Praise for Kate Hoffmann from RT Book Reviews

“Hoffmann’s deeply felt, emotional story is riveting. It’s impossible to put down.”

—on The Charmer

“Fully developed characters and perfect pacing make this story feel completely right.”

—on Your Bed or Mine?

“Sexy and wildly romantic.”

—on Doing Ireland!

“A very hot story mixes with great characters to make every page a delight.”

—on The Mighty Quinns: Ian

“Romantic, sexy and heartwarming.”

—on Who Needs Mistletoe?

“Sexy, heartwarming and romantic … a story to settle down with and enjoy—and then re-read.”

—on The Mighty Quinns: Teague

Dear Reader,

When my editor asked me to write a book for the WRONG BED series, I wanted to find a new and unique setting. I needed a bed and a way to get my hero and heroine into it, but beyond that I knew I wanted to set it in the north woods of Wisconsin. But where? A resort? A luxurious vacation home? A rustic cabin in the woods? Been there, done that!

A comment from my editor brought back a memory of a summer camp I attended when I was in third grade. Even now, I recall the excitement of getting on the bus and traveling to this wonderful place where we had the whole day set aside for fun. I was all about weaving and leatherwork, but it wasn’t hard to see what the older girls liked about camp—boys.

Sometimes ideas for a romance novel can come from the tiniest sliver of a memory. I enjoyed going back to summer camp while writing this book and I hope it brings back some memories for you too.

All the best,

Kate Hoffmann

About the Author

KATE HOFFMANN began writing in 1993. Since then she’s published sixty-five books. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys music, theatre and musical theatre. She is active working with school students in the performing arts. She lives in southeastern Wisconsin with her cat, Chloe.

Not Just Friends

Kate Hoffmann

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Brenda, my editor, who is always patient and insightful and

the best person I could ever have in

my corner. I couldn’t do it without you!

1

This is page one in my camp jernal. I am ten years old and this is my first summer at camp. I got this book from Gina, my camp consiler, who is really cool and says we should write down what we think. I think there are lots of kids at camp and I hope I make new friends. My cabin is Woodchuck. I sleep in the top bunk. But what if I don’t make any friends?

THE WARM BREEZE filled the car with the scent of pine woods and inland lakes. Julia McKee drew a deep breath through her nose and smiled as a familiar excitement began to grow inside her. Even after all these years, it was still there, that mix of nervousness and elation that came in the last miles to Camp Winnehawkee.

She remembered the exact moment her mother had handed her the camp brochure. It had been the summer after her parents’ divorce and Lorraine McKee had been unable to cope with the stress of raising her five children. So she’d decided to spend the summer with friends in California.

Julia’s four older brothers had been shipped off to sports camps and Julia was put on a charter bus bound for the northwoods of Wisconsin, the brochure clutched in her sweaty hand. She’d read the cover so many times she could recite it by heart. She’d been just ten years old and terrified of what the summer would hold. Friendships for a lifetime? What did that mean?

She really didn’t have many friends at home. Julia spent most of her time hiding out in her room, avoiding the incessant bullying of her rowdy brothers. And at school, she preferred reading to socializing, earning her the nickname “Bookworm.”

Julia squinted against the oncoming headlights of a car, then glanced over at the clock on the dashboard of her Subaru wagon. A late start and a traffic jam in Chicago had left her two hours behind schedule. At this rate, she would arrive at Winnehawkee just before midnight.

She reached over and picked up her cell phone from the passenger seat, then dialed the number for Kate Carmichael Gray, her very best friend from all her years at camp. They’d been cabin mates that first year, along with Frannie Dillon. Over the following eleven summers, they’d formed a lifelong friendship that had survived another seven years apart.

Kate had married another counselor, Mason Gray, and they’d both lived in Madison before moving to northern Wisconsin when they bought the camp. Mason was a high school history teacher and Kate, a social worker.

Kate’s voicemail picked up and Julia sighed. “Hey, Kate. Hey, Mason. I’m still about an hour away. I know it’s late and you guys have probably been working hard all day long s go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll find a bunk in one of the cabins. I think I remember how to rough it. Talk to you soon.”

She hung up the phone, then wondered if she ought to try calling Frannie. She was supposed to arrive earlier that day with another old camp friend, Ben Cassidy. They both lived in Minneapolis now and had jumped at the chance to help out Kate and Mason.

“We’re for you, Camp Winnehawkee, friends forever more,” she sang softly. “Every summer we’re together, makes us love you more.”

She’d graduated from camper to counselor the summer after her senior year in high school, and throughout college she’d returned to the camp each summer as the arts and crafts teacher and advisor for the Woodchuck cabin of twelve- and thirteen-year-old girls.

The camp had been the closest thing she’d had to a stable family. Her brothers had never wanted anything to do with her and she’d rarely seen her father after the divorce, except when he was required to take her for her birthday weekend. And her mother had lost all interest in raising a daughter once she’d begun to date again.

Over the last few years, she’d often thought about the camp. She’d kept in touch with both Kate and Frannie. They’d called on birthdays and holidays and got together once a year for a girls’ weekend. But now they were reuniting to bring the camp back to life.

Winnehawkee had closed six years ago. The previous owners had retired to Florida and left the camp abandoned. Rather than sell to developers, they’d insisted that the new buyers reopen the camp. In fact, they’d even written it into the sales agreement. But there were no takers, until Mason and Kate had decided to use the money they’d saved for a house to make a down payment on a little corner of their childhood.

“Though the miles may come between us, we’ll never be afraid. For in our hearts, dear Winnehawkee, the friendships never fade.”

The camp was reserved in late July for a youth church retreat, but before Mason and Kate could open the gates, they needed to secure another bank loan or find some investors who’d be willing to pay for some of the major improvements. So they’d called on old camp friends to make the trip north, hoping that friendship, nostalgia and a little bit of curiosity would provide them with a workforce ready to make the camp habitable again.

Her cell phone rang and she picked it up.

“Win—ne—who?” Kate’s voice called from the other end of the line.

“Win—ne—hawkee!” Julia replied, remembering the little cheer they did after morning meetings.

“Who are you?” they chanted together. “Winnehawkee Winne-who? Winnehawkee. Are you true? Winnehawkee. We’re true blue. Winnehawkee, Winnehawkee, whoo!”

“I’m sorry I missed your call. I was just getting Derek and Steven set up in a cabin.”

“Derek and Steven are there?” Julia asked.

“Yes.” Kate lowered her voice. “And they’re now a couple.”

“Derek and Steven?”

“Umm-hmm. They own a construction firm in Green Bay and they brought a lot of tools, a trailer full of building supplies and two cases of very expensive wine.”

“Who else is there?” Julia held her breath. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear his name. Adam Sutherland. There, she’d said it—or thought it. Adam Sutherland. The memories came flooding back and she felt like her heart was about to burst into a million pieces. She knew he and Mason were still friends. There was always a chance.

“Just them,” Kate said. “There’ll be more coming tomorrow. And I think Frannie and Ben might arrive in the morning. I made up Woodchuck for you and Frannie. I knew you’d want to be close to the bathrooms.”

