Tempting Janey. Mary Baxter Lynn

She knew, however, that Beverly was really serious when it came to her weight problem.

      “You might need to lose a few pounds,” Robin said, “but you’re still the best one on the squad.”

      “Baloney.”

      “No, it’s not baloney.” Robin stood and peered down at Beverly. “You’re as limber as a rag doll and can do any routine perfectly on the first try. Trust me, that counts for something.”

      “Thanks, but I’d rather be thin and clumsy.”

      Robin placed her hands on her hips and pretended to be offended. “Are you saying I’m clumsy?”

      “Nah,” Beverly replied, her grin sheepish. “You’ve got it all together.”

      “That’s baloney, too. I’m the one Mrs. Morrison’s always ragging.”

      “Well, what do you expect? She’s blind in one eye and can’t see out of the other.”

      They both giggled, then sobered.

      “I guess we’d better get back to the grindstone,” Beverly said, getting up. “This coming Friday’s looming large.”

      “Right. And since I haven’t quite gotten the hang of that new step, I need help.”

      Robin didn’t really, but she wanted Beverly to feel needed. In spite of Beverly’s weight, Robin thought her best friend was pretty. Beverly was tall, with mid-length, sandy-colored hair that was silky and shiny. Her eyes were a dark gray, and her skin was flawless. Most of all, she had a sharp wit and sense of humor that made her a blast to be around.

      Robin adored her, especially since Beverly was the only one who had befriended her when she’d returned from Colorado. Most of the others in the class had treated her like an outcast.

      They were just jealous, Beverly had told her, because she was so “everything” they weren’t. Robin hadn’t believed that for a second—but she didn’t know what she would have done if Beverly hadn’t become her friend.

      Now, in their senior year, their friendship had deepened. They shared everything except clothes.

      “What’s churning in that brain of yours?” Beverly asked. “You’re staring holes through me.”

      “Sorry,” Robin said. “I was just thinking about how tough it was when I came back here, and how you got me through those miserable times.”

      Beverly chuckled. “I loved it the first day you tried out for the team. You were great, and most of my so-called friends were green with envy. And I enjoyed every minute of their misery.”

      “You’re awful.”

      “No, I’m truthful. Eloise and entourage needed some competition. And you gave it to them. It was a hoot.”

      Robin’s features clouded. “Most of them still don’t like me.”

      “So what? Who needs them? All they think about is guys—which one is going to get in their panties next.” Beverly paused and grinned. “Oops, my mistake. They don’t even wear panties.”

      Robin giggled. “I hate to agree with you, but I do.”

      “Speaking of Eloise and company, they just drove up.”

      Robin peered over her shoulder, feeling her heart drop to her toes. The afternoon was ruined, for sure. She hated the competition that went on among the drill team, mainly the catty jealousy. But it existed, and she had to face it or get sucked under.

      “Wonder what we did to deserve such luck?” Beverly muttered, as four girls piled out of a Lexus sports coupe and walked up.

      “Hey, what’s going on?” Eloise Frazier asked, batting her big brown eyes and smiling her fake smile, appearing as innocent as a newborn babe.

      Robin knew better. The captain of the drill team was as innocent as a hooker on Sunset Boulevard. And she was up to something. It was only a matter of time before she and Beverly found out what.

      “We’re just taking a break from practicing,” Beverly said.

      “Want us to watch?” Sally, another of the girls, asked.

      “Nope,” Beverly said. “Not unless y’all want to perform for us.”

      Another of the girls spoke up. “We don’t need any more practice. We’ve got the routine down.”

      “Bully for you,” Beverly said.

      Robin knew a verbal slinging match was not far off, and while Beverly could more than handle the situation, Robin didn’t want to be part of it. So she smiled at the fourth girl, Mandy Taylor, then changed the subject. “Is that your car? It’s awesome.”

      Mandy returned the smile. “Actually, it’s my mom’s.”

      Of the four girls, all officers on the drill team, Mandy was salvageable, Robin thought. When the girl wasn’t around Eloise, she could be sweet.

      “Lucky you, to get to drive it,” Robin added, thinking of the older, much less desirable model she drove. Her dad worked for a car dealership but he certainly hadn’t bought her a new car. And her mother couldn’t have, even if she’d wanted to. Robin suspected her mom was just managing to squeak by.

      “My parents are getting me a BMW,” Eloise chimed in.

      “That’s nice,” Robin forced herself to say in an even tone, though she dared not look at Beverly for fear they would burst out laughing. Eloise just had to be one up on everyone. She was truly a pain in the butt, though sometimes Robin actually felt sorry for her, because she always had to be the center of attention. What a heavy burden to bear.

      “Hey, look who just drove up,” said Jodie Tipton, the last of the four to speak.

      All eyes darted to the street and watched as a truck pulled into the drive.

      “That’s my brother, Cody,” Beverly said. “And it looks like he’s got Chad with him.”

      Robin’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Chad Burnette. It beat even faster when the senior star quarterback climbed out of the truck.

      To die for.

      That description fit him to a tee. He was big and brawny, with longish dark-blond hair and green eyes. Even though he was cocky and self-assured and knew without a doubt that he was good-looking, Robin didn’t care.

      He didn’t know that she was alive on planet Earth, though, which she did care about. She’d had a mad crush on him since the first time she saw him. Although they had been introduced at a party last year, she couldn’t recall his having spoken to her since.

      Following Beverly’s haphazard attempt at introducing her brother to everyone, Eloise asked, “Hey, Chad, how’s it going?”

      Robin knew the two of them had been an item for several months. Then, rumors had it, Chad had dumped Eloise, but, Eloise, though furious, hadn’t stopped caring about him.

      “It’s going,” Chad drawled, his eyes seemingly scoping out each of the girls.

      When Robin felt his gaze settle on her, she swallowed hard.

      “Do I know you?” he asked.

      “Chad, honey,” Eloise blatantly interrupted, “how ’bout letting Cody drop you off by my house when you leave here?”

      His eyes never left Robin’s face, though his words were obviously meant for Eloise. “Not interested.”

      Robin flinched at his rudeness, while Eloise sucked in her breath loud enough for everyone to hear. Then everyone else seemed to start talking at once.

      But Robin couldn’t have spoken if her life had been in jeopardy, for Chad had walked over to her and was now staring down into her eyes.

      “Have we ever