her parents’ house wasn’t something she’d expected. “So a handsome, successful guy like that with no job offers? Something’s fishy.”
“He is handsome, isn’t he?” Her mother smiled dreamily.
Summer didn’t respond, preferring not to think about Rick’s impossibly broad, squared shoulders, or that blond crew cut that showed off pleasant blue-green eyes, or the dimples that were so deep she could see them from yards away.
“Gus told us he was offered a job in Frankfort. A good job.” Her dad popped a whole cheese straw in his mouth and reached for another. “But he wouldn’t take it and leave his staff here stranded with nothing. He’s hoping to get back on as a ranger in the fall, and he’s working on his real-estate license just in case.”
Summer grimaced at the admiration in her dad’s voice. Rick Warren had already been elevated to hero-worship status while she remained the poster child for People Not to Pin Your Hopes On. A flare of jealousy mixed with embarrassment churned her insides. “Well, he may be a swell guy, but he doesn’t love y’all the way I do, and he won’t have your best interests at heart. You sank all your money into this—”
“Which is why we need—”
“Me!” Her heart beat faster. “You need someone who knows you and...and your values. Someone who’ll keep an eye on Rick Warren to make sure he handles things the way you want and doesn’t yell at the kids the way he did poor Peewee.”
That drew a frown from her mom. “Surely he wouldn’t do that.” She chewed on her bottom lip. Not a bad sign.
Summer snorted, making another attempt to drive the point home. “Once a marine, always a marine. And Charlie won’t be out with the kids all the time. Most of the time it’s only the kids and the counselors.”
Her parents’ eyes met. They were weakening. If they had more time, she’d lose this one, but the camp was scheduled to open in a few weeks, and plenty of preliminary plans still needed to be taken care of. They needed a head counselor for the girls.
Her mother’s eyes widened suddenly. She’d found a loophole. “But what about your business? You can’t be away from it the whole summer. Not on such short notice. You’ve already got parties booked.”
Summer had thought that one out some time ago, in case anything like her dad’s health ever pulled her away. “Best friend to the rescue. Kate’s my fairy-princess-in-waiting. She’s already said she’d be glad to be my fill-in if I ever need one, and she’s looking for a summer job. And no,” she countered before they could broach the subject, “she’s not interested in the counselor position. She doesn’t swim and despises sweating.”
Her parents exchanged looks again, and this time things felt positive. Hopelessly resigned for their part, but positive for her. Her mind whirred for the definitive coup de grâce. “I’ll work for free.”
Two sets of eyes swung toward her.
“I mean it. I don’t know what you’re planning to pay the counselors, but whatever it is, you can keep my part. It’s just another way I can pay you back what I owe.” And show you I’m up to the challenge.
“Well, you are good with little girls,” her dad acquiesced.
“I’m great with little girls! I have all those games and activities from my parties I can use.” She did a quick mental inventory of additional items she might need. “Do you still have some of that green granite?”
“In the workshop.”
“Can you cut some more stars for me? They’ll be perfect for special wands I can use as awards. This is so exciting!” Using her fairy princess persona, she flitted to her mom, then her dad, and planted kisses on each of their cheeks. “I can make the camp a fairy princess dream come true!”
“But remember.” Her dad shook his finger in her direction. “Rick’s taking Gus’s place as assistant director, so he’s in charge. Whatever he says, goes.”
“Of course!” Summer smiled sweetly, but her insides jumped in a wild dance of victory. Her kid-radar told her Mr. Haughty wouldn’t have the vaguest idea how to deal with kids. She’d be surprised if he made it a month. A week might even be pushing it.
But she wouldn’t let her parents down this time. She’d be there to show them what she was capable of when Mr. Marine hightailed it outta there.
CHAPTER TWO
THE LOGS NEEDED SOME CHINKING, windows needed caulk and the screen door wouldn’t close completely. Taking it off