Honey Moon by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Read Free Book Online Page B

gazed into the depths of those turquoise eyes that seemed to bum right through her skin, womanhood paid her an unwelcome visit.
    Her physical shortcomings gaped in her mind like festering wounds—her freckled little-boy's face, her mutilated hair and sucker-fish mouth. Her shorts were smeared with carburetor grease, she had spilled Orange Crush on her Tshirt, and her old blue rubber flip-flops had a piece missing from the heel. She agonized over her lack of height, her lack of breasts, her lack of any single redeeming feminine attribute.
    He regarded Honey and Chantal steadily, not seeming to find it at all strange to be confronted with two speechless females. She tried and failed to manage the simple syllables of "hello." She waited for Chantal to step in—Chantal who was always so forward with boys—but her cousin had slipped behind her.
    When Chantal finally did speak, she addressed her remark to Honey and not to the gorgeous stranger.
    "It's Jared Fairhaven," she whispered, sliding even farther behind Honey.
    How did Chantal know who he was? "H—Hi, Mr. Fairhaven," Honey finally managed, her voice not much more than a little girl's quiver, certainly nothing at all like the profane bray she used to keep the employees at the park in line.
    His eyes took in all the parts of Chantal that weren't hidden behind Honey's smaller body. He didn't smile— somehow his thin, hard mouth didn't seem to be made for that—but Honey's insides still twisted like a piece of hand laundry.
    "My name is Eric Dillon. Jared Fairhaven is the part I used to play on Destiny ."
    Honey vaguely recalled that Destiny was one of Sophie's soap operas. She felt a pang as she saw the way he was gazing at her cousin. But then what did she expect? Did she really think he would notice her when Chantal was around?
    Men were about the only thing that Chantal was good at, and Honey couldn't understand why she kept hovering behind her instead of stepping forward and taking over the conversation like she usually did. Unable to endure the indignity of appearing not only ugly but stupid, she swallowed hard.
    "I'm Honey Jane Moon. This here's my cousin, Chantal Booker. We're from Paxawatchie County, South Carolina, and we're here to get Chantal a part on The Dash Coogan Show."
    "Is that so?" His voice was deep-pitched and rich. He walked forward, ignoring Honey as he took in every inch of Chantal. "Hi there, Chantal Booker." He spoke in a soft, silky way that sent a shiver up Honey's spine.
    To Honey's absolute and utter amazement, Chantal began pulling her toward the doorway. "Come on, Honey. We're gettin' out of here right now."
    Honey tried to resist, but Chantal was determined. Sweet, lazy Chantal who didn't have the gumption of
    a gnat was dragging her across the carpet!
    Honey grabbed on to the soft-drink machine. "What's wrong with you? We're not going anywhere."
    "Yes, we are. I'm not doing this. We're leavin' right now."
    The waiting room door opened, and a frazzled-looking young woman with a clipboard appeared. When she saw Eric Dillon, she looked momentarily disconcerted, and then she turned to Chantal. "We're ready to see you now, Miss Booker."
    This new arrival was one obstacle too many for Chantal to cope with and her momentary rebellion collapsed. She released Honey's arm and her bottom lip began to quiver. "Please, don't make me do this."
    Honey was pricked with guilt, but she steeled herself against Chantal's distress.
    "You have to. We don't have anything else left."
    "But..."
    Eric Dillon stepped forward and took Chantal's arm. "Come on, I'll go in with you."
    Honey thought she saw Chantal recoil from his touch, but she decided it was her imagination because Chantal had never recoiled from a man in her life.
    Chantal's shoulders slumped in resignation as she permitted Eric Dillon to lead her from the waiting room.
    The door closed. She pressed the fiat of her hand over her heart to keep it from jumping right out of her chest. Their entire