turn and glide underwater across half the length of the pool. He rose to the surface and shook his head, flinging water droplets in every direction.
    She walked to the shallow end and down the steps into the water. The water temperature was cool enough to be refreshing but not too cold to make his muscles contract.
    “Nice suit,” Sam said. She tried not to react as his gaze swept from head to toe with a pause at one particular location.
    She ignored the blatant flirting. “Get that pool noodle and bring it here to the shallow end.”
    Sam swam toward her, dragging the noodle beside him. “Can’t we swim a little for fun before we start working?” He moved closer and splashed water in her direction.
    “I’m not being paid for fun, Sam. You can swim for fun after we finish this session.”
    “But it won’t be fun if I’m alone.” He sounded like a petulant child. Moving even closer, he touched the hem of her tankini top as it floated in the water.
    She stepped back and cleared her throat. “I want you to float on your back with the noodle under your legs.”
    Sam rolled over, slid the noodle under his legs and held his arms out to his side. Jillian waited for him to stabilize, then waded to him and cradled his head and neck in her hands. “Breath like you do on the table. Deep breaths.”
    “You’re not going to shove me under while I’m inhaling as payback for…well…you know.”
    She hadn’t thought of that, but wouldn’t that headline look great?
    Casa Blanca Employee Says Play It Dead Sam .
    Charity Grambling and all her gossip buddies at the Super Min would have a field day with that.
    “Oh please. I’m a