Free Drop Dead Gorgeous by Heather Graham Page A

in the Middle East, and had disappeared during a training mission. His status had been changed just the day before she’d come to see him. Daniel Black’s death had been confirmed. His body had been found in the desert—he’d been shot in the back of the head. Sean, who never drank, had been drinking. When she’d arrived, he’d been crying. Sean, who never cried.
    Mandy hadn’t been with him. She’d had to go to some function at the Historical Society with her folks. Sean’s father had been out with old military friends, and his brother Michael had been with his own girl. Lori hadn’t been able to stay away. So they’d been alone. For hours and hours, and he’d talked, and talked, about how he’d loved Daniel, how Daniel had wanted to make a difference, how he’d told his brother that the service would pay for his education and help them all along. They’d get their father a fine new home eventually, pay him back for just loving them all and trying to do his best for them at all times …
    “I’m sorry,” Sean said again, shaking his head. “So damned sorry. I’d never want to hurt you, Lori.”
    She flipped her hair back again. “Don’t be stupid, Se an. You can’t hurt me. I mean… just as long as you never say anything. I wouldn’t want Brad to know what happened—or my folks.” He arched a brow, staring at her hard, and there was a disappointment in his eyes that caused a savage twisting of her insides.
    “Lori, I think that we really need to talk. I have to say good-bye, and I want you to know—”
    “Oh, God, please, I don’t want to talk—”
    “Lori—”
    “I don’t want to remember!” She leapt to her feet. “I don’t want to talk—and I don’t want to be caught alone together. Go find your wild girlfriend. Say good-bye to her. ” Oh, God, she was going to burst into tears. He was sorry for her. Sorry. He pitied her. She was in love with him, and he pitied her. She couldn’t bear it.
    “Lori—”
    “Damn you, don’t be sorry! Mandy’s going to Denver, you’re going to Tallahassee, and I’m off to New York. All decided. Just leave me the hell alone!” she told him, and she jumped up and spun on her heels, almost running toward the water.
    She plunged into it.
    Everyone was involved in the keep-away game—even the other girls. Even Jeff—who seemed to be okay with his sister’s constantly outrageous behavior.
    But when Mandy saw Lori, her laughing humor suddenly seemed to fade. “All right, that’s it, everybody’s had a good time, and every one of you pricks has managed to cop a feel. Now, give me the damned thing!” she demanded, when her bikini top landed in Brad’s hand. Her mountainous breasts bounced at surface level as she tied the top back on. “Assholes!” she accused the guys.
    “Hey!” Andrew protested.
    “What do you want from a cunt?” Ricky demanded.
    “Ricky, come on, now,” Jeff said uncomfortably.
    “Fuck you all,” Mandy told them.
    “Ooh—sit on my face, baby!” Brad told her.
    “Don’t you wish, frat-boy!” Mandy taunted. “What’s the matter, the prom queen won’t let you get it up, honey?”
    The group hooted and catcalled, with only Lori feeling sick and crimson.
    Then they all fell silent, one by one, as Mandy, then Brad, and then the others saw Sean standing at the jump-off point. His blue eyes were nearly black. A blue vein beat a furious pulse at his throat.
    “Sean … ” Mandy breathed placatingly. She swam hard, crawling quickly from the water, approaching him. But when her hands fell on his shoulders, he turned away.
    “Sean!” she cried, grabbing him again.
    But he shook her off, and walked away.
    Laughter was gone. They all emerged from the water. Brad stared at Lori, but she turned away from him, hurrying into the pines. She sat in the shadow of a group of trees, shaking.
    She heard snatches of different arguments. Male voices, female voices. Then silence. She leaned back against a tree while the sun