SVH11-Too Good To Be True by Francine Pascal Read Free Book Online

he just needed a little more persuasion. Teachers always put themselves up on pedestals that way. Like they were better than everyone else. Oh, how she'd like to bring this teacher to his knees!
    "Liz asked me to give you this," she explained, handing the envelope to him. "But I wanted to see you anyway. I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for the way you saved my life. I never did get a chance to thank you appropriately at the picnic. I really owe you a lot."
    "Forget it," Mr. Collins replied with an edge of gruffness to his voice. "I can't think of anyone who wouldn't have done the same."
    He was wearing only a pair of white jogging shorts and a red bandanna to keep his longish strawberry-blond hair out of his eyes. Suzanne's gaze strayed down to his bare, muscular chest, which was deeply tanned and slick with perspiration.
    "It's so hot!" she exclaimed, wilting into a nearby chaise longue. She propped her slender
    legs up to give him a better view. The tan she'd acquired the past few days was perfectly shown off by the skimpy yellow shorts she wore. "Mind if I steal a quick drink from the hose?"
    Silently he handed it to her. Suzanne laughed merrily as the cool water bubbled over her lips and nose. She let it dribble down her chin until the front of her thin T-shirt was soaked, making it cling to her very brief bikini top. Mr. Collins couldn't help but look. Suzanne smiled to herself in triumph as she noticed the color mounting in his cheeks.
    "Thanks," she said, handing the hose back to him. She looked down with a tiny cry of chagrin. "Oh, will you look at that--I'm all wet. Honestly, Mr. Collins, you must think I'm the klutziest girl in the whole world!"
    He bent down to yank a weed from the grass. In a low voice he muttered something that sounded like, "I think you know exactly what you're doing." But she couldn't be sure she'd heard it right.
    At that moment a blond, blue-eyed miniature version of Mr. Collins came banging out through the screen door. When he caught sight of Suzanne, he stopped and stared up at her as if he'd just discovered a movie star standing out on his back lawn.
    Suzanne went over to him and put her hand
    out, giving the little boy her most winning smile. "Hi, I'm Suzy. And I'll bet your name is Teddy."
    His face lit up. "How'd you know?"
    "I'm a good guesser."
    Teddy pointed over at Mr. Collins. "He's my dad."
    "I know. Aren't you lucky to have such a nice daddy?"
    "Do you go to school with my dad?" Teddy asked.
    "No, but I wish I did. I'll bet he's the best teacher in the whole school."
    "The best in the whole world!"
    Suzanne laughed. "You're absolutely right, Teddy. I'm sure he is the best in the world."
    She straightened to face Mr. Collins. "He's adorable. I just love kids."
    Mr. Collins looked fondly down on Teddy. "Yeah, he's great." For a minute Suzanne thought she'd won him over, but then he drew back. "Well, thanks for bringing this stuff by. Tell Liz I said thanks, too."
    It was obviously a dismissal. Suzanne was annoyed. She'd been counting on something more--a word, a glance, some small sign that he found her irresistible. Nevertheless, she hid her disappointment behind a brilliant smile.
    "Don't mention it," she replied airily. "It was the least I could do after--well, you know."
    She made it sound as if his saving her at the picnic had been something private and special.
    Mr. Collins blushed. As Suzanne turned to go, she wore a smug expression. The invincible Mr. Collins wasn't so invincible after all.
    "Sorry I took so long." Suzanne slid into the backseat. "Mr. Collins was telling me about the paper and how great the kids who work on it are. Especially you, Liz."
    Elizabeth sat up straighter. "Me?"
    Todd nudged her teasingly as he started the engine. "Maybe I should be jealous."
    Suzanne giggled. "He didn't mean it that way, silly. Anyway, I really think you're lucky, Liz. I've always wanted to be a writer, only I'm terrible at it."
    "I can't imagine you being terrible at