Part 240 (2/2)

hand. She didn't jerk away this time, but there was a moment of

stillness. ”Eighteen years,” he repeated. ”Even though I can count the

days I've spent with you on one hand.”

”You didn't pay any attention to me the first time we met.” She forgot

to be nervous when she smiled up at him. ”You were too busy being

dazzled by Devastation.”

”Eleven-year-old boys can't notice girls. Those particular optic nerves

don't develop until the age of thirteen, twelve in some precocious

cases.”

Chuckling, she didn't object when he brought her a few inches closer. ”I

read that somewhere. It's fully developed when the young male

antic.i.p.ates the arrival of Sports Ill.u.s.trated's swimsuit issue as much

as he antic.i.p.ates the football preview.” When Michael grinned, she

lifted a brow. ”It was your loss. I had quite a crush on you.”

”Did you?” He skimmed his fingers up her back to toy with the ends of

her hair.

”Absolutely. Your father had told me about how you'd roller-skated off

the root I wanted to ask you how it felt.”

”Before or after I regained consciousness?”

”In flight.”

”I guess I was up for about three seconds. It was the best three

seconds of my life.”

It was exactly what she'd hoped he'd say. ”Do your parents still live

in that same house?”

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