 |
АвтоАвтоматизацияАрхитектураАстрономияАудитБиологияБухгалтерияВоенное делоГенетикаГеографияГеологияГосударствоДомДругоеЖурналистика и СМИИзобретательствоИностранные языкиИнформатикаИскусствоИсторияКомпьютерыКулинарияКультураЛексикологияЛитератураЛогикаМаркетингМатематикаМашиностроениеМедицинаМенеджментМеталлы и СваркаМеханикаМузыкаНаселениеОбразованиеОхрана безопасности жизниОхрана ТрудаПедагогикаПолитикаПравоПриборостроениеПрограммированиеПроизводствоПромышленностьПсихологияРадиоРегилияСвязьСоциологияСпортСтандартизацияСтроительствоТехнологииТорговляТуризмФизикаФизиологияФилософияФинансыХимияХозяйствоЦеннообразованиеЧерчениеЭкологияЭконометрикаЭкономикаЭлектроникаЮриспунденкция
KIM BALDWIN. She wasn’t crazy about the way that a few of the single guys looked at Erin as they went through the food line
|
Читайте также: |
She wasn’t crazy about the way that a few of the single guys looked at Erin as they went through the food line, but for the most part, she enjoyed watching her interact with the steady stream of visitors. She envied the way Erin could engage nearly anyone in easy conversation, especially the kids from her school.
“Lee, is that you?” Erin feigned wide-eyed wonder as she greeted a fair-haired young man of about eleven. “I hardly recognized you, you’ve shot up so much since school ended! If you don’t watch out, you’ll be taller than I am by September!”
The boy blushed, and Gable could see how delighted he was with the comment. Bet you have a crush on her too. Who doesn’t?
“I can’t believe how big this event is,” Erin said, plopping down onto a folding chair beside Gable to catch her breath during a rare lull at the food tables. “I didn’t think there were this many people in the entire county.”
“The chief says it gets bigger every year. This time the proceeds are going toward a new pumper.”
“Well, I was hoping to get to spend some quality time with you today,” Erin said, looking right at Gable with such a sweet grin that her heart turned to mush. “But we’ve hardly had a chance to breathe, let alone get a chance to chat.”
“Should get easier now, since most everyone has eaten and the games will be starting soon. We’ll just get the stragglers and the teenaged boys who never seem to stop eating.” And who keep comingby for another look at you, Gable thought, admiring the way Erin’s tank top and denim shorts showed off vast expanses of smooth, inviting skin. Her eyes lingered on the hint of cleavage she could see. No onewould ever guess you were thirty-nine.
And Erin’s appeal went far beyond her youthful face and F gure.
It was in the warm and familiar way she interacted with the people she met, extending an arm to steady a frail senior citizen, hugging one of the teachers she worked with in greeting. She’s much more physicallydemonstrative than I am.
Gable recalled Erin’s frequent hugs good-bye and last night’s peck on the cheek. I wonder what makes some people more touchy-feely thanothers. She certainly enjoyed being the recipient of Erin’s tactile hellos and good-byes, though each made her mourn its brevity.
“I still feel so bad that you hurt your back,” Erin said. “Frankly, I was counting on you to be my partner in the three-legged race. I thought
• 100 •
FORCE OF NATURE
we’d make a great team.”
The thought of being tied to Erin, their arms around each other, brought a f ush to Gable’s cheeks. “My back really is feeling a lot better, but I probably should play it safe today.”
The chief silenced the gathering with an announcement on the bullhorn. “We’re ready to start the games, everyone. Pick a partner and line up for the wheelbarrow race!”
Gable turned to Erin, reconsidering her negative response, but before she had a chance to speak, Tim appeared with an outstretched hand.
“What do you say, Erin?” he said. “It’s tradition—the rookie has to be in every event.”
Erin glanced at Gable, who gloomily conF rmed, “I had to do the whole lot last year.”
“Well, all right, then. I hate to break a time-honored tradition.”
Erin allowed Tim to lead her away, with a backward glance at Gable that looked like genuine regret.
Nah. Couldn’t be.
Erin and Tim didn’t make it even halfway to the F nish line. First they tried using Tim as the wheelbarrow, but Erin couldn’t support his weight for long so they switched positions, with only marginally better results. Though Erin had good upper-body strength, she kept collapsing in laughter, and they gave up after several efforts, along with a half dozen other laughing pairs of contestants.
Gable brooded from behind her sunglasses, oblivious to everything but the way Tim looked at Erin and the way that he was making her laugh.
Once the ribbons were handed out for the event, the chief announced that next up was the water-balloon toss.
To Gable’s surprise, Erin trotted back to the food tables as pairs of combatants began lining up.
“C’mon, you can do this one with me,” she urged. “I think those Jell-o salads can watch themselves for a minute or two.”
Uncommonly pleased that Erin had ditched Tim for her, Gable followed her to the double row of paired contestants, and they faced each other, grinning, a scant ten feet apart for the F rst toss. Gable was handed a F lled red water balloon, slightly bigger than a softball, the elastic stretched taut.
“Ready?” she asked.
• 101 •
Поиск по сайту: