Free Notorious by Cecily von Ziegesar Page B

Is it Victorian?” She looked up at him and realized his face was only about six inches from hers. She quickly turned back to the bracelet, fingering the latch and enjoying the closeness of his skin on her fingers. If she moved them a centimeter to the right, she’d be touching his arm. Her heart raced.
    “I guess you know your antiques too.” Eric gave her a quick smile and made no effort to step away. “Yes, um, it’s Victorian. It was my great-grandfather’s, actually, my great-great-grandfather’s. It was a gift from the royal family for … I’m not sure what, actually.” His chest rose and fell beneath his perfectly pressed shirt and tie. It was clear he was in agony, but Tinsley wasn’t ready to let him get away yet. She looked up to find his cheeks flushed. She opened her violet eyes wider, knowing that from his angle, looking down at them through her thick black lashes, they were irresistible.
    “Do you think I could borrow it?” This, she thought, was the ultimate test. If he gave it to her, it meant he was ready to forget all about Brett and take his chances with her. “I’d love to know what it feels like to wear it, just for a while.”
    Eric blinked his gray eyes. Without speaking or moving them from Tinsley’s face, he unlatched the bracelet with his left hand and held it out to her. Instead of taking it, she thrust her right arm out, palm up, so that Eric could put it on himself.
    “Be very, very careful with this,” he told her solemnly as he fumbled with the latch, his fingers grazing her arm. “Your wrist is much smaller than mine, so keep your eye on it.” Tinsley watched as his gaze progressed up her slender arm to her body.
    “I will guard it with my life,” she vowed, her lips unable to suppress a flirtatious victory smile. “And I’ll give it back the next time I see you. I promise.” Impulsively, she stood up on tiptoe, planning to kiss him on the cheek. He smelled like Ivory soap and Crest toothpaste. But just as her lips were about to touch his cheek, Eric turned his head, and her mouth landed halfway on his lips.
    Oops,
Tinsley thought happily. She kept her mouth where it was for a moment before finally pulling away. They stared at each other.
    Eric spoke first, quietly, as if his voice were trying to hide some emotion. “Then I hope I’ll see you again soon.” He opened the door for her, keeping his eyes on her face the entire time. There were other students in the hall, hurrying off to class. Tinsley lingered outside his office as she fingered the bracelet.
    “Don’t worry, you will.”

    Instant Message Inbox

EasyWalsh: Hey, how r u?
JennyHumphrey: Booooored. In a research seminar at the library. I already know how to use the dewey decimal system!
EasyWalsh: Bummer … Did you hear that it’s, uh, official with Callie now?
JennyHumphrey: Yeah, I did … You okay?
EasyWalsh: Yup.
JennyHumphrey: That’s good.
EasyWalsh: I really hope this doesn’t sound sleazy, but do you want to meet up in the woods today for the art project we were talking about yesterday?
JennyHumphrey: OK.
EasyWalsh: I’ll give you directions at lunch.
JennyHumphrey: Good. I’m …
EasyWalsh: Yeah … I think I know what you mean.

    Instant Message Inbox

BrettMesserschmidt: Can I see you later?
BrettMesserschmidt: I’ve been thinking about you. ...
[
EricDalton has signed off Thursday, September 12, 10:37 A.M.
]

11
A WAVERLY OWL DOES NOT POSE NUDE ON A FIRST DATE .
    Jenny could barely concentrate in English class on Wednesday, even though it was normally one of her favorites. She loved the way the classroom was set up as if it were a conference room—one giant oval table with fifteen chairs around it, filled with cashmere-sweater-wearing students and the ultra-petite Miss Rose, who wore bubble-gum-pink lipstick. It was a discussion class, which meant Miss Rose would talk for about ten minutes and then open the conversation up to the students. At first Jenny had been shocked at the