Shan clearly felt just as awkward about the situation. She hadn’t realized just how accustomed she’d become to his whole I’m-secretly-obsessed-with-you act. Now, he seemed to be doing his best to quell the rising gossip. He couldn’t exactly keep his distance from her, but he waspainfullypolite.
Which was a problem, because if he kept that up, the kids were soon going to figure out they weren’t really mates. It was better to endure a bit of teasing from the rest of the staff than blow their entire cover story.
And theyhadalmost kissed.
Leonie had to wait until mid-afternoon for a chance to speak with him alone. This was not assisted by Shan himself, who seemed determined to avoid being within twenty feet of her without at least eight chaperones. She finally had to ‘accidentally’ forget to pick up the evening duty roster in order to drag him into the office for a private chat.
If she was honest, she’d harbored a glimmer of hope that he might fall upon her like a starving beast the moment she closed the door. This, alas, did not happen. Shan looked more like a rabbit locked in a room with a hungry lion.
Oh, no. This conversation was already not off to a good start.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself. “Shan, about last night?—”
“I am sorry,” he said before she could even finish the sentence. He stood stiffly, gloved hands behind his back, hidden gaze fixed somewhere over her left shoulder. “It will not happen again.”
That wasreallynot where she’d hoped this conversation would go.
“What if I want it to happen?” she asked.
Shan’s biceps flexed, as if he was clenching his fists. “It would be better if you did not.”
“Why? We’re both grown adults, and I’m not actually your boss.” Summoning all her courage, she moved closer. “Look, I know there can’t be anything serious between us. I’m not asking for that. But why shouldn’t we enjoy a temporary summer fling, if that’s what we both want?”
He took a step back. “Because I do not.”
His voice was harsh; almost brutal. It hit her like a wall, stopping her in her tracks. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe, let alone reply.
“I am sorry,” Shan said, more gently. He sounded genuinely regretful. “I did not realize until last night that you had developed these feelings. If I had, I would have discouraged them earlier.”
“No,” she said, throat tight. “No, I’m the one who should apologize. I’m sorry for making things awkward. And you don’t have to keep pretending in front of the kids.”
Shan shook his head. “We cannot risk them learning the truth. Not now. Best if we carry on as we were.”
There was nothing she wanted less…but he was right. Most of the campers still had no idea there really was some truth to the stories of the camp ghost. Even Rufus didn’t know the full extent of what they’d uncovered. With an unknown person potentially still lurking near the camp, they couldn’t have curious campers sneaking out to poke around the woods.
“Okay. If you’re sure.” She turned away, pretending to look for something on her clipboard. “Don’t worry. I won’t let myself get confused between what’s real and what isn’t. You’d better get back to the kids. I’ll…I’ll be along in a minute.”
Shan hesitated for a moment, as though he wanted to say something else. Then he nodded and left.
Alone, Leonie slumped against Zephyr’s desk. She looked down at her clipboard, which now showed her timetable. According to the schedule, she was supposed to be helping the kids toast s’mores at the campfire tonight. With Shan.
Ten minutes ago, she would have been looking forward to it.
I dare you to do something for yourself.
“Screw it,” she muttered, and drew a line through her name.
She scanned the rest of the duty roster, checking who else was free that evening. Satisfied, she tucked her clipboard under her arm. Rather than rejoin her own pack, she headed for the lake.
“Leonie?” Moira looked rather startled by her unscheduled appearance. “Is something wrong?”
“Nope,” she said brightly, thankful that none of her friends shared Shan’s ability. “Hey, you want to go out tonight?”
“So,” Honey said, over the third round of cocktails (in Paige’s case, non-alcoholic). “Are we going to talk about it?”
Leonie stabbed her fork into her steak. “Talk about what?”
“The reason you suddenly decided we should all go out tonight,” Moira said. For once, she was without her ever-present bodyguard, Ragvald having agreed—in an unusual display of tact—to stay back at camp. “And why you’re mauling that poor defenseless hunk of beef.”
