Secrets & Seductions by Pamela Toth

when she heard footsteps behind her. Perhaps one of the other women had a break, too.
    â€œSo this is where you hide when you want to goof off.”
    Morgan walked around in front of her as she put her feet down. His cheeks were flushed below the brim of his Mariner’s cap, and a rivulet of perspiration trickled down the side of his neck. Since their arrival over a week before, his tanned arms and legs had deepened to bronze.
    â€œWarm out?” she asked. Her chair was in the shade.
    Removing his cap, he wiped his forehead with one muscular forearm.
    â€œThe lake’s nice, but rowing back was hot work.”
    â€œMaybe you should have jumped in,” she suggested teasingly.
    The memory of seeing him in swim trunks during the inner-tube races, his body surprisingly athletic, made her mouth go dry.
    He didn’t return her smile. “We’ll leave after breakfast tomorrow for Johnson Lake,” he said. “Plan on being gone most of the day.”
    As soon as the meaning behind his words sank in, Emma leaped to her feet. “Oh, thank you!”
    He took a step back, his expression wary and his arm extended, palm out, as though to ward her off. “No problem.”
    She would have liked to ask why he’d changed his mind, but he didn’t give her the chance. After she watched him walk away, she made a list of the few things she needed in her day pack.
    The rest of the day seemed to drag, despite her kitchen duties and craft classes. That evening after the campfire with its usual skits and songs, she left Morgan alone. She was afraid of saying something that might change his mind.
    â€œHow did you talk our fearless leader into taking you with him tomorrow?” Sarah demanded when she caught up with Emma on the path back to the cabins. “That’s like a pilgrimage for him or something. He always goes alone.”
    â€œNot always,” Emma replied. “I told him I’ve never seen an Alpine meadow before, so he wanted to show me one.”
    Emma suspected Franny of having a secret crush on Morgan, but Sarah had a boyfriend back in Woodburn. She talked about him all the time, making no secret of how much she missed him. He was supposed to have come to camp with Sarah, but apparently he couldn’t get the time off from his job at the outlet mall. He worked there during summer break from OSU, where the two of them were students.
    â€œI think Morgan likes you,” Sarah whispered. “Asfar as I know, he’s never taken anyone else with him. The wildflowers are probably an excuse, like showing you his etchings or something.”
    Emma ignored the sudden jump in her pulse. “I think you’re wrong. We’re just friends. Once the camp session is over, we’ll go our separate ways.”
    Sarah laughed knowingly. “I understand perfectly,” she said with a wink.
    Emma didn’t bother to argue, but it took her a long time to fall asleep that night. It seemed that as soon as she finally drifted off, reveille sounded.
    She didn’t see Morgan at breakfast. From across the table, Derrick handed her a note with her name scrawled across the outside.
    â€œFrom the boss,” he said, and her heart plunged down to her toes.
    The staffers who weren’t assigned to meals with the children all stared as Emma unfolded the piece of paper and silently read the bold handwriting.
    Hike delayed until afternoon. Giving grand tour to potential patron this a.m.
    Figuring the news would get around soon enough, she recited the contents aloud.
    â€œThat must be the owner of the fancy SUV in the parking lot,” Heidi exclaimed. “Whoever they are, I hope they write a big fat check.”
    Everyone laughed and then they resumed eating.Emma moved her scrambled eggs around on her plate while she willed her stomach to calm down. Waiting several more hours wasn’t going to be easy, but at least he hadn’t canceled on her