Donna opened the gate to the pool area at Edie Lyman's condo complex and was immediately greeted by an unmistakable little voice cheering her name. "Donna! Hi, Donna!"

She gave Audrey a little wave. "Hi, Sweet Pea." She was pleasantly surprised to see that they had the entire pool area to themselves that afternoon.

Josh swam around for a minute, Donna trying not to stare at him. She sometimes let herself indulge in taking a glimpse at his muscular, bare forearms when he rolled up his sleeves in the office late in the evening or changed into a tshirt after they'd worked halfway through the night at his kitchen table. But she was certain that she'd never seen him like this.

He easily bobbed in the water and she tried not to make her stare obvious. She knew Josh was in shape but she'd never seen him shirtless. He was lean and chiseled and something else... ah, yes. Relaxed.

"Hey there," he greeted her with a full dimpled grin from behind his designer sunglasses. He ran his hand through his wet curls and swam over to the edge. "Thanks for coming over."

She gave him a genuine smile. There was, in her mind, no reason to thank her. He'd extended the invitation the previous evening just after they'd put Audrey to bed after another round of restaurant dessert and life advice after Donna's failed date.

She sat her bag down on a sun lounger, sliding out of her sandals and pulling out her own sunglasses before removing the t shirt dress she'd worn as a cover up. Grabbing a towel from her bag, she walked over to the edge of the pool.

"Water's fine," he smirked, unable to come up with anything intelligent to say as he tried his hardest not to let his jaw drop at the sight of her body in the small black bikini.

She tilted her head and gave him an odd look. "Yes," she stated slowly. "I'd imagine it would be in August."

Donna sat down on her folded towel and dipped her feet in the pool, leaning back a bit to feel the sun on her whole body.

Josh kicked over and pulled himself halfway out of the water resting on the edge of the pool. "You're not getting in?"

She shrugged her shoulders a bit. "Maybe later. "This is nice for now."

She heard the pitter patter of little feet behind her, Audrey grinning from ear to ear in her Minnie Mouse swimsuit and water wings as she approached Donna.

"Donna, watch!"

"Are you going to jump in?" Josh stood right in front of her.

"Yes," Audrey stated, squirming a bit as Donna reached out and fixed her barrette.

"Alright, kiddo. Lets show Donna how it's done. One... Two..."

"Three!" Audrey yelled and jumped, Josh grabbing her practically before she hit the water.

Donna clapped animatedly and Audrey grinned with pride, shouting again as Josh popped her out of the water and they repeated the process time after time.

"Okay," Josh hoisted her out of the water for what felt like the hundredth time, "go get a drink of juice from Bubbe. Daddy's getting tired," he instructed her and Audrey ran over to Edie who was reading a book in the shade.

"Don't run," Donna called over her shoulder without even looking.

Josh kicked over to where she sat. "You ready to get in yet?"

"Eh," she shifted her weight. "I don't know."

"Come on, you know you want to."

"It's pretty nice right here," she admitted.

He gave her a playful splash, barely getting her wet. She responded by giving a gentle kick of water in his direction. Josh then gave a larger splash and she returned in kind, letting out a cross between a shriek and a giggle as the cool water hit her.

Edie looked on from where she sat with Audrey and smiled. She loved everything that this woman was to her family.

Josh stopped his movements abruptly causing Donna to do the same.

"What?" Donna asked confused. He was staring at her.

"Donna, there's something-" he reached slowly for arm, taking her by surprise and pulling her quickly into the pool. She let out a scream of surprise as she flew towards the water but Josh caught her, not allowing her head to go under. She'd reflexively grabbed for him in the process. "Well you're in now," he told her.

Donna caught his gaze and only then did Josh realize her arms were draped loosely around his neck and her legs had wrapped around his waist. His hands steadied her almost bare hips, their bodies pressed tightly together in the water. She licked her lips subconsciously, their faces close together and Josh almost couldn't resist. But this was Donna. Beautiful, smart, caring, Donna. She was his assistant and his friend. And he wasn't going to throw all of that away over what he was sure was a one sided attraction.

He was pulled back to reality by the sound of tiny giggles coming from the pool deck as Audrey found herself highly amused by his antics.

He couldn't help but to notice, however that Donna didn't move immediately away from him. Their bodies were still touching when she shifted a bit in the water, her hands running down his chiseled chest and lingering a bit as her legs slowly uncoiled, her silky skin grazing directly against his in the process. Josh had to stifle a groan and tell mentally himself to pull it together.

When she moved away from him the loss of contact with her body immediately made him feel empty. He took a moment to pull himself out of his haze and went back to normal a few moments later, convincing himself that nothing had happened.

Audrey returned back to the steps of the pool and Donna picked her up, holding her and dancing around in the water, both of them smiling and happy. Josh swore he saw her catching sideways glimpses of him the rest of the day but by the time they were ready to get out and dry off he'd convinced himself that he was truly imagining it.

Donna toweled off Audrey and packed a few remaining items away in her beach bag. Edie had returned to the condo to thaw something for dinner.

Josh ran a towel coarsely through his hair, distanced once again by Donna's bikini.

"Josh."

"Huh?" He was confused, his mind wandering to places it shouldn't.

"I can't find her shoes."

Josh glanced around the pool deck. "Oh. Uhhh... Bubbe must have grabbed them."

Donna opened her mouth to voice concern but Josh cut her off.

"Up you go," he told Audrey, tossing her up to sit on his shoulders and holding onto her bare feet. The toddler grinned in satisfaction and gave her Dad's hair an accidental little tug. "Easy, shortcake," he pulled gently on her foot. "Ready, Donnatella?" He gave her a thousand watt smile and placed one tenderly hand on the small of her back, his thumb caressing her skin softly. He couldn't help himself. She gave him a small smile in return, eyes bright with curiosity. The moment was over as quickly as it began and the three made their way inside for dinner.

After quickly rinsing off the chlorine and changing into dry clothes Donna popped into the kitchen to give Edie a hand while Josh helped to fix a few things around Edie's condo and threw the chicken on the grill.

Audrey wandered into the kitchen, with her stuffed bunny in tow, and made her way over to stand by Donna, who popped her up on the kitchen counter. Donna continued to chat with Edie, handing Audrey tiny bites of the avocado and cherry tomato she was chopping for the salad.

"Chicken is ready," Josh announced, walking over to lean against the counter holding the barbecue tongs. "I put it on the table."

Donna placed the completed salad to the side and turned on the faucet, washing her hands and then Audrey's.

"You have dinner plans on Tuesday?" Josh furrowed his brow as he looked at his mother's calendar on the fridge.

"Yes, it's Bridget's birthday. You know Bridget. From my book club."

"Kay." Josh pinched the bridge of his nose. "The President is speaking that night and I have to be there."

"Oh. Well Audrey can go with me I suppose..."

"I'll take her," Donna piped up. "She has art class that night anyway. I think they're making little musical instruments."

"Really?" Donna did a lot for Josh but he didn't want to make her feel obligated to take Audrey that evening.

"Yes, really," Donna rolled her eyes at Josh and dried Audrey's hands with a towel, sitting her down from the counter. "Since I don't get to go with you anyway," she gave him a teasing smile. She'd been trying to find a way to go to the event for weeks but there wasn't any extra room in the motorcade.

"It's one insignificant night, Donna. How many times have you heard the President speak?"

"You'll be lost without me," Donna quipped.

Josh gave her a grin and carried the salad to the table, Donna toting Audrey along to place her in her chair. "Somehow, Donnatella, I'll survive. Promise."

After all, it wasn't a cross country excursion. They were simply crossing the bridge to Rosslyn.