1. Sunny surprise

"You gotta be kidding me, right?"

Thirteen-year-old Lindsey Willows stared at her mother.

"Come on, Linds, it's not that bad!" Catherine, her mother, said. "It's just a vacation!"

Catherine had been able to take three weeks off and she wanted to spend those weeks going somewhere with her daughter. But Lindsey was being her own stubborn self by saying she didn't want to come.

"I'm not going on vacation with you, I'm thirteen!" Lindsey shouted. "I can go alone!"

"Oh, no way!" Catherine said. "You're coming with me and that's it!"

Three weeks later Catherine wished her colleagues a nice summer.

"At least you get some time off," Sara sighed. "I could use some!"

"Why don't you take a night off then?" Catherine suggested.

"We're not allowed to," Greg said, sounding just as exhausted as Sara. "With you and Warrick both gone, we get extra work. And trust me: those criminals won't take time off, because you and Warrick go on vacation!"

"I didn't know Warrick was going as well," Catherine said, missing the looks Sara and Greg exchanged.

"Well, have a good time," Greg said.

"Yeah, have fun," Sara nodded. "When you get back, we'll make sure you've got plenty to do!"

Smiling, Catherine left the room. She loved her work, but she really wanted to spend some time with her teenage daughter!

"Oh, wow, there's a huge beach!"

"Thought you didn't like going on vacation?" Catherine said with a smile. She and Lindsey had just arrived in Miami, Florida, where they would be spending their three weeks.

"I don't," Lindsey replied, pulling a grumpy face again. For a second only, though, because she saw the hotel pool with a huge slide. "Check it out, mom! Can I go for a swim?"

"We'll check in first and then we'll go for a swim, deal?" Catherine said, happy that her daughter was pleased with the location.

"Deal!"

They checked in and received their room keys. Their room was on the second floor and it had a great ocean view.

"Come on, mom, I wanna swim!"

Catherine quickly opened their suitcase to find their bikinis. "Here, now go and change!"

Five minutes later, Lindsey splashed into the pool. Catherine swam a few lengths before lying down on one of the chairs to sunbathe. Lindsey continued having fun, going down the slide five times in a row. After the fifth time, she ran up to her mother to spatter her. Catherine screamed for a second, but it was a scream of fun.

"I'll get you, you little monster!"

Lindsey ran away, challenging her mother to follow her. Catherine took the challenge and tried to catch the girl.

"Mom, look out!"

Too late! Catherine bumped into a tall man.

"Wow! Look out, Cath!"

'Cath'? That voice… With bright red cheeks, Catherine looked up.

"Warrick?"

"Hi, Cath," her colleague smiled. "Hi, Lindsey."

"Hi, Warrick," Lindsey grinned.

Catherine was suddenly very well aware of her small bikini. She quickly grabbed her towel.

"What… um… are you doing here?"

"Enjoying my time off," Warrick answered. "Just like the two of you."

Catherine still felt embarrassed. Luckily, Lindsey broke the silence: "Mom, I'm hungry!"

"Right, honey, let's get dressed and grab something to eat."

"Want to have dinner with me?"

So much for Lindsey breaking the silence!

"Are you, um, sure, Warrick?"

"Yeah!" Warrick said. "Every man in the world would call me crazy if I let two beautiful women have dinner alone!"

"Mom, I'm hungry!" Lindsey sighed. "Just say 'yes', okay?"

"Okay, you're right, honey." Catherine looked directly at Warrick. "Sure, sounds like fun. Meet us in the lobby in thirty minutes."

"Sure, see you then."

As Warrick walked away, Catherine felt her heart beating twice as fast. What was wrong with her? He was just a colleague! Okay, a cute colleague, but still a colleague. She shook her head. Stop thinking, Cath!

"Come on, Linds, let's go."