“Honestly, I haven’t given it much thought. It was their ideafor you to stay in my home for the summer. But the way they insisted we stay in the city so long makes me think they suspect something. Either that, or they’re just happy to have a break from me.” He shrugs.
A huff escapes me. “I doubt they want a break from you.”
“Why do you say that?”
Because who would want a break from you?I think to myself. “Because you’re the backbone of this camp and they know that,” I say instead.
He breaks into a genuine smile, his dimples framing his mustache in a way that makes me want to launch myself at him. He’s so damn pretty.
After setting my mug on the nightstand, I toss back the sheets, ready to start the day.
He hovers at the end of the bed, his eyes trailing down my silk pajamas.
I clear my throat and give him a pointed look. “I should probably start packing. Thanks for doing my laundry—again. You really don’t have to keep doing that, by the way.”
“It’s not a problem.” With a shrug, he says, “Plus, it’s more efficient and better for the environment when I’m already doing ours. How’s the saying go? ‘Save water, do laundry with a friend’?” He winks.
“Something like that.” I stand and stretch, relishing the pull of my muscles. “I appreciate it. Laundry is my least favorite chore. I’d much rather clean bathrooms.” Sorting through the clothes on my bed, I untangle a triangle bikini top from a thong. “Ugh, not again.” I groan.
“What?”
“The dryer keeps eating the padded inserts of my bathing suit tops. You haven’t seen them, have you?”
“Hmm? Oh, uh. Nope. Can’t say that I have. That’s so… strange. I hate when that happens. Dumb dryers.” Asher backs up, refusing eye contact. “Anyway,” he says from the doorway, pointing at me with his index fingers, “I’ll leave you to it.”
Brushing off his weird reply and finger guns, I tell him I’ll be ready to leave in forty-five minutes.
An hour and a half later, when I’m finally dressed and packed, Bea is outside, running over Asher’s foot with her jeep. He keeps his cool when dusting the dirt from his crisp white shoe.
It’s fairly overcast this morning and there’s a slight chill in the air, so I threw on a sweatshirt, but I’ll be stripping out of it as soon as we arrive in the city, I’m sure.
Natalie startles me when she rises from the porch swing. I was too preoccupied with the view to even notice her. With her cup of coffee in hand, she bumps her shoulder lightly against mine. “You make sure that man has a fun time this weekend.”
“Oh, I’m sure he will.” I chuckle. “His sister is the life of the party. It’s impossible not to have fun around her.”
Turning to face me, she holds my gaze, and with her voice barely above a whisper, she says, “That’s not what I meant. I like you, Claire.” Her words are even and take me by surprise. “You’re incredible with my granddaughter, and she thinks highly of you.”
My cheeks heat, despite the cool temperature. “I think highly of her too. She’s a pretty awesome kid.”
“That she is. But that man over there,” she points to Asher, who is pretending to write Bea a speeding ticket, “has a hard time letting people in. Be patient with him.”
She pats my shoulder, then walks into the cabin before I’ve processed her words.
“Look, Claire,” Bea yells, holding her father’s hand in the air.
I stride their way, quickly noting what she’s showing me. Mint green polish on Asher’s fingernails. “When did you have timefor this?”
“While you were packing,” he says with a wicked look. “I knew you wouldn’t be ready inforty-five minutes.”
I stick my tongue out at him.
“Hey! That’s not nice,” Bea reprimands.
“You’re right, Dolly.” I boop her on the nose. “I’m sorry. I was just teasing, though.” I wink at her dad.
After we give Bea multiple hugs, she scurries inside, where Natalie is waiting.
Once we’re off the property, I turn to Asher. “Does she know Millie and Ezra are getting married?”
