Free FEARLESS: The King Series, Book One by Tawdra Kandle Page A

you. You look—” he paused and scrutinized me. “All lit up, kind of.” He helped me into the car, and his eyes were still warm when he climbed into his seat.
    “I do like the dress, too,” he added.
    I laughed. “Thanks.  It’s a beautiful day and… I’m happy.” It was true, I realized as I said it.
    Michael smiled at me so brilliantly that I felt my heart leap into my throat before it broke into an unsteady rhythm.
    “I’m very glad that you’re happy. I’m happy, too.” He glanced at me slyly as we turned the corner. “The park should be nice today.”
    “Where exactly is Lancer Park?” I asked. “My dad seemed to know what I was talking about when I told him where we were going. I know you said it was right outside town.”
    “Yup, right on the Lancer Lake,” Michael answered.
    “The lake? Where the alligators and the aggressive water moccasins live?” I wasn’t going to let a little thing like death-threatening creatures spoil my good mood, but it was wise to be prepared.
    “I promise, no harm will befall you. People go to this lake every day, Tas. No one has ever been attacked by wildlife. At least no one in my lifetime…” He raised his eyebrows and looked at me meaningfully.
    “Thanks,” I said. “But guess what? I am not going to think about that. I am in much too good a mood to think about creatures who are waiting to eat me at the park.”
    “Water moccasins don’t eat you. They just bite you.”
    I rolled my eyes at him. “Whatever. Not thinking about it. Not thinking about Nell either. Only happy thoughts today!”
    We pulled into the parking lot, and as we walked toward the school, Michael looked thoughtful. “How about we eat outside today?”
    “Really? Outside in the heat?”
    “It’s not that hot today, and hardly humid at all. And that way we can talk in private without having to be social with everyone else.”
    I frowned slightly. “I thought we were going to the lake to talk privately.”
    “We are. But at the lake, I want to hear about you. I was thinking that in order for you to be honest with me, I need to explain some stuff about me. I told you yesterday that there’s more we need to talk about. So that’s the agenda for lunch today.” He looked determined, and for the first time, my happy mood faltered a bit.
    “Is this stuff you’re going to explain good or bad?” I asked cautiously.
    He smiled at me, assuring. “I think it’s good, but you’ll have to be the judge of that, after you hear it. It’s nothing that big, just me getting some things out there that I think you need to know. Okay?”
    I took a deep breath. “Okay. So we’re eating outside.  Sounds like a plan.”
    “I’ll go ahead and get a table, since I always get to lunch before you. Oh, and don’t worry about getting any food, I’ll get your lunch along with mine.”
    “Meaning there’ll be enough for a small army?”
    He assumed an innocent face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    I think I floated through that morning. French was a pleasure, one of those classes where it seemed I could do nothing wrong. I translated a passage from our book, reading it aloud, and the teacher actually complimented me on my accent. She passed back homework we had turned in the day before, and I had earned a perfect grade. It was gratifying to feel that I was finding my rhythm in a few classes, at least.
    And then on my way to Chem, one of the girls from the lunch table, Anne, called my name and greeted me with a warm smile.
    “I love your dress! It’s so pretty. I could never wear it, but it looks wonderful on you.” Anne was several inches shorter than I was and curvy in all the right places.
    “Thank you,” I replied, sincerely flattered by her words.
    “See you at lunch today?” she asked.
    I hesitated. “I think—Michael said something about eating outside today.”
    She smiled knowingly at me. “He wants you all to himself and doesn’t want to share! Well, I