Operation Prom Date (Tactics in Flirting #1)(8)
Now I knew her taste in guys ran toward the preppy super jock side, I knew I wasn’t even close to her type.
Oops. Got a bit distracted during my big speech. “But not to fear. You’ve got me on your side now, and idiots or not, we’ll snag their attention. Once we get even a few guys to take notice, the rest will follow, and then Mick will be as good as yours.”
A smile slowly worked its way across her lips, lighting up the rest of her features along the way. “You really think so?”
I nodded. “By the way, I like that shirt. The bright color suits you.” I’d like to think that was the least macho thing I’d ever said, but I did used to point out constellations and the mythology behind them, and then go into how stars were actually formed. Not to mention the inordinate amount of talking I used to do about Saturn’s beautiful rings that were composed of ice particles, rocky debris, and dust.
“Thanks,” she said, making me feel less self-conscious about doling out fashion compliments. “I figured if I’m going to do this, I might as well give it my all.”
I glanced out at the glassy water and the antsy feeling over getting out there rose to the surface again. “I hope you plan on putting that same dedication into our rowing sessions.”
She saluted me. “Aye, aye, Captain.”
I chuckled as I climbed out of the truck. After gathering the gear, I moved over to untie the boat. “If you think I look ripped, just wait till you see what I can do with these muscles.” Flashing her an over-the-top grin, I flexed like I was in one of those muscle-man competitions where they wore unspeakably small banana hammocks.
She shook her head as she fought back a smile. “Oh my gosh, that’s like an eight on the Kanye Douchebag Scale.”
Instead of arguing, I slid on my sunglasses and gave her a what-up nod. She lost the battle she’d been warring with her mouth and a killer smile broke free, filling me with a sense of accomplishment. Even though Kate was the type of girl who smiled often, I liked to think I got a bigger one than most. The way it lit up her entire face made me start calculating ways to keep it there permanently.
As I helped her into the boat, I vowed to give this whole operation thing more thought. Because Kate was a good person, and if she wanted to go to prom with a self-involved prick, I’d make sure it happened.
Chapter Six
Kate
My shoulders and arms ached, and my butt wasn’t doing so great, either, although the soreness there resulted more from the hard seat. At least the steady breeze wafting across the water kept me from turning into a sweaty mess, and the streaky white clouds made cool patterns in the vibrant blue sky.
One nice thing about starting school at the butt-crack of dawn was that we got out early enough to enjoy the sunny afternoons, but now I worried it meant Cooper planned on going until nightfall, and I so wasn’t going to make it.
“How long…” Row and a puff of air. “Do you usually…” Row, exhale. “Train for?”
“As long as possible,” Copper replied from his spot in front of me, not even short of breath, which made me think he could go for a really, really long time.
Whoa, that came out wrong. Even though it’d only been in my head, I felt the need to mentally add that I meant rowing. Probably because I’d already accidentally admitted to noticing he was ripped, and that was before I saw the way the muscles in his arms and back moved as he worked those oars. He’d made that joke about what he could do with his ripped-ness, but seeing it in action…Well, I thought playing football showed off guys’ muscles rather effectively, but rowing was a whole different ballgame.
Or a different not ball game, as it were. I snort-laughed at that thought, and then my breathing was off, and my oars slapped at the surface instead of gliding through the water like they needed to.
“We’re getting off pace,” Cooper said, the gruffness in his voice drifting over his shoulder.
“Yeah. Newsflash: I haven’t done this for a while, and it was never a timed, race kind of thing.” I gave up on pushing the oars through the water and hooked the ends of the handles under my arms, using them to rest on and catch my breath.
“Hmm.” Cooper glanced at his watch. The watch I wanted to throw in the water, because he reset it and shouted out times every few minutes that meant nothing to me, but he didn’t seem very happy with them, which made me feel like I was failing.
Who knew that someone who strolled around like they didn’t have a care in the world could transform into someone so serious so quickly? He should time that attitude flip, because it was fast enough to win any race.
“I hoped we’d make better time,” he said, and I fought the urge to flop onto the floor of the boat for a quick nap.
“Well, I hoped there’d be less rowing and more relaxing and getting a tan.”
“That would hardly help me win the race.”
With him facing forward, clearly he wasn’t getting that I was only kidding—I mean I did hope that, but I definitely didn’t expect it, and hello, if that were my main goal, I would’ve worn shorts. I didn’t like not seeing his expressions, either, although now that he’d turned into Mr. Serious, it was probably better that way. “I wasn’t talking strategy, I was talking wants, and it was supposed to be a joke.”