The Trouble with Love Read Online Free Page A

going bright red at the sight of his bare brown chest, and quickly turned her head away.
    The next thing she knew, he was in a dry sweatshirt and draping a warm blanket around her.
    â€œAre you OK?” he said, resting his hands on her shoulders and looking into her eyes. “I’m sorry I don’t have any clothes aboard for you, but the blanket will help.”
    She felt warmed by the concern in his bright hazel eyes, so close in colour to her own. “This is nothing to a British mermaid,” she quipped. The feel of his hands was making her tremble more than the cold or the shock. “Those Caribbean ones would be in trouble, though.”
    He laughed. “I’ll get the boat under control. We’ll be ashore in a few minutes.”
    He furled the flapping sails, and Polly felt the boat throb to life beneath her as he started the outboard motor to bring them into shore.
    The moment the keel of the boat bumped up against the beach, Sam jumped into the water and lifted Polly down. It was wonderful to feel the hard sandy ridges beneath her feet again. Out in the sea, the rock where she had been perched was almost completely submerged.
    â€œCome here,” he said.
    To Polly’s astonishment, Sam wrapped her in a hug. She froze, wondering what to do. He smelled salty and damp and delicious.
    â€œBody warmth,” he said into her hair. “We’re both frozen. Unless you want hypothermia, I suggest you hug me back.”
    Polly was grateful for the near darkness, because her face was on fire. She’d never hugged a boy she didn’t know before. He was right, of course – she had read about the importance of body warmth in dangerous situations. Even with her blanket, she was still shivering hopelessly. Obediently she wrapped her arms around him and tried not to noticed the hard muscles of his back beneath her fingers.
    â€œThat’s better,” he said. He pulled back a little so he could look at her face. “So, P-P-Polly. Do you live in Heartside?”
    It was wonderfully weird, introducing themselves while wrapped in a full-body hug, thought Polly. She felt a giggle welling up inside her. She could get used to conversations like this.
    Sam was seventeen, and a pupil at the private Langham Academy a few miles further down the coast.
    â€œI’ve been there since I was thirteen,” he explained into her hair. “I’m going to study political science at university if I get the grades.”
    â€œYou’re into politics?” said Polly in wonder. This guy just got better and better.
    â€œGreen issues, mainly. I’m working on a big project at the moment, on the plight of seals. Have you ever seen a seal in Heartside?”
    Polly shook her head.
    â€œExactly.” Sam sounded grim. “There used to be a colony of them a little further down the coast. Now they’ve gone. Shipping lanes, dredging, cruise ships – all these commercial marine operations are killing or displacing our natural coastal wildlife. It’s a scandal happening all over Britain. I’ve been out photographing evidence for our local MP, who’s bringing a bill before Parliament next week before we lose our seals for good. We’re putting a pamphlet together to raise awareness, and organizing a protest too.”
    He is incredible , Polly thought, feeling dazed. My perfect guy.
    â€œIt’s not much.” He rubbed Polly’s back, making her want to arch like a cat. “But I want to try and make things better.”
    Was he pulling her closer, or was it her imagination? Polly wanted to stay like this for ever. But there was no getting away from the fact that her clothes weren’t getting any drier in Sam’s embrace.
    â€œDo you think we should make a fire?” she said reluctantly against his chest.
    She felt the chill of the evening air again as he slowly let her go. “Good idea. There’s some driftwood over