by Eliza Ellis
For him, obviously. Not her.
She could get any man to kiss her and didn’t need any practice there. Pete, on the other hand… Who knew what he was capable of? And in that moment, a shot of fear had divided her heart. Fear that his kiss could make her tumble hard, like she’d done over that stupid box.
Absurd. He’s Petey! Keke ignored the sudden pounding of her heart and told herself it was the kids pounding their oars on the sides of the boat.
Just because Petey looked way hotter than normal, and was smart enough to get into Cornell, didn’t mean he could coast when it came to women.
Especially a woman like her.
Which was why she was helping him. He was so lucky he had her to guide him.
Well, maybe at his age, there were some girls as shy and desperate as him; it would be mutually beneficial to practice. And there were always those cougars living out their glory days by trying to remain youthful by dating young.
No, Pete wouldn’t have any problem attracting women. None at all.
Which is why Keke couldn’t keep her gaze from finding its way back to his boat. Meters away, across the water, she could hear the cheery ring of Lea’s laughter and the deep baritone of Pete’s. He didn’t seem to have any trouble conversing with Lea now, and Keke mentally patted herself on the back for that. It was a good deed. No man should go to college unable to at least talk to a girl.
“Keke!”
“Huh?” she answered, annoyed, her study of Peter was interrupted by the sister who would be ticked if Keke actually wanted to date Peter.
Which she didn’t.
Pete was too young and she was going to L.A.
“What’s so interesting about Pete’s boat? You’ve been staring at it like a stalker for, like, five minutes.”
Keke half frowned. It couldn’t have been that long. “I’m just taking in the beautiful image of the lake.” A half-truth. A beautiful image on the lake, rather.
“The kids want to row over there.” Bertie pointed to a shadowy part of the lake. “I told them the story of secret treasure being buried by an eccentric old guy who didn’t want anyone getting their grubby hands on his money.”
And now these miniature grubby hands wanted to be all over it. Keke appreciated the tale Bertie told, which would keep them occupied and her mind off Pete.
She’s good at telling tales. Keke’s heart clenched in pain as she thought about Bertie’s lie. She hadn’t finished college. Why couldn’t she tell me?
“Sure,” Keke said, dropping her oar into the water. The sooner they could get away from Petey, the better. At least she could put distance between her and one Headley.
A scream followed by a splash made Keke stop rowing midstroke. She saw Pete slip into the water and swim over to Lea.
Now how did she fall out of the boat? Keke shook her head while the kids in her boat laughed and pointed.
Pete hoisted Lea up, and she tumbled back into the boat. Then he lifted himself back in while the kids screamed as the boat tilted a little.
From Keke’s vantage point, she could see the embarrassment on Lea’s face. Her soaked blonde hair hung everywhere around her shoulders. Using both hands, Pete gently brushed the locks and placed them behind her shoulders before moving to tuck the shorter strands that clung to her face behind her ears.
Excellent execution.
Absentmindedly, Keke brushed her own hair up toward her signature bun. A dart of jealousy hit Keke off-center of her heart. She did her best to ignore it. Her pupil was making progress, and that’s what mattered. And the proof was how Lea had stared unabashedly up into the eyes of her sort of rescuer. Lea had on a life jacket. There wasn’t any real need for Pete to jump out of the boat like a superhero.
But he sure looked like one in Lea’s eyes, Keke thought, and in mine. A deep pink color filled Lea’s face. After Pete finished with her hair, Lea gripped his closest arm, as though holding on for dear life. They were in the middle of a still lake—man-made.
“Nice job,” Keke said underneath her breath. Her jealousy faded, and Keke sighed with satisfaction. Her heart was in no danger, and she could continue with her lessons without fear of falling for Peter.
“I think she did that on purpose,” Bertie offered. “How do you fall out of a boat?”
Keke didn’t know, but Pete had done exactly what he needed to do to win the girl.
Only one lesson left.
The kiss.
