The Eighth Day by Dianne K. Salerni Page A

in the basics of the eighth day by Red. Entertaining, perhaps, but those two days had equaled two weeks for the weeds in Mrs. Unger’s flower beds .
    While she was pulling up dandelions near the fence at the back of the yard, a flutter of color caught her eye. A butterfly! She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen an eighth day creature that wasn’t vermin. They, of course, went everywhere. Her little brother Elliot had even kept one as a pet for a few months, until their mother had caught him with it .
    Evangeline watched the butterfly fly from one azalea bush to thenext, thinking about Elliot’s secret pet and about Adelina, who had wanted a pony and never got one .
    â€œUm, hi?”
    Evangeline shot to her feet and whirled around .
    It was New Boy, standing in the middle of the yard, holding his bicycle and staring at her with his mouth hanging open .
    Startled that she’d allowed him to come up behind her while she was preoccupied, she bolted for the kitchen door, but he dropped his bike and raced to beat her there. “No, no, no—wait!” He flung himself in front of her and threw out both arms .
    Anger flashed through her. How dare he block her path?
    Evangeline pulled her weapon out of her back pocket and ran straight for him .

UNCORRECTED E-PROOF—NOT FOR SALE
    HarperCollins Publishers
    ..................................................................
14
    SHE CAME AT HIM so fast, Jax didn’t have time to react. She tackled him with the ferocity of a small panther, and he went down. The next thing he knew, he was flat on his back, and she had her knee on his chest. She waved an object menacingly in his face.
    Pepper spray.
    â€œDon’t move,” she said, her voice low and hoarse.
    â€œNot going to,” he promised.
    He did, however, tilt his head, looking around the pepper spray and into the bluest eyes he’d ever seen. They darted restlessly from side to side. Jax realized she didn’t know what to do with him now that she’d caught him.
    â€œShow me who you are,” she said finally.
    â€œI’m Jax,” he said. “Jax Aubrey. Didn’t you get my note?”
    â€œNames change. Show me who you are.” Her eyes flicked toward his left hand. Jax turned it over, so she could see his tattoo.
    He didn’t know what information she got from his family crest, but she looked even more unhappy. The pepper spray got a little closer to his face. “I’m sorry,” he croaked. “I was wrong to get between you and the door. I wanted to say hello”— and find out who you are —“but that was a stupid way to do it. If you let me up, I’ll get on my bike and leave.”
    She seemed to mull that over, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth. Then she stood up and backed away. Jax sat up. He expected her to flee, but instead, she watched him, holding the pepper spray in her hand.
    â€œI’m sorry I scared you.” He stood up. “I’ll leave you alone from now on.” That was what Riley had told him to do in the first place, but darn it, he didn’t want to. She was too big a mystery, and this was too good an opportunity. “If I could just say one thing first . . .”
    She raised her eyebrows and waited.
    â€œIf you had sprayed that when you were kneeling on me, you’d have gotten some in your face, too. You have to hold it at arm’s length.” He paused, then went on. “Plus, you didn’t twist the safety cap open.” He demonstrated with his hands. “It won’t go off that way, and someone could knock it away and overpower you. I wouldn’t, but someone more dangerous would.”
    She twisted the lid and looked at Jax. “Like this?” She extended her arm to point the spray at him.
    â€œYeahhhh,” he said, wondering if he was about toget a faceful of pepper. But her lips twitched as if she were fighting a smile, and he dared