of trees. It’s a pretty big lake. I have no intention of getting in the water with the campers. Jake can do it. I’ll get them in line and ready, but I’m not stepping foot into that water. When the trees start to dwindle down, I see Jake standing on the dock. His back is toward me, but I know it’s him.
Then an arm snakes around his waist. What. The. Fuck . My stomach feels like it’s falling from my body. A small girl with, from what I can tell, a huge rack is staring up at him. He runs his fingers through her hair . Fucking bastard.
Anger isn’t even the fucking word. Did he not come beg me to be with him last night? Had we not come to the conclusion we were going to give it some time and then try again? I guess this is his way of giving it some time. Fucking other girls.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I push toward them. My legs are shaking but I march forward anyway. They don’t see me until I’m standing on the dock with them. Jake drops his hand and then girl pouts up at him.
“Aubrey, baby …what’s going on? You’re early.” He looks at his watch and gives me a small fake laugh.
“So are you. I’m getting the canoes ready. I think you should stay here and try to soften her up so you can fuck. That’s what you’re good at, right?”
Jake’s jaw drops from his mouth. “Baby—”
“Save it. Then shove it up your ass later when you realize that you’re the biggest fuckup known to mankind.” I curtsy toward the wide-eyed , big-racked counselor. “Excuse me,” I say.
The breath I take releases a ton of pressure off of my chest. What an asshole. I get to the dock on the other side of the lake without even glancing at the water. When I turn I see Jake halfway across the lake, walking toward me.
“Stop. Turn your ass around and go fondle the girl over there. I’m not in the damn mood. Fuck off.”
Jake stops, shoves his hands in his jeans pocket and turns back toward the other dock.
Thank God.
I talk underneath my breath as I try to get myself together. I’m reaching out to grab the rope that ties the canoes to the dock, when I hear a deep laugh. It sounds like caramel drizzling down a poisoned apple. Deadly delicious. I turn on my heel. Tanner is sitting off to the side of the dock, fishing pole in hand. Holy fuck . He’s out of his camp uniform. A red plaid shirt, unbuttoned, is hanging loose on him. Christ, he doesn’t have an undershirt. And those holey jeans are so…God, they’re so hot.
“I can take my shirt all the way off if ya want me to, darlin’.”
All the blood in my body rushes toward my cheeks. “That full of yourself, are we?”
He cast s his line back out, and lifts an eyebrow. “No. I just happen to know when a hot girl is checking me out. It’s kind of like a gaydar . But for women.”
I’m sure I’m as red as a tomato. “Why aren’t you with your group?”
He cracks h is neck and pulls his pole in. “I have a free morning. I don’t have any activities until tonight.”
Oh. Biting my lip, I turn and start to reel in the canoes. My fingers are trembling being so close to the water, but I keep my eyes locked on the ropes.
“You need some help with those?”
“No,” I pull, trying to make it look easy. “I got it.”
A throaty laugh floats from behind me, closer than I had imagined. “Move over, I’ll help.”
“I got it,” I snap.
A low grumble sounds from his lips, and he scoots me out of the way. I turn around, and my breath catches in my chest. Tanner is close, too close. His tanned chest is glistening from sweat in the morning sun. “I want to help,” he whispers.
“I don’t need it,” I say, still focused on the hard pla nes of his abs. My mind urges me to reach out and touch, but I don’t dare move. “Is this a southern thing? You try to be all macho and stuff? It’s annoying.” I snap out of it, crossing