Chapter 2

Chapter Two

S he didn't know why she'd asked Dean to show up for her morning yoga ritual. She kept telling herself it had nothing to do with her hidden feelings for the man she'd considered a friend for years.

Watching him walk towards her through the early-morning mist had her heart jumping and her palms sweating. This was definitely a bad idea.

"Hey," he said slowly as his eyes ran over her yoga outfit.

"Morning," she said, cheerfully. "Ready?"

"For?" he asked, tucking his hands in the pockets of his shorts.

Most people who worked at the camp wore the same standard uniform—cargo or board shorts and a camp T-shirt or tank top, which came in a variety of bright colors with fun camp sayings.

Some of her favorite sayings were "Adulting is Hard – Let's Go to River Camps," "Making Pour Decisions at River Camps," "River Camps – Less Drama More Karma," "River Camps – Campfires & Cocktails," "River Camps – Adulting in the Wild," and her absolute favorite, "River Camps – Where the Wild Things Drink."

Today, Dean wore a bright orange T-shirt that read "River Camps – Sunsets & S'mores," along with a pair of black board shorts. When he delivered food outside, he normally wore the more casual attire. When waiting tables in the main dining hall he usually donned black slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a tie.

"Call it a test." She tilted her head, then started walking down the pathway. She smiled when he fell in step with her.

"What sort of test?" He laid a hand on her arm, stopping her. "You aren't going to drag me into the marsh somewhere and make me take part in a pagan ritual, are you?"

She laughed when he smiled.

"That wasn't—" She shook her head. "You know that was just a joke everyone was saying about me, right?"

His smile grew. "I rather like thinking of you dancing naked under a full moon."

She balled her fist and hit his shoulder. "You first. The mosquitoes would eat me alive."

"True," he said as they started walking again. "I suppose in my head I didn't think of bugs." He glanced sideways at her. "I've gone swimming naked a few times at night at the pools here. If you stay under the water, the bugs leave you alone. For the most part."

"I may have jumped in late at night, too." She thought back to the previous summer, the night when she knew the cameras were off and she was alone and held in a sigh. The feeling of being freed of all worldly weight had been rewarding. "I can't wait for warm nights."

"How is it we've never bumped into one another? Like that?" He cleared his throat. "You know…"

"Naked?" She smiled when he nodded. "I suppose it's because we're both cautious. You probably know the camera schedules like I do."

"Camera?" He frowned. "Oh, right." He glanced around and spotted a security camera hanging on the nearest light post. "Honestly, I'd forgotten about them."

She chuckled. "You mean to tell me that there might be some footage of you au naturel out there?"

He shrugged. "I think the footage gets recorded over every week. It's probably long gone by now." He smiled.

"Well, I know how to bypass that." She winked at him and then took his hand and hurried them along the pathway.

"Bypass? You mean with the help of your buddy Aaron?" he asked when they stopped at the edge of the private beach pathway. "Are you two…"

"Friends?" she finished for him. "Like…" She motioned between them. "The rumors of my many affairs are highly exaggerated. Yours on the other hand… The title you've earned of camp gigolo suits you, I think."

"Right," he said, his voice low. "Those might be a bit exaggerated as well."

"A bit." She chuckled, not really taking his word for it. If only a tenth of the rumors circling the camp were true about Dean, then he had taken on more lovers than she had since working there.

"What now?" he asked as he glanced around.

"Now"—she toed off her sandals and motioned to the foggy beach—"we get naked."

She watched his eyes go large and that sexy smile turn his lips upward.

"Seriously?" he asked softly. She burst out laughing.

"No." She motioned to the beach and he turned and looked. His eyes narrowed slightly until he could see several dark shadows scattered across the soft sand. "It's the morning yoga class." She reached over and tugged his hand.

"Yoga?" he groaned as he followed her across the beach. "This early?"

"Yes, it will help center you for today." They joined the handful of employees and guests already warming up on the sand.

