Instead of answering her question, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her, remembering the split lip too late. Wincing slightly, he shifted until most of the pressure was on the good side of his mouth.
“That has to be killing you,” she said, pulling back slightly.
“It is, but the pain is worth it.” He rested his forehead against hers. “What is this we got going on?” he asked her.
“You tell me?” She looked into his eyes.
“I’ve liked you for years,” he admitted, and her smile grew.
“I’ve liked you for years too,” she said easily.
“Okay, so…” He sighed as he ran his hands up and down her arms, noticing the chill.
Once the early summer sun went down, the temperature dropped quickly. He knew she was probably uncomfortable. It was late and she had to work the next day. He did too. He had an early morning of cleaning out the pools before guests would want to swim.
“Let’s see where this goes,” Jules finished for him. “For now”—she touched his split lip gently with her fingertip— “heal. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She leaned up on her toes and placed a kiss on the good side of his lips.
He stood there like a statue watching her go. Only after did he decide not to drive back to his place. Instead, he went down into the cabin and crashed on the king-size bed down there.
The next morning, he was adding salt to the largest pool when Elle found him.
“Do you have a moment?” Elle asked him. She winced when she saw the black eye and puffy lip.
“For you?” He smiled and felt his lip cut open again. “Sure thing.” He dumped the rest of the salt into the water where it quickly disappeared. Then he tossed the bag into the trash can and followed her into her office.
He was surprised when they walked in, and a few people shouted “surprise” at him.
“What’s this? It’s not my birthday.” He tilted his head. “Is it?” That got a couple laughs.
“It’s your five-year anniversary,” Elle cheered.
“Wouldn’t that make it everyone’s five-year anniversary?” he joked as he blew out the small candle on a cupcake Zoey held up.
“We officially opened the camp a few weeks from now five years ago, but we brought you on board five years ago today.” She handed him the cupcake. “So, yay!” Zoey rolled her eyes. “I think this is just Elle’s way of justifying the cupcakes,” she whispered.
“I heard that,” Elle said. “And I don’t need an excuse to eat cupcakes. I have two right here.” She rubbed her belly.
Jules stepped up beside him, holding her own cupcake with a blown-out candle on it.
“They got you too?” he asked her.
“Yes.” She smiled. “I was hired half an hour before you were… apparently.” She chuckled then held up her cupcake. “To five years.”
He lifted his cupcake and tapped hers. “To five years.” He took a bite.
The rest of the day he thought about the last five years. How he had pretty much danced around asking Jules out that entire time. He remembered seeing her for the first time standing in the sunlight just out front of the main building. Zoey was showing her around as Elle started showing him around. Then, somehow, the four of them continued walking around the campgrounds together.
He thought he’d said maybe two words to her that entire time. He’d never felt shy around a woman before, and so hadn’t been sure how to behave, feeling that way around her.
When in doubt, keep your mouth shut. His mother used to say that all the time, so that’s what he did. For five long years.
He even tried to convince himself that it was just a crush. That worked at first. Then it didn’t.
Now, he couldn’t wait for the trip the following weekend. He made sure his place down the coast was cleaned and that the fridge and pantry were stocked. Even though Isaac was sending along complete meals for them to heat up, he didn’t want Jules to feel like she was missing a thing.
He was halfway through his day when he got the call from the local police department. Brett had told him they might end up calling him.
Still, having to excuse himself from helping a couple with a rowboat and take the call was disturbing enough. Then he got word that all six of the people that had been arrested had been released with minor charges and fines.