Entangled Summer (13 page)

Eyes trained on me, he reached behind his head and gathered a fistful of wet shirt. In one tug he pulled it over his head, and tossed it onto the ground with a smack.

My eyes skimmed over his chest and washboard abs.
Holy hotness.
How many sit ups did one have to do to get abs like that? An invisible place tightened in my chest. His chest seemed more flawless now than I remembered, with all those hard planes…the dips of his stomach… I devoured every chiseledmuscle, and the way his dark jeans hung low on his hips revealing the black waistband of his underwear. I swallowed hard
.

“Your turn,” he said, giving me a provocative grin.

I resisted the overpowering urge I had to move in and trail my fingers over his tattoo, which snaked from his shoulder down to his elbow. And a mighty fine looking elbow it was. There was something written along the top, a script I hadn't noticed. I squinted, wanting to read it without drooling all over him. Cause while the concept seemed hot, actual drool just wasn't.

“Are you going to stay all the way over there?” He asked.

We were only a ten feet apart, but it felt like miles. I scratched my forehead and inched a few steps toward him. His lips curled up in the corner, and he crooked his finger. “That's it. A little closer.”

I took another few tentative steps. How could I be ready to bolt and want to launch into his abs all at the same time?

“Not gonna bite you Nora. Unless you want me to.”

He flashed a sexy grin.

Oh man did I want him to. I think I hurried the rest of the way over to him, to keep from passing out from the lack of oxygen in my brain. It was being diffused to other places at the moment. The overwhelming sensations put me a little on edge and I stiffened in his arms. A nervous laugh escaped my lips
.

Troy dipped his head. “Is this scaring you Nora? he said quietly. “You and me?”

“No,” I croaked. I cleared my throat. “Not anymore. I’m only… afraid of what I want.”

“And what do you want?”

You.
More than I want water, or oxygen or blood in my veins.
My throat tightened. I couldn’t say the words, so I pushed myself closer against him, and reached down to hem of my tank-top.

He nodded, his smile slightly fading. He inched back—lifted his eyes to mine and held them.

I was still struggling to get my shirt off.

“Here, let me help you.” One thin strap of my tank top fell silently off my shoulder as his fingers gently coaxed the wet fabric away from my skin. A shiver raced through me despite the warmth of him and the waist-deep water. Tiny thrill bumps broke out over my skin and everything tightened inside me.

Another whisper-touch of his fingers against the curve of my shoulder. More shivers as the other strap fell. Then with a quick tug, he pulled the pink fabric up over my head and tossed it on the ground next to his.

His gazed roamed over me appreciatively as hands settled around my rib cage. “See,” he rasped. “Not so bad.”

Oh so good

Standing there in my wet bra and shorts, I felt completely naked. More naked than I felt when I'd actually been naked with him. Because this time I felt emotionally bare.

The first time it was spontaneous. A frenetic rush of passion and we gave in to temptation. This time was different. We both knew exactly what was about to happen. And we exchanged a long intense look. This time, I was ready.

His fingers skimmed across my stomach and I sucked in a breath. The sensitive skin quivered under his warm touch. The ache in my chest tightened, the longer I held my breath, but I couldn’t make my lungs function. The coordination of drawing in air was temporarily lost, as his palms rested on my sides, below the edge of my bra. A million tiny tingles raced across my skin.

His lips found mine again, in a tangled fusion of lips and tongues that I prayed would never end. Hands knotted in my hair and I arched into him, needing to be impossibly closer.

We were still kissing half-naked in the pond, when Grace came in.

She cleared her throat and immediately, we pulled apart. I darted behind Troy. So much for discretion.

“A little late for that Miss Dultry,” she said in her usual haughty tone.

I poked my head out.

“Hi Grace.”

“Something I can help you with?” Troy, waded to the edge of the pond and hopped out.

“That situation you asked me to monitor, has escalated,” she said. Her gaze shifted briefly to me as I tried unsuccessfully to climb out while partially shielding myself with one arm. Troy offered me his hand and pulled me to dry land, where I proceeded to stand like an idiot dripping a puddle on the tiles around me.

“Thanks Grace. I’ll look into it,” he said.

I caught her disapproving stare once more as I was wringing out the ends of my hair. She made a face, turned on her heel and left.

“Well, that was awkward.” I said.

“Don't worry about her. She’s harmless.”

“Yeah, that’s what every male praying mantis says, right before the female bites off his head. Apparently she does that before they consummate. Something about him being a better lover without his brain?” I shrugged. “National geographic.”

Troy stared. “Not sure if I’m turned on, or deeply disturbed by you right now.”

He tossed me a plush bath towel, and I had to laugh.

“Spend a lot of time tossing girls into your pond?”

“First off, you jumped in,” he said, “and second, I’ve told you before. There are no other girls. Only you.”

Mmmm.
I would never get tired of hearing that even if I knew it was only partly true. I wasn’t born yesterday, he had to have had other girls in his life. Celeste for one. But the fact that he made me feel like he hadn’t, meant a lot.

“So, what was all that anyway?” I angled my head toward to the door, as I rubbed my hair. “What was Grace on about, or is that classified? The kind of info that if you told me, you’d have to kill me?”