After his initial groans, he quieted down and seemed to enjoy the class. She knew that it wasn't his first time attending a yoga class since most employees joined the classes on occasion and she'd seen him in a few before.

By the time the sun had just begun to rise, burning off the morning fog and casting a warm golden glow over the beach and the class members, the session was breaking up. The yoga class had been invigorating, and she felt refreshed. The sound of waves crashing against the sandy shore had provided a soothing backdrop to their stretches and poses.

She sighed contentedly, stretching her arms above her head in one last relaxing move. "That was amazing. I feel like a new person."

Dean grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Yeah, I can already feel my chakras aligning. Or maybe that's just my stomach growling. Breakfast soon?"

Andrea laughed, nudging him playfully with her elbow. "Men, always thinking with your stomach." She glanced down at his shorts and smiled. "Among other parts." His grin was fast. "How about a swim to rinse off first?" she suggested.

He sniffed his shirt. "And a change of clothes. Good thing I keep some in my locker."

"Most employees do, for this reason," she agreed.

They headed back down the pathway towards the main pool area while the rest of the class disappeared down other pathways or stuck around the beach area. The early-morning fog was still swirling around the pathways but was slowly evaporating as the sunlight reached through the trees. Mist and moisture on the asphalt turned into steam while the birds sang overhead in the trees.

In various spots around the grounds, there were brightly colored benches and birdhouses scattered around the many pathways. Most of them had been made by guests who had taken a class in the wood shop that Liam Costa ran.

When they reached the pool deck, she slipped off her sandals, shorts, and T-shirt. The cool tiles were a welcome contrast to the warm sand. Thankfully, the pool area was deserted at this early hour. The water was still and very inviting. Even though it was still early in the year, she knew that in a few hours, the pool would be packed with guests.

Dean pulled off his camp T-shirt and walked over to dip a toe in the water. He shivered dramatically. "Brr! It's like the Arctic in here!"

Andrea tossed her clothes onto a chair and rolled her eyes, smirking. "Oh, come on, you big baby. It's not that cold. It will feel refreshing."

"One could freeze and drown in the deeper water," Dean shot back.

"Don't worry, I'll be here to save you if you do." She laughed.

"I've seen you swim. You're practically a mermaid. Though, after watching you do yoga this morning, maybe I should say you're a yoga goddess?"

She smiled and felt her body heat at his compliment. "Flattery will get you nowhere. Except maybe into the pool." Before he could react, she playfully shoved him into the deep end. Then she jumped in after him and landed right by his side.

She came up laughing uncontrollably as his arms circled her body.

"Don't you dare drown me!" She laughed as she tried to hold onto him, his toned muscles unmoving under her fingertips as he pulled them back under the water. They surfaced again, both laughing and splashing each other.

The cool water felt like tiny spikes cutting her skin. Still, it was so refreshing that she didn't care. It made her feel alive.

"You don't play fair," Andrea exclaimed, wiping her hair and water from her eyes.

"You're the one who pushed me in," Dean reminded her as he slicked back his wet hair. "All's fair in love and pool war."

Andrea swam closer, poking his chest. "I guess that makes us even. I think if we stick around in the deep end much longer, we'll both end up at the bottom. How about we dry off and get some breakfast?"

Dean nodded quickly and headed to the side of the pool with her. "I could eat an entire stack of pancakes with extra syrup."

As they swam to the shallow end, she glanced around, making sure they were still alone. It wasn't against the rules for employees to enjoy the amenities, but the unwritten rule was to not draw attention to yourself while doing so.

"You know, if we keep this up, people might start talking," Dean said as they stood in the waist-deep water now.

Andrea raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? Just what do you think they will say?" His smile for an answer had her knees going slightly weak.

One thing she'd learned working at the camp for so long was that the employees loved juicy gossip. Over the years she'd heard all the scandalous rumors about herself. If you believed them, she had slept with more than a hundred people in the time she'd worked there. Both men and women.

Sure, she'd enjoyed herself, but not nearly that much.

