Persuaded (12 page)

“Do the Hadleys play?” I couldn’t help asking as I gingerly ran my fingers over the piano’s sleek surface. Madison was over examining the collection of guitars.

Frank smiled. “No, not really. They just tinker around with it a bit. Pretty instrument, isn’t it?”

I walked around to the front and slowly lifted the cover to reveal perfect ivory and ebony keys. “Do you mind?” I asked, my hand hovering just above middle C, before I realized how rude I might’ve sounded. “Oh, sorry. This isn’t my house and already I’m helping myself to the piano.”

“No, no, missy.” Frank waved away my protests. “Here’s the deal. If you can promise me that you can really play, I’ll let you play anytime you feel like coming back here and trying her out. But I can’t abide the kids that just wanna fool with stuff and come in here and pound away. So if you tell me you can play, I’ll let ya.”

“I can play a little,” I modestly responded.
More like a lot.
“But I haven’t played in a couple years, so I’m not sure how good I am now.” My fingers positively itched to escape within the keys. Already they were moving slightly through my favorite arrangements in the air. I had begged my family to keep our piano, but as it was pointed out to me, no one else played. It was one of the first things to go, and I hadn’t been this close to a set of keys since.

“Well, then, you can come back anytime.”

Which I took to mean “Come back later.” That was fair enough. “Thank you, I’d like that.” I gave the grand piano one final glance before I followed Frank and Madison out the door.

We visited a few more rooms, but I couldn’t focus on them much after the music room. Around 4:00, Frank left us with the promise of taking Madison and me around to see more of the house the next day. By then, most of our group had all gathered in the main family room of the mansion. Everyone agreed we’d set off and see what we could of Moab, then grab something to eat. Within minutes we were all back with our things and ready to go.

“You’re welcome to ride with me and Collin in his Skyline, if you want,” Madison said to me as we headed out the door.

“Um, okay.” I shrugged. “Thanks.”
I doubt I’ll be missed anyway.

Ethan gave us directions to a restaurant he haunted faithfully every May. It was decided everyone would park there, and then we’d meander around the downtown shops a bit, before heading back to the restaurant at 6:00.

The shops were so cool. I was sure most of them were total tourist traps, but I didn’t care. I enjoyed nosing around and looking at the little cactus mugs and ceramics and other wares. All the guys bought matching black shirts that read in large yellow letters across the back, “OFFICIAL 4-WHEELING MARSHALL.”

They looked pretty cool, actually. Especially once they all slipped their shirts on. It was one thing to walk down the street with a bunch of guys next to you. It was quite another to attract the attention of every female within a thirty-mile radius, because not only were they attractive, but they all were dressed alike, too. It was like our own group of bodyguards or something.

A couple of stores later, I was surprised when Madison found these really fun decals that could be put upside down on your vehicle. They said, “If you can read this, please turn me over!”

Actually that wasn’t what surprised me—it was the fact that she was buying them as a gift for Carson to put on his Land Rover.
Is it normal to buy things for a guy who isn’t your boyfriend?
I wondered. I wasn’t sure about that rule. I did, however, note that Collin looked a little crestfallen and Carson seemed pretty elated when Madison presented him with the decals in front of everyone. I don’t think I was the only person who found the whoop and the twirling bear hug awkward, since it obviously had made Collin uncomfortable. It even looked like Carson might’ve tried to kiss her, had Gregory not cleared his throat right then. My suspicions were confirmed when I caught a faint flush rising to Madison’s cheeks.

Kylie smirked right next to me. “I give them twenty-four hours, tops. Those two are so in love with each other it would take a fool not to notice it.” She glanced pointedly at Collin. “And apparently he already has.”

Okay, so where have I been?
I knew Carson was flirting wildly with her on that tour, but other than that I hadn’t really noticed anything unusual. Of course, I had been a little too preoccupied with my own guy problems to notice anyone else’s. I glanced over just in time to catch Gregory’s frown of disapproval at Carson and Madison’s display.
I realized Gregory would never allow his emotions to get the better of him if it meant hurting someone else.

Frustrated with myself and my wayward thoughts, I turned around to head back to the restaurant, determined to get a few moments alone. To my shock, I wasn’t five feet from a really good-looking Native American guy who had obviously planned on going around our little group, but when he saw me he paused and stared. Like jaw drop and everything. Curious, I glanced behind me, but everyone was facing the other way. When I looked back he was still staring right at me.
Oh my gosh. Is he—is he checking me out?
Flustered, I quickly smiled at him and then walked past, but not before I noticed his wide grin.

By the time I made it to the restaurant, I was a good five minutes ahead of everyone else. So, with an excited flush on my cheeks, I ran into the restroom and hurried up to the mirror, just to see what it was the guy had seen that made him stop and notice me. The person looking back startled me for a second before I realized she really was my reflection. She was slightly more tanned than I remembered, with a cute reddish tint on her cheeks. I smiled.
Gregory was right—I am pretty when I smile. Really pretty.

After puttering around for a few more minutes and then checking to make sure I still looked the same, I practically skipped out of the bathroom and right up to my friends as they came through the front door of the restaurant.

“Hi.” My smile glowed. I knew it glowed because I had just checked it. And I knew I shouldn’t be too excited because someone checked me out, but it had completely gone to my head. Never before had I felt so giddy and carefree.

