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“He did?”

“No specifics.” Cody held my gaze. “I’m not just here for the kids.”

“I can’t…”

“Then call Kennedy. Because something’s going on. It’s not affecting your work, but I see it.”

Crap.“Something happened a couple of days ago, and I didn’t connect the dots. Now I have.”Demetrius left me the treats. He did itto tease, not to threaten. He just didn’t realize it would have the opposite effect.

“I still think…” He toyed with his sandwich. “I don’t know much about your history.”

“Right.”Because you’re my employee. I’m the boss.

“But…”

“Oh dear. Nothing good ever starts withbut.”

He smiled. “I could make a crass joke—”

“Oh God, I walked right into that one.”

“You did.” He winked. “But you’re making a good point.”

So was he.

“I’ll talk to Kennedy. If she has time—”

“She’ll be here at four.” He bit into his sandwich.

“You little interfering shit.”

He shrugged, chewed vigorously, then swallowed. Then gulped some milk. “I didn’t time that well. She’s coming to check in with me. But I figure if you took her on a tour—”

“She’s been on a tour.”

“But not recently. Certainly not with the campers here.” Again, he shrugged. “You can tell her everything or nothing. I’m not in a position to counsel you. Explicit rules about dating parents aren’t in the handbook. Or at least not in mine—”

“Mine either. They probably never envisioned this.”

“Well, it’s not like you showing one camper preferential treatment would really make any difference.”

“It’s the perception.”

“True. Well, camp’s over in a week. You’ll just have to decide what happens between now and then. Or after…if the family moves to Mission City.”

Which was the thought that carried me right up until Kennedy’s visit.

Firstly, she brought the ranch’s therapy dog Tiffany. Said yellow lab allowed herself to be fawned over by the admiring crowd.

“Why don’t you give me the tour? Cody can handle Tiffany.” Kennedy grinned.

“Your dog appears quite capable of handling herself.” I grinned right back.

“That she is. She’s been doing this for a while.”

We headed from the great hall outside.

Kennedy slid her sunglasses on, hiding those fathomless and incisive brown eyes. Her long, chestnut-colored hair flowed down her back, and she looked very casual in her jeans and T-shirt. She might be a psychologist, but her practice was on a horse-therapy ranch. “Cody says you want to show me around.” She grinned.