She had heard just as many rumors about Dean. Most of them she knew for a fact were true. But that didn't detour her attraction for the man, only doubled it.

"Probably something about how the handsome, charming Dean, that's me"—he pointed to his bare wet chest and grinned—"has finally met his match," he added with a wink.

She splashed him, laughing. "Handsome and charming, huh? You don't have an ego at all," she said dryly. "Besides, everyone knows you're the male equivalent to me."

"Oh?" He moved a little closer.

She lowered her voice and pretended to glance around. "Didn't you know? We're two of the biggest flirts on campus. You and I combined have slept with every single employee and guest that have ever walked through those front gates."

He smiled slowly. "Yet for some reason, there has never been a rumor about us together." His hands slipped to her waist, holding her under the water.

"No." She smiled and easily slipped out of his hold. "Thankfully," she said, diving into the water.

When she surfaced by the stairs, he was right beside her, grinning.

"I still can't believe how great it is to work here." He sighed as he leaned against the edge of the pool. His arms crossed over one another as he looked out to the view beyond the pool deck. "Every time I tell myself I should move on, there are moments like this." He glanced sideways at her.

His dark hair was slicked back from his face, showcasing his chiseled jawline, his perfect features, those lips she'd dreamed of enjoying.

His eyes ran over her and, when they locked with her own, she felt a shiver of excitement race through her.

What would she do if he kissed her now? How would she be able to control what came next?

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached, and they saw a few guests making their way to the pool area.

Dean sighed theatrically. "Our private paradise is invaded."

"Guess it's time to head inside," she said, pulling herself out of the pool. She offered Dean a hand. "Come on, we'll head over and grab some breakfast."

Dean took her hand, and she held a breath as he pulled himself out of the pool. The water dripped off him, and her mouth watered. Why had she waited so long to make a move on him? It wasn't like her. She'd never denied herself physical enjoyments before. But this was Dean. How long had she crushed on him?

As they walked towards their clothes on the chairs, he leaned in and whispered, "You know, I think this could be the start of a beautiful morning tradition."

She laughed, giving him a playful shove. "Only if I can keep throwing you into the pool."

Dean grinned. "No promises."

They toweled off quickly and then she pulled her shorts and T-shirt over her wet suit. She hated watching him cover those lean, toned muscles in his chest with the camp T-shirt and had to hold in a sigh of appreciation before the view disappeared.

With her hair still damp from the pool, they made their way inside the pool house where she worked. She was in charge of four small massage therapy rooms, each with its own small bathroom and shower to rinse off the oils and lotions. There were also separate bathrooms for pool guests, and a locker room. Each employee had their own locker to store extra clothes in.

The cool air of the building greeted them, and they both shivered slightly as they entered the building.

"I can't wait for summer to fully get here," she said with a slight sigh as she wrapped her arms around herself.

"It'll be here soon enough," he said as they made their way back to the locker rooms.

She always kept a change of clothes in her locker besides her work scrubs. She'd learned early on in the job that she often needed a few pairs of shorts and several camp shirts to make it through a week.

She and Dean each changed in one of the small changing booths and then tossed their wet clothes in the washer/dryer units she used to launder the many towels and sheets they used each day.

Suddenly, to her horror, her stomach growled very loudly. Dean laughed beside her, taking her hand. "Don't worry, my stomach is just as loud. Let's go get some food."

A few minutes later, they walked into the employee dining room. The room was full of people she considered friends.

The sound of all those people talking was slightly shocking after the quiet of the outdoors. But she loved the loudness, the laughter, the sounds of employees enjoying breakfast together. They were one big happy family, not just coworkers.

That was the main reason she chose to eat here instead of grabbing food before coming into work each day. Also, the food was so much better here than she could make herself.

The aroma of freshly cooked breakfast wafted through the air, making her stomach growl audibly again. Thankfully, at that very same moment, she heard Dean's stomach growl loudly as well.

