Making a Comeback by Kristina Mathews Page A

secret.
    “Thanks for playing catch with Sophie and Olivia.” She looked over at him, noting how he held his glove almost reverently.
    He glanced down at the well-worn mitt and smiled. “Anytime.”
    He tossed it on the blanket next to the girls’ gloves and stretched his arms overhead.
    Oh my . His shirt stretched across his broad chest and clung to sculpted shoulders. The high tech fabric was designed to wick away moisture, but there were a few spots darkened by perspiration. A slight breeze tickled her nose and she could smell him. The salt from sweat and the sea air. A faint scent of leather that seemed to fit him. And that certain something that was unique to him alone.
    Desire swept over her like a rogue wave. She wanted this man. This mysterious yet kind, strong but gentle man who’d come to her rescue and played with her daughters.
    She swept her gaze out over the water, trying to get her thoughts back to where they belonged.
    “Oh, Sophie’s getting a little too far out.” Her gut tightened. She should have been keeping a better eye on her children instead of letting her mind wander to where it had no business going.
    “I’ll get her.” Cooper moved with an astonishing quickness. One minute he was standing next to her, sending off powerful pheromones. The next he was racing into the ocean, scooping Sophie up just as a giant wave came crashing over her.
    She sputtered and coughed and clung to his neck. Olivia ran up to him from where she was playing in the shallower water. She threw her arms around his waist and followed him and her sister up the beach to dry land.
    “You saved her.” Olivia’s eyes were wide with fear and awe. “You’re a hero.”
    “Th-th-thank you.” Sophie’s voice was thick with fright. She buried her head into his neck, sobbing.
    “You’re fine.” He patted her wet, matted hair. “Come on, let’s get a cold drink and then we’ll go back out. This time, I’ll show you how to dive under those big waves.”
    He lowered her to the blanket while Annabelle reached into the cooler for Sophie’s water bottle. She wasn’t sure if she liked the idea of him taking Sophie back out there, but realized that he was only trying to get her to face her fears.
    Besides, he’d be right there with her. He would protect her. And Olivia, too.
    Sophie emptied her water bottle, calming with each swallow.
    “Are you ready?” Cooper stood tall and strong, extending a hand to both girls. He walked slowly toward the surf with her daughters. They both stared up at him with rapt attention, as if he held all the secrets to the universe. They would believe anything he told them. If he told them they could become mermaids, they’d grow tails and swim away.
    He eased them back into the water. A couple of times, the girls clung to him when the bigger swells reached their knees. But he was patient and steady and strong. Eventually the girls let go of his hand. They frolicked in the surf, jumping and squealing, and having a blast. And yes, they did learn how to dive under the bigger waves, popping up like otters on the other side.
    They played in the water for about twenty minutes before Cooper chased the girls back up the beach. He tore off his wet T-shirt and Annabelle gasped. Just loud enough that he heard her and gave her a naughty little smile when she tossed him an extra towel.
    “Thank you,” she mouthed as she turned to dry off her daughters.
    “Anytime.” The way he looked at her—no, he looked right through her—she got the feeling he was talking about taking off his shirt, not saving Sophie from the ocean and then keeping her from becoming afraid.
    “Stay for dinner?” She couldn’t help but ask.
    “What are you making?”
    “I don’t know yet. I’ll have to check my pantry.” She realized she hadn’t done her usual Saturday grocery shopping.
    “I’m sure between the two of us we could cook up something tasty.”
    “Yeah. I’m sure we could.” But nothing edible.
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