“Old Woodchuck,” she said. “I wonder if—” Julia cleared her throat, brushing the memory aside. “Well, I’ll see you in the morning then. Go to bed and get a good night’s sleep. I hope you have your tennis racquet, because we have to play this week.”

“I haven’t played in years, and we haven’t put up the new nets yet, but I’m ready,” Kate said. “By the way, I’m counting on you to do some baking for us. I can’t be responsible for feeding eight people all week long.”

“I have pies in the back of my car. And pastries and croissants for breakfast tomorrow morning. I even made a little Winnehawkee cake for dinner tomorrow night. It looks just like the lodge.”

“That’s perfect! We have a wonderful dinner planned for tomorrow night,” Kate said. “Not the usual hot dogs and baked beans.”

“Good,” Julia said. “I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

“Night, Jules. And thanks so much for helping out with this. Mason and I really appreciate it.”

Julia hung up the phone and stared out at the road ahead of her. Eight people. Kate and Mason, Frannie and Ben, Steve and Derek and her. Who was the eighth? Could it be him?

She’d met Adam Sutherland her third summer at camp. Even as a twelve-year-old, he’d been every tween’s dream. With his dark hair and pale blue eyes and his devastating smile, every girl at camp had fallen in love with him at first sight. But for Julia, it had been just the start of a decade-long romance, entirely unrequited and yet as real as any she’d ever experienced.

She’d seen him once since leaving camp eight years ago. He’d been strolling down Michigan Avenue right before Christmas with a beautiful woman on his arm. She knew he worked in finance at his father’s venture capital company in downtown Chicago. She’d looked him up on Google a number of times over the years, piecing together a fairly comprehensive biography. She’d even found a few photos that had been taken at charity events around town.

Though the infatuation had faded long ago, the curiosity was still there. And when her dating life seemed to be at its lowest point, she’d wonder what it might have been like if she’d been able to attract the attention of a guy like Adam.

As a teenager, she’d put all her thoughts about him in her camp journal which she’d hidden beneath a loose floorboard in Woodchuck cabin. She remembered the day she began the journal at age ten and then the day she left camp for the last time, the journal still in its hiding place. She’d walked away from Winnehawkee determined to forget the journal and Adam Sutherland. She thought by leaving the record of her adolescent angst behind, she’d finally have the closure she so desperately needed.

But even now, after all these years, she thought of Adam whenever she thought of Winnehawkee. Julia giggled softly. Gosh, she’d been a fool for that boy. She’d tried so hard to avoid him, pretending that he meant nothing to her. And whenever she did attempt to attract his attention, she managed to make a complete idiot of herself.

There was the time she stuffed the top of her swim-suit with toilet paper, only to get pushed in the water and watch her newfound bust line float away. And then there was the time she made him a lopsided birthday cake in the camp kitchen—she’d tripped on a tree root carrying it to his cabin, splattering the purple frosting over the front of her T-shirt.

But the worst experience, the one that ranked number one in the pantheon of embarrassing moments was when she’d finally poured out all her feelings in a letter. She’d screwed up her courage and left it beneath the pillow of his bunk. Then she learned that he’d switched bunks with a cabin-mate just that week. Dougie O’Neill spent the rest of the summer following her around, trying to kiss her, certain that the letter had been meant for him.

As counselors, she and Adam had worked together regularly, but she’d always kept her distance, treating him like a friend. Hiding her feelings for him, especially when he’d managed to charm nearly every other female counselor, had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done in her life, but it kept her from further humiliation.

Julia moaned softly. Thankfully, her luck with men had gotten a bit better over time, but the results had stayed the same. She enjoyed the fantasy of love, the possibilities and the anticipation, much more than she every enjoyed a real relationship. Men just never lived up to her expectations, at least not the men she met.

Julia suspected her insecurities and disappointments were probably rooted in her parents’ divorce, but she told herself that she just hadn’t met the man of her dreams yet. When he came along, she’d know and then everything would make sense. Love would finally become a reality.

Over the next thirty miles, her thoughts remained mired in memories of her years at camp. So much of it was good, and even in the worst of times, there had always been dreams of Adam Sutherland to keep her going. Would the journal still be there? Perhaps if she read it again, it might give her more insight into why her love life was so messed up now.

After graduating with a degree in art, she’d fallen into a job as a cake decorator at one of Chicago’s most popular patisseries. A few years ago, she’d struck out on her own, building a successful boutique bakery and wedding cake business. But in two months, she was going to begin the adventure of her life, moving to Paris to study pastry making with one of her mentors.

Jean-Paul had been a teacher first, a friend second, and after she’d finished pastry school, a lover. Though they’d shared a passion for baking, that passion had never really taken off in the bedroom.

In truth, her expectations between the sheets had always been more than the men in her life were able to deliver. Where was the frantic need, the overwhelming attraction, the sense that sex was a release instead of merely an enjoyable activity? She’d always wanted to be swept away by lust and then love. But it had never happened.

Maybe she’d meet a handsome Frenchman in Paris and have a torrid affair. She certainly hadn’t met many eligible men working in the wedding industry. She was so ready to just throw caution to the wind and indulge, to forget about all of her past mistakes. For once, she wouldn’t think about love. She’d think about pleasure first. After all, when in Paris …

But before all that could happen, she needed to say good-bye to the old Julia McKee, the girl who pined after the boy of her dreams for ten long summers. Then, she’d pack her things, leave Chicago and say hello to a new and improved Julia McKee.

Julia focused on the road, following the familiar route to the camp, surprised that she was able to remember it after so many years. But as she got farther from the small towns, the landmarks were less familiar. She watched the GPS on the dash and slowed as the car approached the road that led to the camp.

And then it was there, the familiar yellow and brown sign. It had recently been painted and reflected the headlights from the Subaru. Julia found herself smiling, remembering how happy she’d always been on that first day.

When she reached the main lodge, she noticed that the lights on the wide porch were still on, but the windows were dark. She looked up the hill toward Woodchuck cabin and noticed that Kate had kept a light burning for her there, too.

The cabin slept eleven, ten campers in bunks and the counselor in a comfortable double bed in a separate alcove. It was the only luxury that being a counselor provided. Living 24/7 with ten teenage girls was exhausting. A soft bed and a bit of privacy was an absolute necessity.

Julia grabbed her bags from the back of the car and climbed the rise to the cabin. The woods were so peaceful, the wind rustling in the trees overhead, the sounds of crickets filling the air with a kind of summer concert. She could smell the lake on the breeze.

Julia hadn’t realized how much she’d missed this place. It was easy to get caught up in the chaos of big city living, accepting the stress and the confusion that came with it. But here, all of that fell away and her life became simple again, like it had been when she was younger.

The inside of the cabin was exactly as she’d remembered it, lit by a globe on the ceiling fan. There were brand-new mattresses on the bunks and the counselor’s bed and the place smelled like it had just been scrubbed clean. Kate had thrown open the plank shutters to allow the breeze to pass through and a june bug buzzed against the screen.

