Reunion (17 page)

Suze's supernatural misadventures
continue in the fourth Mediator book,

Darkest Hour

The following is an excerpt:

The Pebble Beach Hotel and Golf Resort prides itself on its efficiency. And it is, in fact, a very smoothly run operation. As a staff babysitter, it's my responsibility, after punching in, to ask for my assignment for the day. That's when I find out whether I'll be washing strained carrots or burger fixings out of my hair after work. On the whole, I prefer burgers, but there's something to be said for strained carrots: generally the people who eat them can't talk back to you.

When I heard my assignment for that particular day, however, I was disappointed, even though it was a burger-eater.

“Simon, Susannah,” Caitlin called. “You're assigned to Slater, Jack.”

“For God's sake,” I said to Caitlin, who was my supervisor. “I was stuck with Jack Slater yesterday.
And
the day before.”

Caitlin is only two years older than me, but she treats me like I'm twelve. In fact, I'm sure the only reason she tolerates me is because of Sleepy: She is as warm for his form as every other girl on this planet…except, of course, me.

“Jack's parents,” Caitlin informed me, without even looking up from her clipboard, “requested you, Suze.”

“Couldn't you have said I was already taken?”

Caitlin did look up then. She looked at me with cool, blue contact-lensed eyes. “Suze,” she said. “They
like
you.”

I fiddled with my bathing suit straps. I was wearing the regulation navy blue swimsuit beneath my regulation navy blue Oxford T-shirt and khaki shorts. With
pleats,
no less. Appalling.

I mentioned the uniform, right? I mean, the part where I have to wear a uniform to work? No kidding. Every day. A uniform.

If I'd known about the uniform beforehand, I never would have applied for the job.

“Yeah,” I said. “I know they like me.”

The feeling isn't mutual. It isn't that I don't like Jack, although he's easily the whiniest little kid I have ever met. I mean, you can see why he's that way—just take a look at his parents, a pair of career-obsessed physicians who think dumping
their kid off with a hotel babysitter for days on end while they go sailing and golfing is a fine family vacation.

It's actually Jack's older brother I have the problem with. Well, not necessarily a
problem
…

More like I would just rather avoid seeing him while I am wearing my incredibly unstylish Pebble Beach Hotel and Golf Resort uniform khaki shorts.

Yeah. The ones with the pleats in them.

Except, of course, that every time I've run into the guy since he and his family arrived at the resort last week, I've been wearing the stupid things.

Not that I care, particularly, what Paul Slater thinks about me. I mean, my heart, to coin a phrase, belongs to another.

Too bad he shows no signs whatsoever of actually wanting it. My heart, that is.

Meg Cabot
is also the author of the Princess Diaries series, upon which the Disney movies are based. In the books, though, Princess Mia has yield-sign-shaped hair, lives in New York, and Fat Louie is orange. And those are the least of the differences. The following is a complete list of the Princess Diaries books:

THE PRINCESS DIARIES
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME II:
PRINCESS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME III:
PRINCESS IN LOVE
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME IV:
PRINCESS IN WAITING
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME IV AND A HALF:
PROJECT PRINCESS
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME V:
PRINCESS IN PINK
THE PRINCESS DIARIES, VOLUME VI:
PRINCESS IN TRAINING
THE PRINCESS PRESENT:
A PRINCESS DIARIES BOOK
PRINCESS LESSONS:
A PRINCESS DIARIES BOOK
PERFECT PRINCESS:
A PRINCESS DIARIES BOOK

Aside from the Mediator books
and the Princess Diaries books, Meg
has written several more books:

ALL-AMERICAN GIRL

Samantha Madison saves the president's life…only to have his son fall in love with her. Which would be fine, except for all the Secret Service agents following them around.

Jenny Greenley gives everyone advice, so why can't she follow her own and find love? Further complicating matters is the presence of hot Hollywood star Luke Striker in Jenny's homeroom, of all places.

Nicola and the Viscount

It's 1810, and Nicola Sparks is ready to dive headlong into her first London Season. Good thing there's a handsome viscount there to catch her!

Victoria and the Rogue

Lady Victoria Arbuthnot is accustomed to being right. She isn't always, though, especially when her own heart is concerned.

Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

But wait!
There's more by Meg:

THE BOY NEXT DOOR
BOY MEETS GIRL
EVERY BOY'S GOT ONE

THE 1-800-WHERE-R-YOU BOOKS:
WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES
CODE NAME CASSANDRA
SAFE HOUSE
SANCTUARY

For more about Meg and
to read her diary, visit:
www.megcabot.com

Join her online book club at:
www.megcabotbookclub.com