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little boat.”
    She laughed, stirring the air against his ear. “I’m not a big fan of excitement, but I probably shouldn’t tell you that.”
    No. No, she shouldn’t tell him that, because Max felt himself leaning toward her, an unwilling shift of his muscles. She didn’t like adventure. Despite that welcome news, he wasn’t going to kiss her, not in front of his brother and her friend, but his body wanted closer to that oasis of calm.
    Her eyes sparkled again. She glanced down, her gaze touching his lips. Firelight danced over the soft skin of her cheek, as if it were mocking him, touching her where Max couldn’t.
    Aw, damn. In public or not, he was about to kiss her. And he was already too involved, inserting himself into her life for no good reason at all.
    No. He wouldn’t do it. One dive trip, and then he’d cut the unwelcome threads he’d already tied between them.
    Max grabbed the bag of marshmallows as if thathad been his goal all along. “Honestly,” he said, popping a sugary puff into his mouth. “I’m a pretty boring guy.”
    Her eyes flashed suspicion. She didn’t think he was telling the truth, but for once in his life, he was.
    Â 
    J ENN WATCHED E LLIOTT S ULLIVAN’S EYES as he spoke about his work. He dismissed it as boring, something she wouldn’t want to hear about, but she found it fascinating. He’d done an internship at the CDC labs in Atlanta during college, and he’d gone to work as one of their scientists as soon as he’d graduated from medical school. Just that would have widened Jenn’s eyes with amazement, but he hadn’t stopped there.
    After working for five years on studying flu vaccines and antiviral drugs, Elliott had moved up to the D.C. offices to work with the CDC branch of Health and Human Services, preparing for and fighting global outbreaks of the disease. He was like a modern-day superhero, working every day to save lives.
    He paused as if he’d finished a point, and Jenn realized she’d been too busy staring to hear what he’d said. A blush rose up her face. He was waiting for an answer and she didn’t know what to say.
    Elliott’s face fell. “But enough of that—”
    â€œYou’re amazing,” she blurted out. “I mean…what you do? That’s amazing.”
    â€œI…” He shifted, taking his glasses off and putting them back on. “It’s just a lot of paperwork.”
    â€œBut it’s…” She wouldn’t tell him it was like being a superhero. That would be ridiculous and geeky and all the things she normally was with a man. And she didn’t want to be ridiculous with Elliott. He was serious and smart. Jenn took a deep breath to calm her nerves. “What you do is so important.”
    â€œAh, well. So is maintaining the sewer system.”
    He said it like it was a joke he’d heard before, but Jenn laughed in shock. “What?”
    â€œActually the sewer workers are more important. If cholera made a comeback, no one would be worried about the flu.”
    â€œYou’re hilarious!”
    â€œReally?” he asked, then shook his head. “I’m thinking you don’t get out much.”
    â€œThat’s true,” Jenn agreed, “but you’re still funny.”
    It was impossible to tell if he was blushing. The firelight bathed them all in warm yellows and golds. But he did look embarrassed as he leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the armrest.
    Jenn’s heart pattered in her chest. He was out of her league, of course. A successful scientist. A serious man with an important job who happened tobe cute, too. She had a sudden urge to ask if he was married. He wasn’t wearing a ring, but sometimes that meant nothing. She couldn’t just ask, though. That question was loaded with all sorts of hints and suggestions.
    Now she didn’t know what to say, and