It was nearly midnight and Julia was exhausted from the drive. She quickly stripped out of her clothes and pulled on a faded camp T-shirt, leaving her legs bare. If Frannie arrived later, she’d have to settle for one of the bunks. They could flip for the bed tomorrow.

Julia walked over to the first set of bunks, then bent down to peer beneath it. Was her journal still there after all these years? Or had someone found it? Julia sat back on her heels, suddenly bone tired. She’d leave it for tomorrow. After all, it was just a silly account about a boy she didn’t even know anymore.

She pulled the chain on the light. A soft golden glow from the yellow porch bulb still filtered inside, just enough to avoid a stubbed toe. Julia crawled between the cheap cotton sheets and pulled the faded comforter up around her chin with a sigh of contentment. Then she remembered her camp encounters with bats. At least once a summer, a nighttime intruder had driven them from their cabin. She grabbed her tennis racquet and set it on the bed beside her.

As she closed her eyes, Julia let the stress from the ride north fade into sleep. But an image of Adam Sutherland drifted through her head. With a low groan, she rolled over and punched the pillow. She was twenty-nine years old, yet there were times when she still felt like a kid.

BY THE TIME Adam pulled into the narrow driveway for Camp Winnehawkee, it was almost 3:00 a.m. He’d thought about stopping along the way and grabbing a motel room, but he’d been anxious to put the miles behind him and see the camp again.

Yellow lights lined the wide porch of the main lodge and he could see some of the camper cabins deep in the woods. Though most alumni might not appreciate the quiet of the camp at 3:00 a.m., Adam had spent a lot of early morning hours sneaking in and out and avoiding the demerits that came with breaking curfew. By the time he’d made counselor, he knew all the tricks and handed out a large share of the demerits himself.

A lot of Adam’s big life events had happened here at Winnehawkee—his first kiss, his first cigarette, his first sexual experience. He’d lost his virginity on a blanket in the middle of the woods to an older girl from a nearby town. Winnehawkee boasted a wholesome experience, but Adam knew better. He’d used the summers to escape from his parents’ stifling expectations and experience a few of life’s pleasures.

Like many of the kids at camp, he came from a privileged background—his father was the CEO of a venture capital firm and his mother, a North Shore socialite. He’d attended an exclusive prep school in a wealthy Chicago suburb and had been groomed from birth to take over the family business.

After college, Adam had wanted to go his own way, but family pressure had forced him into working for his father. Though it could have brought them closer together, it had only driven them further apart. As he’d grown more and more frustrated with the company’s blind pursuit of profit, his relationship with his father had deteriorated.

Mason and Kate had it right. They wanted to turn Winnehawkee into a place that would help disadvantaged children, not provide summer babysitting services for rich kids from the Chicago suburbs. There was a time when Adam had imagined he might do work that really mattered, but that dream had dissolved under the burden of family obligations and expectations.

But he’d begun to formulate a plan, a plan to simplify his own life. After he helped Mason get the camp on solid financial ground, he’d find a new future for himself, something that didn’t revolve around money and the acquisition of expensive toys. He wasn’t sure what that future would be yet, but he was ready for a big change.

He had enough money in his investment account to live a comfortable life for a number of years. Hell, he could just dump the entire portfolio and donate it to Mason and Kate, and still find a way to make a living. Life just wasn’t about profit and loss … return on investment … acceptable risk. There had to be more to it.

Winnehawkee had been a refuge for him. A place where he could become his own man. Now it was time to pay that forward. What had happened to that idealistic guy he’d once been? He’d bowed to family obligation and then grown used to all the benefits of a big paycheck. He was on the way to becoming his father.

Adam pulled up next to a Subaru wagon with Illinois plates and wondered who else would be spending the week. Though the cabins weren’t the most luxurious accommodations, Adam was looking forward to reliving his younger days. There were beautiful hiking trails to explore around the lake as well as canoeing and swimming. And big campfires at night.

Not knowing what to expect, he’d brought along a sleeping bag and tent, but then noticed a light over the door of one of the cabins. Mason had mentioned inviting a few other guys to help out. Sharing a cabin with them would be much easier than setting up his tent in the dark. He grabbed his overnight bag and headed up the hill. If he could catch a few hours of sleep, he’d be ready to start work first thing in the morning.

The screen door creaked as he pulled it open and he squinted to see inside with only the wash of light from the bulb over the door as illumination. He set his bag down, then sat on the edge of one of the bunks. He hadn’t realized how small they were until now.

Adam glanced over to the small alcove that held the bed for the counselor. Though the bedding looked rumpled, he could lay his sleeping bag down and at least stretch out. He walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. Shrugging out of his jacket, he tossed it behind him. A moment later, he heard a scream. Something hit him on the side of his head and Adam jumped up and spun around.

“Bat. Oh, God, bat.” In the dim light he made out the figure of a woman, flailing a tennis racquet around her head. She made contact again, this time with his forehead.

“Ouch!” he cried. “Stop that. There’s no bat.”

She went still for a moment, then screamed again, tumbling off the far side of the bed and landing with a thump on the floor. Adam searched the cabin for a light switch then finally found the string hanging from the ceiling fan. He pulled it and walked back to the alcove.

She was still there, sitting on the floor, the tennis racquet pulled up against her chest and her hair covering half her face. As their eyes met, he heard her gasp softly. “I’m not a bat,” he said, rubbing his head.

“I—I can see that,” she replied in a feeble attempt to appear unfazed. She slowly got to her feet, tugging at the hem of her T-shirt to cover her bare thighs. When she brushed the hair from her face, he felt a hint of recognition.

The lush mouth was the same as he remembered. And those beautiful dark-lashed eyes that always seemed to be regarding him with disdain. But the mousy brown ponytail was gone, replaced by shoulder-length waves and a caramel blond color. “Jules?” He laughed. “It’s me, Adam Sutherland.”

“Adam,” she said, a nervous smile twitching at her lips. “Right. I—I didn’t know you’d be coming.”

“Mason didn’t mention you’d be here either,” he said. His gaze took in her features. In the past eight years, she’d changed, and all for the better. He’d always liked Julia McKee, but the feeling had never been mutual. Adam had found her smart and funny and guileless. Too bad she’d never given him the time of day.

In truth, he suspected that Julia disapproved of his reputation with the ladies. She was the one girl in camp that he’d never been able to charm—and here she was, all grown up, incredibly sexy and sleeping in his bed.

“So, how have you been, Jules?”

She blinked, as if startled by his inquiry. Hell, it wasn’t his best attempt at an opening line. But what else was he supposed to say to the girl he used to fantasize about? Adam stretched across the bed and held out his hand to help her up.

Ignoring his hand, she scrambled to her feet, then sat down on the edge of the mattress and pulled the sheet up around her, her gaze still fixed on him. “I’m fine,” she said.

