helped me out tonight. Youâre great at what you do.â
âThanks. I had a pretty good sidekick with me.â
The chain-link gate to the pool squeaked. He turned to see Beth walking toward them.
Cassie pulled her legs out of the water and stood, stretching her arms above her head. âIâm exhausted. Itâs time to get some rest.â
Cassie looked beautiful with the blue moonlight on her face and her defenses down. Will swallowed hard, trying to extinguish the spark he felt. His last girlfriend called it quits because of his commitment to his business. Experience told Will that acting on his interest in Cassie would lead to heartache for both of them. If he decided to please his dad and pursue purchasing the camp, feelings for Cassie would only make things more complicated.
Five
Cassie held her hand to her nose as she stepped into cabin fourteen. The overwhelming smell of mildew made her empty stomach churn. She had skipped breakfast to get an early start. The small cabin hadnât been used all season because it was in desperate need of repair. She had run the numbers on hiring someone to do the work, but as usual the camp couldnât afford it.
She slid on her work gloves and pulled back the corner of orange carpet, revealing a dusty pad underneath. She groaned as she rolled the heavy mass to the middle of the room.
âSorry to interrupt, but it looks like you could use some help,â a deep voice said.
She looked up to see Will standing in the open doorway. Clean-shaven and bright-eyed, he didnât look like he had been up half the night.
Cassie pushed a strand of hair off her face with the back of her gloved hand. âThatâs nice of you, but you have other commitments right now as a counselor.â
âActually, I wasnât talking about me.â He stepped inside the door and revealed the four offenders from the night before who stood on the front porch. âTheir youth pastors had conversations with them about their poor choices and told me you have some volunteers to help out this morning.â
Cassie couldnât deny that it was a good plan. She dug in her toolbox for gloves. âI could use a couple of extra sets of hands in here. We could use a couple of people in the kitchen, too.â
âAwesome,â Whitney said. âI thought I was going to have to work in here.â
Cassie tossed her a pair of the gloves. âThe guys can help Beth in the kitchen. She always needs vegetables chopped and trays served. The girls can work with me today.â
âAh, man,â Cooper said. âWe really have to work in the kitchen?â
Will winked at Cassie. âYou heard her, guys. Letâs go.â
âThis stinks,â Seth said.
âI know. I know. Sheâs tough.â Will pointed at the two girls. âWeâll see you back with the group later.â
The girls with their polished nails and cute clothes joined Cassie in the middle of the room. âWhoâs going to get this gross carpet out of here?â Marcy asked.
âI had been wondering that myself until you two showed up,â Cassie said.
Whitney used an elastic band around her wrist to pull her hair into a ponytail, leaving a big loop of hair on the back of her head. âAre you serious? This will take us all day.â
Cassie didnât answer. Instead she pointed the girls to a corner of the carpet. They stared at her like she was going to tell them it was all a big joke and they were really going out for pedicures and facials.
âWeâre going to gut this cabin,â Cassie said to blank stares. âThe three of us, together. Now grab the end of the carpet.â
The girls looked at each other. Their feet stayed glued to the ground. Whitney put her hands on her hips. âI threw my elbow out in tennis this season. I donât think my coach would want me to hurt it again.â
Marcy nodded. âAnd Iâve been having some