Flirting with Boys by Hailey Abbott Page B

himself out of the pool, the wiry muscles in his arms flexing, and stood in front of Celeste, dripping and panting. She couldn’t help notice that even though he was skinny, his abs and chest muscles were clearly defined and his shoulderswere broad and strong looking. Celeste realized she was staring and looked away.
    â€œWell, I’m really busy,” she said, turning away, “so have a good swim and—”
    â€œWait!” Nick said. Celeste turned back.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œDon’t you want to go for a swim? My parents are gone all day and we could order lunch….”
    Celeste had to consciously restrain herself from rolling her eyes. “Nick,” she said, as if talking to a kindergartener, “I’m working right now. That’s like a job, you know? Actually, maybe you don’t know.” It came out a little harsher than she intended and a faint frown crossed his face. “And shockingly,” she said, softening her tone, “I didn’t think to bring a bathing suit.”
    Nick smiled devilishly. His perfect teeth flashed in the sun and his blue eyes crinkled at the corners. He stepped a little closer and Celeste caught a whiff of deodorant and warm skin. She felt her skin prickle at his nearness and inhaled sharply. “So what?” he said, grinning. “We don’t need suits….”
    Celeste jerked her head back and suddenly realized how close they’d been standing. She stepped backwards, fast.
    Nick laughed. “Or we could just play Scrabble,” he said, collapsing gracefully onto a lounge chair. “Strip Scrabble.”
    Celeste gave him her dirtiest look and spun on her heel, marching through the empty guesthouse without looking back. She knew that if she did she’d see Nick staring after her with his nuclear-powered grin. “Nuclear” was also a good description for what Travis’s reaction would have been to that little conversation.
    Celeste stalked down the path, barely managing to fire a pleasant Pinyon-employee smile at an old lady tottering by with a walker. She blew air out of her nose like an elephant, trying to calm her pounding heart.
    As her heart rate slowed, she felt her phone vibrate. Damn it! He just never quit! Forget Dad’s warning. This was too much. Celeste grabbed the phone out of her pocket and flipped it open so hard she almost broke it off its hinges.
    â€œNo!” she shouted. “No, I am not bringing over more towels! Or swimming with you. Or skinny-dipping. Not now or ever!”
    There was a moment’s silence on the other end.
    â€œOkay,” a voice said dubiously. “But are you sure about the skinny-dipping?”
    Celeste stopped walking. “Oh my God. Devon?”
    â€œYeah,” Devon said. “Now will you go skinny-dipping with me?”
    Celeste’s knees felt weak and wobbly. “I’ve just had the worst half hour you can ever imagine,” she said, now walking very slowly, like an old, old lady.
    â€œWell, it’s about to get a little worse. You have to get over here ASAP. Travis is out back asleep and your dad was just in the office, asking where he was. He’s gone to look for him.”
    â€œDamn it! Distract him, do something!” The only thing worse than having Travis and Nick in the same place all summer would be not having Travis around at all. And while “sleeping on the job” wasn’t specifically on her father’s list of fireable offenses, Celeste was pretty sure it went without saying.
    â€œI can’t, he just left.”
    â€œI’ll be right there.” Celeste clicked her phone shut and broke into a run.

Chapter Eight
    C eleste flew down the path to the main building, almost knocking over two of the sous-chefs wheeling a towering pink-frosted cake toward one of the guesthouses.
    â€œHey, Celeste!” one of them called after her, but she didn’t turn around.
    What was he thinking?