He nodded. Well, this was awkward. He felt compelled to smooth things over before he excused himself to find another place to sleep. “I just assumed that they’d left the light on for me. I didn’t realize you were in the bed or I wouldn’t have …”

Her expression finally relaxed and she smiled again, this time with much more warmth. “I’m sorry I hit you. I felt something on my face and I thought it was a bat. I remember them being very partial to this cabin in the past.”

“You have quite a forehand.”

“Actually, it was a backhand. Did I hurt you?” She reached out to touch his temple and the moment she made contact, Adam felt a current race through him. He swallowed hard, then reached up to take her hand, twisting his fingers through hers. “I—I’m sure I’ll recover. I’m sorry I woke you. What time did you get here?”

She stared down at their fingers, still tangled together. “Just after midnight.” She yanked her hand away. “What time is it?”

“Three in the morning.” He frowned. Why had that felt so good? He hadn’t expected such a strong reaction to such an innocent touch. “I was exhausted—until you hit me. Now, I’m wide awake.” Wide awake and looking for any excuse to keep her talking. “And hungry. Are you hungry?”

She tipped her head to the side, regarding him with a mix of confusion and amusement. “I guess I could eat,” she said.

“Breakfast would be good. Are there any all-night diners around here? I could run out and get us something.”

“You’re not in Chicago. I don’t think we’d find an Ashland Grill up here.”

“You know the Ashland Grill? I love that place,” Adam said, grinning.

“It’s not far from my flat.”

“You live in Chicago?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

“I guess I remember Mason mentioning that,” Adam said. “Where?”

“Wicker Park.”

“Lincoln Park,” he said. “Right near the river.” He couldn’t believe they’d been living so close and he hadn’t even known. It made sense. Her family was from the Chicago area. But it was odd that their worlds probably intersected at least a few times a week and yet he’d never thought of her. Why hadn’t he thought of her? What had Julia McKee been doing with her life?

“I have something,” Julia said. She jumped out of bed and ran to the door, her bare feet soft against the rough floor. “I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“To my car,” she said.

The screen door slammed and Adam walked over to it, watching her scamper down the hill. Her T-shirt flew up as she ran and he caught sight of bikini panties and the sweet curve of her backside. He imagined the body beneath the shirt, soft and naked, made for his touch.

She stubbed her toe on a tree root and stumbled, cursing loudly in the quiet night. He stepped out of the door, ready to go to her aid, but she continued on, limping the rest of the way.

Adam chuckled to himself. It had been a long time since he’d been so intrigued by a woman. Imagine running into Julia after all these years. Though she’d grown even more beautiful, she was still the nervous, clumsy girl he remembered. And yet, in a single instant, all the old curiosity came back. Julia McKee was a challenge, the kind that he usually found irresistible.

This was going to be a very interesting week.

JULIA’S EYES WATERED as she limped to the car. “Please don’t let him be watching,” she murmured over and over. She was afraid to look back, worried he’d be standing there on the front steps of the cabin, observing her clumsy stumble down the path.

When she reached the car, she realized she’d forgotten her keys. To her relief, she’d left the back door open after removing her bags. Julia crawled over the backseat and reached for the bakery box. If he was hungry, then she’d feed him. “Cinnamon buns,” she murmured, drawing in the scent.

She found the canvas bag that had her coffee supplies in it—her French press, the gourmet coffee they served in the bakery and an electric pot to heat water. She grabbed a few bottles of water and her car mug, then headed back to the cabin, this time careful to avoid the bumps in the trail.

“Don’t mess this up,” she murmured. “Just be cool.”

“Do you need some help?”

She glanced up to find him standing in the middle of the path. God, he was so incredibly sexy. And charming. And funny. And all those crazy feelings that she’d had as a teenager were back again—only much worse … or maybe better. “Take the box,” she said.

“What is all this?”

“Breakfast. You said you wanted something to eat.”

“You carry breakfast around in the back of your car? Just in case you …” He shook his head. “I can’t think of any reason why you’d do that.”

“I’m a pastry chef and Kate asked me to make some things for breakfast. And I have to have my coffee in the morning, so I always travel with my own stuff for that.”

He held the door open for her, then followed her inside. She set her coffee supplies on one of the bunks, then found the single electric plug beneath the mirror on the wall. Julia glanced over at him to find him watching her. “You can open the box. Help yourself.” She filled the pot with bottled water and then plugged it in.

He opened the white container and looked inside. The scent of yeast and cinnamon wafted through the air. “Are these cinnamon rolls? Oh, my God.” He pulled one from the box and took a bite, smearing cream cheese frosting on his upper lip. She caught herself staring, wondering what it would be like to lick it off very, very slowly.

“You made these?” he asked, his mouth full.

“It’s what I do,” she said, trying to keep from leaping for joy. There were times when food—really good food—could be considered a form of foreplay. Right now, she wanted to imagine him experiencing the ultimate pleasure from eating her cinnamon buns. If she was lucky, the other pleasures would come later.

Adam sat down in the center of the big bed, crossing his legs in front of him. “Are you sure we should be eating these? Will Kate be mad?”

“There are croissants and apple tartes in the car. I brought plenty.”

“You should go into business,” he said. “These are really good.”

“I have my own business. I own a pastry shop.”

“I guess I’m in real trouble then,” he said, staring at her in disbelief. “You’re beautiful and you can cook.”

“Bake,” she corrected, feeling a blush warm her cheeks. “I’m really not much of a cook.”

She shouldn’t let herself fall for his charm. Julia knew it was all part of the package with Adam. With him, every woman was a conquest, every seduction a battle to be won. She crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. “The coffee will be ready in a few minutes.”

He watched her shrewdly as he licked frosting off his fingers. “You’ve never liked me much, have you, Jules?”

His blunt statement took her off guard. Well, at least she’d managed to hide her feelings well. “No. I—I mean, I don’t not like you.” She drew a ragged breath. “Why would you say that?”

“I just always had the sense that you didn’t think much of me. We just never … you know … connected.”

Julia fixed her gaze on her fingers, clutched in her lap. “I guess I didn’t really like standing in line,” she murmured.

“Ouch.” He laughed softly. “I suppose I deserved that one. You were right, though. A girl like you shouldn’t have to compete.”

“A girl like me?”

“A good girl,” he said. “I—I don’t mean good in a bad way. I mean … good. Worthwhile. Hey, I always thought you were pretty cool. I always wished we had gotten to know each other a little better. As friends.”

“I guess we’ll have time for that this week,” she said.

“Yeah, I know I’m going to be sticking pretty close to the woman who makes these cinnamon buns.”

Julia giggled, another blush warming her cheeks. He was smooth with the compliments, all right. Still, why not enjoy the attention. What harm could it possibly do now? If she wanted to spend her week flirting with Adam, then she would. And if it went a bit further than that, well, that was fine, too. Why not finally act on her crush? It could be a fantasy come true.

A shiver skittered down her spine. Just the thought of allowing him to seduce her, of falling into his arms and into his bed, made her heart beat faster and her breath come in shallow gasps. She pressed her hand to her chest, feeling her heart pound beneath her fingertips.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Coffee,” she said, jumping to her feet. She busied herself with the coffee press, filling the bottom with ground beans, then pouring the hot water on top. She found her favorite mug in the box and set it on the floor.

