“Here.” Bridget spread a towel over her couch.

Turner groaned. He felt ridiculous sitting in the middle of Bridget’s living room in his underwear. “We should do that in the bedroom. What if someone comes over?”

He was badly sunburned, and it was entirely his fault. Served him right for being an idiot and not reapplying the sunscreen after each swim. Last night, he couldn’t make love to Bridget because his skin had felt on fire. Putting on clothes this morning hadn’t been a picnic either. He couldn’t wait to get home and take everything off.

Bridget squirted a big dollop of aloe vera into her hand, rubbed her palms together, and put them on his sunburned back.

He sighed. “It feels good.” Turner imagined a hissing sound and vapor arising from where the lotion cooled his skin.

“I told you so.” She smeared the blue gelatinous liquid all over his back, then reached for the bottle and squirted more into her palm. “Next time when I tell you to reapply sunscreen, don’t argue.”

He groaned. “There won’t be a next time.”

“Pfft, don’t be ridiculous. You love swimming. And I love watching you swim. All those hard muscles at work, yum.” She smoothed the cool stuff over his shoulders.

“You can watch me swim in the pool. Didn’t you say that there is an Olympic sized one in the underground?”

“There is.”

He pushed to his feet. “Let’s go. I bet the water is cold.” It would be heaven to submerge in all that water with no sun to spoil the fun.

Bridget wiped her hands on his arms. “I can spare half an hour.”

“Perfect.”

As he strode to the bedroom to get his swimming trunks, his private phone rang. Turner snatched the thing off the charging station, frowning at the display.

“Douglas, what happened?” His son never called unless it was Turner’s birthday or to wish him happy holidays.

“Hi, Dad.” He almost never called him Dad either. “Nothing happened. Nothing bad, that is. I wanted to let you know that I got engaged.”

That was big news. Turner didn't know Douglas was dating anyone seriously. The last time they had met, his son hadn’t mentioned anyone special.

“Congratulations. Who’s the lucky lady?”

“Her name is Melanie. We met a little over three months ago.”

That wasn’t long. Douglas was still young, but not too young to get married. Except, he was serving in a Special Ops unit, and that kind of a career didn’t lend itself to marital life.

“What’s the hurry?”

There was a moment of silence on the line before Douglas responded. “When it’s the right woman, there is no point in waiting. I knew Mel was the one as soon as I saw her.”

Turner thought back to the first time he’d seen Bridget. Had he known she was the one? Of course he hadn’t because he never entertained those kinds of thoughts. The only thing he’d known was that she was special and that he was attracted to her. But then Douglas was nothing like him. Thanks to his mother, the kid was normal.

“I’m happy for you.”

“I want you to meet her.”

That was unexpected. “Are you sure?”

“Mel is the best. I know you’re going to like her.”

“I’m sure I will. But the question is whether she is going to like me.”

Another moment of silence. “I’m counting on you to do your best. She is important to me.”

“Should I enroll in a charm school first?”

Douglas chuckled. “Just try to smile from time to time. I don’t expect anything more. I told her about you. She knows you’re not the friendly type.”

That was putting it mildly. “When and where?”

“I was hoping you can come over here. I’m guessing that you have enough miles to fly for free?”

As if that was a concern.

The problem was that Turner was about to start chemo and had no idea how it was going to affect him. Better to get the meeting over with before.

“I can be there this weekend. Does Sunday work for you?”

“Perfect. Our usual place?”

“Text me what time. I prefer lunch if that’s okay with you.”

“No problem. Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Turner put the phone back on the charging dock and sat on the bed.

“Congratulations,” Bridget said as she entered the room.

He was still getting used to that super hearing of hers. No conversation was ever private with immortals around. Not that he was intending to keep it a secret, but a few moments to process the news on his own would’ve been appreciated.

“Thank you.”

“Are you flying there for one day only?”

“Yes.”

“Why not stay the weekend and spend some time with your son and his fiancée?”

He shook his head. “We usually meet for lunch or dinner and that’s it. I will fly in and out the same day. Unless you come with me, then we can stay the weekend if you want.” He looked up at her expectantly.

The whole thing was going to be much easier with Bridget around. She could fill in the awkward silent moments, saving him from having to come up with things to talk about with Douglas.

“To meet your son?”

“Yes. Why not? I’ve met yours.”

Bridget shook her head. “This is about Douglas and his future wife, not about introducing your new girlfriend to your son.”

“Why not do both?”

She sat on the bed next to him. “Bringing me along will detract from Douglas’s happy moment. Let him and his future bride be the center of your attention.”

“I’ll miss you.”

She cast him a sidelong glance. “Nice try. You won’t miss me if you’re coming back the same day. Besides, with you gone, I’ll have more time to put the finishing touches to my presentation.”

He took her hand and looked into her eyes, hoping to soften her up. “You’ll be gone the whole day tomorrow, and then I’ll be gone Sunday. That’s two entire days out of the week.”

Bridget, Kian, and Syssi were flying to talk to the goddess, and Turner was not invited. It shouldn’t have stung, but it did, and not only because this project was his baby. Bridget should not be going without him. They were a team.

Fuck, he sounded like a lovesick puppy.

When had he become so dependent on her? Why was the prospect of not seeing Bridget for two whole days so disturbing to him?

After spending most of his life alone, this should be nothing. He should be glad to have some time to himself.

Right. He never wanted to go back to that. It had been okay when he didn’t know things could be different, that someone could care for him despite his oddities, or that he could care about someone and enjoy that someone’s company more than he enjoyed his own—which had been his default preference before he’d met Bridget.

Bridget lifted a hand and put it on his hot back, her cool touch soothing. “Put your trunks on and let’s go swimming.” She leaned and kissed his cheek. “Maybe after a nice cooling swim you’ll feel well enough for some fun time.” She waggled her brows.

Well, that was something to look forward to. He rose to his feet and headed to the walk-in closet. “Are you going to wear that red bikini?”

She chuckled. “No, I only wear it for sunbathing. I have a one-piece for swimming.”

“That’s a shame. I’m fond of that bikini. Though not while other guys drool over your assets.” The good thing about Kian and Syssi’s vacation home was the secluded beach the gated community enjoyed. There hadn’t been too many gawkers.

She walked by him, swinging her hips from side to side to taunt him. “Wait until you see that one piece. I bet it’s not what you’re expecting.”

He followed her inside. “Show me.”

“Take a seat.” She motioned to the bench.

“Am I getting a striptease?”

“Aha.”

“And you want me to put swimming trunks on after that? You’re a cruel woman.”

“On the contrary, my dear Victor.” She winked. “I aim to please.”