Chapter 10
Pete tried his hardest not to shiver. Although the day was exceptionally warm and there was no wind to counter the scorching rays of the sun in a cloudless sky, he didn’t want Lea to feel bad about him going into the lake after her and then being cold because of it. She was trembling, and he was supposed to be giving her the warmth she needed.
“Thank you for coming in after me,” she whispered. “I felt like such an idiot.”
He still couldn’t figure out how she fell in. “No worries. It was my pleasure.”
She giggled. “I don’t think the kids will let me live it down.”
Peter cast a glance across the water. Keke was watching them. He was more worried that Keke wouldn’t let her live it down.
“Kids easily forget,” he said smoothly. “Tonight we’ll fill them with s’mores again and tell them ghost stories. They won’t remember you fell in by the time they go to bed.”
She snuggled closer, her grip on his arm tightening. “I hope so. Sometimes I’m such a klutz.”
Pete smiled. He could relate. He was awkward growing up with long legs and a shorter torso that didn’t expand until his teens. He almost always felt off-balanced, easily tripping over his two left feet whenever he ran. His father often said he was an oaf and was embarrassed to watch him play any sport. After the obligatory recreational leagues from four years old until about ten, Pete’s dad had called it quits. No more watching his son trip over a soccer ball or miss the base sliding into home.
“Don’t worry about it. I almost tripped out of the boat jumping in to save you.”
Lea laughed. “I doubt that, but thanks for saying so and making me feel better.”
Pete stared into her lovely blue-green eyes. Bright and full of pleasure. He grinned. His eyes scanned her hairline. All the hairs were pushed to the back. Darn. It was a perfect moment to incorporate the touch tactic again. He’d have to settle for being her human heating blanket.
When they finally arrived back on shore, both his and Lea’s clothes were nearly dry. Pete helped tie all the boats to the dock. Lea kept a watchful gaze over him while directing the kids to head back to the bathrooms to wash and get ready for dinner.
Pete caught Keke’s gaze. She winked and gave him a thumbs-up. Pete ducked his head, embarrassed. Of course she had seen the whole exchange. Her boat had rowed close to theirs after Lea had fallen into the water.
How had she gone in, by the way? He wasn’t watching at the time, but maybe she had leaned over too far and lost her balance. She did claim to be a klutz. Did she…?
No. She wouldn’t have done it on purpose. She couldn’t be sure he’d go in after her. A sweet girl like her wouldn’t be that manipulative.
When Pete looked back at Keke, her smile had waned a bit. She waved her fingers in the air and headed back up the dock.
“Say, Petey.”
You know, it was entirely different hearing his nickname when Lea said it. It sounded soft and…loving, maybe? Keke’s “Petey” had always held derision that set him on edge. Now when Keke said it, it fueled something deep inside to…be a conqueror? Strange…
“Yeah?” He wiped his hands free of the tweed fragments from the rope after tying up the last boat.
Lea clasped her hands in front of her and tucked her chin into her chest. Her face and neck were a lovely shade of pink that complemented her natural blonde hair. “I was wondering how I could repay you for my rescue.”
Okay, now this was overkill. He didn’t actually have to jump into the water. She was barely three
feet from the boat. At the time, he’d felt it was the most superhuman thing he could do that could work as a way of getting closer to her. For all he knew, she could’ve fallen in on purpose just so he would jump in after her.
But he took this suggestion in stride. He was finally having his first—he didn’t know what to call it—interaction with a girl he was attracted to that was going well. And the girl actually wanted him back. So whatever she wanted…
“Just doing my duty, ma’am,” he answered in the absolute worse southern accent. What was he, a cowboy now?
Lea giggled.
At least she liked it.
“Well, I was thinking a walk later on this evening? Maybe after the kids are settled in their rooms for the evening. I love walking at night. Something peaceful about hearing nocturnal creatures come alive. Don’t you think?”