“It feels good to be back here,” Adam said, glancing around the cabin. “On the drive up, I felt like I was a kid again. I recognized all the landmarks. And then there’s the smell in the air.”

“It smells green,” she said. “I love that smell.”

She poured a cup of coffee for each of them, then crossed the room to the bed. Adam moved down to rest his back against the footboard of the old wooden bed and Julia took the opposite end, tucking her feet beneath her.

The atmosphere felt so intimate, just the two of them, together, the night silent around them. She’d dreamed about a moment like this, wondered what it would be like to have him all to herself. And here he was, the answer to all her teenage fantasies—and most of her adult ones as well.

They stretched out on the big bed, facing each other, the conversation easy between them. Every now and then, his thigh would bump against hers and Julia would feel her heart flutter. She fought the urge to throw aside caution, crawl on top of him and kiss him.

Adam wasn’t the kind of guy who’d refuse such an advance. She had no doubt about that. In fact, she could picture in her mind, every moment of every second—the strength of his long, lean body, the warmth of his mouth, the feel of his hands on her. Julia sighed softly, her breath coming out in a tiny moan.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m keeping you up.”

“No! No, it’s fine. Now that I’ve had my morning coffee, I’m up. There’s no going back.”

“Funny. I was exhausted when I got here and now I feel like I could run a marathon.”

“It’s the coffee,” she said.

He sent her a crooked smile. “Maybe. Or maybe it’s the company?”

Julia gave him a playful kick. He grabbed her bare foot and held it between his hands gently massaging it. The contact sent a flood of warmth racing through her veins, setting every nerve on fire.

“Yeah, I know. Those cheesy lines don’t work on you,” he teased. “But you can’t blame a guy for trying, can you?”

“No,” she said. “I guess I can’t.”

Their gazes locked for a long moment and Julia’s heart skipped a beat. There was an attraction there, in the way he looked her, in the way he smiled. And she wasn’t imagining it. Had it always been there? Could she have been so wrapped up in her own infatuation that she’d never noticed?

She smiled and glanced down at her coffee. After that one attempt—the letter that had gone horribly astray—she’d never tried again. But what if she had?

There were many things to regret about her ten-year crush on Adam Sutherland. But she was through with regrets. From now on, she was going to take chances and damn the consequences. And if she made a complete fool of herself, she’d just run off to France and hide for the next two years.

2

Year three at Camp W. I’ve decided that I will put all my secrets in this book. And the one secret I want to write first is that HE IS THE CUTEST BOY EVER. Way cuter than Luke Perry. Tomorrow, I’m going to talk to him. And before the summer is over, he is going to kiss me. My life will never be the same again.

ADAM OPENED HIS eyes to the morning light filtering through the trees. Raking his hand through his hair, he sat up and looked around the cabin. Julia was gone, her side of the bed neatly made. He smiled to himself as he stretched his arms over his head and yawned.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d spent a night in bed with a beautiful woman and nothing had happened between them. But then, maybe leaping into a physical relationship upon first meeting wasn’t such a bad idea. Where had that gotten him in the past? Sure, there’d been a lot of great sex, but nothing much beyond that.

He was almost thirty. The big three-oh. And he wanted more from life than just a series of shallow relationships with beautiful, but brainless, women. He wanted a challenge, a woman who wouldn’t melt in his arms and tell him everything he wanted to hear. He wanted someone who’d keep him interested for more than a few months.

Hell, Jules had kept him interested for ten years. And now that she’d reappeared in his life again, Adam realized that the interest hadn’t waned. He swung his legs off the edge of the bed, working the kinks out of his neck as he retrieved his duffel bag.

He’d probably missed breakfast, but if he was lucky, he’d find a cup of coffee and some of Julia’s leftover pastries to get him through until lunch. But he really wasn’t interested in food. He wanted to see her again.

He found a pair of faded cargo shorts in his bag along with an old T-shirt, then stripped out of his jeans and polo shirt. As he dug through the contents for a fresh pair of boxers, he heard the screen door squeak.

Adam slowly turned to find Julia standing in the doorway, a mug of coffee in her hand. Just the sight of her was enough to make him grin like a goofy school kid. She was dressed in a pale blue camisole, a flowing cotton skirt and a pair of sandals that revealed perfect toes painted in a bubblegum pink.

Though she was a pastry chef, it didn’t look like she ate much of her work. She was slender and long-limbed, with a body that he longed to touch. “Morning,” he said. “Is that for me?”

“It is. Everyone has been wondering about you. I told them you got in early this morning, after I was up.” Her gaze slowly drifted down his body as she approached, the mug wrapped in her outstretched hands.

Adam smiled. He liked that she stared. She was interested enough to look. Curious, maybe? They’d have a whole week together and he didn’t want to waste another moment. Adam wanted to know more about her, to spend some time together, to see where this attraction might lead. Yet he knew he ought to be patient. Jules wasn’t the kind of woman who jumped into bed without careful consideration of the consequences.

“I guess I fell asleep,” he said, taking the coffee from her. “I probably should have taken one of the bunks but—”

“It’s all right,” she said, shifting nervously from foot to foot. “Nothing happened. You were the perfect gentleman.”

“Lucky you couldn’t read my thoughts,” he said taking a step toward her. She didn’t move away and Adam took that as a good sign. He brought his hand to rest on her waist and smoothed his palm over her hip. Then, he slowly bent closer and brushed his lips against hers.

The kiss was a test, he reasoned. If she reacted negatively, then he knew exactly where he stood, but if she… An instant later, Julia threw her arms around his neck and returned the kiss. But this wasn’t a test. This was a full-on, tongue-tangling passionate kiss.

Adam stumbled slightly, the coffee sloshing onto his hand and scalding him. With a groan, he dropped the mug and it smashed on the wooden floor. But the kiss easily distracted him from the pain in his hand. He grabbed her waist and pulled her along to the bed and they fell onto it, her body coming down on top of his.

He cupped her face in his hands, trying to slow the frantic assault and she softened beneath his touch, then drew back to look down into his gaze. Her eyes were wide and questioning. “Are you all right?” he murmured.

Julia nodded, breathless.

“That was nice. Do you want to try it again?”

She frowned. “Was there something wrong with the first time?”

“Oh, no. There was nothing wrong. Here, let me prove it.” Their second kiss was much more relaxed and they lingered over each other’s mouths, teasing playfully, tasting deeply. “Who needs coffee when I have you to wake me up?”

She ran her hands over his bare chest, pressing her lips to shoulder in a deliberate trail. “You can’t stay here,” Julia said. “You have to find another place to sleep.”

“I know.” She kissed him again and he groaned softly as his hands trailed over her back. He bunched the fabric of her skirt in his fists, pulling it up until her legs were bare. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to stay.” He ran his thumb over her lower lip, still damp from his kiss. “What if I come back in the middle of the night when no one is awake? I’m really good at sneaking through camp without getting caught.”

