Sierra Hearts (Part One) Read Online Free PDF Page B

rollerblading or whatever along
the concrete. But the best part is when the sun is beginning to
set.”
    “And why do you love that so much?” Danny asked.
Jenn thought she might be rambling at this point, but he seemed
genuinely curious. So Jenn kept on.
    “Well, even though all these people, all of these
different people are doing all of these different things, they are
still all at the beach. They all find themselves drawn to it and
want to experience in in their own way. And their experience of the
sun beginning to set with the sky shifting colors slightly from
blue and bright to soft and yellow to orange and warm to red and
subdued to finally purple and cool. That experience is their own
but they still share it with everyone there. I love that feeling
that the ocean can give you.”
    Danny had straightened up in his seat. His face had
softened somewhat like he was completely relaxed. His eyes, though,
were focused hard on Jenn.
    “I’ve only seen the ocean once, from a plane,” he
said. His voice seemed faraway and had gotten noticeably quieter.
He turned his head to the fire. “I was able to see out the window.
I remember thinking that from that far up it seemed like blue
cornfields, not ocean. Funny, I don’t know why I compared it to
cornfields in my mind…” He trailed off.
    His mood seemed to change and darken, like he was
remembering something he wished he could forget. Jenn knew the
feeling well enough at this point from trying to push Danny out her
thoughts that she could recognize it in someone else. For a split
second, Danny stared out the window, looking lost, but just as
quickly he started the engine. Jenn felt herself shudder from the
cold. She felt like a polar bear that had lost its warm fur.
    “I’ll take that,” Danny said, holding out his hand
for his mug of tea. His right hand reached towards Jenn. She held
out the mug for him, and when he clasped it, he said,
“ Merci .”
    Jenn couldn’t contain the laugh that erupted from
her. It was a deep sound that seemed to come from somewhere deep
inside of her torso. Terrified, she looked to Danny’s face,
scanning it for any sign that she had done something wrong. Instead
all she saw was an inquisitive grin.
    “What’s so funny?” he asked, playfully.
    Jenn did her best to stifle her laughter, which at
this point was a low rumble inside of her.
    “My friend in LA, she’s French. You saying merci just now made me think of her.”
    “And do you always laugh when you think about her?”
Danny asked, not seriously.
    Jenn wanted to say, Yes, I always do because she
is such a good friend and the person I trust most in the
world.
    “She has a saying that you reminded me of just now,”
Jenn said. She realized that she wasn’t nervous anymore, or at
least, she had a handle on her nervousness.
    “Never trust an American man who uses French phrases
to impress you,” Jenn continued. “It only leads to trouble.”
    Now it was her turn to smile at Danny. Where did
this newfound confidence come from? Was Jenn flirting? More
importantly, was it working?
    “And why is that?” Danny asked. His brown eyes were
glittering as if they themselves were smiling. Another jolt of
electricity shot up and down Jenn.
    Jenn could feel herself giggle and the corners of
her mouth starting to reveal a full smile. She was slightly
embarrassed she had said anything to begin with, but with every
moment that passed by she felt more at ease. More sure of herself.
More playful.
    “Well, my friend Dominique’s first language is
French, but honestly her English is better than mine sometimes. And
she likes coming close to crossing the line and loves to shock
people,” Jenn said.
    “Ah, ah, ah,” Danny tutted. “No changing the
subject.” He started the engine and the machine whirred to life. He
held out the mug to Jenn.
    “ Why does she say not to trust an
American man who uses French to impress you?” Danny
asked.
    Jenn bit her lower lip, not sure if she should