Uh, nope. He was a computer nerd, not an outdoorsman. It was enough of a struggle to work here at his parents’ campground. He avoided the outdoors as much as possible. Except now that he was in great physical shape—and if he could secure that job in California—he’d probably be jogging up and down the beach. Maybe join a volleyball game or two. Show off his abs.
He had stopped eating sugar about four weeks before camp so he could have an eight-pack. Thank goodness for s’mores because he’d just about pulled his hair out.
Lea’s hopeful expression warmed him. “I think a walk would be a great idea. Thank you.”
A couple of top teeth snagged her bottom lip in a way that made his heart lurch. What if she wanted to kiss him later? He dragged his gaze away from her plump mouth and followed her back up the dock.
While she headed toward the girls’ bunks, Pete made a quick stop at the office to retrieve his cell phone. He read an email confirming the date and time next week for his appointment with Warp Entertainment. He would be receiving another email with details on flight and hotel arrangements, all being paid for by Warp Entertainment. They were really courting him. Pete nearly whooped in excitement. A company wouldn’t put in all this work unless they really wanted him.
If he could nail down that job…
“Ah, good, you’re back.” Titus walked through the back door of the office. He looked uncharacteristically happy. “I just received a call from the dean of the computer science program at Cornell.”
Oh, here we go.
Pete hadn’t had the time to come up with the right approach to let his father know that Cornell probably wasn’t going to happen. He at least wanted to wait until after his meeting with Warp. If he could tell his father he had a job lined up, maybe the man would be more receptive to Pete not going to Cornell.
His father nagged him for a year about college after graduation. The man had felt embarrassed explaining to his peers that his son didn’t have any motivation to go to college and seemed content to stay home and mooch off his parents.
Which couldn’t be further from the truth.
It took him a year to perfect multiple apps, including the one he planned to sell to Warp next week.
“Uh, yeah?” Pete asked hesitantly.
“Yes. And he’s agreed to meet with you personally to discuss additional scholarship opportunities.”
“What?” His father had Pete’s full attention.
One of the excuses Pete could give for not attending Cornell was the price. He hadn’t applied for any additional scholarships—on purpose—and his parents couldn’t afford any additional loans after getting a home equity line of credit to keep the campground afloat.
And Pete hated debt. Being a witness to his parents argue about money, he refused to take out a student loan. He might be able to sell a few apps to pay his way through Cornell.
If he was going…
Titus grinned, his thick chest puffed up. “They have a few interviews every semester with the most promising incoming students. They’ll discuss the program, and hear your thoughts on a senior project. It’s an opportunity for them to reconsider their scholarship amount.” Titus gripped Pete’s shoulder hard and shook it. “If you don’t screw up this interview, you could be looking at a full ride to Cornell!”
Yay. Only Pete didn’t say that. He raised his brows, forced a smile, and nodded.
Titus’s excitement waned. “I thought this information would excite you since I know you were worried about the cost. A full ride to Cornell…you can’t pass that up.”
Pete swallowed. “Dad…” Titus had already turned his back and gone to his desk. He shuffled some papers. “Dad?” Pete said a little louder. Titus didn’t respond. Pete made fists in frustration. His father heard him. He was being spiteful because Pete hadn’t been excited about interviewing with the dean.
Pete stomped around his father. “Dad, I have to talk to you,” he said more forcefully.
Titus looked up, scanned Pete’s face, and then stood to full height. His father was an inch taller than Pete, but physically, they were about the same size since Pete had maintained his gym routine since high school.
“What?” his father asked gruffly.
Pete opened his mouth and paused. Titus smirked. It was a challenge that both infuriated Pete and scared him. “I have to talk to you about…something I’ve been working on.”
“Is it your senior project for Cornell?”
“No,” Pete answered firmly. “But it is something that could make a lot of money. A phone app.”
Titus made a sound of disgust and put a hand up. “You think playing on your phone is more important than getting an education. An Ivy League education?” Titus roared. He leaned two fists on the desk, menacing blue eyes cutting through Pete. “Do you know what I would give to be in your shoes?”
