Barbara McMahon - The Nanny and the Boss's Twins

A moment later he waded out to her. The water wasn’t even waist high on the boys.

“First we’ll practice putting our faces in the water,” she said, kneeling down to be more at their level. She showed them how and both boys dutifully put their faces in the water for a split second. Juan came up with a wide grin, Pablo looked uncertain.

“Let’s do it again, this time blow bubbles. Let’s see who can blow bubbles the longest.”

Several minutes passed as they all blew bubbles. Gradually Pablo became more comfortable. Stacey was delighted when he finally raised his face with a grin on it. “I blew them the longest,” he said proudly.

“Indeed you did, sweetie. You’re our bubble champ.”

“I can do that,” Juan said, taking a deep breath and plunging beneath the water. Bubbles popped on the surface. When he finished he stood up and grinned. “Now am I the longest?”

“It’s a tie,” she said with a laugh. These boys were fun.

A moment later she was surprised to see Luis striding across the sand, wearing swim trunks, a towel slung around his neck. His wide shoulders and muscular chest were already tanned. Where had he been to acquire that? she wondered. She’d thought he worked all the time.

Catching herself staring, she turned and focused on the boys, suddenly conscious of the bikini she wore. Perfectly suitable for the sea, it was still revealing. Not that children noticed, but there was nothing child-like about Luis Aldivista.

“Daddy!” Pablo ran out of the water to greet him.

“I thought you had work,” Stacey called, definitely not having expected him. What was she trying to do, send him back inside?

“My grandmother does not have internet service, and she was not willing for me to tie up her phone for long-distance calls. She very patiently explained the concept of vacations to me,” he said with a rueful smile.

Stacey was captivated by that smile. It took years off his looks, making him seem like a carefree younger version, out for a good time.

“The boys are delighted to have you here,” she said. Juan was already jumping up and down beside him, begging his father to teach him to swim.

“Shall I leave them with you?” she asked. It would be a great for him to spend time with his sons. She’d only be in the way.

“No, stay. One on one’s a better ratio.”

“I want to swim,” Juan called again.

“How about Stacey and I teach you both at the same time?” Luis asked, dropping his towel and walking into the water.

Stacey could have easily forgotten the children and feasted her eyes on him for the rest of the afternoon. His wide shoulders tapered to slim hips. His muscular chest seemed out of place with a man who commanded a software development firm and worked inside most of the day. This man seriously kept himself in shape!

She needed to get a grip. She was there solely for the boys, not to enjoy the physique of her reluctant employer. Concentrate on teaching the boys to swim, she told herself firmly. Easier said than done with a tantalizing male so near.

As the afternoon wore on, she was able to forget about ogling Luis Aldivista and enjoy the fun the children were having with two adults devoting their attention solely on them. Before long Pablo surprised them all by swimming by himself. He happily paddled between Stacey and Luis, kicking and splashing, but definitely moving through the water.

Juan tried, but he was too impatient and when he couldn’t he’d slap the water and pout.

“You have the magic touch,” Luis said after several unsuccessful attempts to teach him. “I’ll work with Pablo, on refining his technique, and you see if you can get Juan to the same stage.”

“Okay.”

Luis watched for a moment as Juan floundered around again. Stacey had a world of patience. She laughed when his son did, but never made fun of him or belittled his efforts.

“Daddy, can I swim again?” Pablo asked. Luis stopped watching Stacey and focused on his son. But one part of him was always aware of where she was and how she and Juan were doing.

She looked amazing in that bikini. Her body was curvy, trim and feminine. It’d been a long time since he’d seen such a scantily dressed woman. He swallowed once when his libido rose. He needed to focus on his children and not on their nanny. It had nothing to do with anything but the vacation atmosphere, the difference between being here and back in New York and working. Under any other circumstances, he would never have met Stacey. To think of anything but his children was futile. Deliberately turning his back, he encouraged Pablo as his son practiced what he’d learned.

As the afternoon waned, the boys grew more and more proficient. They soon were swimming between Luis and Stacey, who moved back a few feet each time.

Luis realized what she was doing but didn’t call her on it. The boys were learning and that was important. But more importantly he was enjoying himself. When Juan and Pablo launched themselves again to swim toward Stacey, Luis tried to remember the last time he’d spent the afternoon with his sons. Nothing popped into mind.

“I winned, I winned!” Pablo yelled, splashing in the water as he jumped up and down in excitement.

“I winned last time,” Juan said when he reached Stacey.

Luis was proud of them. His heart lurched when he realized he’d almost missed this special milestone in their lives. The day they’d learned to swim.

Not only was he here for that event, he was having more fun than he’d had in years.

“Ready, set, go!” Stacey yelled, and the two began swimming furiously toward him. His throat almost closed. How close he’d come to missing all this. What if his grandmother had not minded him tying up her phone for hours?

He held out his arms like a barrier. Their techniques were atrocious, but their enthusiasm and excitement couldn’t be measured. His laughter rang out when they both touched his hands at the same time.

Stacey grinned at the sound of Luis’s laughter. Who would have known the man had it in him? She’d been so surprised when he’d joined them, and even more so that he’d joined in their play. It would mean a lot to the boys to have their father’s attention. And if his involvement these last few hours were anything to go on, he’d actually enjoyed himself too.

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