walking across the parking lot to the car. The air was
clear and cold. There were stars.
Lynn shivered a little, wishing she had brought her coat She asked, âWhat did Brad mean about your borrowing his car? Is this his?â
Dirk nodded. He opened the door on the driverâs side and Lynn got in, sliding across the seat to the opposite side.
âWhy did he lend it to you? Is he a special friend of yours?â
âIn a way.â Dirk got in, shut the door and started the engine.
He backed the car out of the driveway and turned onto the main road. He drove slowly now and carefully.
âHeâs not like that all the time,â he said. âJust when heâs been drinking. Sometimes heâs a neat guy. Heâs smart. Plenty smart in lots of ways.â
âIf heâs so smart,â Lynn said shortly, âwhy does he let himself get into the condition he was in tonight?â
âWhatâs that got to do with being smart?â Dirk asked. âEverybody has too much to drink once in a while.â
Lynn did not answer.
They drove the rest of the way in silence. When they pulled to a stop in front of her house, Lynn knew she should break the silence, but it was hard to think of something to say.
If it had been Paul, there would have been no problem. It was wonderfully easy to say good night to Paul, to say âThank you for a lovely evening,â and âIâve had a wonderful time.â But with Dirk it was difficult, because it had not been a lovely evening. It had been strained and uncomfortable and at times very unpleasant. And yet Dirk himself had seemed to be trying to give her a nice time. There had
been no sarcasm, no smart-aleck remarks. He had treated her with respect in front of his friends, he had protected her from Bradâs advances and when she was frightened at his driving, he had slowed down as she asked him.
She could feel him looking at her in the darkness. She forced herself to turn to meet his gaze.
âDirk,â she began, âthank you so much for a nice evening. It was a lot of fun; I had such a niceââ
âDid you?â His voice was low and gruff in the darkness, and there was a touch of warmth in it she had not heard before. âDid you really?â
âYes,â Lynn said, hoping she sounded convincing.
âThen what about kissing me good night?â
âKissing you good night!â Lynn stared across at him, trying to see his face. Surely he was not serious. âBut, Dirk, this is our first date. Besides, I donât just kiss everybody good night. Not just to say thank you for a nice evening! It has to be special, to mean something.â
He was silent a moment and then he laughed, a funny, hoarse little laugh. When he spoke again, he sounded like the old Dirk.
âSo you think youâre too good, is that it? Too good to kiss Dirk Masters. This whole evening has been kind of a joke for you, hasnât it? Lynn Chambers, Princess of the Hill, going slumming.â
âWhy, no,â Lynn exclaimed, âthatâs not true! It wasnât like that at all!â
And even as she said it, she felt a flush of guilt because it had been like that. Exactly as he said it.
âOh, no?â Dirk slid forward across the seat until he was beside her. He put both hands on her shoulders and she
could feel his warm breath against her face. âWell, youâre not any better than I am. Not one bit better, and your wishy-washy Paul Kingsley isnât either. I bet you kiss him, donât you? No being coy or pulling away from him .â
âThatâs different,â Lynn whispered, wondering desperately how she could get away from Dirk and out of the car with his hands so strong on her shoulders. âPaul and Iâwell, Paul is specialâheâsââ
âYeah. Heâs from the Hill.â
And then he kissed her. It was a hard kiss, a determined kiss from a boy who had