Last Chance Summer - Shannon Klare Page 0,49

other hand provides the force, but this needs to provide the stability.”

“Stability. Okay,” I said, not even paying attention to what he said.

He paused, studying me. “Are you even listening to the instructions?”

“Yep,” I said, grinning. “You were talking about stability.”

“What else did I say?”

His face was dangerously close to mine, his body a hulking shield of warmth that left my brain deprived of oxygen and my stomach a flurry of nerves.

“Alex?” he said, his smile spreading. “What else did I say?”

“I have no idea,” I said, embarrassment flaming my cheeks. “I was paying more attention to you than I was the instructions.”

He paused and my cheeks grew warmer. I mean, he asked. What kind of answer had he expected me to give?

“I feel like we’re getting off the topic of basketball,” he said, tilting his head.

“Well, you’re the one who asked,” I said. “I was just giving you an answer. You’re distracting. Plain and simple.”

“Distracting?” he said.

“Yes. Your sense of humor could use some work, but the outside of you isn’t half-bad.”

“My sense of humor is amazing,” he said, stepping closer. “You’re the one who’s too serious.”

“Seriously attracted to you,” I said, staring at him.

He paused for a moment, his smile faltering. Back home, hitting on a guy was easy. Knowing where they stood was easy. Grant gave nothing away. Nothing.

“I don’t even know why I said it,” I said, after a pause. “That was dumb.”

“Hey,” he said, grabbing my hand. “Hey, hold on a second.”

“No. I’m good. I’ve obviously made this awkward, and it’s pretty clear. I’ve embarrassed myself enough for today. We’ll try again tomorrow. ’Kay?”

“You didn’t embarrass yourself.”

“Did you miss the part where I tried and failed at basketball, then tried and failed to hit on you? I’d call that embarrassment,” I said.

“You need to quit being so sensitive,” he said. He raised his hand to my cheek, his fingertips warm against my skin. “I’ll give, you caught me off guard, but I think it’s been apparent from the beginning that I like you. Still, feelings aside, this is a job. This thing with you and me is just an added complication. A complication I’m pretty sure neither of us needs.”

Rejection stung like a knife, knotting my stomach. “Right,” I said, nodding. “It’s a job. I got wrapped up in this basketball lesson and completely spaced on what this actually is. We’re co-counselors. I don’t need to get it twisted. Point taken.”

“That’s not what I said,” he said, frowning. “It’s just … you’re Loraine’s niece and my co-counselor and—”

“You don’t have to explain it,” I said, holding up a hand. “You’re trying to be the responsible one. I get it.”

“You don’t get it.”

“I do get it,” I said, putting distance between us. I glanced at the ball. The situation was growing worse by the second. I never should have crossed that line. Why did I cross that line?!

I grabbed the ball and handed it to him. “Um, here’s this,” I said. “I think this is the part where I leave and you stay. Thanks for the lesson.”

“Alex.”

I fled the pavilion, cheeks burning with embarrassment. The flashlight did little to hide it. I stopped, surveying my surroundings while mentally recapping how to get out of here.

Behind me, footsteps pounded the path. My heart dropped, the inevitable looming as Grant came into view.

“Alex,” he said, still jogging. “Hang on a second.”

I waved him off but he caught me anyway, his hand wrapping around my waist as he stopped in front of me.

“It’s fine,” I said, shaking my head. “We’re co-counselors who occasionally flirt. I can respect that. I do respect that. I just feel bad for being so up-front with you. I mean, I don’t feel bad about it, because it’s how I feel, but I should’ve kept it to myself. You were just standing so close and you smelled so good, and your sense of humor sucks but it doesn’t. I mean, you have a really stupid sense of humor, but I get it and appreciate it. But you just, you seemed to get me. At least I thought you did, and it was really nice. You know? I’m sorry if I crossed a line I shouldn’t have. I wasn’t trying to. Can we just rewind and pretend this didn’t happen? Can you forget everything I just—”

Grant’s hands found either side of my face, and then his lips were slanting over mine.

He was kissing me. Holy crap he was kissing me.

My nerves shot into overdrive, my heart