Page 41 of The Even Odder Couple

ChapterEleven

TESS

On the way to the campsite, I’ve got to keep slowing down to keep Spencer’s car in my rearview. The guy obeys speed limits like his life depends on it. Even though there’s not enough traffic now to be dangerous. Spencer knows where the ranch is, but if I arrive too far ahead of him, he’ll probably come up with another nickname for me.

Like fast and furious or something.

With my foot riding the brake, I tear off pieces of croissant to cram down my throat. I do this one bite at a time, swallowing after barely chewing. It’s hard to chew when your whole life is imploding.

At the coffee shop, Mrs. Lockhart had her eagle eyes trained on us. She looked suspicious. Like she doesn’t trust me. And unfortunately, she’s still got time to cancel camp. But all those kids are counting on our program, and Spencer needs the money for his house. Not to mention, I don’t want Mac looking at me like I blew yet another commitment.

Seriously, Spencer. Press the gas pedal.

By the time we pull off the highway onto the dirt road that leads to the ranch, I’m almost done choking down the croissant, but I’m not done replaying Spencer’s odd behavior in my head. It was almost like… helikesme, which I know for a fact isn’t true.

Our incompatibility is one of the reasons I picked him to be my overnight partner in the first place. I was so confident there’d be no possibility of temptation on either of our parts. Yes, indeed. No temptation for Spencer and Tess.

Oh, come on,my inner-voice echos.

Come on, what?

The man looked mighty tempting with his shirt off last week. Admit it.

So what? I’ve never been superficial like that before. Spencer’s bare chest shouldn’t change that now. Or his lean muscles. Or those broad shoulders. Don’t start doubting us, Inner-Voice Tess.

Fine. But he looked pretty nice at the coffee shop too. The man cleans up good. Not to mention, he smells way better than good.

Noted. But I’m not into fashion. Or… smells.

How about the fact that he wasvulnerable around his brother? And he tried being sweet when you seemed sad?

Ha ha ha! Poor Inner-Voice Tess. She thinks I’m attracted to vulnerability and sweetness.

As I park in the dirt in front of the camp office, Spencer pulls up in the cloud of dust behind me. Hopping out first, I take a quick survey of the site, and even though I was here with the camp’s cook for hours today, a shiver runs up my spine. This isn’t because I’m cold. This is pure excitement. For months I’ve beenlooking forward to Sunny Camp. And now I’m the director.

This is really happening.

There’s still enough light in the sky to make out the general setup of the ranch, but I grab a lantern from my trunk, just in case it gets too dark to see well while I’m showing Spencer around.

“A lantern?” he quips, coming up behind me. “How uncharacteristically responsible of you.”

Andthere’sthe know-it-all librarian we know and love.

I mean like.

Tolerate.

I slam the trunk and spin around. He’s got one brow up and a glimmer in his eye. He’d better not be laughing at me with his eyes. I tip my chin, aiming for defiant. “Get used to being surprised by me.”

He runs a hand across his jaw, over the dimple I usually ignore. Then he tilts his head, and his mouth slips on an angle. I can’t tell if Spencer’s trying to be serious or teasing me or what.

The answer to that question used to be obvious. Teasing. Always teasing. But this feels more like something else now. Almost like flirtation. But if Spencer Crane is flirting with me, I definitely slipped into bizzaro world.

“Anyway,” I say, trying to regain my bearings, “let’s start this tour before it gets too late. We need plenty of sleep this weekend. These might be our last restful nights for a while.”

Spencer’s mouth goes even more crooked, and my gaze drops to his lips. Dimple? Check. Lips? Check. Eye sparkle? Check. I clear my throat to stop the inventory.

“When you talked me into doing this,” he says, “you never mentioned I’d be awake with you at all hours.”

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