Read New Point for Free Online Page B

like her satiny skin has its own magnetic pull, and I’m unable to resist her.
    Shaking my head in a feeble attempt to clear Zoe from my mind, I push my way through the Blue in Green employee entrance. I holler a greeting to the kitchen staff over the sizzle of cooking meat and the clank of pots and pans.
    “Hey,” I greet Jake when I enter the office we share. The bar manager jerks his head and lets out a grunt acknowledging my presence as he fumbles through the staff scheduling computer program. “Laptop talking back again?” I joke.
    Jake glares at me over the top of silver shell. “What’s with the self-satisfied smirk? You just get laid or something?”
    Laughing lightly, I drop into my chair. I kick my legs up on the desk, crossing them at my ankles. “I’ve got a date with Zoe on Saturday.”
    “The infamous neighbor Zoe,” he mocks good-naturedly, scheduling troubles forgotten. “How much did you have to pay her to say yes?”
    “Shut up,” I toss back easily. No barbs from my friend will piss me off today. I’m not smirking; no, I’m fucking grinning at the thought of spending more time with Zoe.
    “Find out why she moved here?” Jake asks casually, though he’s already diving back into his work.
    “Not yet,” I murmur more to myself than him. I can sense there’s more than a simple desire to live in a small town that brought Zoe to New Point. If it wasn’t the general aura of mystery that surrounds her, the way her eyes flashed with a touch of anxiety earlier today was her tell.
    There’s more to Zoe than the latest nail polish colors and getting the best summer tan Michigan sun has to offer. Compared to the other girls I’ve dated and known in this town, it’s a breath of brilliantly fresh air. I’m not ready to settle down with the white picket fence, but I can’t deny that seeing Zoe surrounded by children, face lit up in pleasure, doesn’t pull at my heartstrings. Patient, nurturing, and intelligent with luscious pink lips…yeah that’s the kind of woman I’m interested in spending more time with.
    Zoe Baker’s sweet smile has me hooked, and her secrets leave me intrigued. There’s nothing holding me back from spending more time with my enthralling neighbor.

W ork and avoiding a phone call to Dr. Wilson can only provide so many distractions to thinking about my date with Miles. By the time Thursday rolls around, I’m antsy. Will Miles bring Duke to camp again? I want to see him again before our date, see if I wasn’t dreaming him.
    I wouldn’t allow myself to walk past his house for a closer investigation –that would have been stalker caliber– but my eyes did occasionally wander to his area of the beach when I sat on my deck, doing my nightly nature appreciation homework from Dr. Greene.
    Now I’m on the back patio of the library, waiting for my campers to arrive. A collage project will take up the first half of our session, so I’ve laid out art supplies on two picnic tables.
    “Miss Zoe, Miss Zoe!” I glance up just time to catch a running Duke, who flings himself at me. Laughing, I collect him into a hug. His small arms snap around my waist, clutching me tightly. I struggle not to close my eyes and soak up the feeling.
    “Duke, honey, don’t overwhelm Miss Zoe.” Even though she reprimands him, harried affection rings in her tone.
    He clings to my hip even though I release him. “Just Zoe,” I tell the dark-haired woman who’s watching me with a critical eye. It’s plain as the white dress I’m wearing that she’s related to Miles. Her dark brown hair has the same wave, and she has eyes that sparkle playfully. “You must be Duke’s mom?”
    “Yes. Etta.” Her intense perusal melts away into a friendly grin, and she takes my hand in a hearty shake above her son’s head. “I’ve heard so much about you,” she says mysteriously. Before I can think to wonder if she means from Miles, her son pipes in.
    “I told her this was the best summer camp ever!