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“Uh oh.”
“Yeah. Dumb, right? I was just trying to persuade her to go through with the camp. And it worked in the short term. But in the long run, I had no idea she’d be so worried about the success of the program. It’s like she thinks any little mistake might cost her being mayor.” I sigh. “She’s really shifted into next-level paranoia.”
“Who’s paranoid?”
My stomach plummets.
Mrs. Lockhart is standing in the doorway. How much of what I said did she just hear? And how is this happening to me? Sure, she told me she’d be coming by camp to check on things. But it’s after nine o’clock now. I never expected a checkup visit from her this late.
“Oh. I. Uh.” My heart starts pounding, and both my ears begin to ring. Lord, help me. I can’t come up with a single answer to the questionwho is paranoidthat isn’tYOU are.
“What’s going on here?” She narrows her eyes.
I’m totally busted.
Not only was I gossiping about my boss behind her back, but I’m also with Spencer Crane. In the camp office. Alone. And now I’m furiously blushing, which makes me look guiltier than a dog standing by a half-eaten cake with frosting on his face.
While I’m still scrambling for an explanation, Spencer beats me to it. “Hello, Mrs. Lockhart.” His voice is low and even. He calmly stands, ever the gentleman, and acts like he’s tipping an imaginary hat. “Tess was just telling me how great Maddie Devlin did today. She’s one of the camp lifeguards.”
“Yes. I know.” Mrs. Lockhart sniffs. “I hired the girl.”
“Well, you have excellent instincts. Probably because you’re the mayor.”
“Hmm.” Mrs. Lockhart presses her lips together.
“According to Tess,” Spencer continues, “Maddie takes safety at the lake very seriously.Soseriously, in fact, the counselors have been saying she’s downright paranoid. Which, in my opinion, is a quality you want to see in someone overseeing children in a lake.”
Wow. Spencer isgood. Like lasagna-and-garlic-bread good. I could kiss the man, but that thought just increases my blush.
“Yes, of course.” Mrs. Lockhart smooths her mint green pantsuit. This one makes her look like a strip of gum. “I couldn’t agree more.”
I take the opportunity to jump in now that Spencer’s saved the day. “I recorded all this in my third report to you.” I point at my computer screen. “But lucky me. Now you’re here. In person!” I glance at the clock. “It’s so late, though. Is everything okay?”
I’m actually afraid Mrs. Lockhart is going to keep popping in like this at all hours of the day and night. Unexpected pop-ins are not good. She’s already caught me with Spencer more than once. I’ll have to steer clear of him completely until camp is over.
“Everything is fine,” she says. “I’ve just always been a night owl. I require almost no sleep at all, which is a fortuitous trait for a public figure such as myself. No rest for the weary mayor, as they say.”
“Dothey say that?” Spencer asks. “I don’t think I’ve heard that before.” He sneaks a peek at me, and his mouth quirks. I’ve been telling the guy to loosen up for two years, and he picks now to start being funny?
Maybe he’s always been funny. And you just never noticed.
“Since I was awake anyway,” Mrs. Lockhart continues, hopefully missing Spencer’s sarcasm, “I thought I’d stop by to check in. But now that I’m here, Iamcurious why you planned a bonfire for after nine o’clock.”
“I asked her to do that,” Spencer says, coming to my rescue again. “I wanted to have s’mores with everyone on the first night—to meet the kids and counselors—but I couldn’t get here until after the library closed.”
“I see.” Mrs. Lockhart shifts her focus to me, her eyes narrowed again. I don’t want her to think I’m making important camp decisions based on Spencer, and I don’t want Spencer to think of me as a damsel in distress.
“That’s only one of the reasons,” I say, darting a look his way. “I liked the idea of having the bonfire after a long night-hike. It’s been a big day, and I wanted to tire the kids out. I figured that’s the best way to make sure everyone sleeps soundly away from home. I would’ve gone on the hike myself, but I had to write this third update for you.” I paste on a smile. “I was about to send the email. That would’ve saved you a trip here.”
“Hmph.” When Mrs. Lockhart purses her lips, I backpedal. Quick.
“Of course, you’re always welcome to stop in,” I say. “And now that I know you’re a night owl—up at all hours—I guess we can look forward to seeing you at any time… any day?”
“Precisely.”
I crank my fake smile into a full-blown grin. “Isn’t that wonderful news?” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Spencer stifling a laugh.
“I have evenbetternews,” Mrs. Lockhart says.
