“Then what are you? You’re loved, Izzy, that’s what you are.” His arm was heavy and protective around her shoulders. “You don’t have to earn your place in a family. You’re born into it. Your dad doesn’t love you because you help out with Molly, although I’m sure he’s grateful for that—he loves you because you’re you. Unless—” He paused, suddenly cautious. “Is this about—”

“No!” But it was, of course, at least partly. She felt her eyes fill and stood up quickly. This was the point where the conversation had to end. “I’m just being stupid.”

“Does Flora know about that?”

“I don’t think so.” The thought that her dad might have talked about intimate things with Flora made her feel even more insecure.

Aiden stood up, too. “Then what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t do that.” He gripped her shoulders. “We share how we feel. We don’t dress sad in a smile, ever. We tell it how it is. We’ve always told each other everything.”

Not quite everything.

She managed a smile. “It’s fine. Honestly. Talking was good, but I think I’m done with it now. My head is exploding. Best to just shove me off this dock and plunge my head in cold water.”

He laughed. “I couldn’t do that to a guest.”

“No? Then I’ll go first.” She shoved him hard and he flew, his plunge into the water covering her in droplets of water.

She gasped and swept her soaked hair away from her face. She was laughing, and fortunately so was he.

“You—” He spluttered, coughed. “I can’t believe you just did that.”

“Me neither.”

“So you have a choice, Isabella.” His tone was deceptively pleasant. “Either you jump, or I’m coming up there to get you.”

“I can move faster than you.”

With his hair slicked back and water clinging to his eyelashes he looked like the lead from a teen movie. “I may not be a track champion, but I can run fast when there’s something worth running for.”

Was she that something?

To cover up what felt like an awkward moment she tugged off her T-shirt and her shorts and jumped without giving herself time to think about what she was doing.

She hit the water hard and sank under the surface. Sound was muffled, something soft brushed against her leg and she wanted to scream, except that then she’d drown and also screaming was for babies. She didn’t want Aiden to think she was a baby.

She surfaced, gasping and he pulled her toward the dock.

“Refreshing, right?”

“That’s not the word that almost came out of my mouth.” She swiped her face with her palm, clearing her vision. “Something is stroking my leg.”

“My hands are both visible.”

“That’s what’s worrying me.”