Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

It wasn't a dream. Hilly was here. In his house. And she smelled divine. Somewhere between a patch of sunshine in a stand of pine trees, and muted campfire smoke. Cisco would dream about that scent tonight, no doubt.

He placed his sandwich and her salad on his kitchen table. "Come on in," he told her, seeing her lingering in the doorway after she'd returned from her car. He strode over and relieved her of the assortment of sodas she cradled along with a few bags of chips. He also snagged his prescription from where it sat precariously atop the bottles.

"I should probably begin taking these pills," he said, juggling things as he backed away.

Hilly scowled. "You haven't started your antibiotics yet? I figured they must have given you a few at the hospital to tide you over. You need to down one right now, Cisco. A possible infection is nothing to mess around with."

A smile edged across his face. Normally, he didn't like it when someone other than his matriarch tried to mother him, but from Hilly, it was damned cute.

"Yes, boss," he smirked, and made a huge point of putting the soda in the fridge and the chips on the counter before turning to the cupboard on his left and giving her a running commentary. "I'm now getting a glass." He turned on the spigot. "I'm filling it with water. I'm opening the bag, and… Dammit ."

"What?" Hilly tracked closer to where he stood at the sink. "Are you hurting? Do you need help with something?"

"No. But…the pharmacy used a childproof cap," he gave a big, fake groan, pulling the bottle out of the bag. "I freaking hate these things."

Hilly laughed. It was a joyous sound, and one he wouldn't mind hearing a lot. Which is what he'd aimed for.

In truth, if he attempted it, it would only take Cisco a few seconds to remove the offending lid, but to keep her chuckling, he handed it over into her beckoning hands with an amused grumble. "Whoever invented those things will probably find him or herself in Hell when they die, tasked with opening these stupid things non-stop for eternity."

"It's not that tough," Hilly giggled, and had the thing undone in a flash before she tipped the bottle sideways and shook one pill out into her hand. "Here."

Cisco took it and purposely made his eyes go wide for a second time. "Cripes. These are awfully big." He tried to maintain a straight face. "I don't suppose you could crush it up for me?"

Hilly looked at him askance. "You've got to be?—?"

Cisco couldn't keep the pretense going any longer. He cracked up. "Yes. I am kidding. But you should have seen your reaction."

Hilly cuffed him gently and playfully on the arm. "Jerk. It's a good thing you're injured, or I would have smacked you good for that one."

"Oh, yeah?" he continued to joke. "You think you could get the drop on me and take me out?"

Hilly raised a brow. "Maybe. I've attended my share of self-defense courses, you know," she revealed. "And in my advanced class, I even managed to take down the instructor in our final session."

Cisco gave a low whistle before popping the pill in his mouth, instantly swallowing it down. "Huh. We might have to do a little sparring on the mats, then," he told her, visions of having his hands all over her lovely body suddenly dancing in his head.

She clearly wasn't picturing that as she gave a mock gag. "Ewww. Tell me you did not just choke that thing down, dry?"

Cisco snorted, and held up his glass before proceeding to chug the entire thing. "There. Is that better?"

"It is." She visibly shuddered, then grumbled. "That's just gross. I bet you lick popsicle sticks and suck on those damned wooden spoons they put in Hoodsies, too."

"And you don't?" He taunted. "Yumm. That's the best part, getting lastsies off the spoon or stick when the rest is gone."

Hilly huffed playfully. "Again, gross. The moisture is leaching out of my mouth just thinking about it. For you, sir, it'll be mandatory King Cones at camp. Nothing with a stick, you got it?"

"I can live with that," he snickered. "I've never tried a King Cone, but anything that's ice cream is good enough for me. And I'd hate to skeeve you out by sucking on something you don't like."

Shit.

Had those words actually come out of his mouth? Because now he had visions of feasting on what he knew would be cherry-red tipped breasts beneath Hilly's camp T-shirt

By the blush moving up her fair face, Cisco knew that's exactly where Hilly's mind had gone, too.

He cleared his throat. "You know what I think?"

She shook her head mutely, clearly flustered.

"I think we ought to sit down and eat before our mouths get us into trouble."

Fuck ! There he went again. Now all he could do was look at Hilly's lips as she worried the bottom bow with her teeth. Cisco couldn't help himself. He reached over and gently tugged it free from being chewed.

