splash. “Is that the end?”
“I think so.”
A wave of disappointment washes through me, and I struggle to put some space between us. To peel my thigh off his and release my death-grip on his arm.
“Here we go,” he shouts.
And then we’re launched into the light, laughing and coughing as our legs twine together and we go airborne.
Dean gives a shout and then we hit the water, splashing down into a pool of swirling blue. His hand finds mine underwater, and he pulls me to the surface, moving us toward the edge.
“You okay?”
I’m laughing as I come up, shaking the water from my hair. “I’m great. You?”
“That was amazing.”
The brightness in his eyes, the slickness of his fingers gripping mine, all of it is overpowering. Our forgotten tube bumps me in the back, knocking me into him. Dean releases my fingers and dips his hand into my low back. His eyes lock with mine, and I can feel our bodies moving closer, our lips drawn like magnets as we—
“Got it!” Lauren’s voice is followed by applause, and I jerk my attention to the side of the pool.
She’s clapping and flashing a knowing look while Gabe drives the camera.
“That was amazing.” Lauren steps to the edge of the pool. “I can’t wait to see the footage.”
Footage? That’s right, they’re filming, and holy crap on a cracker, I almost kissed Dean Judson. What the hell was I thinking?
But it wasn’t just me thinking it. I can tell by the way he’s watching me, by the way he touched his lip like he’s convincing himself it didn’t really happen.
It didn’t. Thank God it didn’t.
But holy inner tubes, we came close.
And that thought alone is enough to send me scampering out of the pool. “That was fun, really great, it was awesome.”
I’m chattering like a drunk teenager trying to pass herself as sober at a frat party. I’m tugging my swimsuit top and wringing water from my hair and doing anything to keep from turning to look at Dean.
Lauren catches my eye and smiles. “Was it like you expected?”
Not even a little. Not one a tiny bit like what I thought I was signing on for when I agreed to be the new CFO for this crazy community-slash-reality show. I’m trying to play cool, but I feel Dean’s eyes burning through the back of my head.
“It was great,” I tell Lauren, forcing a smile that I pray doesn’t reveal how I’m tingling all over. “Totally amazing.”
I turn and dash for the locker room, fingertips brushing my lips to be sure they haven’t burst into flame.
Chapter 7
CONFESSIONAL 231
Judson, Dean (CEO: Juniper Ridge)
Yeah, I like to be in control. You say that like it’s a character flaw or something. I’m the oldest of six kids, for Christ’s sake. Someone had to be in charge. Our parents…I mean, they’re great and all, but—[mumbling]. Look, it was just a weird upbringing, that’s all. I don’t regret anything.
Not from my childhood, anyway.
“Are we almost done with this business plan, or should I order more coffee?” Lana spins her enameled tin mug on the table, the words “sex kitten” twirling above the photo of a vicious feline with fangs dripping blood.
Mari flips a page in the document and begins polishing her glasses on the hem of her T-shirt. Until six months ago, I’m not sure she’d ever owned a T-shirt.
“Does it look like we’re almost done?” She turns a page in Lana’s packet, catching her up to the rest of us. “We’re on page 68 out of 171.”
Lana rolls her eyes. “Duh,” she retorts, leaning on her favorite baby-of-the-family comeback. “I meant are we taking a break or something.”
Lauren peers over the top of her packet. “There is no break. Only numbers and pie charts and words like ‘market penetration’ and ‘ROI’ and ‘monetize’ until we shrivel up and die a lonely, miserable death.”
Cooper breaks into applause. “Very nice performance. Maybe work up a faint sheen of perspiration on the next take.”
Lauren picks up a pencil to throw at him, but Lana beats him to it, flinging her empty tin mug at his head. It’s a good shot, but Coop ducks, and the mug clangs off the corkboard behind him.
Mari sighs. “Is there any chance we can make it through one of these meetings without assaulting each other?”
“Nope.” Gabe swoops in from the coffee bar across the room, angling himself between Lauren and Mari with a fresh pot in one hand. “Refills for all. Except Lana, who’s minus a mug.”
Lauren elbows