Temptation by Nora Roberts

sending smoke billowing skyward. Eden found herself looking forward to the evening every bit as much as the youngest camper. With her head pillowed on her folded arms, she stared up at the ceiling while Candy paced.
    â€œI’m sure we could do it, Eden.”
    â€œHmm?”
    â€œThe dance.” Gesturing with the clipboard she was carrying, Candy stopped at the foot of the bunk. “The dance I’ve been talking about having for the girls. Remember?”
    â€œOf course.” Eden forced her mind back to business. “What about it?”
    â€œI think we should go ahead with it. In fact, if it works out, I think it should be an annual event.” Even after she plopped herself down on Eden’s bed, her enthusiasm continued to bounce around the room. “The boys’ camp is only twenty miles from here. I’m sure they’d go for it.”
    â€œProbably.” A dance. That would mean refreshments for somewhere close to a hundred, not to mention music, decorations. She thought first of the red ink in the ledger, then about how much the girls would enjoy it. There had to be a way around the red ink. “I guess there’d be room in the mess area if we moved the tables.”
    â€œExactly. And most of the girls have records with them. We could have the boys bring some, too.” She began to scrawl on her clipboard. “We can make the decorations ourselves.”
    â€œWe’d have to keep the refreshments simple,” Eden put in before Candy’s enthusiasm could run away with her. “Cookies, punch, that sort of thing.”
    â€œWe can plan it for the last week of camp. Kind of a celebrational send-off.”
    The last week of camp. How strange, when the first week had been so wearing, that the thought of it ending brought on both panic and regret. No, summer wouldn’t last forever. In September there would be the challenge of finding a new job, a new goal. She wouldn’t be going back to a teaching job as Candy was, but to want ads and résumés.
    â€œEden? Eden, what do you think?”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œAbout planning the dance for the last week of camp?”
    â€œI think we’d better clear it with the boys’ camp first.”
    â€œHoney, are you okay?” Leaning forward, Candy took Eden’s hand. “Are you worried about going back home in a few weeks?”
    â€œNo. Concerned.” She gave Candy’s hand a squeeze. “Just concerned.”
    â€œI meant it when I told you not to worry about a job right away. My salary takes care of the rent on the apartment, and I still have a little piece of the nest egg my grandmother left me.”
    â€œI love you, Candy. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had.”
    â€œThe reverse holds true, Eden.”
    â€œFor that reason, there’s no way I’m going to sit around while you work to pay the rent and put dinner on the table. It’s enough that you’ve let me move in with you.”
    â€œEden, you know I’m a lot happier sharing my apartment with you than I was living alone. If you look at it as a favor, you’re going to feel pressured, and that’s ridiculous. Besides, for the past few months, you were taking care of fixing all the meals.”
    â€œOnly a small portion of which were edible.”
    â€œTrue.” Candy grinned. “But I didn’t have to cook. Listen, give yourself a little space. You’ll need some time to find out what it is you want to do.”
    â€œWhat I want to do is work.” With a laugh, Eden lay back on the bed again. “Surprise. I really want to work, to keep busy, to earn a living. The past few weeks have shown me how much I enjoy taking care of myself. I’m banking on getting a job at a riding stable. Maybe even the one I used to board my horse at. And if that doesn’t pan out—” She shrugged her shoulders. “I’ll find something