"Seriously, though, I hardly have time to plan a party."
She shook her head. "No, of course not. I'd do it. It will keep me out of trouble. We could do an African safari theme! Or a tropical luau! I'll think of something perfect." She grinned, and I got a flash of that witchy little dimple. My heartbeat stuttered, and then I couldn't help the small chuckle that found its way up my throat.
"You're supposed to be helping me organize my books to stay out of trouble."
"I can do both."
I sighed. "Fine. Just wait until we get the check, please, to start spending money neither of us has yet."
"I will. Well, except for invitations. I'll pay for those. Do I have your permission to pick a date?"
"Go ahead. I can assure you I don't have any social plans on the calendar."
A few moments of silence settled between us. The mild night air was fragrant with nearby roses, the flavor of the wine crisp on my tongue, the rustle of the trees whispering all around, the iridescent mist floating in the grapevines beyond. I closed my eyes, relishing the assorted sensations, wondering when I'd lived in the moment just as I was now. Had I ever?
"Plan on restoring the pool when we get our check?" Kira asked quietly, nodding her head toward it.
"Probably not. I'd like to tear it out."
"Why? Don't you like to swim?"
"I like to swim just fine. I don't have very good memories of that particular pool. My father thought he'd teach me how to swim by throwing my puppy in to the deep end."
Kira drew in a breath. "Your puppy? Why would he do that?" she whispered.
Jesus. I hadn't thought about that in so long. Why was I remembering it now? I supposed because the pool was right in front of me . . . "I was six and I was afraid of the deep end. No matter how my father threatened me, I wouldn't get in. He would stand on the side of the pool in his damn business suit and rail at me as I cried." God, twenty-two years later and I could still feel the humiliation. "I had found this stray puppy wandering just outside our gates and begged my parents to let me keep it. They'd agreed as long as it was an outside dog only and I solely took care of it . . ." I let my thoughts wander, trying to picture that little dog I'd named Sport. It'd been a mutt, brown and white in coloring with these big trusting eyes . . . "Anyway, we were out here for a lesson and I again refused to get in, so my father picked up the puppy who was sitting right there on the patio," I pointed my finger at the exact spot, "and threw him in. Told me either I jumped in after him, or he'd drown."
"Oh God, Grayson," Kira breathed, her hand over her mouth.
I gave her a small smile. "It was a long time ago." So why did my chest still ache as I recalled it? "I stood on the side of the pool crying and screaming as that puppy drowned, Kira. My father eventually scooped him out, but it was too late." And the guilt of that still tore at my soul. I'd been a coward. "I just wish I had it to do over again . . . I'd save him this time. I'd drown myself if I had to. But I'd save him."