Page 72 of August 20

"Do you want to check out the pool?"

Skye jumped up and down. "Yes."

"Okay, we'll walk over there, and you can see where everyone goes swimming." She turned to Bane. "Can you let Maverick know where we are?"

"Sure."

"Thanks." She went out the door, knowing her way to the pool. "Guess what?"

"What?" asked Skye.

"Maverick took me swimming one day when you were in school." She climbed the steps.

"No fair."

She laughed, enjoying how normal it was to tease her niece. "You'll get to swim one day."

Skye walked into the front of the pool house. "Can I swim now?"

"You don't have your swimsuit." Brooke looked up and found a woman smiling at them from the other side of the counter. "Hi, are you Daisy?"

"I am."

"I'm Brooke." She pointed beside her. "This is Skye. We were at the...parts shop next door, and your husband told us to come over. Skye hasn't seen the pool before."

"Right." Daisy walked around the counter and motioned for them to follow her. "You came with Maverick before."

"Yes."

"We'll see each other from time to time since both our men belong to Havlin Motorcycle Club." Daisy swung the locker room door open. "Do you swim, Skye?"

"Yes."

"Awesome, kiddo." Daisy pushed through another door, opening them to a view of the pool. "We have a recreational swim slot each day that is free for kids your age, and in the summer, we have lessons."

"Look, Aunt Brooke." Skye pulled her forward. "It's so big."

"It's much bigger than the one you learned to swim in." She caught the surprised look on Daisy's face before she could hide it. "I have custody of my niece."

Daisy flushed. "She's a cutie."

Thankful the awkward moment was over. She found that many people never wanted to stop at her quick explanation. They wanted details about how she gained custody of Skye. And that was a conversation she avoided, especially in front of her niece.

Brooke let Skye check out the pool. Three others were swimming, and two lifeguards were on duty.

"Hey, that's Mariah." Skye walked away from her, waving. "Hi, Mariah!"

She quickly caught Skye's hand and pulled her back. "We can't bother them."

At that moment, Dania lifted her arm out of the water. Brooke waved back at her boss and smiled at Mariah, who was trying to swim to the pool's edge to get to Skye. The two kids had become friends at school, and it carried over to when they sat in the coffee shop waiting for work to end.

Daisy stepped closer and whispered, "We have extra suits if Skye wants to go swimming."

"Hm." She felt herself giving up the fight. "I don't know how much time we have. Maverick is at the clubhouse—"

"How about I get one of the extra suits that'll fit her—they've been laundered and stored in the office. While she changes, I'll call over and have Bane get a message to Maverick for you. He can come over or give us a call when he's done with Havlin business," said Daisy.

Resigning, she smiled. "That's nice of you. Thank you."