Pete wanted to laugh. He had no idea about Warp Entertainment. That soured Pete instantly. His father wouldn’t let him get the words out.
“To be able to get an education, an opportunity I didn’t have. I had to go to work right out of high school. Had to help support my family.” He swung his arms around wide. “Don’t you think I’d rather not be here? I could be out of Springfield and not trying to support a failing business because it’s all I can do to keep food on the table. Maybe if I had a more supportive father. Maybe if I’d gone to school and gotten a degree…something that would’ve made me more money.”
“Maybe if you didn’t have kids?” Pete asked quietly.
Titus’s lips clamped shut.
Exactly. Maybe if he didn’t have a family. If it were just him doing it all over again, he’d make a different choice about that too.
Pete’s gaze fell away from his father’s guilty one, and he scuffed his toe on the floorboard.
“If I could do it all again,” Titus began in a calmer tone, “I’d make the choice you seem so keen on throwing away. I thought I raised you better than that.”
Pete’s eyes snapped up. Titus looked at him with both fury and disappointment.
“I thought you were actually smarter than that. And now I know I was wrong. Well, you see here, Peter”—he pointed a thick finger at Pete’s chest—“you’re not going to make the same mistake I did. You’re going to go to that meeting, because if you don’t—and when whatever you think you’ve got going on with your phone and your stupid games falls through—what else are you going to have? What else have you done with your life? You spend all day playing video games instead of being a man and going to work. You don’t know what it’s like to really have to grind day in and day out to live. You don’t know a thing about suffering, and that’s my fault.”
Titus took a breath while Pete stood still as stone. He’d never expected this reaction from his father, and he hadn’t even told the whole story.
“I shouldn’t have let your mother baby you,” Titus continued. “It’s made you weak, and that’s not the kind of man I want for a son. I should’ve forced you to do more. Learn more. It’s through struggle that you grow.” Titus’s gaze ran up and down Pete’s form. “What have you become? The only thing saving you is your brain.” His ga
ze became as menacing as the low tone of his voice. “Now, I don’t want to hear anything else about anything that doesn’t have to do with Cornell. You understand me?”
Before Pete could respond, Titus turned on his heels and stomped out the back of the office.
Pete’s phone buzzed, making him jump. He inhaled deeply several times, his lungs burning. He hadn’t breathed for probably the whole time his father had spoken. Feeling began to return to his fingers that had been balled into fists. He stretched out his toes, unaware that he had scrunched them up in his tennis shoes.
Pete raked his hands through his hair and began to pace the small office. He couldn’t tell his father about his potential app deal now. Even if it came with a fat check, education was clearly everything to his father, who never went to college.
Did he think Pete ungrateful for working to provide for his family? Because he wasn’t. He appreciated having a roof over his head and dinner every night. He just didn’t appreciate being guilt-tripped into a life he’d never want.
His father knew something about living a life he didn’t want. Why push his own son into one?
Pete remembered his phone and pulled it out of his back pocket. A message from Warp Entertainment.
The meeting was scheduled for the same day and hour as the interview with the dean.
Pete groaned. Of course it was.
Chapter 11
K eke glanced around the cafeteria. Still no Pete. Lea had entered a while ago, looking fresh from her shower after jumping into the lake.
Keke was convinced Lea’s “fall” had been intentional. The girl was counting on Pete to dive in and “save” her, despite the life jacket she was wearing. How could a wannabe marine biologist not know how to swim? You’d think if she really wanted to study marine animals, she’d have to get into the water at some point. Or maybe not. Maybe she wanted to study amoebas or something that didn’t require being in the water.
Either way, Pete had obliged and jumped in. He’d effortlessly lifted Lea back into the boat. Keke chuckled, remembering how Lea had been dumped into the boat headfirst. Even the kids in the boat had laughed.