She nodded. “You need to come to breakfast. They’re going to wonder where I am.”

“Only if you kiss me. Once more.”

She smiled then leaned down, running her tongue along the crease of his mouth before indulging in one last, long, perfect kiss. Then Julia pushed off of him and stood beside the bed, clutching her hands in her loose skirt.

“I think we should keep this between the two of us,” she said. “I don’t want to be the talk of Camp Winnehawkee.”

Adam nodded slowly. He was going to let her set the terms for now. “All right. That sounds reasonable.”

She walked to the screen door, then paused before she turned back around. “I’ve always wondered what that would be like,” she said. “Kissing you. Back then, you kissed a lot of girls at Camp Winnehawkee.”

“The only one I really wanted to kiss was you.”

“And was I what you expected?”

Adam nodded. “You do know how to kiss, Jules, I’ll give you that.” He looked down at the erection pressing against the fabric of his boxers, then covered it with his hands. “Sorry. That tends to happen when I get excited.”

With a soft giggle, she shoved the screen door open. “Put that away before you come to breakfast.”

He moved to the door to watch her as she strolled down the hill. She tripped on the same tree root she had the night before, pitching forward before she righted herself. Hopping on one foot, Julia rubbed her toe and turned back to see if he was watching. “Are you all right?” he called.

“Fine,” she replied, giving him a wave.

“Breakfast,” he murmured as he moved back to the bed. He grabbed the clothes he’d chosen and tugged them on, then slipped his feet into a pair of boat shoes. Though he was anxious to see Mason and Ben again, there was only one person on his mind right now and she had a sweet mouth and a soft body and a smile that made him crave her more than her cinnamon rolls.

A FEW MINUTES later, once he was sure he was decent, Adam jogged down to the dining hall. When he walked inside, he found all his old friends gathered around a table near the kitchen doors.

“Well, there he is!” Mason cried. “We were about to send out a search party. We’re burning daylight and you’re getting your beauty sleep.”

Adam crossed the room, grinning at Mason. “I can see you’ve had a bad case of insomnia. There’s nothing pretty about you, Mase.” He held out his hand and Mason grabbed it, pulling Adam into a hug.

“Good to see you.”

Adam gave Frannie and Ben a wave, then shook Derek and Steven’s hands. “I always thought you two belonged together. I’m happy for you both.” He glanced around. “Where can I get something to eat?”

“Kate has everything set up in the kitchen. Grab yourself a plate. Coffee is out here.”

As Adam walked to the swinging door, Kate burst through with a tin of maple syrup in her hand. “I found it! I don’t know if this is—Adam!” She threw her arms around his neck and gave him a fierce hug. “There are pancakes and sausage in the kitchen. I can make you eggs if you like. When did you get here? Where did you sleep?”

“Late. I brought along my sleeping bag,” he replied. He wasn’t sure that Jules had explained last night’s sleeping arrangements, so he decided to play it cool. “Pancakes will be terrific.”

Adam pushed the door open and stepped inside, following Julia back into the huge camp kitchen. Julia pulled a baking sheet out of the old commercial oven. “If you’re making more of those cinnamon rolls, I could eat four or five.”

She turned around and smiled at him. “Scones,” she said. “Raspberry.” Julia plucked one off of the baking sheet and tossed it at him. “Be careful, they’re hot.”

He pulled up a stool and sat down at the huge prep table, dropping the hot scone in front of him. “So what’s the plan for today? Can I just stay here and watch you bake, or do I have to do some work?”

“You need to move your stuff out of my cabin,” she said.

“Why? Nothing happened last night. I’m sure we can cohabitate peacefully.”

“This week isn’t about us. It’s about Mason and Kate.”

“But we’re not going to be working all day and night. We’ll have time to ourselves. So, maybe we could go into town tonight for dinner? Just you and me?”

She stared at him for a long moment, as if trying to figure his motives. Hadn’t he been clear? Or did she simply not trust him? Was he moving too fast, expecting more than she was ready to give. But that kiss. It was all there in that kiss—the need, the longing, the desire. Was he supposed to ignore that?

“You’re right,” Adam said, picking up the warm scone and biting off a corner. “We need to focus on the job at hand.” He held up the biscuit and nodded. “It’s good.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Julia to think about how she wanted to play this. If he was right about the kiss, then she’d come around to his way of thinking sooner or later. And for a woman like Julia, Adam was willing to wait.

“So, what’s on the agenda for today?” he asked his friends, reaching for the carafe of coffee.

“We’re re-roofing three of the cabins,” Mason said. “The girls are going to be replacing the screens in two of them and then I’m hoping someone will volunteer to wallpaper the nurse’s office. The last time Kate and I wallpapered, we almost came to blows.”

“I’m good at wallpapering,” Julia said as she came out of the kitchen, a basket of scones in her hand.

“Me, too,” Adam added. “I’m an expert.”

“Good,” Mason said. “You two can work on that project tomorrow.” He stood and grabbed his coffee mug. “Well, men, it’s time to get down to business.”

Adam circled the table to Julia and reached for another scone, resting his hand on the small of her back. “Just one more,” he murmured.

She glanced at him, her gaze fixed on his mouth, and he knew instantly what she was thinking. Could he steal one more kiss without anyone noticing? “You know, I think I’ll wrap up a few of those scones to go.”

“I’ll get you a bag,” she said. Julia turned back to the kitchen and a few seconds later, Adam followed her through the door.

She spun around when she realized he was in the room with her, her hands braced against the edge of the work table. Adam slowly crossed to stand in front of her. She was so close, he could feel the heat from her body and hear her breath coming in quick gasps.

He slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her against him. Adam didn’t bother to ask. He could see what she wanted the moment their gazes met. His mouth came down on hers, and this time, there was no hesitation, no doubt about what it all meant.

They wanted each other and denying it was an exercise in futility. His tongued delved into the warm depths of her mouth and she responded eagerly, matching his desire in every way. Adam’s hand skimmed over her hips and he cupped her backside, drawing her even closer.

But there was a limit to what he could take from her before the evidence of his desire was on display for all to see. He stepped back, knowing if he went on, he’d need a cold shower or at least ten minutes alone to recover.

“I’ll see you later,” he said, letting his palm smooth across her back.

A smile touched the corners of her mouth. “Don’t you want your scones?”

Adam shook his head. “No. It will give me a chance to come back.

“Later,” she repeated.

When he reached the door, he glanced back to find her still standing where he’d left her, her hand pressed to her chest, her lips still damp from their kiss.

Adam strode through the dining room and out onto the porch. “It’s going to be a good day,” he said to Mason as they strolled out into the sunshine.

JULIA’S KNEES WOBBLED and she drew in a deep breath, trying to steady herself. But the rush of oxygen only made her dizzy. She stumbled to the sink and splashed some cold water on her face. Would she ever get accustomed to kissing him? Would the after-effects wear off more quickly the more they did it?

