Sun-kissed (The Au Pairs 3)

"Oh."

"Last winter, we all went to Stowe. A couple of us are on the ski team. We all snowboarded on the mountains together. Ryan's really good. But you know that," Tinker said. "Ryan's good at everything."

Right, Mara thought. It was a trip he'd invited her to. But she'd bowed out of it since she couldn't ski and hadn't looked forward to making a fool of herself on the mountain.

She looked at Tinker. She was one of the prettiest girls she'd ever seen--tall, long-limbed, with fine Scandinavian features-- the high forehead, the silver blond hair and cornflower blue eyes. A hot girl who was in Ryan's frat, who could ski and snowboard and liked to plan scavenger hunts in the woods. Beautiful. . . and

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athletic. It sounded like Tinker did a lot of things that Ryan always wanted Mara to do. Mara couldn't share in any of Ryan's sports activities, since she had the coordination of a lobster.

What exactly had happened in Vermont on the ski trip? Not to mention Naked Night? In the hot tub?

She wondered if she should be worried. But you're the one spending the summer with him on the boat, she reminded herself. Not Tinker. And even if she and Ryan weren't getting along right then, they would make up. They always did.

Tinker's sister finally arrived, and Tinker waved her good-byes to the three girls and made Mara promise that she and Ryan would visit their boat that weekend.

"She seems nice," Jacqui hedged.

Mara made a face.

"C'mon," Eliza assured. "You're so much prettier than she is. And I bet her chest isn't real. Silicone City."

There were times when Mara was glad Eliza was so sharp-tongued, and this was one of them.

"You know, there really is nothing to worry about. She doesn't seem like Ryan's type at all," Jacqui observed.

"Really, why not?" Mara asked, skeptical.

"Well, for one, she's nothing like you," Jacqui said wisely.

The check came, and Mara plunked down her plastic. Eliza rummaged in her purse, and she looked up at them, empty-handed, her face red. "Guys, can you spot me this one?"

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"Of course." Mara nodded. "Why, did you lose your credit card?"

"No need, I've got it," Jacqui said, handing Mara her card back. She pulled out a hundred-dollar bill from the fat envelope. "Chicas, this is my treat."

When the waitress had taken their bill, Eliza told them her sad story.

"They fired you?" Jacqui asked, aghast.

"But you were on the cover of Dan's Papers!" Mara argued.

"They fired you?" Jacqui repeated again, still shocked.

Eliza nodded. "And after they found out about the chopper rental, my parents took away the plastic. I'm officially broke."

"What are you going to do?"

Eliza held up an application form. She had picked one up from the reception desk when they had walked inside the restaurant.

"You're going to work here? At Lunch?" Mara gasped. Eliza Thompson, the girl who was a waitress's nightmare with her picky salad instructions, was going to be serving customers herself? Or, even more unlikely, working in a hot kitchen?

"Well, they're hiring . . . and beggars can't be choosers." She laughed hollowly. "At least I won't starve."

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