The Boyfriend Project Read online

  “Actually, I can.”

  “Jeremy, don’t leave in a huff. You’re not the sort who leaves in a huff.”

  He looked back over his shoulder. “Well, maybe tonight I’m experimenting, trying to be different.”

  He walked out. The door closed with an ominous click that seemed to echo louder than if he’d slammed it. The dogs leaped onto my bed. I wrapped my arms around them and hugged them tightly, trying to figure out what had just happened.

  Chapter 18

  JEREMY

  I sat hunched on the outside steps. There was no reason to settle on the couch yet because I wasn’t going to be able to go to sleep, anyway.

  I had a clear view of the ocean, the moonlight reflecting off it, the whitecaps rolling in. I let the crash of the surf wash over me. I had to admit that maybe I’d overreacted a little to Kendall’s latest suggestion. What did it matter what I wore?

  But I guess with all the hints and suggestions she’d been making lately, I was starting to doubt whether she was really attracted to me, if she was content. I knew I wasn’t the most exciting guy in the world, especially when I was standing next to Fletcher. I liked him, but the guy was a chick magnet and I wasn’t at all. Then this stupid gun show had come along. . . .

  I’d drop out, except then I’d feel like a total loser. And Kendall would be disappointed that I wasn’t doing something that might bring in some bucks for the shelter. I hadn’t thought I’d do too badly. I wasn’t totally out of shape, but I hadn’t been working out since graduation. I was no longer on the high school baseball team, hadn’t gotten a baseball scholarship, so, yeah, I’d slacked off in the exercise department. So I could probably use some beefing up.

  And the truth was, I did want to look good for Kendall.

  I didn’t turn around when I heard the door open and the soft patter of bare feet. I was very much aware of Kendall lowering herself beside me.

  “Jeremy, I am so sorry that I’ve been so obsessed with how you should look at the competition.”

  “No, I overreacted. My dad is always trying to shape me into his mold, and the suggestions you’ve been making lately—I thought maybe you were trying to shape me, too.”

  “I don’t want you to change.”

  Except for trading in my car for a motorcycle, then changing my hair, stubble, physique, clothes. The outer stuff that wasn’t really the measure of a person unless that person lived in my family. We were judged by everything. I looked over at her. “But you wouldn’t mind me being a little different.”

  “I don’t want you to change,” she repeated.

  “Too late now, you put the idea in my head. Guess we ought to go buy that muscle shirt tomorrow.”

  She laughed, but I heard tears in her voice when she said, “I love you, Jeremy.”

  She was the last person in the world I wanted to make cry. I felt like such a jerk. “You’re going to love me more when you get a load of the hot Jeremy.”

  “I don’t know if it’s possible to love you more.”

  “I just want you to be happy.” And I meant it. Nothing, no one mattered more to me.

  “I am.”

  “But you’ll be happier if I collect the most money for this fund-raiser.”

  “I don’t know if happier is the right word, but I’d find some satisfaction in it,” she admitted. “Chase thinks he’s top dog. I’m pretty sure that’s why he suggested this idea, just to prove he’s a stud muffin.”

  I furrowed my brow. “Wait a minute. Who’s Chase?”

  She shrugged. “This new guy at the shelter. He’s a couple of years older and all the girls act like he’s God’s gift. They flirt so outrageously with him. No work is getting done. So I’m looking forward to you giving him a run for his money.” She beamed at me. “And giving Fletcher a run for his as well.”

  Why had I thought she didn’t have faith in me? I really needed to get my dad out of my head, had to stop viewing every suggestion Kendall made as though it came from the same place as my dad’s criticisms.

  Standing, I took her hand, drew her to her feet, and led her back to our bedroom. The dogs looked up, seemed to think all was okay, and settled back in on the bed they were sharing. I pulled Kendall down onto the other and held her close.

  With my thumb, I stroked her cheek. “I love you. I want to win this. I want to win it for you.”

  “I love you, too, whether you win or not.”

  Then she pressed her lips to mine, and I took the kiss deeper. I wished we didn’t have to leave tomorrow. I wished I didn’t have to get back to the real world of finding a job and getting my dad off my back. I wished I didn’t have all these doubts about the way she viewed me.

  I’d never been the popular guy in school. Hadn’t realized until now that it bothered me that I’d never stood out. I wanted her to be proud of me.

  And I would do whatever it took to make that happen.

  Chapter 19

  KENDALL

  “Hot studs,” Jade said. “And I am not talking about the nails being hammered into the wood.”

  I didn’t think she was. I was wishing I were still at the beach when I arrived at the shelter on Tuesday. I’d needed a little more time to get things right with Jeremy. He said we were okay, but things still seemed a little off-kilter. I tried to shake it off. Right now I needed to worry about the dogs.

  I’d just let one of the strays—Jaime Lannister—that had come in over the weekend out into the fenced yard to romp around for a bit. From there, I could see that a lot of progress had already been made on the new addition to the shelter. Cement had been poured, and the frame was up.

  Darla, who preferred hosing down the kennels to being outside because of her fair skin, surprised me by stepping outside with a dog and unhooking its leash.

  “Oh, wow,” she said, “there is just something about a rolled-up sleeve that makes my heart palpitate.”

  I nearly strangled on the laugh I tried to swallow back. “Down, girl.”

  She knocked her shoulder against mine. “There is one guy over there, a blond. Tall, slender, but his sleeves are rolled up, and I’m telling you—”

  “I’ve already got dibs on him,” Jade said.

  “You can’t call dibs on every guy you see,” Darla said. “You called dibs on Chase.”

  “Well, now I’m going with Thor.”

  “Thor?” I didn’t hold back my laughter with that.

  “Close enough,” Jade said. “There are a lot of hotties over there. Pick another one.”

  “I shouldn’t have pointed him out,” Darla said.

  “Which one is he?” I asked, curious, but at a glance it looked like there were maybe two dozen guys at work.

  “That one over there, helping to hold a board in place,” Darla said.

  I followed the direction of her finger. My breath caught. It couldn’t be. Mostly I could see his back and a little bit of his side, but I’d know that profile anywhere. “I’ll be back,” I said.

  My mind reeling, I walked through the shelter. Once I got outside, I headed to the construction area. They’d finished with that board. The guy was reaching for another.

  “Jeremy?”

  Looking up, he gave me an almost shy, definitely guilty grin. “Hey.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  He glanced back. “Hey, Mac, I’m taking ten!”

  The guy who I assumed was the foreman waved a hand. “Over here,” Jeremy said, and led me to the back of the fenced area, so we were away from where all the work was happening. Immediately a couple of dogs rushed over and began sniffing around. He put a couple of fingers through the diamond opening, let the dogs lick him.

  “Jeremy?” I prodded. “What is going on?”

  He removed his hard hat, plowed his fingers through his lengthening hair, and settled the hat back into place. He sighed. “I quit my job at my dad’s law office.”

  “Why? When? What happened?”

  “My dad and I have been butting heads for a