Heart Strings Read Online Free Page A

him to spend the summer, or that he took her up on it.”
    “She's lonely, Keely, and he appears personable. Watch the way he smiles at Evelyn, and look how happy she seems.”
    The two of them were smiling and chatting over refreshments and Keely didn't like watching them together. “I still think it's strange he moved in. And he's wearing Mark's shirt.”
    “If I don't miss my bet, he was wearing short sleeves and Evelyn was afraid he'd sunburn. You know how protective she is, and the boy looks pale. As for him staying there, Evelyn wouldn't invite a stranger into her home. If he's not a relative, there's a connection.”
    Tripp said something about close ties, but what kind? He wiped his face on his sleeve. It was a hot, cloudless day; the sun was bearing down brightly. He must be miserable wearing long sleeves, but he was grinning. Fanning herself with a napkin, Mrs. Jefferson said something to him and picked up their refreshment tray. Shaking his head, Tripp took it from her and carried it inside.
    “Look how thoughtful he is. He'll be good for her. Salve on an open sore.” As Tripp came back to give Mrs. Jefferson a quick hug. Sara Johannsen stood with quick determination. “I'm going to invite Evelyn and Tripp over for our cookout this evening. Why don't you come along, dear?”
    Her mother had said more good things about Tripp in five minutes than she ever said about Mark. But it would be interesting to talk to Tripp and learn more about him mysteriously turning up at the Jefferson's front door—if he would talk to her after the weird way she'd acted.
    Her mother had caught up to Evelyn in the driveway beside her house when Keely followed. Tripp, coming out of the shed where he was putting the mower away, smiled when he spotted her at the edge of the yard. “Keely. I hoped to see you. Where were you yesterday?”
    “At Brookville Lake. Memorial Day weekend opens the boating season, and I went with Megan and her folks to put their pontoon in the water.” Keely narrowed her eyes at Tripp. “Why? Where were you?”
    “Here, moving in with Mrs. Jefferson—for the summer. As a houseguest. No ulterior motives.” He raised his hands in a motion of surrender. “My school let out Friday.”
    He remembered her warning, at least, and she supposed Evelyn could use the company. “We go back to Branburg High Tuesday for one more day of classes,” Keely said.
    “Last day's a piece of cake.” His dark eyes locked with hers. “I've been thinking about you a lot since we met.”
    She'd been thinking about him too and it made her uneasy. If she wanted to date again, Tripp seemed nice, and he was cute. However, he lived in Mark's house with Mark's mother and it would just be too much for him to like or want to date Mark's girl.
    “I can see you're totally underwhelmed.” Tripp, flashing his dimples, slipped off Mark's shirt, revealing a T-shirt soaked with sweat.
    “Why are you stopping when the lawn isn't finished?”
    “Mrs. Jefferson is afraid I'll overheat. She wants me to wait until the sun goes down.” Grinning sheepishly, he slung the shirt over his shoulder. “She doesn't want me to sunburn.”
    The newly mown grass smelled good. Her mother had been right about Evelyn overprotecting him. He probably felt really silly. Keely, hoping to make him feel more comfortable, smiled. “Why did you decide to move in?”
    Tripp seemed to pale at her question, but his shrug was casual. “My folks are going to Europe and I didn't want to go. So I'd be spending the summer with our housekeeper, who's nice, but not a fun person. Evelyn was lonely and I would have been too.”
    “You didn't want to go to Europe? Why not?”
    “Been there. Done that. My folks are travel writers and their itineraries are boring and exhausting. I had to go along when I was a kid and I know. Besides, they haven't made this long trip for three years now, and I think they're looking forward to time for just the two of them. And another