The Perfect Guy (Books We Love Young Adult Romance) by Ann Herrick Read Free Book Online Page B

a beautiful day. Let’s go for a walk."
    "Good idea."
    A stiff wind blew in off the water. The harbor was empty except for some sea gulls bobbing in the waves.
    "Brrr." I shivered. "It’s sure not a day for swimming yet."
    "Give it a couple of months." Josh opened his jacket and wrapped one side of it around me, his arm around my shoulder. "Warm enough now?"
    I nodded. I couldn’t remember a time when I hadn’t known Josh. I’d always felt comfortable and secure with him. It was one of the pleasures of life to walk on the beach on a beautiful day with one of my favorite people. In fact, if they could see me now, I’d be the envy of half the students at Sandy Cove High, the female half. I laughed at the idea.
    "What’s so funny?" Josh asked.
    "I was just thinking," I said. "I’d be the envy of most of the girls at school if they saw me now."
    "Oh?" Josh raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"
    "You, of course." I poked him in the ribs. "I’m sure you’re aware that most of the girls at school are dying to go out with you, and here I am, alone on a deserted beach with you."
    "I’m not sure if I’m being complimented or insulted."
    "What do you mean?"
    "On the one hand, you make it sound as if girls are dying to go out with me. On the other hand, you make it sound as if you think it’s a joke that they do." A trace of a scowl flickered across Josh’s face.
    "It’s just that I’m like a sister to you, so of course I wouldn’t be interested in dating you. You wouldn’t be interested in dating me."
    " Oh. Of course." Josh threw his hands in the air, and I could see he knew what I meant.
    "Who else would I have asked to give me secret dancing lessons , so I wouldn’t make a fool of myself at the wedding reception? Only someone who was like a brother to me."
    "Ah, yes, the infamous dancing lessons." Josh grinned, took me in his arms and waltzed me across the sand, humming in my ear.
    I relaxed in his arms. I liked dancing with him, and not just because he’d given me lessons. He so clearly enjoyed dancing that he made it simply fun. I joined in the humming. The wind rippled Josh’s dark curls. I studied his handsome face, outlined against the bright sky. It was easy to see why so many of the girls at school were attracted to him.
    "After waltzing in this sand," Josh said, "dancing at the graduation party should be a breeze."
    "I’ll say." I closed my eyes and rested my head against Josh’s chest, imagining myself dancing with Pres at the graduation party. Then all of a sudden I gasped. "Josh, what time is it?"
    "Oops." Josh checked the time. "It’s quarter after ten."
    "The library opened fifteen minutes ago." I grabbed Josh’s hand and we ran back to the car as fast as we could in the sand. "Hurry!"
    "Relax," said Josh. "The library isn’t going anywhere."
    "Easy for you to say. You don’t have a deadline hanging over your head. Can’t you drive any faster?"
    "Besides getting us there in one piece," Josh said, "I’d like to savor as much as I can of this beautiful day before we burrow ourselves in the library."
    I tried to contain my annoyance, but I was beginning to wonder if it was such a good idea to have Josh help me with the research if he wasn’t going to take it seriously.
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    While Josh did a computer search, I claimed a quiet table in the corner. When I finally went back to help him, I bumped into Alicia Johnson.
    "Hi, Rebecca," said Alicia. "Are you here with Josh?"
    "Yes," I whispered. "We’re doing research on Sandy Cove’s history for the school play, and we’re late getting started." I headed off before Alicia could get going on one of her nonstop conversations.
    "I’ve found a ton of stuff," Josh said. "I've printed the little I found on the internet. Most of the information is in books that are upstairs in the back room. Let’s go see what looks good."
    "Sure." As we headed upstairs I caught Alicia looking at us. When her eyes met mine, she ducked her head.
    Upstairs