Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig

Author:Elisa Ludwig [Elisa Ludwig]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: David_James, Mobilism.org
Publisher: HarperCollins US
Published: 2012-03-18T14:16:38+00:00

Inspired by Kellie, I had been tempted to buy Sierra a Stella McCartney top at Saks, but I knew it might give me away, especially since we’d been surrounded by other people when she’d made that remark. Instead, I selected a filmy Catherine Malandrino number. It had a generous fit, a chicly angled neckline, and the softest silk I’d ever brushed my fingers on.

Afterward, I stopped to congratulate myself with a cappuccino at the Plaza Coffee Company, a pagoda-shaped stand in the middle of the mall. Not that I needed it, exactly. My hands were already shaking from the natural adrenaline rush of my day’s conquest. And as soon as I refueled I was going to do some more major spending, care of my good buddy Drew Miller.

“I got these shirts two for one at Ann Taylor,” the pudgy, fiftysomething woman in front of me said to her bag-mule shopping companion. “It was a steal.”

You don’t know the half of it, I was thinking.

Just then a pair of hands covered my eyes. “Guess who?”

It was a guy’s voice. My suddenly blackened vision disoriented me. I had no idea who it could be, and this wasn’t exactly the best time for surprises.

“I don’t know,” I snapped, on edge. “Who is it?”

“Well, that was quick,” he said, removing his hands. It was Aidan. I went a little weak at the sight of his face, so close to mine. I could practically count his eyelashes. “You really sucked the excitement out of that game.”

“I’m not here to excite you,” I said, still flustered.

He wagged a finger at me. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. I think that’s precisely your job.”

A very long, loaded second elapsed as I stared into his eyes, speechless.

“… Because I just so happen to be stuck here, waiting for my car to be serviced. It’s the beauty of owning a Mercedes—the concierge will drive you anywhere you want to go.”

“Sounds great.” I smiled. “But I’m kind of busy. Maybe the Mercedes people can liven things up. Call and see if they can send out a few mimes or a guy in a Barney suit.”

He patted me on the arm condescendingly. “Ha. I do love your quick wit. You happen to be very cute when you snark out like that.”

I rolled my eyes in order to distract him from the twitching that was happening inside. It felt like my facial features were all going on strike at once.

“The eye-rolling, not so much. That just pushes it over the cuteness edge, you know?” He put a hand on my back and peered over my shoulder. “What have you got there in the bag?”

“Nothing.” I felt my face getting warmer. “It’s just a shirt.”

“Can I see?” He reached for it with a quick hand.

“No!” I practically shouted.

Aidan backed up a couple steps. “Fine. Hold on to your bag, then. I wasn’t going to steal it or anything.”

I tried to soften my tone. “I mean, it’s just a girl’s shirt.”

But it was too late. He was still staring at me like I was nuts.

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