Skinny Dipping (The Au Pairs 2)

"I know, you'd think the people who own our rental would have stuff, but they just have all this dinky crap," Eliza said.

"Anna is having a nervous breakdown. She can't live without her hair-dryer if the power goes out."

255

Eliza giggled at that and, catching Ryan's eye, they both chuckled again.

They drove slowly through the rain, and it seemed that every car on the highway was going their same direction. When they arrived, the parking lot at Home Depot was completely filled. Ryan managed to snag a spot just as a Bentley pulled out, a generator strapped to its roof.

The rain was coming down in huge droplets against the window-pane. The trees were bent backward by the wind. The storm howled and raged, shaking the SUV.

"God, look at that," Ryan said, as the wind carried a beach umbrella through the parking lot.

"I know. It's crazy." Eliza nodded. "And you know what else is crazy?" she asked quietly.

"What?" he asked, clearly having no idea what she was about to say.

"You and me."

Ryan's smile faded. "What do you mean?"

Eliza looked at Ryan. His hair was pasted to his forehead, but he looked as gorgeous as ever. But in the end, they were just too comfortable around each other. Too similar. Eliza craved mystery, spontaneity, the kind of guy who would get a job as a valet at a party just to be close to her. As wonderful as Ryan was, he wasn't that guy.

"You're not in love with me," Eliza said.

Ryan began to protest.

"And I'm not in love with you, either," she interrupted.

256

"Ouch," he joked, clutching his heart in faux pain.

"This summer--this summer was like, kind of weird, you know? I thought it was going to be the best time ever." Eliza sank a little deeper into her seat. "I had this cool job--but it turned out to be totally worthless. I'd rather babysit kids than babysit celebrities. Believe me, even William is easier. Ever tried taking champagne away from a celebrity?" Eliza laughed.

"Eliza?"

"Yeah?" She turned to look at him.

"You're the coolest girl I know." Ryan leaned over and cupped her chin in his hands, then lowered her face so that his lips tou

ched her forehead. "Friends?"

"Of course." Eliza laughed. "Stop it, that tickles."

They loved each other--as friends--and Eliza suddenly wanted to see her friend happy. She looked at Ryan again. He was tall, gorgeous, smart, rich, and her childhood friend--the kind of guy her parents always wanted her to end up with--but she knew they weren't meant to be together.

Ryan hugged her, and as she pressed her cheek against his, she whispered, "I know you love me, but I also know you're in love with someone else."

He released her slowly and sighed. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He picked at a cuticle.

"The girl we both love, the girl you're in love with--she's still there," Eliza insisted. "Believe me, I've been pissed at her too, but she's still in there."

257

He shrugged. "Mara's different now. She's let the Hamptons get into her head. She's changed."

"Look, nobody who goes through the It Girl treatment comes out alive on the other side, you know? Believe me, I know. There's not a girl in the world who wouldn't get carried away. But I still believe in her. I haven't told her that, because we're kind of mad at each other right now. But I think the reason she broke up with you is because she didn't think . . . well, she thinks she doesn't deserve you." It all came out in a rush, and Eliza didn't dare look Ryan in the eye. She glanced at him now, but his face was still stony.