Hilly dragged in a gasp because…

Right.

Maybe she'd felt it too. The bit of electricity that had passed between them. Cisco couldn't recall ever getting that kind of sensation from a simple, innocent touch before. And since it wasn't generally in him to beat around the bush if his head went somewhere, or to avoid a potentially awkward confrontation, he wasn't going to let this incident go unmentioned.

"I like you, Hilly. I won't lie. And I just…felt something when I brushed my finger over your lip. If there's any chance that interest might be reciprocated, would you consider possibly going out with me sometime?"

Hilly blinked, as if her brain had just snapped back on-line, and she took a single step backward.

Cisco wanted to groan. That didn't bode well.

"I, uh, don't think it would be appropriate," she told him primly, except she couldn't quite hide the spurt of interest that had briefly flooded her eyes before she'd managed to drown it. "We're going to be working together, after all."

"You have a non-fraternization policy at camp?" Cisco prodded, knowing full well there was no such thing. Hadn't she mentioned something about her counselors hooking up?

"No. I don't. But still?—"

Cisco cut her off. "Then please don't say no without giving it some thought. Just consider the possibility, okay?" He mentally crossed his fingers that she'd agree.

Her shoulders fell as she let out a sigh. "Okay. But before you get too vested in making me your latest conquest simply because I'm the nearest available female, I should let you know there'll be two other eligible women at camp, a blonde and a brunette. One is a nurse, the other a psychologist, and they're both very beautiful."

Why did it look like it cost her a lot to say that? And why was she pushing him off onto other ladies when he was making his interest in her pretty clear? Did he come across as that much of a dog? It was a bit insulting that she'd think so little of him…and herself, as well.

Still, he refused to take offense. There was something big holding Hilly back from acting on what he'd offered, and he didn't want to spook her. If she needed deniability for some reason, he'd let her get away with her deflection. For now.

"Just to let you know," he told her succinctly, even though it wasn't exactly the truth before he'd met her, "I'm partial to redheads, but I'll keep an open mind where your colleagues are concerned."

She should look happy at his easy acquiescence, but instead, her pretty mouth pinched, and the freckles on her nose stood out as she scrunched it up.

"Great," she nodded, but it looked forced. "Now we should eat. I need to get back in time to do a last-minute run through of everything before my campers arrive tomorrow."

Cisco figured that was an excuse. He'd only known Hilly for a few hours, total, but he already understood enough about her that she would have had everything ready to go for days. He'd let her off the hook. Sort of. He'd simply use the time he had to double up on his charm and see if she could eventually be worn down enough to give him a shot.

He couldn't quite figure out why he was still interested in pursuing her when—despite saying she'd think about it— she looked like she wouldn't be budging. Cisco had never been hurting for dates, and normally if someone rebuffed him, he took it good-naturedly and moved on. But Hilly… There was something compelling about her that checked all his boxes, and not only in a "get-her-naked" kind of way. There was an aura about her that felt comforting and familiar, like he'd met her in a previous life and liked what he remembered. Which was crazy. He was certain he'd never laid eyes on Hilly before he'd met her at camp.

But enough speculation. If he didn't get them started on their food, she'd reiterate her previous excuse and decide to take off.

No way. He wasn't having any of that.

"Let's go out and eat." He gestured to the back door leading to his deck. "What's your soda of choice?" He turned back to the fridge and opened it up.

"Orange, please," she said. "Unless you want that one. I got an assortment, but there's only a single bottle of each flavor."

"Nope. You bought cream soda, and that's my favorite." He snagged two bottles and walked back toward her, following behind as she went outside. Taking a chair opposite hers at his small, bistro table, he opened both sodas and placed the orange in front of her.

She thanked him, took the top off her salad, and poured on the packet of dressing that had come with it. She forked up her first bite, chewing thoughtfully. "So, you haven't said how you're actually feeling, and whether you think you'll be up for coming out to camp in two days."

Cisco grunted. His chest burned like a mother-fucker, and he'd downplayed that to her when she'd asked before. But if he wanted to make any inroads into furthering her trust with him, he needed to come clean. "I'll admit, I've been better," he huffed. "It's not that terrible right now, but I foresee it itching and pulling like a bitch as it heals."

"Which means we should put you off a few weeks," she replied evenly, meeting his eyes with her compelling blue ones.

