Free Unmaking Hunter Kennedy by Anne Eliot Page B

Whatever you and Nan think you need. I know we seem unreliable, but we’re not. We can help you. Honest.” She added what she hoped was an encouraging nod.
    Unfortunately, that move had the bun bobbing all over the place on top of her head. Hoping it would hold, she held out a shaky hand and slapped on her friendliest smile, as she looked up at this Dustin McHugh’s face.
    Way up.
    And choked on her own eyesight.
    This guy is beyond, over the top, stunning! Like a live model. A model with no pores and really long lashes, and a sexy, pouty-man-mouth. And broad shoulders with nice biceps. And he’s really tan. And...and...the eyes...wow.
    Seriously. Wow.
    She swallowed.
    Whatever! The kid was so gorgeous he was abnormal.
    If she weren’t biting on her top lip to keep the blush under control, her jaw would have gaped open wide as she took in his perfectly, square chin.
    Cheekbones and muscles and...are boys allowed to be this beautiful?
    Her hand wobbled in front of him like a rubber chicken.
    His eyes scanned her bun then her face, before he stepped away as though she’d burned him. That same flash of panic shot through his gaze before he cringed.
    Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. He totally cringed. He did!
    Vere shoved her hand behind her back. She wanted to die. If she had any remaining doubts that she wasn’t complete boy poison, they’d all just been instantly erased by this guy’s response to her.
    I repel all guys. Now I have proof. PROOF.
    Wait till Jenna hears. Maybe I need a different deodorant?
    She ran her tongue over her teeth.
    Or toothpaste?
    “Vere—you dork!” Charlie dissolved into fits of laughter. “She’s clueless. She has no idea who you are!”
    “What do you mean? Have I met you before? I don’t think so...” She scowled at Dustin, then Charlie.
    “Charlie. Take it easy,” Nan said.
    Vere’s afternoon headache returned full force.
    She’d thought the day couldn’t get worse. At least Nan’s nephew had evened out the rude points for their mom by blatantly not shaking her hand in front of everyone. And one better, Mr. Pretty had managed to make her too angry to blush. Her firing cheeks, neck, and red hot ears faded back to fine.
    Because I’m not bothered one bit by handsome, rude boys.
    “Seriously, Mom, Nan, can you please explain?” Charlie asked.
    Vere crossed her arms. “Yeah,” she added, making sure she sounded cranky and annoyed, like her time was being wasted.
    Because it was.
    I should be upstairs calling Jenna to tell her that Curtis talked to Charlie about me. I’ve got things to do!
    She caught Dustin’s gaze and glowered bullets into him, reminding herself again that she was not at all affected by his looks or hurt by what he did. If he pulled creepy elevator-eyes like Curtis had done this afternoon, she would not hold back the punches. Curtis could look all he wanted, but this guy did not have any staring rights.
    Just try it buster. Go ahead. Try it.
    She intensified her glare.
    She checked her bun from slipping, but refused to break his gaze. “You can quit staring at me any time,” she hiss-whispered.
    “It’s you—staring at me,” he answered quietly, as though he totally understood exactly how beautiful he was.
    “I am not! I don’t stare at guys. What are you? Crazy ?”
    His dark, arched, brows shot up as though she’d surprised him. “Truth? It’s possible that I am.”
    “Well join the club and get in line then.” She rolled her eyes calling his bluff. “Our whole family is nuts, if you haven’t figured that out already.”
    One side of his lip twisted up into a small smile. “You’re still staring.”
    “You are,” she sassed back.
    Feeling like a fool and a liar, she stared harder.
    It was a standoff now, and she was determined to win.
    She scrunched her brows and added a frown.
    He cracked a small smile.
    “Hilarious! Vere, you really don’t recognize him?” Charlie’s voice, holding at ten decibels louder than normal, was getting really