Sun-kissed (The Au Pairs 3)

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to whom much is given, much can be

taken away. . . .

"C'MON, WHAT'S WRONG?" JEREMY RAN A HAND THROUGH his curly chestnut hair and stuck his upper lip out at Eliza. "What did I do to get the silent treatment?" he asked, mystified by her actions. "I thought you were going to spend the night at my place," he added, a little hurt at the change of plans.

Eliza remained silent, thinking, Paige McGinley. Just an old friend. We grew up here on the island. Terrific. The woman who'd just handed her the biggest humiliation of her life was an "old pal" of her boyfriends. Nothing could have made Eliza feel worse.

She'd planned to spend the night with Jeremy at his apartment in Montauk--she'd already told her parents she was going to sleep over at a friend's house, and her ass was covered. She'd even stashed an overnight bag with her lingerie set in the back of his truck that morning.

She'd thought that after making such a triumphant splash at the fashion show, she would cap off the evening by handing over her V card. And she had wanted to-- really wanted to--but after

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having her ego stomped on, she just didn't feel like it tonight. All she wanted to do now was hoover a tub of Ben & Jerry's and fall asleep watching Room Raiders.

Jeremy's truck idled on her driveway with the lights off. "Are you sure you don't want to come over?" He put a hand on her knee and began to massage it. His strong fingers worked their way down to her calf muscles, kneading them gently.

Eliza hesitated. She did want to---but she wanted their first time to be perfect, and the evening was already ruined for her.

"I wish I could, but I forgot, I told my parents I would go to some bird-watching thing with them tomorrow, and I need to get up early," she said reluctantly. It was a white lie--her dad had invited her to join them, except she'd already said no.

He lifted his hand from her knee and put it around her shoulders, drawing her close so that she was pressed against his chest. His fingers lightly caressed her arm, sending electric currents up her spine. "C'mon, stay. I want to show you my new apartment. I cleaned up just for you," he said huskily.

Eliza melted a little at that. She should just go with him-- who cared about Paige? But then the memory of Jeremy kissing Paige on the cheek soured the moment and strengthened her decision.

"I can't. I wish I could. Next time, okay?" she said, kissing him quickly on the lips. "I'll call you."

She waved at him from the front steps, watching as the truck disappeared beyond the hedges to the private easement on the

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property. She walked into the house and found her parents in the kitchen, waiting for her. Her dad was holding a stack of credit card bills in his hands.

"Hi, Mom, hi, Dad," she said, giving them quick pecks on the cheek.

"I thought you were spending the night at Taylor's," her mother said.

"Change o' plans," Eliza said breezily. "What are you guys still doing up?"

"We received a phone call today from American Express."

Eliza nodded as she opened the stainless steel freezer drawer and poked around for the cartons of ice cream she knew were inside. She found a pint of Phish Food and began digging into it with a spoon, straight from the carton.

"Did you buy a Marquis Jet Card?" her mother asked. "And please, use a bowl. Were you brought up in a barn?"

"Uh-huh." She nodded, shoving a heaping spoonful into her mouth.

"The barn or the jet card?"

"Jet," Eliza said, her voice muffled by the ice cream.

"And you chartered a helicopter from New York to East Hampton today?"

"Uh-huh," she repeated, licking the spoon.

"Who told you to be so extravagant? That card is for emergencies,? her mother emphasized.