Free Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

who made me want to open this place. We came through town, and I noticed there wasn’t much shopping.”
    That was putting it kindly
.
    “And Camilla said it was strange that they didn’t have a cool boutique, what with a school full of teenage girls so near.”
    “Actually,” Camilla smirked, “I said it was weird that there wasn’t some corporate store with clothing that costs more than some people in Africa make in a year, when there’s a school full of rich princesses down the street.”
    “Camilla …” There was a sharp note of warning in that single word. The woman turned back to me. “Obviously
not
the headof our customer service department.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m Anne, by the way.” She stuck out her hand.
    “Persephone,” I replied, shaking it. “And, just a tip, you probably shouldn’t make her head of advertising either.”
    Anne laughed. “Do you want to try it on?” She held the dress out to me.
    An hour later Adriana and I left the store with our purchases and promised to return soon.
    “Is it cool if we go by that bookshop before we head back?”
    “I doubt there’s anything better to do in this town.” Adriana shrugged.
    I took this as a yes and went into the simply named Book Stop. After a few seconds of trying to appear interested in a book, Adriana turned to me.
    “So … you and Graham?” She raised an eyebrow, a sly smile on her face.
    “Me and Graham what?”
    “You know … are you two a ‘thing’?” She did little air quotes.
    “No.” I shook my head. “We’ve only known each other a day. Plus, he has some girlfriend in Boston.”
    Adriana, who had been strolling down the fiction aisle in front of me, suddenly stopped in her tracks.
    “Hummpphff.”
I ran straight into her back. “What the hel—”
    Adriana cut me off midsentence, laying her manicured hand on my forearm. “Don’t look now, but I think
the
sexiest guy I have ever seen in my whole entire life works here.”
    Of course, I automatically looked up just as she had saidnot to. “Oh, my God.” I gazed at the tall, now-familiar form. “Him again.”
    Adriana’s expression was so astonished I wondered if she, too, had prophetic dreams about handsome strangers. “Him who?” she breathed, apparently unable to tear her eyes away.
    “His name is Zach. It seems like he’s everywhere I go,” I whispered, glancing around quickly, trying to spot his hateful sister lurking somewhere nearby. Luckily, she seemed to be absent.
    Zach looked up, his light, sea-green eyes locking onto mine. A shiver ran through my whole body. I didn’t know how, but I was certain that he had heard me—from fifty feet away. Zach pushed his shaggy black hair out of his eyes as he watched us intently.
    “He is looking straight at you,” Adriana hissed. “What is the deal? Do you have the
entire
hot-guy market cornered already? I mean, come on … leave some of the cute ones for the rest of us.” She placed a hand on her hip. “Besides, if you pick up a guy while you’re wearing
my
dress, he automatically reverts back to me.”
    “I am not picking up any guys,” I said as quietly as my frustration would allow. I had to find a way to get Adriana off this subject. From the sly smile on Zach’s face, it appeared he was catching every word.
What is with this guy’s hearing? Is he part German shepherd?
    “Seriously, he is way too gorgeous to be with one girl. A guy like that needs to share the wealth.” Adriana looked Zach up and down appreciatively. “You just know a guy that tall and well built has got a
lot
to share.”
    Zach’s skin was turning red, and he quickly moved over tothe nonfiction side of the store.
So he could stand there and eavesdrop on us, but the second
he’s
scrutinized, he runs away? Uh-uh
.
    “Come on.” I grabbed Adriana’s hand, following him.
    “What are we doing?”
    “I’m introducing you.” I marched us over to the end of the aisle, where Zach was pricing a biography of Nancy