Hourglass by Myra McEntire Page B

maybe it’s too outrageous to believe. But everyone has secrets, right?”
    “Not everyone.” Her body tensed, and she twisted the dish towel in her hands. “I don’t have any secrets. My life is an open book. Do you have a number three?”
    “Um … yes.” I picked up the sugar dispenser and dumped a couple of tablespoons’ worth into my cup, looking at Lily with my peripheral vision. “Number three: Thomas has his ‘no fraternization’ rule, and Michael seems perfectly willing to enforce it.”
    She lowered her shoulders and chewed on her bottom lip for a few seconds before responding. “That could be a good thing. It gives you time to get to know him before you decide how you feel.”
    “I guess.”
    “Take advantage of it. You don’t have to rush things. If he’s worth it now, he’ll still be worth it in a month. Or you could just take advantage of all that pent-up frustration and roll out those piecrusts for me.” Lily walked around the counter and headed for the corner of the café, scooping up the rolling pin from where I’d sent it flying moments before. She rinsed it off in the sink, dried it, and patted it down with flour.
    I watched her with my mouth hanging open. “How did you know where that was?”
    “What? Um … that’s where I keep it.” A slow flush spread up her neck to her cheeks. “Why do you ask?”
    We stared at each other for a seemingly endless moment.
    “No reason.”
    She held out the pin.
    I pushed up my sleeves, took it, and started rolling.

    When Lily and I walked out together at the end of our shift, the sun was shining through the disappearing gray clouds, reflecting off the puddles gathered on the asphalt. The humidity was stifling, making my hair feel heavy.
    I shoved my jacket into my backpack and grabbed a ponytail elastic out of a side pocket. Stopping above the last step to the sidewalk, I held my bag between my knees and the elastic band in my mouth, twisting up my hair with my hands while I tried to keep my balance.
    I froze midtwist when I saw Michael across the street. He was leaning back against a sleek black convertible with the top down, two fingers covering his lips to keep from laughing. He did that a lot. I wondered if it was a habit before he met me.
    Lily let out a grunt of appreciation. “Mmm. Santa came early, and look at the deliciousness he brought with him.” She smoothed down her hair and rooted around in her purse, pulling out a breath mint. “Adios.”
    “Hold it.” I reached out to grab the strap on her bag, pulling her back. “That deliciousness isn’t available for sampling.”
    She turned to face me, eyes wide. “Is that the challenge you were talking about?”
    “The challenge that’s off-limits. And occasionally a pain in the ass.” And possibly insane.
    “Oh, girl.” Lily shook her head, looking back at Michael with obvious admiration. “I am so sorry.”
    “What are you doing anyway? You never approach guys. I realize he’s exceptional, but really?” He might be a pain, but he was my pain. Sort of.
    Lily looked at me and shrugged. “Exceptional is an understatement.”
    “Later,” I murmured as I jumped the last step and ran toward him, barely looking as I crossed the street.
    “Hey.” The breathless thing was happening again, but I didn’t care.
    “Hey,” he replied. I wanted to put my hands on him as a test, to see if the connection existed on a busy street in the middle of the afternoon. I reached a finger out to boldly touch the curve below his smile.
    He reached up to grab my arm. “Are you trying to get me fired? Or kill me?”
    “You would be of no use to me dead.” Although I couldn’t breathe when he touched me, so I guess it all depended on who kicked the bucket first. He still held my wrist, and my whole arm was vibrating.
    I almost wished he were telling the truth about the whole time-travel thing. He was way too pretty to be delusional.
    “Get in.” Michael let go of my arm, grabbed my