He chuckled, and handed me a dry t-shirt. It was warm from the sun and smelled like him.

“Actually, it has something to do with you.”

“Me?” I lowered the towel. “What about me?”

“Not you exactly.” He tugged a dry t-shirt down over his head—sexy as hell—and tossed his towel on the floor. For a moment I lost all concentration on what he was saying.

“It’s Kenzie.”

“Kenzie?” Concentration snapped back. I walked over to him, my feet squeaking with every step. Not so sexy. “Don’t tell me you guys want her fired after all this time?”

He shook his head. “We try to let some infractions slide when they’re not hurting anyone. But she’s dating someone who might not be good for her.”

I digested that for a moment. Since when was he concerned who my best friend was dating? “You mean the guy from Anime club... Steve? What’s wrong with him?” He seemed harmless enough.

“He’s dangerous.”

“So is she,” I laughed.

“I’m serious Nora.”

“So am I. You haven’t seen the remains of the guys she’s gone out with, who crossed her. I’m pretty sure she can take care of herself.”

He hesitated a little. “Just the same, I want to check this guy out. He’s someone I used to know, who may be looking for a way to get back at me.”

“Through Kenzie?” I frowned. “That makes no sense.”

“Let’s just say we had a difference of opinion about a class he was doing... or more to the point, a student he was doing.”

“Ah. He had relations with one of his students?”

“He was fired and he launched a lawsuit for wrongful dismissal, since the girl was over eighteen. They struck a deal and let him back in, mostly to avoid a scandal. Boards hate that kind of thing.”

“Talk about hypocritical, you broke that rule ages ago.” I teased, ruffling his still wet hair.

“Yeah well, those lips bring out the risk-taker in me.” He looped his arm around my waist and pulled me in for a brief kiss. “You are not my student Nora, and last year was different.”

“Because?”

“Because we weren’t here.”

“Circular logic, but whatever. So what do you want me to do?”

“Double date.”

“Double date?” I pushed my still damp hair out of my face. “With who?”

“I was thinking with us.”

“Us. You want to go public that way? On a double date with Kenzie and Steve. But... won’t that get us both into trouble?”

“We’ll go as friends. You up for it?”

I frowned. “A fake double date to spy on my best friend’s boyfriend? Who wouldn’t be up for that?”

“Good,” he said. “Now your job is to convince Kenzie.”

I’d never been into the whole double dating thing. Probably because I’d never been into the whole
dating
thing. But here, so far from school grounds, sitting at a table for four with just Troy and no prying eyes…it was bliss.

He ran his finger lightly over my arm. “Are you spending the night at my place Friday?” he said in a low voice. “I have something special in mind.”

Chills broke out all over my arm and I knew my face was flushed from the way too inappropriate thoughts he’d just put into my head.

“Does something special translate into something sinful?”

“Something sinful?” Kenzie parroted loudly. She beamed at us, her eyes lit with mischief. “Do I want to know what
that
is about?” She circled her index finger in front of my blushing face as she sat down across from us. “You’ve got that harlot flush going on. Tell me about the
something sinful
.”

“Kenzie,” I warned.

“Ooh, remember that guy I met at the church picnic?”

“She doesn't actually
go
to church,” I whispered to Troy, “she just crashed a picnic.”

“Hey, the sign said everyone welcome. —Confessional booth, now
that
was sinful. Possibly illegal if we’d been in Vatican City.” She shrugged, then flagged down the waitress.

Troy and I exchanged a look.

“What's everyone drinking? First round’s on me.”

“Nothing for me,” I said.

She gave me a withering look.

“Fine, I'll have a virgin margarita.”

“Come
on
, you're off duty Dultry.” Then she proceeded to order three beers, and a
double
margarita for me.

When the waitress left, she frowned at me. “What is it with you and virginity?”

I cringed, as Troy hid his flirtatious grin from the pair of camp interns who passed by.

Great. Prying eyes.
We’d have to be on our best behavior anyway once Steve got here.

Kenzie grabbed a handful of warm tortilla chips from the basket on our table. “What is it with both of you?” she said around crunching. “My first boyfriend and I broke two beds before we hit the two week mark. What’s it been for you guys, 20 weeks?”

“Six.” We said it in unison. I bit back my smile as Kenzie rolled her eyes.

“My point exactly. You know, if a meteor hits Camp Wanderlust tonight, you'll wish you'd listened to me. Cautionary tale my friends.”

My mouth fell open slightly as I shook my head. Troy just laughed. But before Kenzie could force us to explain our dismal lack of carnal destruction, she jumped up and dove into the arms of a guy I’d seen her hanging out with a lot lately. She dragged him to our table and forced him to sit.

Troy’s hand slipped away from my thigh.

“Everyone, this is Steve. Steve Caldwell.”

I nodded my hello, and he winked at me.

“Hey everyone,” he said with a wide grin, although I noticed he didn’t make eye contact with Troy.

I wagged my brows at Kenzie, as she curled in next to him on her stool. Before long it was like they’d forgotten we were even there.

I stared at the flickering votives for a while, then turned toward Troy.

