"Bennett, Cherie - Sunset Island 011 - Sunset Paradise" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bennett Cherie)

"Yes!" Sam yelled, raising her fist in a triumphant gesture.
"Graham just went back to the guys' dressing room," Carrie added.
"Oh my God, oh my God," Sam screamed to Emma, "we're going to go on tour with him! He's going to make us stars!"
Becky and Allie Jacobs walked over to Sam, Emma, and Carrie and said hello.
"So, did you love it?" Sam asked them, filled with confidence.
"Retread," Becky said in a bored voice.
"As in it's been done before," Allie explained, sounding equally bored.
"I mean, I guess it has a certain appeal if you're, like, over the hill or something," Becky added.
"But, hey, some people even listen to Barry Manilow." Allie shrugged.
"How would you two music critics like to walk home in the rain?" Sam asked them sweetly.
"Two cute guys already offered us a ride," Becky said with a sniff, "so we don't need to go with you, anyway."
"You're not going off with two guys you don't know," Sam said.
"For your info, we do know them," Becky said haughtily. "We've talked to them at the country clubЧBobby Kingsley and Luke McKinney. They're in college."
Sam sighed. "Do they know you're only fourteen?"
"No, they don't," Allie said. "Why don't you announce it over the loudspeaker?"
"Look, you two wait for me near the front door. I'm giving you a ride," Sam told them.
"We don't have toЧ" Allie began.
"Emma! Emma Cresswell!" called a voice in the crowd. A slender girl with a brunette bob made her way through the mob toward them.
"Are you Emma Cresswell?" the girl asked Sam excitedly.
"I know you from somewhere," Sam said, "but I can't put my finger on it."
"I'm Martha, the new salesgirl at the Cheap Boutique," the girl said. "Are you Emma? They told me she's in the band, and I remember you from the store."
"I'm Emma," Emma said, stepping closer. "What are you talking about? Who told you I was in the band?"
"Jane Hewitt, at the number you left," the girl said.
"I don't understand," Emma said in confusion.
"I called the phone number you put on your sweepstakes entry form," Martha said. "The national office called while I was doing inventory. You won!"
"Won what? What am I missing here?" Emma asked.
"The Paradise Swimwear trip for two to Paradise Island in the Bahamas!" Martha said excitedly. "You won!"
Emma's jaw dropped. "I ... what?"
"You won!" Martha repeated. "I was so excited, I had to come over here and tell you myself."
"Wait a minute," Sam said. "You're saying that Emma Cresswell just won a trip for two to Paradise Island?"
"Yes, yes!" Martha screamed. "Isnt it fantastic?"
"I don't believe it," Sam said, turning to Emma. "You only entered the contest with me and Carrie as a joke!"
"Why would it be a joke?" Martha asked. "I'd give my right arm to win a trip like that."
"It's a joke," Sam said slowly, "because Emma here is rich enough to buy Paradise Island if she wanted to."
"Sam!" Carrie protested.
"I'm sorry," Sam said, instantly contrite. She knew Emma was embarrassed when anyone talked about how rich she was. But why, oh why did it have to be Emma who won? It just wasn't fair!
"Way cool!" Becky marveled. "Hey, how about if you take me and Allie? Since we're only fourteen, we'd count as only half a person each."
"I can't believe this," Emma said, shaking her head.
"Believe it," Martha told her, "because it's true. They'll be calling you tomorrow so you can tell them when you and whoever you're going to take with you want to leave."
"Thanks for coming to tell me," Emma said in a daze.
"No problem," Martha said, waving goodbye.
"I'm really happy for you," Carrie told Emma, giving her a hug.
"But when will I ever be able to take advantage of it?" Emma thought out loud.
"Now, dummy!" Sam cried. "The Hewitts just gave you the next ten days off, remember?"
"Do you think Kurt will be able to get the time off?" Carrie asked Emma.
Emma shook her head, her face thoughtful. "Kurt needs the money from his two
jobs too much to take time off. Besides, who says I have to invite Kurt?"
"Gee, silly me, assuming you'd invite the guy you're madly in love with," Carrie teased.
"What if I invited you instead?" Emma asked Carrie.
Sam looked down at the ground, a lump in her throat. Well, it serves me right for acting like a jealous witch, she thought. Emma can take only one person, so of course she'd rather take Carrie.