My cheeks blaze even hotter, a feat I wouldn’t have thought possible. “No, that’s okay.”
“Don’t miss the show, girl! Half-dressed men are the biggest perk of working at the lake.”
So, against my better judgment, I turn to peer out the door. His hands are raised in the air, tugging a t-shirt over his head, with every muscle in his arms and chest on full display.
Holy. He is ripped. The man could star in a Marvel movie, for real.
I take a breath, then another, trying to get my heart rate back to something resembling normal. It doesn’t work. Because as soon as he’s properly dressed again, my brain begins replaying the embarrassing moment on the dock again and again and again.
I blow out a breath and drag the towel over my face. “I can’t believe that just happened. I’m never going back out there.”
“Yes, you are,” Jenna says. “You’re on dock duty.”
“I can’t, Jenna. I’ll drop dead from embarrassment.”
“Please don’t. That’d be really inconvenient for the rest of us.”
I drop the towel and glare at her. “Can I at least wait until he and his friends leave?”
“Not a chance. Besides, they’re regulars. They basically live here in the summer.”
“Regulars?” I say weakly.
“Yep. Ace, Liam, Trent, Forrest—”
“And Joel,” I say before I can stop myself.
Jenna’s mouth curves into a grin. “And Joel. He’s single, you know.”
“So?” I ask, trying to sound casual.
She laughs. “So, I’m pretty sure you’re on his radar now. Don’t waste the opportunity.”
Jenna pushes off the counter. “Their order is up. Go take it to them.”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
“You can.”
“Please, Jenna. I cannot face him again. You take the outside tables, and I’ll take the inside.”
“Nope,” she says, already sliding a fresh set of pizza boxes toward me.
I stare at the boxes like they might bite me.
“You’ve got this. Just… maybe carry fewer things this time.”
“So helpful,” I mutter.
“I try.”
I take the boxes, shooting one last look at her before I push open the door and step back onto the dock.
Joel is sitting at the table with his friends, a clean shirt now replacing the one I destroyed. His back is to me at first, broad shoulders filling out the fabric in a way that should probably be illegal in public places.
He turns before I even make it halfway down the dock.
Like he felt me come out.