Since their kiss in the cabin, she hadn’t been able to think of anything else. She’d accidentally dropped two eggs, spilled a glass of orange juice and burned a batch of scones just reliving that moment. And now there was another moment to add to it.

She drew another breath. Though she’d dreamed about kissing him for years, she’d never expected it to have such a profound effect on her. The taste of his mouth, the warmth of his lips, the strength of his hands on her body, were enough singly to drive her to distraction. But combined, she was powerless to do anything but surrender.

When she was teenager, all her fantasies were colored with romance. But now, everything was about raw lust. His touch made her body ache from something more satisfying and she knew exactly what it was. Naked bodies, limbs entwined, searching mouths and soft sighs.

This was exactly what she’d dreamed about and now that it was happening, she wanted to remember every single moment. Slowly, she sank to the floor and closed her eyes. The taste of him was still on her lips and she smiled. Blindfolded, she could kiss a hundred strangers and recognize him.

She wanted to run and jump and scream, letting loose the wild emotions that coursed through her body. But Julia knew that for now, she had to keep her feelings to herself. This could last a day or two and then, just as suddenly as it began, it could be over. And the last thing she wanted to do was make a fool of herself.

And yet, it was so hard to believe it was real when she was the only one who knew about it. If she could tell Kate or Frannie, then maybe it wouldn’t seem so surreal. And maybe it wouldn’t frighten her so much.

There hadn’t been a man in her life that had made her feel this heady mix of elation and anticipation since—well, never. What would happen when she saw him next, when he touched her again?

“Jules?”

She looked up to find Kate standing beside her, the coffee carafe in her hands.

“What are you doing?” Kate asked.

“Nothing,” Julia said, scrambling to her feet. “Just … relaxing. I didn’t sleep very well last night.”

Kate sat down next to her. “Are you all right? You look a little flushed.” She pressed her palm to Julia’s forehead. “Are you getting sick?”

“No. It’s just the heat in the kitchen. The oven’s been on. I’m great, really.”

Kate sighed. “Sometimes I wonder if we’ll ever finish what needs to get done. With everything we cross off the top of the list, we add another two or three on the bottom.”

“So, we have to fix the screens on the cabins?”

“Don’t worry, it’s not that hard. It just takes time and patience. But we don’t have to get to work yet.”

“What are you guys doing in here?” Frannie said, wandering into the kitchen. She plopped down on the other side of Kate and leaned over to look at Julia. “Are you all right? Your face is all red.”

Julia clapped her hands to her cheeks. “Yes.”

“She’s just warm,” Kate explained. She sighed softly. “I can’t tell you how much we appreciate all your help. We just never could have done this alone. And hiring help is beyond our budget. Do you have any idea what plumbers cost these days?”

“It’s no problem,” Frannie said.

“I just want you to know that—”

“Stop,” Julia said, wrapping her arms around Kate’s shoulders. “We’re all here because we love this place and we love you.”

Kate pulled them both into a group hug. “I’m so glad we’re all back here, together.”

“We haven’t changed at all, have we, girls?” Frannie said, stretching her legs out in front of her. “But you know who’s gotten better with age?” She leaned over the table. “Adam. Oh, my God, I didn’t think he could get any hotter, but he has. Why hasn’t some woman snapped him up by now?”

“Maybe he’s gay,” Kate said. “Look at Derek and Steven. We never even suspected they were.”

“I don’t think he’s gay,” Julia said.

“How do you know?” Kate’s eyes went wide. “You two haven’t—”

“I saw him in Chicago once. On Michigan Avenue, walking down the sidewalk with this gorgeous blond woman. He was definitely into her. It was obvious. I think he just likes women too much to settle on one.”

“When a guy looks like that, I guess he can afford to play the field,” Kate said. “I still say the best thing to ever happen to Mason was his hairline receding. Marriage looks pretty good to a guy who thinks he’s going bald.”

Frannie scrambled to her feet. “We need to have a toast.”

“It’s too early to start drinking,” Julia said, getting to her feet. She reached out and pulled Kate up. “We should really wait until at least 1:00 a.m.”

“I was going to say noon,” Kate countered.

“We’re on vacation. We can start whenever we want,” Frannie said. She filled three glasses with orange juice and passed them out. “To Camp Winnehawkee. Friends forever.”

“It really is true,” Julia said. “Look at us. All these years have passed and we’re still friends. I don’t think I have any better friends than you two.”

“We really should get together more than once a year,” Frannie said. “After all, we don’t live that far apart.”

“Well, that’s about to change,” Julia said. She set her glass down on the prep table and took a deep breath. “I’m moving to Paris with Jean-Paul at the end of the summer.”

Her friends stared at her, mouths agape, as if she’d just sprouted horns and a tail. “With Jean-Paul? As in, you two are going together? As a couple?”

Julia shrugged. “I suppose there’s that possibility, but no. We’re going for professional reasons. He wants to compete in the M.O.F., so he’s going back to work there for a few years in his family’s patisserie. He asked if I wanted to come.”

Kate frowned. “What’s the M.O.F.?”

“The Meilleurs Ouvriers de France. When you’re certified M.O.F. that means you’re the best. He’s the only teacher at the Pastry School that doesn’t have the certification and that’s because he came to the U.S. when he was just out of school.”

“Are you going to live together?” Frannie asked.

“No. We’re not even going to work together at first. He’s set me up with a very famous pastry chef and I’m going to work in his shop.”

“For how long?” Frannie asked.

“I don’t know. It could be six months, a year. Two, if things go well. Or I could come back after a few weeks if they don’t.” Julia shrugged. “I just feel like I need a change in my life.”

Kate shook her head. “I don’t know, Jules. You had a romantic relationship with this guy a few years ago. As I remember, he wasn’t very nice to you. And now you’re going to Paris with him. It sounds like it’s a bit more than just a professional trip.”

“Do you want it to be more?” Frannie asked. “Are you still in love with him?”

“Still?” In love? Julia wasn’t sure she knew what it meant. After spending less than a day in the general vicinity of Adam Sutherland, she’d decided that if she could take any man to bed in the entire world, he would be the one. Jean-Paul wouldn’t even come in a distant second. “No, I don’t love him,” she said. “This is just a really great opportunity and I can’t pass it up.”

“What about the bakery?” Kate asked.

“The bakery will be fine. I have a wonderful manager and plenty of people who will keep it going until I get back.” She forced a smile. “I need a change. I need to shake things up a bit. Besides, you guys can come and visit. Think of all the fun we could have in Paris. It’s not that far. We could even meet in London or Rome.”

“I don’t think I’m going to have a lot of extra cash for traveling,” Kate said. “We’re putting every spare penny into the camp.”

“Oh, don’t you worry. I have frequent flyer miles that would take us both to the moon and back,” Frannie said. “We’ll go next spring. Springtime in Paris. It will be perfect.”

“Perfect,” Julia said. And yet, the thought of Paris didn’t seem quite so perfect anymore. Paris was an ocean away from Adam, from this scary, exciting, confusing affair that they’d jumped into. And though it might be over tomorrow, Julia wanted to believe that there might be a chance it would survive their week at Camp Winnehawkee.

