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Cassie sighed as she saw that Joe was calling her phone , she really was trying to pull back from him a little since their last encounter but that wasn't so easy when you worked as closely as they did . All the usual conversations had been had , this won't happen again , we got carried away and all that but it was clear her life was in a holding pattern . Something would have to give eventually. Through all this Travis was after snapping put of his funk a little. Last night he had taken her out for dinner and cocktails before splitting a bottle of wine on a dock they liked to visit. It had been a very nice evening and only served to make her even more exasperated at the situation. The phone in her hand kept buzzing and she knew Joe's stubborn ass would not stop until they talked. She pressed the green button " Hey Joe". He sounded surprised " Oh you are alive? Listen I got the twins here all upset cause we were supposed to go on a boat with their friends family and they had to cancel. Its just me and the boys now , would you and Aubrey like to come? Waylon asked for her specifically". Since Waylon and Aubrey had met they had always asked to do a play date together , Cassie knew her daughter would love it. But then that involved more time with Joe when she had decided to hold back a little . "Um I will ask Aubrey text me the details ". She was non committal " Cool , everything OK? You sound a bit distant". " All good Joe , I will let you know". They said bye and she hung up . Her head was spinning . Aubrey came in " Who were you talking to Mommy?". Cassie smiled at her daughter " Joe, they have a boat for the afternoon and the twins were wondering if you would like to go out on it?". Aubrey left out a squeal " oh yes please mommy". Well that was that then. She texted Joe back to say they would be going and arranged for him to pick them up.

He arrived about an hour later , Cassie had packed a little picnic for the kids as well as their swimsuits and beachwear. She heard Joe's car pull up and she asked Aubrey to get the door as she carried the bags and basket. Joe stepped out of the Range Rover , wearing black shorts and a white shirt as well as a very impressive pair of Jordan sneakers. His footwear game was strong she had to give him that. He smiled nicely at Aubrey showing his white teeth , he had a lovely smile , she watched from behind her sunglasses as he opened the door for Aubrey. " I'll get those Cass" he called , as he saw her struggling with the bags and the basket. He made sure Aubrey was safe and lightly jogged over to her. He took the bags and basket from her " You didn't have to do all this" he said. She shrugged in response. " You sure you are OK?" she rolled her eyes " Yes Joe" she snapped. He frowned but didn't say anything back . She slid into the passenger seat welcoming the cool air conditioning as it hit her legs , which were on show under her floral playsuit.

Cassie was pissed , Joe didn't know why. She looked amazing aswell which didn't help . That little playsuit showed long toned legs and while her breasts were covered well he could see a little cleavage. He turned on the radio while Cassie spoke to the kids. She didn't seem annoyed or moody with them, which meant he was definitely the problem. In the backseat Aubrey and Waylon were talking animatedly . Joe smiled at them both, they were becoming fast friends. " Cute huh?" he asked Cassie , trying again. She nodded , still distracted. " Mommy , what was the name if the game you and Daddy were playing this morning ?". Aubrey asked. Cassie immediately shut her daughter down " Oh forget about that honey, are you looking forward to the going on the boat?". Joe was wondering why she had changed the subject so abruptly. " What game was it?" Waylon asked innocently. Aubrey answered " It's hide and seek but in bed under the covers Daddy and Mommy were hiding together. But they didn't have any clothes on , so it's a silly game". Waylon giggled " That's a silly game" . Aubrey laughed back. In the seat beside him , Cassie was squirming. Joe didn't say a thing, he had no right to. She was married to Travis , but it irked him. The last he had heard she had her suspicions about him cheating again and now they were clearly having sex again. Or maybe they had never stopped , suddenly lots of possibilities were running through his mind. If anything, it explained a little why she was being off with him.

By the time they got to the Dock, Cassie was sweating. Aubrey hadn't meant any harm , but now Joe knew she had Travis had sex. And that just added more complications yet again. It had been the first time in a long time that they had been together but it had happened. She turned her attention to getting the kids and all the bags on board the boat. Joe was going to drive the boat , so while he worked on that side of things she got the kids into their swimwear and Iife jackets and smothered them in suncream. There was a cabin downstairs with a TV and that and a little kitchen and fridge so after the kids were sorted she unpacked the food. Joe himself started the boat up and started making their way out towards a spot he knew had an area for swimming that was safe where they could stop. They hadn't spoken a word to each other and she watched him as he drove the boat. His broad shoulders, the athletic build and she stopped herself from going any further, she thought again about what Liv had said about him not really kissing her and she wondered to herself what it would be like to kiss him . As if sensing what she was thinking he turned and his eyes found hers , she couldn't read him and he faced the ocean again. She turned back to face the sun, and smiled as Jayden, Waylon and Aubrey played together excitedly. After a bit Joe cut the engine and she saw they had come to a little cove. It was beautiful , a very safe looking swimming area elicited screams from the kids. Joe came down the boat " OK who wants to swim?" . He was greeted with yells of consent.

