LLP-108 The Underground Model by Jean Sifton ... - OpenDrive
LLP-108 The Underground Model by Jean Sifton ... - OpenDrive
LLP-108 The Underground Model by Jean Sifton ... - OpenDrive
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"I don't believe it!" he half-whispered, then gave a long, dry whistle, his face still contorted from the<br />
sudden surprise. As if in a dreamlike trance, his hands slowly left Jennifer's body, lowering her gently to<br />
the floor.<br />
Patricia was standing halfway on the last step of the stairway with her hand on the banister, looking at<br />
him as if she couldn't believe her eyes.<br />
"Patricia!" He moved quickly towards her, caught both of her hands in his and gave the girl a broad,<br />
genuinely pleased smile. "This is fantastic! What on earth are you doing here?"<br />
<strong>The</strong> touch of his hands on hers sent jolting electrical impulses whirring through her body, and she felt<br />
winded, as if she had just run for ten miles without stopping to rest. She blushed deeply, thinking that he<br />
could probably hear the pounding of her heart, thudding wildly inside her and pumping blood up to her<br />
brain so fast that she leaned slightly towards him to stop the dizziness.<br />
Patricia took a deep breath and smiled up at him, determined not to let her emotions betray her, for she<br />
was not sure where she really stood with him now, or for that matter, just how much their brief affair had<br />
meant to him. When she finally spoke, her voice did not give away her inner feelings.<br />
"I was just about to ask you the same question," she said, the initial excitement gradually ebbing.<br />
His eyes were as warm and exciting as she remembered them, smoldering with secret promises of love<br />
and crinkling boyishly at the corners at the same time, as if he were laughing at his own burning desires.<br />
"Friends?" he asked her quietly. And then Patricia suddenly remembered how abruptly she left the beach<br />
cottage that day, leaving no word of explanation.<br />
She nodded, then smiled. "I tried to find you later, I-I wrote you but<br />
..."<br />
He cut short her apologies. "<strong>The</strong>re's no need to say anything," he told her. "We were both very much on<br />
edge then ... Anyway ... let's just forget it, luck is with me today, I've finally finished that book, and<br />
found you again in the same week. What more could I ask for?"<br />
"Oh, Mark, I'm so happy for you. I knew how much you wanted to finish<br />
it, that's why I-"<br />
"No more about that," he said softly, increasing the warm pressure of his hand on hers. "Are you staying<br />
with Jennifer now?"<br />
"Y-Yes, I'm trying to find a steady job in modeling, and Jennifer's sort of helping me along ... my<br />
money's running a little low right now." She looked over his shoulder and met Jennifer's eyes. <strong>The</strong> girl<br />
was staring at them with a puzzled, almost angry look on her face ... as if she deeply resented their<br />
knowing each other.<br />
Jennifer, who had been watching this exchange with mounting impatience, now interrupted the couple's<br />
intimate reunion.<br />
"Suppose you two lovebirds come downstairs and help me open a few bottles of beer. It's time we got<br />
this party moving!" she called. "You'll have plenty of time for tete-a-tetes later on."<br />
Patricia released her hands from Mark's, and looked over at the other girl quizzically. Jennifer was