She’d never in her life thought it would happen at all.

And now that it had, she didn’t want it to end. She drew a ragged breath. So, maybe she’d have two months of unbelievable reality before she’d have to return to her fantasies. Two months to get her fill of Adam. And then she’d go to Paris and make another dream come true.

Still, if all she had was two months, she was going to make sure every day counted.

“OUCH! SONUVA BUNNY.”

Adam straightened and set the nail gun down. He worked the kinks out of his neck and back, stretching his arms above his head and groaning softly. He’d been on the roof of Porcupine for over an hour, finishing up the work that he and Mason had begun before Mason had to leave to help Kate with dinner preparations.

Julia was somewhere inside the cabin, working on replacing the screens. And from what he’d been hearing in between the sounds of the air compressor and the nail gun, it wasn’t going particularly well.

He walked across the shallowly pitched roof to the ladder and climbed down. Adam found her hunched over one of the windowsills, a hammer in her hand. He watched through the screen door as she tried to pound a small nail into a strip of wood that held the screen in place.

“Sonuva bunny,” she cried again as she hit her thumb with the hammer.

“Sonuva bunny?” he said.

Julia jumped at the sound of his voice, then slowly turned to face him. “I guess I’m falling back into old habits. We weren’t allowed to swear at Camp Winnehawkee.”

“Why would you need to swear?”

“It’s the only thing I can do. My carpentry skills are almost non-existent. My fingers are all smashed.”

“Can I show you a little trick?” he asked, opening the door.

“If it involves finding a way to make my fingers stop throbbing, I’m listening.”

“Well,” he said. “First things first.” Adam grabbed her left hand and brought it up to his lips, then gently kissed the tip of each finger. “Better?” he asked.

She released a tightly held breath, then shook her head. “Not quite.”

He pressed his lips to the center of her palm. “How about now?”

“That feels a little better. But the pain is kind of creeping up my arm.”

Laughing, he pulled her into his arms. “And has the pain reached your lips yet?”

Julia playfully pressed her hands against his naked chest. “Almost. Do you have a remedy for that?”

Adam nuzzled her neck, biting softly on the silken skin just beneath her ear. “Don’t start something we can’t finish, Jules.”

“It’s just a kiss,” she said.

“Maybe this morning it was just a kiss,” he murmured. “But I’ve been up on that roof all morning thinkingabout you. And I don’t want to stop at just a kiss. I don’t think you do, either.”

“Are you saying that I can’t resist you?” Julia asked. “Because I can, if I want to.”

He growled softly, dragging his thumb over her lower lips. “No, you can’t.”

She tipped her chin up at a stubborn angle and regarded him coolly. “I resisted you for ten years.”

“Yes, but that was then. This is now.” He leaned forward and brushed a kiss across her mouth, his tongue tracing the crease between her lips. Adam had never really put much effort into kissing. It always came quite naturally. But this kiss would put away the last of her resistance.

At the first flicker of submission, he smoothed his hands over her face, molding her mouth to his and deepening his assault. He could feel her surrender in the way her body sank against his, her hands clutching at his shoulders.

He shifted his touch, moving his hands over her body in a lazy caress. She moaned as he cupped her breast and her body went soft when he pulled her hips against his, his hard shaft evident beneath the fabric of his shorts. And when Adam felt that he’d made his point, he suddenly stepped back, leaving Julia off-balance.

She stumbled and reached for a nearby bunk, her face flushed and her lips swollen. Wide-eyed, she looked over at him. Drawing a ragged breath, she shrugged. “All right. Well, I can see you’re determined. I’ll give you that.”

Adam grinned. But when he heard Mason’s voice outside, his smile quickly faded. Julia frantically ran her fingers through her tousled hair. He crossed to the window and picked up the hammer, turning his back to the door to hide his erection.

“Adam? Are you in here?” Mason opened the door and stepped inside the cabin.

“He’s here,” Julia said in a bright tone. “He’s just helping me with the screen. I keep hitting my thumb with the hammer.”

Adam glanced over his shoulder and nodded. “I’ll just be a minute. I’m going to show Julia how to do this so she doesn’t keep bashing her fingers.”

Mason looked back and forth between the two of them. Adam groaned inwardly. Mason wasn’t blind. He knew when someone was trying to hide something. Hell, he was a schoolteacher. Schoolteachers had a built-in bullshit detector.

Adam picked up the needle-nosed pliers and put a small nail between the grips. “See, you can hold the nail with this and then pound. Once it’s started, it’s no problem.” He quickly handed the pliers to Julia.

“Thanks, I’ll give that a try,” she replied.

“Right,” Mason murmured. “Well, carry on, then. Kate says dinner is in a half hour. I’ll just be up on the roof until then.”

They both watched as Mason walked outside. Neither one of them moved until they heard his footsteps on the roof. “Sonuva bunny,” Adam said softly.

“I don’t think he suspected anything,” Julia whispered. “It wasn’t like he caught us doing anything.”

“Well, I wish he would have,” Adam said. “Sneaking around like this is stupid. We’re nearly thirty years old and we’re acting like a couple of teenagers.”

“This is the way it has to be,” she said.

“Why?” Adam asked. “Give me one good reason.”

“Because if you decide to dump me after three days, I won’t be humiliated in front of all of my friends.”

Her words hit him like a slap to the face. Is that really what she thought of him? That he’d be so shallow, so cruel as to seduce her on a whim? Adam stared at her in disbelief, his gaze fixed on hers.

“I’m sorry,” Julia murmured. “But I don’t want to look like a fool.”

“Jules, I would never do that. I care about you.” He shook his head. “I—I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything,” she replied. “I’ll be fine if this only lasts a week. In fact, that would be perfect. I don’t expect more and I’m not sure I want more. But, I don’t want my friends assuming the worst about you or me.”

“And what is the worst?” he asked.

“That you’re a shallow creep and I’m a pathetic loser.”

He drew a deep breath, then let it out slowly. Discussing this was going to take a lot more time and privacy than either one of them had right now. But he did intend to address it the very next time they were alone. “I have to go help Mason. We’ll talk about this later.”

She nodded silently, staring down at the pliers in her hands. Adam reached out and covered her fingers, drawing both her hands up to his lips. He kissed her wrist and she managed to meet his gaze again. “This is not just about sex,” he said. “And I would never do anything to hurt you. Do you believe me?”

She paused before she nodded. “You should get going. Mason is going to be wondering what’s taking you so long.”

With a quiet curse, Adam turned and walked out of the cabin. When he got outside he paced back and forth on the gravel path, fighting the urge to go back inside and set Julia straight. But all the talk wouldn’t change her mind. She was working off an image she had of him that was eight years old. He’d have to show her that he’d changed.

He circled the cabin and climbed the ladder, crawling up on the roof, then crossing to where Mason stood.

“Everything all right?” Mason asked.

“Fine,” he said. “She just needed a little help.”

“Is there something going on with you two?” Mason asked.

Adam shook his head. “No. Why would you think that?”

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