Flirting with Fire: A Summer Camp Swingers novel

Carly was more like her father, solid and compact, and with the same dark hair and almond-shaped eyes. They weren’t the same brown as his, though, nor blue-green like her mother’s. Carly’s were honey-colored and striking, the first thing that anyone noticed about her. And, like Susie and her bright blue ones, she hated when people made a big deal about them.

“Hello, girls,” I said.

“Hey, Mr. H.,” Madison said. Carly smiled and gave a little wave.

“Happy birthday,” I added to Madison. “Have you had a good day so far?”

“Not really.”

My eyebrows twitched up.

“The air conditioner broke. My mom’s been on the phone, like, all day.”

“Well, that sucks,” I said.

“Yeah.”

“What? No air conditioning?” Susie complained.

“You’ll survive,” I said. “Now, c’mon, let’s unload. I bet we can get everything in one trip. What do you think? Can we do it?”

“I suppose,” she grumbled.

Sure enough, we unloaded the SUV in one trip and hauled everything into the kitchen. It was actually hotter than outside, even with the windows open. Allie called from somewhere deeper in the house.

“Paul? Is that you?”

“It’s us,” I hollered back.

“Sorry for the air! I just got out of the shower.”

“No problem! What can we do?”

“Can you finish setting everything out?”

The breakfast table was covered with bags of chips, serving bowls, and party supplies.

“We’re on it,” I called back. “All right,” I said to the girls in a normal voice, “Maddy and Em, you’re in charge of the food. Carly and Susie, music, presents, and decorations. I’ll do the ice and drinks. Sound good?”

Nods all around.

“Okay, let’s get this party started.”

Allie joined us about ten minutes later. She wore a black sleeveless top, a pair of white denim shorts, and thong sandals. Her outfit was conservative enough that she wouldn’t catch any side-eye from the other moms, but the dads would definitely notice her long, tanned legs.

“What’s this?” she said in surprise. “It actually looks like a party. Thank you so much.”

“Not me,” I said. “The girls did all the work.”

They stopped what they were doing and beamed.

“They did all this?” Allie said.

“They did. I mostly supervised.”

“Wow, I’m impressed. And… I can’t thank you enough.”

“Happy to help,” I said. Then I shifted gears. “What’s the problem with the air conditioner?”

“Don’t get me started.” She cut her eyes toward her daughters, and I realized that part of it had to do with their father.

“Anything I can do?” I wondered aloud. About the air conditioner, about your ex, about your sex life…?

See? the little head crowed. You totally wanna fuck her. I bet she’s— Uh-oh.

Uh-oh? What uh-oh?

I snapped out of it and realized that Allie was doing her best not to grin.

I think she can hear us, the little head whispered.

Allie’s lips twisted into a smirk. Busted.

I winced an apology. “Anything I can do about the air conditioner?”

“I doubt it. It’s a broken thingamajig. They can’t fix it till Monday. That’s when the parts warehouse opens. Just my luck that it happened today, of all days. I mean, we’re supposed to have fifteen girls and their parents here.”

“We’ll make it work.” I swept my gaze over the girls. “Right?”

“Right!”

The girls went back to work, and Allie touched my arm. Her hand was soft and warm, and it sent a shiver through me in spite of the heat.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“No problem. It’s what I do.”

Her eyebrows rose provocatively. Is that all you do?

The doorbell chimed, and Carly ran to answer it.

“Saved by the bell,” Allie smirked. “As usual. And literally, this time.”

* * *

The guests began arriving in a steady stream. I knew most of the girls from school or dance class. I knew about half the moms by name, and all of them by sight. I was the only dad until Mark and McKenna arrived.

“Hey,” he said. “What’re you doing here?”

“Christy and Laurie are in North Carolina—”

“Oh, that’s right! Leah mentioned it. At swim camp, right? Chapel Hill?”

“Yeah. They drove up with Wren and Missy yesterday. What about Leah?” I finished. “Why isn’t she here?”

“You aren’t excited to see me?” Mark teased.

“Always.”

We shared a grin before he turned serious.

“She had to fly to Washington last night.”

I didn’t have to ask DC or state. Leah had always reported on foreign affairs.

“Big story. A couple of senators wanna review the intelligence on Iraqi WMDs. They announced it yesterday.”

“Ah.”

“Anyway,” he continued, “since you’re here… d’you mind if I ask a favor? I have a client who’s on the fence about a big lease. They’re looking at the building again.”

“On a Saturday?”

“Commercial real estate,” he said with a resigned shrug. “You know how it is.”

“Yeah.”

“My assistant can handle it, but…”

“You’d like to be there to close the deal. No problem. You want me to take McKenna home?”

“Or you can take her back to your house,” he said. “I’ll pick her up there.”

“That works.” McKenna was practically our fourth daughter.