“Her mouth drops open in disbelief. “Your dad tried to blackmail the mob? Has he never seen The Godfather?”

“How about two dollars per hour above what your current employer is paying you?”My mouth wants to drop open. “Don’t you even want to know what that is?”He makes a face. “Nah. I get the feeling you’ll be worth it.”

“But the thing I notice most isn’t what’s in them—surprise, disbelief, curiosity, maybe a little pity—it’s what’s not. Judgment. Disdain. Horror. None of the things I’ve so often seen in people’s eyes when I’ve had to tell them my story.Now I want to kiss her even more.”

“The door closes and then there’s a long pause before it swings all the way open. What I see takes my breath.Marissa is taller than Olivia. Thinner, too. But Olivia is curvier. Much curvier. And every single one is displayed to absolute perfection in the dress she’s wearing.I think I’ve seen Marissa in it before, and she looked great. But not great like this.The material is some kind of thin, almost sheer stuff in dark red. It flutters in the air that stirs as the door comes to a rest against the stopper with a muffled thump. Olivia stands still and lets me appraise her before she starts toward me. I clench my jaw to keep my mouth from dropping open as I watch her. The wispy cloth clings to her body as she walks, outlining her form perfectly. She might as well be nude.Holy mother, I wish she was.I shake off the thought, knowing I can’t go forward tonight thinking things like that.Think with the big head, man! Think with the big head!”

“Please don't tell her i told you. I know how much you love her, Hardy, and i know the reason she didn't want you to know is because she loves you, too. I've never seen two people your age feel so deeply about each other. I understand you needing to know, but she would never forgive me.”

“Oh, i'm sorry. I would never make fun of your extensive efforts to make me smile." "Actually," Hardy said, turning serious as he reached forward to trace the corner of Miracle's mouth. "I would do almost anything to see you smile.”

“Whoa. I didn’t say I loved her.”Dad smiles at me. “You didn’t have to.”