Almost Perfect by Julie Ortolon Read Free Book Online Page A

Bobcats and the Foxes have been racing canoes and competing on the archery range."
    "Go, Bobcats!" Dana punched the air with her fist.
    "Go, Foxes!" Sandy answered in kind.
    This time Joe's smile made it to his eyes, a rarity that turned Maddy's insides to pure jelly. "Through teamwork and healthy competition we have helped kids gain the confidence to achieve their personal best. The Rangers taught me the importance of teamwork. In this case, the objective isn't to cap-ture a spit of land or defeat an enemy, but to live up to our motto."
    " 'Building character and memories to last a lifetime,' " Mama quoted.
    "Exactly." Joe nodded. "As we're working together over the next week, preparing for the annual invasion of five hundred campers, I'd like all of us to keep that objective in mind and look for ways to make this summer a positive experience for everyone.
    "Knowing all of you, I'm sure you've been thinking about the summer as well, and what projects you'd like to do. So, I'd like to go around the table and have each of you share your goals. Carol, since you're always the queen of organization, we'll start with you."
    "Okay." Carol opened a folder and started handing out papers. "I've made a schedule—"
    Bobbi burst out laughing. "What?" Carol frowned.
    "Nothing." Joe smoothed the smile from his face. "We all live for your schedules."
    "As well you should." Carol nodded smartly and launched into what needed to be done by what day in order to ensure the efficient running of the camp office.
    The others followed with their ideas for the summer and the plans they'd been working on. Listening to them, Joe found himself as impressed this year as he had been last with their ideas. Too bad their enthusiasm wasn't enough to distract him from the woman who sat catty-corner from him.
    Maddy , he kept thinking, what are you doing here ?
    She looked unbearably appealing, naturally sexy, and completely out of place. He'd watched her dash across the game field with her skirt swirling about her calves and those ridiculously inappropri-ate shoes. Even with her feet tucked safely out of sight, his mind kept drifting to the bright orange sandals with long laces wrapped about her ankles— and how much he'd like to unwrap those laces.
    Then there was the yellow top. Tank tops normally looked better on someone with tanner skin and more muscle definition. On her, though, it worked. God, it worked. The knit fabric cupped her breasts, showed a hint of cleavage, and filled his head with thoughts of running his hands up and down her arms.
    Or simply holding her hand.
    He'd forgotten the way they used to hold hands everywhere they went. Now the memory returned along with the memory of other little pleasures. It hadn't all been about sex. There had been genuine caring. At least on his end.
    "Maddy," Carol said, jolting him with the mere sound of the name, "since this is your first time working at a summer camp, do you need help planning your activities?"
    "Not too much, actually."
    He felt her hesitate as she flicked a nervous glance his way. Then she straightened, as if coming to the same conclusion he had: that pretending to be strangers was the best way to get through this meeting.
    "Mama sent lots of information from previous years, plus I found a bunch of books filled with craft projects. Here's a list of projects I'd like to do." She started her own stack of papers around the table. "I'm open for suggestions, though, since y'all have more experience working with the kids."
    Taking one of the sheets, he saw that she was remarkably well prepared for the job. So much for being able to fire her on the grounds of incompe-tence. That would have been too neat and easy. And life, he'd learned, was rarely neat or easy.
    Finally they finished dividing up the work detail for cleaning and prepping the camp.
    "Okay," he said, glancing at his watch, ready to wrap things up. "I think that covers enough for now. We have an hour before dinner, which will be a