“She has a point,” I said, quietly.

“I don't know,” Troy wrinkled his nose at me, “not much celestial activity lately.” He teased.

“Not about the meteor. About us.”

“You think she's right?” he murmured, all teasing gone from his voice.

“I know she's right. I don't want to wait.”

His eyes were still locked on mine. “Because Kenzie thinks we shouldn't?”

“Because when you know what you want, you generally want it right away.”

He smiled a little then leaned his lips next to my ear. “So are you coming over Friday night?” he whispered.

“Depends—will there be s’mores?”

With a deep laugh, his fingers lifted my hair back over my shoulder. “Whatever your heart desires.”

“I’ll hold you to that. But, I can’t Friday, Kenzie’s theater group bonfire, remember?”

His gaze flicked to Kenzie who had her head on Steve’s shoulder. I noticed the way Troy’s shoulders squared as he watched them.

“Okay, what is that about?” I whispered shifting to face him. “You’ve been giving that Steve guy the stink-eye since he got here. You two have personal history or something? Beyond the dismissal?”

“Sort of,” he said, but then he pulled his gaze away from them, and placed his full attention back on me. “Not important. I was in the midst of trying to persuade you to spent time with me Friday.”

I made a soft kissy noise next to his ear. “Saturday night. I have to play chaperon Friday. Your rules, remember.”

I leaned away from him as a few more staff walked past us. On the school grounds, our dining hall was restricted to staff only, so we had some kid-free time to ourselves during the day. Every so often one or two came through for some reason or another. But Troy always seemed less concerned about the students finding out about us, than the staff, until tonight. Or at least that’s how it seemed considering he’d had his hand resting on my thigh under the table, until Steve joined us.

"Hey,” Kenzie piped up, “here's to an excellent summer." She lifted her glass in a toast, but then abandoned it when the song changed. She twirled off dragging Steve to dance as the music pumped out a heavy base.

I tugged off the thin sweater I'd worn over Kenzie’s low-cut sundress. Troy's eyes slid over me appreciatively and he lowered the glass from his lips without taking a sip. "Nice dress."

"You like?"

"Oh I like."

"So," I scooted closer to him. "What exactly were you planning Friday night?"

Without checking if anyone was watching, his hand skimmed my bare arm. "You'll have to be patient," he said, kissing my shoulder, "but I promise," —another kiss on my cheek, "it's something," —a kiss on my nose "that you’ll like."

My thighs quivered. Emboldened by his boldness, I curled my fingers in his shirt and pulled his lips to mine.

By the time Kenzie and Steve returned to the table, we were back to being friendly coworkers.

We crowded around the round table, nibbling on munchies, talking mindless work stuff and waiting for the waitress to return to order another round of drinks. Kenzie and Steve sitting nearly on top of each other, while Troy and I kept a professional distance between us. We were there as friends, so we had to look the part.

“I need another drink.” Kenzie announced, fed up with waiting. “Anyone else?”

“Me too gorgeous.” Steve chimed in. He pointed at Troy and then me. “How bout you bossman? Bossman’s friend?”

Troy shook his head stiffly.

“I’m good thanks,” I said lifting the same margarita glass I’d been sipping all evening.

Kenzie headed for the bar, while Troy went to talk with some people he knew. That left Steve and I alone. He must have had a few drinks before he arrived, it was obvious by the glazed look in his eyes as he ogled me.

“Soooo Nora,” he slid his stool closer to mine, “I heard you were single, and looking to get some,” he leered, letting his gaze linger on the low neckline of my dress.

I straightened in my seat. “Really.” I glared at him. “Where did you hear that?”

“Everywhere. That's why you're seeing that counselor chic right? Cause you can't get your engine started."

Rude
. I was starting to think Troy was right about his intentions. Clearly he couldn’t be trusted.

He leaned forward and I could smell the stench of beer all over his breath. "I can fix you.” His brows wagged. “My couch is really big, and rock hard. Bigger than Bellisaro’s." He draped his arm across my shoulders and tried to pull me in for a kiss.

I wrenched my arm free in time to smack his face away from mine. “Don’t be such an ass.” I shouted.

He actually looked stunned—but not as stunned as he did when Troy yanked him out of his seat with one hand.

I jumped up, startled by his hostility.

“What did you just say to her?” Troy snarled.

Steve staggered forward. “What man, it’s not like she’s your property or anything. You just own the school, not everyone in it.”

Troy shoved him back toward the table with one hard push. Steve’s body crashed into it, sending drinks and beer bottles flying to the ground. Glass shattered, spitting alcohol everywhere.

“What the hell man?” That's when he looked at Troy then over at me, and he seemed to piece together who he was tangling with and why. He lifted his hands in surrender. “Hey man, I was just screwin around. Didn’t mean a thing.”

Troy’s voice was low, and cold. “Here's what going to happen. You're going to apologize to Nora, and then you're going to get the hell out of here. Understood.”

“Yeah man, whatever. Take your best shot with her, rumor has it she's frigid anyway.”

That was the last thing I heard before the resounding crack of Troy's fist colliding with Steve’s mouth.