The Boyfriend Project Read online

  “I got the impression when you talked about him before that you didn’t like him.”

  “He’s nice enough. He’s just a little too cocky and thinks he has this competition nailed.” She furrowed her brow. “How did you know it was him, anyway?”

  I lifted a shoulder, regretted it as soon as I did it when the muscles protested. Fought back the grimace. “Tommy knows him.”

  “Tommy Simms? We should have him in the gun show, too. I’ll ask him tomorrow.”

  She really had a one-track mind when it came to the shelter. Although I completely understood, because animals were so important to her.

  “How long will it take to finish the wing?” she asked.

  “From what I understand, the rest of the summer.”

  “It’s going to be so nice when we can handle more dogs.” She squeezed my hand. “You’ll be part of that, of making a difference.”

  “I’m making a difference with that fund-raiser.”

  “That, too.”

  With her fork, Kendall broke off a bit of meatball and tossed it to Bogart. The dog snatched it out of the air. Then he settled down, chin on the floor, as though that small action had tuckered him out. I was tempted to join him. I didn’t know if I’d ever been so tired.

  “So, your mom’s date? Same guy?” I asked.

  “No, someone different. He took her to the Shrimp Hut. If Avery were working tonight, I’d have her text me a photo of them.”

  “You haven’t seen him?”

  “Nope. Mom wouldn’t even tell me his name. Think she was afraid I’d Google him.”

  “Has to be hard for her to date after so long.”

  She started playing with her food again. “I miss him sometimes, you know?”

  “You probably always will.”

  She nodded. “But some days it’s more than others. It’s going to be hard on Mom when I leave.”

  “But it’ll be good for her and you,” I said, even though I didn’t know if that was true. I had no experience with psychology.

  “Was today scary for you?” she asked, her green eyes filled with earnestness.

  “Actually I started working yesterday. It was a little strange. Totally different environment, but I like it.”

  “I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

  “I didn’t want you to worry about it.”

  “I wish your dad saw you like I do.”

  “You mean as hot stuff?” I asked.

  She laughed lightly. “No! I just wish he had more faith in you.”

  Sometimes I did, too.

  She dropped her fork into her bowl. “I’m done.” Then she reached for my empty bowl.

  “I’ll help you clean up.” I slid off the stool, moaned a little as the muscles rebelled.

  Her eyes widened. “You okay?”

  “Just sore.”

  “Want a massage?”

  “That’s a lot of trouble.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “What else are we going to do tonight? You’re obviously not up for walking Bogart.”

  “It’s not that bad.”

  She gave me a pointed look.

  Okay, so it was that bad. I sighed. “Be gentle.”

  She gave me a seductive smile that almost banished all the aches. “I think I’m about to have you exactly where I want you.”

  Chapter 21

  KENDALL

  We went to my bedroom. As long as we kept the door open, I knew Mom wouldn’t mind.

  Jeremy took off his sandals and his shirt—the buttoned kind that I was used to him wearing. It was short sleeved, and I wished it had been long sleeved so he could have rolled them up. I knew it was crazy, because he’d only been working at his new job for two days, but I could have sworn his muscles looked firmer. With a groan, he stretched out facedown on the bed. I went into my bathroom and located some lotion, grabbed a towel, and returned to my room. Bogart had followed us up and was resting on the floor, his droopy eyes on Jeremy as though he understood his pain. Dogs were supposed to be intuitive about stuff like that.

  I poured a little lotion along the dip in his back, along his spine. He jumped a little.

  “That’s cold.”

  “It’ll be warm in just a minute.” I’d caressed him before, applied sunscreen, but I’d never tire of having the opportunity to just admire the expanse of his bare back. He was cradling his head on his hands, with his face turned to the side. He was watching me. Leaning down, I kissed his cheek. “Relax.”

  He took a deep breath. “Yeah, okay.”

  I skimmed my hands from the waistband of his khaki shorts all the way up to the nape of his neck. He released a long, slow moan.

  “Nice,” he murmured.

  Yes, he was indeed nice, very nice. I was feeling slightly superior to Jade and Darla because I was seeing what they hadn’t; I was touching what they never would.

  “I got a little jealous today,” I admitted quietly while I slowly stroked his shoulders.

  “Yeah?”

  “You don’t have to sound so pleased.”

  “I just never really thought I was the kind of guy that girls got jealous over.”

  “Of course you are.” Even if Jade and Darla hadn’t remembered him from before. I wasn’t going to tell him that. I gently kneaded his muscles. Ran my hands down his arms, back up and over his shoulders.

  “You don’t have to be jealous,” he said. “You’re it for me.”

  I nipped at his ear. “Same goes.”

  I skimmed my hands over the broad expanse of his back. Had I ever realized how broad he was? He really needed to wear smaller T-shirts. The kind that looked like he’d been melted into them.

  “Have you ever thought about getting a tattoo?”

  “Mmm-huh,” he murmured sleepily.

  “What would you get?” I asked.

  “Dunno. A wolf maybe.”

  “Where?”

  “Back, left shoulder.”

  I pressed a kiss there. “Anywhere else?”

  “Right shoulder. A tiger.”

  I kissed his right shoulder.

  “Neck,” he muttered.

  I nuzzled his neck. “Where else?”

  “Every . . . where.”

  The last of the word trailed off. Lifting my head, I peered at him. His eyes were closed, his face totally relaxed. A tiny little snore sounded. He was obviously not only sore, but exhausted.

  Very carefully I eased off the bed and moved to the chair at my desk. I studied him. I was probably the only one who would notice that his hair was a shade longer. He hadn’t shaved before coming over. The shadow over his face made him look a little older. The khaki shorts were the old Jeremy. It was a little like I was looking at what I’d had and what he was going to change into.

  I wondered if the khaki would eventually go away. I wondered if I’d even recognize him. I shook my head at the stupid thought. Of course I would. The outside might be changing, but inside he’d be the same.

  Wouldn’t he?

  The light in the hallway hitting my eyes woke me up. I was on my bed, lying on my side, Jeremy’s arm around me, his bare chest to my back. I blinked at the shadowy apparition standing in my doorway. I nearly screamed before I realized it was Mom.

  Gingerly I eased off the bed and padded over to her. “I know this looks bad,” I whispered, “but I was giving him a massage—” Okay, that might not sound any better.

  I stepped out into the hallway so I wouldn’t disturb him and gave her a quick explanation about his new job and the toll it was taking on him. The entire time she just gave me this secretive-looking smile.

  “Kendall,” she finally said, “I trust you. In less than a month, you’re going off to college. I won’t know precisely what you’re doing or whom you’re doing it with. But I expect you to be the smart girl you’ve always been.”

  “I will be,” I told her. Nodded. “I am.” Then I realized how dark it was. While I didn’t know the exact hour, I was pretty sure it wa