Gregory paused at my cheerful greeting while he held the door open. And then he did a double-take. “Hi, yourself.” He grinned back. “Happy?”

I giggled—
I actually giggled
—and it shocked me so much I giggled again before answering, “Very happy.”

Gregory was clearly astounded. In fact Sydney, for whom he was holding the door open, looked astounded too. “Amanda?”

“Yes?” I girlishly giggled back.

She stepped out of the way, allowing Kylie through, and peered into my eyes. “What is wrong with you? Are you drunk?”

“What? No.”

“Well, wipe that stupid grin off your face. You look like the biggest dork. I swear, you totally know how to embarrass me, don’t you?”

Ouch.
Talk about dousing a girl with ice-cold water. “Sorry,” I quickly murmured and then moved away from the others. I actually made it so far back from the crowd at the door that a nice fake plant hid me from their view.

You know fake plants are really amazing inventions. They give you the opportunity to hide while being able to see everything that’s going on around you. Not that I was
in
the fake plant, but just on a bench on the other side of it.

“Hi, again.”

I whipped around at the voice behind me. It was the guy who had checked me out earlier.
Oh my gosh! What is he doing here?
Now it was my jaw’s turn to drop. And it dropped pretty far. Seriously, a whole fishing boat could’ve parked itself right in my mouth
.
I was sure it wasn’t very attractive, but I couldn’t help it.

The guy chuckled. He was really cute. “I followed you here.”

“You w–what?” I gasped, my jaw dropping again.

“Well, it would’ve looked odd had I followed you into the girl’s bathroom. I figured I was safer out here.” His white teeth gleamed on his brown skin.

I was in the bathroom forever. What in the world did he think I was doing in there? Ah! I don’t want to know. Somebody please save me now. I think I’m going to die. Or worse yet, I think I’m going to live. I don’t want to live.
Clearly, I was not as rational as I should’ve been at such a moment. I groaned.

“What? Did I say something wrong? You aren’t mad that I followed you, are you?”

“Huh? No.” I lowered my gaze.

“You’re embarrassed?” He ducked his head slightly to connect with my eyes. “Is that it?”

I chewed on my lower lip.

“Are you kidding me? You’re shy? Wow. That’s awesome. I’ve finally found a good-looking girl who’s humble.”

Baffled, I stared up at him.

“Do you have any idea what a rare girl you are?” His eyes, so dark they were almost black, sparkled right into my own.

“Uh—”

“Amanda, our table is ready,” I heard Gregory say.

“Gregory?” the guy next to me said in astonishment.

Huh? They know each other?
I flipped around to gauge Gregory’s reaction.

He smiled and walked over to him. “Sean? Sean Benally? Good to see you! This is wild. I can’t believe I’m meeting you here in Moab of all places.”

Eleven: Guess Who?

“I’m on my way through, heading home,” Sean answered as he stood up. “How ’bout you?”

“We’re here to watch a friend in a four-wheeling competition. Have you heard of Ethan Franklin?”

“No way! The guy that’s won all of those championships? You know him?” It looked like Sean had died and gone to heaven.

Gregory chuckled. “Yeah, he and his brother Carson—they’re really nice guys. You’d like them. Actually, have you had dinner? You’re welcome to come and sit with us. I’ll be sure to introduce you. Lilly’s here, too.”

“Lilly too?” Sean turned and smiled down at me. “Sure, but only if you introduce Amanda and me properly and tell me how you got to know her.”

Gregory seemed a little taken aback with his friend’s obvious flirting, but he complied. “Uh, Amanda, this is Sean Benally, Lilly’s adoptive brother. He’s also my cousin. Sean, meet Amanda—Amanda Ellis.”

“You’re Amanda Ellis?” Sean looked like someone had just socked him. “Are you kidding me?” He turned back to Gregory.
“The
Amanda Ellis?”

Gregory looked briefly at my confused face before he nodded and said, “Yep, the same one.”

“You never told me how good-looking she was,” Sean said.

Gregory’s smile tightened. “Didn’t I?”

Sean offered his hand to me, and I took it. “So, Amanda Ellis,” he said, his dark eyes twinkling at me. “Are you single, or are you taken?”

I felt my cheeks flame. “Uh . . .” I glanced up at Gregory and caught his eye briefly before turning back to Sean. “Single, but—but happily single.” I didn’t want to give him the wrong idea.

“The table’s this way,” interrupted Gregory.

We had to follow him immediately or we would’ve lost him, since he was walking really fast. It wasn’t until we got to the table and Kylie caught my eye before looking pointedly down at my hand, that I realized I was still holding Sean’s. Embarrassed, I quickly let go.

“Sean? Sean Benally!” Sydney floored us all when she shrieked and ran around the table to throw her arms around him. “What are you doing here?”

He awkwardly patted her back in return. “It’s good to see you, Sydney.”

“Wow! I haven’t seen you since the track meets where we competed against each other. I sure missed you this year. I can’t believe you’ve graduated already. You were the fastest runner I’d ever seen. You always outran the Farmington stars. Here.” She practically dragged him over to her side of the table. There was an empty seat right next to her.
My
seat. “Sit by me. I want you to tell me everything! How crazy is it that you’re here of all places?”

Sean sent me an apologetic look from across the table, while Gregory whispered in my ear, “Hang on—I’ll get you a seat.”

“Thanks.”