CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Dammit. Now he’d done it. Overstepped his plan to gently woo Hilly into accepting him on her own time and terms. Letting his dick do the talking.
But if the bright color on her cheeks was any indication, he might have gotten a lucky break. It seemed that she was interested in what he’d just proposed.
Maybe his new strategy should be to keep her off balance. Tease her with the possibility of carnal association—like that which he’d just spewed—juxtaposing it with the light flirting he’d already been doing. By the time summer was up, when he made his long-term intentions known, Hilly would be putty in his hands; primed enough for him that there’d be no doubts or arguments over where he wanted to take them.
Over the past couple weeks, Cisco had solidified—at least in his own head—his current and future positions regarding Hilly. He realized he was all in, having quickly morphed from being a player to becoming a goner, and…he didn’t mind at all. The thought of being “off the market” and tied to one woman wasn’t terrifying. It was exhilarating. Hilly was everything he hadn’t known he was looking; someone with whom he could share the rest of his life.
He couldn’t even imagine how much deeper he’d fall once he finally got her into bed. Cisco knew it would be epic. It didn’t worry him in the least that they hadn’t accomplished that yet, nor did he have plans to go there before summer’s end. But when he finally did…get her horizontal—or vertical against a tree trunk—he just knew it would be something he’d only dreamed about. It was fucking amazing, but Hilly hadn’t just captured his physical attention, she’d shanghaied his entire being.
Cisco grunted to himself. Was he ready to say the word “love” yet? Not quite. But he was close. And that didn’t scare him, either.
“The kids have free time next,” Hilly told Adeline and Crash as the lunch hour came to an end. She’d put on a good front of ignoring Cisco’s previously whispered comment, but with that pretty blush still dusting her fair complexion, he knew she hadn’t been able to dismiss it from her head, entirely. “Which means we have time to show you around.” She turned to Mason who’d just polished off an enormous double-serving of American Chop Suey. “Would you like to join us?”
Mason shook his head happily, picked up his tray and stood. “As much as I’d like that, I have to get back to work. I know I’m leaving Crash and Adeline in good hands.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “And now I’m going to thank my mother for the awesome lunch before I take off.”
“Thank her for us, too,” Adeline spoke up. “I haven’t had a bacon cheeseburger this good, in…well, forever.” Indeed, the grinning woman was licking the last of the double-stacker off her fingers.
“I’ll tell her,” Mason replied with a chuckle. “Although with eight sons who still make it a point to drop in for her food, she already knows she rocks it.” He walked toward the kitchen, whistling.
Hilly laughed, nodded, and finally turned to Cisco. “Do you think you could start the tour for our newbies without me, Cisco? I have something I have to take care of before I join you.”
Her face held a displeased cast, so he had to inquire. “Is everything all right?”
Adeline and Crash’s ears had clearly perked up, as well.
“I, umm…” She looked hesitant before she eventually spoke. “You remember I had a talk with Bailey a couple weeks ago?” She gave a quick explanation to their new companions. “Bailey is a counselor who…may or may not be going a little overboard with her teasing of a fellow counselor.”
Cisco definitely knew who Hilly was talking about. She was the girl who Lance was crushing on, and she had been, purportedly, bullying the poor sap.
“I remember.” Cisco urged her to continue.
“Well, it seems she didn’t take my initial warning to heart. I’ve had word from Lisha and Franny—two second year counselors,” she added for Crash and Adeline’s benefit, “that Bailey is still acting like she’s better than everyone else, and treating Lance like dirt. I’m putting her on notice. If she refuses to knock it off, I’ll have to fire her.”
“Will you have trouble getting a replacement?” Adeline asked.
Hilly shook her head. “Actually, I’ve talked to Buffy about it. She’s shown an interest in expanding her duties. Apparently, there isn’t a huge rush to see Buff while she’s wearing her therapist’s hat. She’s excited to possibly become an integral part of the camper’s daily activities and a cabin-mom so they’ll start to trust her.”
A slight thrill moved through Cisco. If the move was made, Buffy would be sleeping in one of the kids’ cabins. That would mean Hilly’s would be completely hers…
No. Now was not the time to contemplate getting Hilly alone. Cisco needed to continue to pace himself, to show the skittish woman just how serious he was about pursuing her for reasons other than her body; letting her wrap her head around the fact that she was worthy of everything he could give, and more.
“I’ll start the tour,” Cisco told Hilly. “Take your time. Make sure Bailey understands you’re dead serious.”
Right. Cisco would give it twenty-eighty odds. Teenagers tended to have minds of their own; either tuning out adults altogether, or mentally manipulating their words of warning and wisdom to fit their own agendas.
Hilly’s face took on a resolute tautness. “Oh, she’ll know I’m not kidding around by the time we’re finished.”
Cisco hoped so.
Now that he knew Hilly had suffered bullying at a young age, he understood her commitment to the underdogs among them. He realized where her passion regarding all her charges came from. She’d clearly suffered at the hands of classmates, and although she hadn’t discussed it with him, it was now also apparent to Cisco that her father had been a major prick to Hilly whenever he’d been around. The nerve of the guy. Coming here and spewing hateful names at Hilly. If he dared do it again while Cisco was close, Marty Smittfield would find his teeth rammed down his throat.
Cisco’s jaw tightened. It was the least he could do for Hilly; keep her—and the people in her charge—safe from bullying now, where he’d failed to do so during her middle school years.
Cisco gave Hilly’s arm a squeeze. “Good luck. If you need help, we’ll be close.”
Hilly nodded, but he couldn’t help from repeatedly looking back as he led Crash and Adeline from the dining hall.
“Want to share what’s got you so uptight all of a sudden?” Adaline asked. “I know I’ve only met you a couple times, so if I’m overstepping with my question, just tell me to back off.”
Crash purposely slowed his gait the minute his wife had started in with her concern. “Umm, I’m going to use the facilities,” he called out, slowly walking backward toward the washrooms. “I’ll catch up.” He turned and disappeared.
Cisco let out a huge sigh. “Smart man.”
Adeline nodded, waiting for Cisco to either deny her assertions, or spill.
Was he prepared to share?
Why not? Maybe a female ear would help sort him out.
“I like Hilly. A lot. And I only found out recently that I went to school with her when we were young.”
Adeline raised a brow, but otherwise stayed quiet.
Cisco changed tracks, giving the woman a little of Hilly’s background. “You may have wondered why Hilly opened a camp for children with low self-esteem.”
Only mild curiosity showed on Adeline’s face. Right. She’d probably come to some conclusions on her own, or perhaps Mason had already filled her in. Despite that, Cisco continued. “It’s because of who she remembers herself as being. According to my recollections, she was a cute kid. And a little on the…solid side, if you know what I mean.”