He didn't want to wait that long to see her again.

"I have a better idea. How about I start my regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, but instead of doing anything on the mats, myself, I set up situations between the kids while my body's mending?"

"You think that's safe? Letting them loose on each other while you're not able to get physical?" Her upturned nose crinkled again, and Cisco found that he really liked the cute gesture. He was going to have to find other things to say that would have her making that move some more.

"Who says I can't get a little physical?" He resisted the urge to wink at the would-be double entendre, but it took all his fortitude. "I'll still be the one orchestrating. I just won't be throwing my body around like I normally would."

Was there a tell-tale blush on her cheeks again? Cisco couldn't be sure. But the mention of getting physical seemed to have triggered some kind of response.

Awesome. Hilly was far from being as disinterested as she'd espoused.

"Well, if you think you can teach while you're still under the weather…" She shrugged as Cisco took an appreciative bite of his sausage sub; making a yummy moan as the meat, onion, and pepper combination hit his tongue.

Her eyes widened and she seemed to choke a little on her salad, watching him in fascination.

Did he have drool on his face?

"What?" he asked. "It's good."

"Nothing." She waved him off. "Nothing at all."

But she seemed flustered, and he couldn't for the life of him figure out why. Had she just surreptitiously licked her lips?

Maybe she was one of those people who craved a sub, but got a salad instead because of some fucked-up body image shit.

Not on his watch.

"You want a bite of my sausage?" he questioned.

Hilly went into a paroxysm of coughing, reaching for her soda and taking a long pull to clear whatever bit of lettuce had gone down the wrong way. "No," she rasped. "My salad is just fine, thanks."

Cisco didn't understand what had just happened, but to give her a break, he let it go and opened up another—hopefully neutral—topic of conversation.

"So, where's your dog today?"

Hilly's shoulders relaxed.

"Remember I said that there's a pretty brunette at camp?"

"Mmm, hmm," Cisco agreed as he took another bite.

"Well, Buffy is my best friend. She was also my college roommate, but instead of studying marketing and business like me, she got her degree and eventually her license to practice psychology, so she's our new camp therapist this season."

Hilly sounded more than pleased that her friend would be with her at camp for the entire summer.

"Sounds like the two of you will have fun," he said, trying hard not to be jealous that he wouldn't be her "bestie" on premise, which was ridiculous. He had no claim on Hilly.

"We sure will. And she's the one taking care of Nel right now, although it's no hardship for either of them. They love each other to pieces, having hung out together at my apartment and hers any number of times since she came into my life."

"Your apartment?" Cisco countered, finding himself a little surprised. "You mean you don't live at camp?"

Hilly laughed again, the sound becoming addicting. "Not year-round, no," she snorted. "First of all, there's no heat in my cabin, but even if there was, can you see me sequestered that far out of town for the entire winter with the kind of snow we get around here? Doesn't it seem like it would be too reminiscent of The Shining; me using a snowcat to get to and from my remote location?" She shook her head. "I don't think I'd be okay with Jack Nickleson showing up."

Cisco grinned. "I love that movie, but I agree. Being trapped out there, alone or with Jack, wouldn't be a smart move. So…your apartment? Why did I have the idea you might sometimes stay with your Mom and Dad."

"Maybe because they're local?" she pondered. "Papa-J and Mom have their own house just outside of Orono. I actually did live with them for a few years once I was out of college and working freelance jobs from home. But when I inherited the camp from my grandmother, I moved out."

Cisco nodded. Hilly hadn't mentioned that she might have also inherited money, but he got the idea that she had, and that's what had allowed her to move out from under her parents and be more independent.

Good for Hilly.

"Why do you call your father, Papa-J?" he asked, continuing what he considered to be light conversation.

When her entire demeanor changed on a dime and her face slammed shut—just like back at camp when he'd asked her a family question—Cisco winced. What was it that had her closing up faster than a clam when he questioned her about certain aspects of her life? She'd obviously adored her father.

Had someone hurt her in the past?

Was Hilly in some kind of trouble?

Cisco didn't like how one minute Hilly would be so open and smiling, and in the next, tortured and troubled.

Screw that.

Cisco made up his mind then and there to find out what the hell was going on with her to make her so conflicted.

And if she needed help, of any kind, he'd be there.