Unexpected

Six

Maya's POV

So I could tell you I got conned by a little brown haired beauty into joining her family at the beach after brunch - but honestly, I wanted to spend more time with her and her father. I mean, I maybe played it off a little - I was wearing my swim suit under my dress and had a bag already packed knowing my day would eventually lead me to the water - and I didn't want Knox to think I was jumping at the chance to spend time with him whether it was true or not.
He was quite easily the most gorgeous man I had met, his dark hair the same colour as his daughters was short at the sides and longer at the top - it was soft and sort of flopped whichever way it fell when he ran his hands through it, his bright green eyes were like emeralds and his skin had a healthy golden tan to it - he was fit, not bulky but tall and trim - muscles well defined that it was easy to tell he had a physical job where he worked with his hands - construction maybe.

His shirt came off once we set ourselves up in a cosy spot on the soft sand exposing his tattoos.
He had Evie's name across his right pec her date of birth underneath. On his left side running down his torso was the tattoo of a cross surrounded by what looked like feathers. This man was everything the word sexy described - through and through.
I also knew he knew I was watching him, I mean I didn't really do a lot to hide it.
I had never been one of those girls who got shy around boys - being the only girl in a house with 4 brothers you didn't really have a choice to sit quietly in the background.
What was making me kind of nervous though was the feeling in my stomach, I knew what it was and yeah - it absolutely made me nervous - kind of scared too and 1000 times excited.
Reed and I had started dating when I was 15 - our first kiss happened the afternoon of my 16th birthday and we slept together the night of our senior dance - I was 17. I had never experienced nerves with him - we were comfortable with each other - it was safe and familiar. Nothing like what I had experienced the moment my eyes met with Knox's - or the goosebumps that trailed up my arms when his hand shook mine, nothing like the sensation that was travelling all over my body as he did absolutely nothing to hide the fact he was checking me out when I lifted my dress over my head revealing my black bikini, he continued to watch me as I tied my long black curls into a messy bun. I also watched when his eyebrows furrowed - something like disappointment on his face when Jake jumped at the chance to rub the lotion into my back and shoulders.
It didn't take him long to redirect his attention and turn to Evie who was waiting next him,

"What do you say princess - ready to see what monsters are in the water today"

She squealed in excitement as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, running full speed towards the water - her high pitched laughter carried across the sand and I couldn't help but smile and laugh at the sight and sound of the two of them together.
Jake finished rubbing the lotion and passed me my sun shirt,

"You know it's been awhile since I've seen him look at someone the way he looks at you"

Jake spoke quietly - his gaze locked on Knox and Evie,

"Oh, and how does he look at me?"

"The same way you look at him"

"Come on Jake, that is crazy - I have only known you guys for a few hours"

"Does it matter?" Jake stood in front of me - forcing me to look at him "You going to fight it? Because I think for the first time in a long time - he won't, and he deserves to be happy"

"I'm guessing things with Evie's mother didn't end well"

"That's not my story to tell, but she's not in the picture if that's what your asking" Jake sighed before continuing "Look - Knox is my best friend - my brother, he has worked hard to give Evie the life she deserves and often forgets it's ok for him to have a life too"

Jake moved back to my side and my eyes locked onto Knox and his daughter playing amongst the waves, her laughter and squeals could still be heard from where we were standing, He spotted me watching him and stopped - lifting Evie up into his arms.
Before long both of them were calling out for us to join them...

"So, what do you say Snow White - are you in?"

I knew Jake was talking about more than just going for a swim, I knew what he was asking me and whilst I also knew I had so much in my life that needed sorting there was something deep down that was telling me to take this chance, I took a deep breath before turning to Jake - smiling,

"I'm in"