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my arms over my chest.
       The blue specks in Tanner’s eyes are vibrant against the gray. “It’s called being a gentlem an. Obviously you aren’t accustomed to that.”
       “And how in the hell would you know what I’m accustomed to? You just met me two days ago.”
       “Good to know you’re countin’.” He winks.
       Grinding my teeth, I try to snatch the rope , but he retracts his hands. “I’m helpin’ out a lady in need. Obviously”—his eyes dart toward Jake—“you’re not used to it. That guy is flirting with another girl in front of you. He’s fuckin’ trash, Aubrey.”
       Aubrey. God, I’ve never heard my name sound so…sexy. No sane girl could turn a cheek to that. I’m sure that deep southern drawl will drop any pair of panties, which is probably what he’s trying to do now. Not. Going. To. Happen.
       “Thanks for the help and advice but I can handle myself.”
       “ I’ll say. That was sure some language comin’ out of that pretty little mouth of yours. Good girl. Don’t take any shit from anyone.”
       “Well, in that case,” I say, snatching the end of the rope. He pulls his end back, so I yank as hard as I can. I know this is stupid. I’m twenty-two years old. Damn it, give me the rope!
       Tanner jerks back , and I go flying forward, knocking him on his ass. My elbows hit the ground on each side of his head, then my face smacks right into his.
       I look down at Tanne r, gasping for breath. A huge smile is crawling up his face. It’s breath-taking. I’ve yet to see him smile—well, really smile—and I think I just melted on the inside. My panties are soaking wet. Can I even move if I wanted to? His white teeth are shining, straight besides a small turn of the fourth one from the right. What. The. Hell. I’m staring at his mouth, which draws attention to his lips. Holy Hell his lips.
       Embarrassment floods to my cheeks. “You can get up anytime now, darlin’. Unless you want to stay like this. I won’t object.”
       Pressing my lips together, I push myself up. My body is still shaking from the closeness , from the heat of his body. It felt so…safe.
       “Now,” he says, dusting off his jeans. “We both know you can take care of yourself. Can I please finish brining in the canoes for you?”
       Licking my lips, I nod. “ Fine.”
       I watch as Tanner pull s each canoe onto the shore. He’s lost his shirt, and the muscles in his back are thick, long and tanned. I want to run my tongue over every square inch of his body. And for some reason I don’t think he would tell me to stop.
       Tanner pulls the last canoe up to the bank, and he wipes his forehead with the back of his hand. Turning, he smiles over at me. “Need anything else?”
       I shake my head. “No, but thank you.”
       He tries not to smile. “It’s no problem. If you ever need help you know where to find me.” He points toward a bucket he was fishing off of.
       “You’re not leaving?”
       He sits down and picks up his pole. “Why not?”
       Because it’s going to make me nervous as hell . Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, I shrug. “Just asking. Thanks again.”
       I make my way back to the other dock where the kids are lining up. Jake’s whore isn’t here anymore, which I’m not complaining about. He’s checking the names off the clipboard when I walk up. Stopping, he glances down at me. “We need to talk.”
       “We need to work. Is everyone here?”
       He nods. “We’re ready when you are.”
       I clasp my hands together. “Okay, campers. Follow Jake. You guys are going to do a few laps around the lake.”
    ***
       “So, how did canoeing go today?” Cassie asks, slipping out of her camp uniform and into some jeans and a T-shirt.
       I let out an exasperated sigh. “God-awful. First I see Jake and some girl rubbing on each other and cuss them out. Then Tanner sees the entire thing, and I fall on him