Cassie tried not to stare as Joe pulled off his t-shirt revealing a chest that was so bronzed and impressive. " This water is only waist deep but I think we should probably get in with them" he said to Cassie . She agreed and began to pull off the playsuit she was wearing revealing a deep blue coloured bikini. She took some pleasure in catching Joe giving her body the once over. She watched on as Joe took Aubrey in his arms and held onto her until she was confident to splash about in the life vest. Cassie stepped off the boat and plunged into the water. She stood next to Joe as their kids swam about and had fun. She needed to talk to him so she sidled up next to him. "Are you mad?" she said in a low voice. " I have no right to be" was the response she got . " What's happened between us was a mistake , that's what we have both been saying , right?, so how can I be mad if you are having sex with your husband.". Cassie didn't like the way he was being with her , cold. She turned her attention back to the kids , she made sure Aubrey couldn't really see her place a hand on his back. He stiffened at her touch , then relaxed his shoulder blades again. " For what it's worth , there was a moment last night where I thought maybe we can really work this thing out. Because he made me feel special and wanted and that's something I haven't had from him in a long time. I know I have every right to sleep with my husband but I'm not sure that I want to anymore". Her fingers rubbed his back for a second , and before he could say anything else , she dived under the water and popped up between the kids pretending to be a sea monster.

Later , they unpacked the picnic basket and let the kids sit inside in the shade. It was getting really hot so they decided to let them watch a movie on the TV. Cassie had packed lots of great food and they all ate hungrily. Across the table from her , Joe was in better spirits. " So y'all having fun?". The kids nodded excitedly " And what about you ?". Joe asked Cassie. His eyes met hers and she saw the man she usually knew. Her words had obviously struck a chord with him. " Aye Aye captain" she said with a smirk. "Kids you chill out here , Cassie can you help me with something upstairs please ?". She stood and followed him back up onto the deck . He was still shirtless, his hair now tied in a very sleek bun and as he stood with his face to the sun , she was again taken by how handsome he was. Sometimes it amazed her that this man had done things to her that weren't exactly PG. " You're staring" he said with a smirk . She shoved him roughly "You are such an arrogant ass" she said with a smirk. " Hey all I want you to do is acknowledge me here " he said in a teasing voice. Cassie didn't respond for a minute " Acknowledge me, that's it. Brilliant". Joe looked at her from the side of his eye " Have you got sun stroke?". " Nope , but you have got a new catchphrase , wait a minute,. Don't say a word." He watched her pull.out a pen and write excitedly for a few minutes . He was mesmerised by the facial expressions, it was like she was rehearsing a play in her head. When finished she looked at him. " OK". She put the pen and pad away to his dismay. " you gonna tell me what that was all about?". " Of course I will, when we are working tomorrow , for right now we are having fun". "Tease" he said with an added smirk. Cassie looked at him innocently " I thought you liked it when I tease you" . He smiled and said " tease me ? More like driving me crazy. But thats not why I wanted you up here. I'm sorry Cass , if I am truthful , I was not expecting to hear that about you and Travis. But right now I just want to be here for you , not questioning your decisions. So I was a dick. Forgive me?". He was giving her the puppy dog eyes, she rolled her eyes at him " I forgive you" she walked over to him and looked up at him. " Hug it out?". He smiled at her pulled her into his chest. She put her arms around his waist and enjoyed the feel of his bare body close to hers , one of his hands rested on the back of her head while the other snaked around her waist. It was a lovely feeling , and she held on a bit longer than was appropriate. But Joe made no effort to stop it eithe. When they pulled apart she looked up at him , and for the second time she thought about kissing him. But the terror of him pulling away or Aubrey spotting them made her stop. Joe had to stay in the friend zone , she had way too much else going on. It was going to be really hard keeping him there.