Page 37 (1/2)

“Tell , Siren”

“What?” I’ my bar’s wrapper into a small square

He sla” A beat of silence passes, and he glances atthat’s happened here that you re that really shocked all you Catholics”

The answer comes quite easily to me I feelHe lifts his brows; after a“Oh—I think I heard about that Can’t believe she did that to her”

“What?” I’ a smile

“Oh, you know” He lifts his brows “The thing she did”

“The thing?” I’eness

He nods once “I know,” he says sagely “And I see why you don’t want to talk about it”

“Oh, sod off”

“Isn’t that a sord for you English types?” He’s grinning, and I roll my eyes because he looks so proud of himself

I slip my folded Atkins wrapper into a pocket on the front ofnear you is wearing on htly, but I cross myself discreetly as I walk around him

He snorts, and for a while longer, we toil in silence, shards of rock flaking onto our shoes as we chip at the rim of the cave’s mouth

When it becomes impossible to liftatthe hammer Sweat coats his neck and back, and stains the waistline of his battered khaki shorts His shoulder rolls as he reaches around to rub his back Then he glances back at ht beard, and his high cheekbones, and those lips…

“So tell irls like yourself do for entertainot some down time?”

I snort “Down time?”