"I suppose my stomach controls me as much as yours does you," he pointed out.

They moved together to get in line so they could grab food from the buffet line. Dean leaned closer and whispered, "Do you think the rumors will start about us walking in together?"

"No, they'll just talk about how I have poor taste in friends." She nudged him with her elbow playfully.

They grabbed trays and quickly filled their plates with pancakes, eggs, and bacon from the food line.

When they entered the sitting area there were a few other employees gathered around a large table, enjoying their breakfast.

Sarah, one of the lifeguards, waved them over. "Hey, you two, join us!"

Dean took a seat beside Sarah, and Andrea sat across from him.

"Good morning," Andrea greeted, pouring a cup of raspberries and blueberries over her pancakes before adding a dash of whipped cream.

"Morning," Sarah replied. "I caught the sunrise on my way in. Always a nice way to start the day."

"We watched it on the beach doing yoga," Dean pointed out, motioning with his fork towards her. "Her idea, not mine." He winked at her.

Eddie, a fellow yoga instructor and fill-in bartender, laughed. "What's your idea of a good morning? Extra pancakes?"

"He practically drowns them in syrup," Andrea said, grinning as Dean was caught pouring more syrup over his pancakes.

"Hey, it's the only way to eat them," Dean protested, his mouth full. "Right?"

"Absolutely," she agreed, laughing. "Otherwise, it's just too healthy." She motioned with her fork filled with berries while a few at the table laughed.

As they chatted and ate, the dining room filled up with more employees. The sound of laughter and conversation created a lively atmosphere.

Sarah leaned over to Andrea, a teasing smile on her face. "So, how was your morning yoga session? I saw you two heading to the pool afterward."

Andrea smiled. "It was great. The perfect way to start the day."

Dean smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, especially when you throw your unwilling yoga partner into the pool."

Eddie raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? I missed that part."

She shot Dean a playful glare. "He deserved it."

Dean shrugged, grinning. "At least I got breakfast out of the deal."

The conversation flowed easily and she realized that the warm sense of camaraderie she always felt from the group was an addiction. It was one of the main reasons she loved working at the camp.

"All right, time to get to work," Sarah said, standing up and stretching. "See you all later!"

The group dispersed, heading off to their respective duties. Andrea and Dean lingered for a moment, clearing their trays.

"Thanks for coming with me for yoga and breakfast," Andrea said, smiling at him. "Even if it was a bit…sticky." She motioned to his empty plates as he dumped them into the bins at the drop-off area.

Dean laughed. "Any time. I'm fully ready to tackle the day. I'm very eager to see you in action firsthand."

"You've seen me in action. I've given you more than a dozen massages over the years."

"Yeah, but I was face down on a table." He nudged her. "This time I'll be fully clothed and my eyes wide open."

"You were snoring the last time you were on my table." She chuckled.

"I can't help it, when I relax, I sleep." He shrugged.

They walked out of the dining room together. The sun was now fully in the sky, and the heat hit them full force.

"You'd be surprised at the things people do when they relax," she said as they made their way back to the pool house. Her first appointment wasn't for another hour, which would give her plenty of time to set up the massage rooms. No doubt, Kara would be there doing so already.

"Oh?" Dean asked, glancing at her.

She stopped on the pathway. "Since I'm going to be training you, I might as well get a few things out there. I didn't have someone warn me before starting this job, so I figure I'll do you a favor. People, when relaxed, can be…"

"Farty?" he asked, causing her to laugh.

"Among other things." She nodded. "Aroused being the other."

He frowned. "Seriously?" She nodded. "They don't, you know, expect you to…"

"No." It burst from her, then she laughed. "We are not a happy ending sort of massage parlor."

He sighed and seemed to relax. "I would have to bash some heads in for your and Kara's sake."

She smiled. "Still, it happens. The younger the client, the more embarrassed they tend to be. The older men are proud of it."

He laughed as they started walking again. "I guess I'm thankful I only fell asleep on your table."