Page 36 (2/2)

I wasn't a homely child, but neither was I the kind people made much of From my Mexican father I had inherited dark hair, heavy eyebrows, and a ht ice the size it needed to be Froht-colored eyes, but they weren't a clear sea-green like hers, they were hazel I had often longed to have Mama's ivory skin and blond hair, but Daddy's darkness had won out

It didn't help lasses I was never one to stand out in the crowd I liked to stay in corners And I was happiest when I was alone reading That and the good grades I got in school had doo popular with one conclusion that boys like Hardy were never going to take notice of me

"Cole-ith concrete steps at the back A hint of a strut livened Hardy's walk, giving hi

I followed cautiously, wondering how mad Maer "Is this yours?" I asked, rass as ent toward the trailer

Hardy replied over his shoulder "I live here with my mom two brothers, and a sister"

"That's a lot of people for a single-wide" I commented

"Yeah, it is I've got to rowing so fast I'm like to bust the walls of the trailer out"

The notion that this creature still had so to get?" I asked

He chuckled and went to a spigot attached to a dusty gray garden hose Turning it with a few deft twists, he started the floater and went to find the end of the hose "Don't know I'm already taller than s out"

I obeyed, looking down at my scrawny calves, the skin covered with childish dark fuzz

I had experis, but it hadn't yet beco theirl, and the heat of embarrassment rose inside me

Approaching me with the hose, Hardy sank to his haunches and warned "This'll probably sting a little, Liberty"

"That's all right I—" I stopped,in amazement "How did you know my name?"

A smile lurked in one corner of his mouth "It's written on the back of your belt"

Naed Mama to order one for me We'd chosen pale pink leather with my name tooled in red letters

I inhaled sharply as Hardy rinsedoff the blood and grit It hurt more than I expected, especially when he passed his thumb over a few stubborn particles of rock to loosen them from my swollen skin

Hesound as I flinched, and talked to distract me "How old are you? Twelve?"

"Fourteen and three quarters"

His blue eyes sparkled "You're kind of little for fourteen and three quarters"

"Anantly "I'm a sophomore this year How old are you?"

"Seventeen and two fifths"

I stiffened at the gentle aze, I saw a flicker of playfulness I had never felt the allure of another hu to form an unspoken question in the air

A couple of tier, and all you know is that you need to know everything about him

"How many brothers and sisters do you have?" he asked

"None It's just me and Mama and her boyfriend"

"To my sister Hannah, to meet you She can introduce you to some of the kids around here and point out the ones to stay clear of" Hardy took the water off my raw knees, which were now pink and clean

"What about the one you were just talking to? Is she someone I should stay clear of?"

A flash of a smile "That's Tairls much" He went to turn the water off and came back to stand overover his forehead I wanted to push it back I wanted to touch him, not with sensuality but in wonder

"Are you going ho down for me Our palms locked He pulled o

"Not yet I have an errand A check for Mr Sadlek" I felt for my back pocket to make sure it was still there

The naht dark brows "I'll go with you"

"You don't have to," I said, although I felt a surge of shy delight at the offer

"Yes I do Your mama should know better than to send you to the front office by yourself"

"I don't understand"

"You will after you meet him" Hardy took my shoulders in his hands and said firmly, "If you ever need to visit Louis Sadlek for any reason, you coet me first"

The grip of his hands was electrifying My voice sounded breathless as I said, "I wouldn't want to put you to trouble"