Authors: Elisa Ludwig

Pretty Crooked (33 page)

Mom’s mystery man and Special Agent Corbin were one and the same.

But what did
he
have to do with any of this?

Before I could register the shock of learning my mom had been talking to the FBI, I heard brakes screeching and the sound of a car door flinging open. I looked up, startled, my heart pounding yet again.

It was Aidan, bounding up the driveway, his hair flying in a blond halo, his sneakers slapping against the pavement. I watched him run toward me, my jaw dropping.

“What is it?” I gasped, terrified that something else had happened. “What’s wrong?”

“I forgot something,” he said, stopping in front of me and staring straight into my eyes. He grabbed my shoulders, and my already-racing heartbeat doubled its RPM.

I felt his lips first, pulling gently on mine as we found each other, drew away, and reconnected in soft pulses. His arms wrapped around my neck, his open hand cradling the back of my head. His chest pressed against me, firm and sturdy. Then his mouth—insistent, yet warm and enveloping. The herbal, sweet smell of him, the tangle of his hair in my fingers.

After a moment, I realized my eyes were still open, staring in disbelief, but now I let them close.

I sank into the kiss, letting it all go—my fears and worries, the unanswered questions, the whole crazy day, and the crazy days before it. This moment was the only one that mattered, wasn’t it? Aidan was here with me, closer than he’d ever been. And for now, everything else was just going to have to wait.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

GREAT BIG PARADISE Valley–mansion-size thanks to the following people:

My partner in crime Claudia Gabel, who totally made this book possible from start to finish, shaping multiple drafts and smoothly guiding the manuscript down the halls of HarperCollins. Your wisdom and bubbly enthusiasm have made this process a joy.

My agent Leigh Feldman, who got me into the big leagues and offered equal amounts of straight talk and encouragement along the way. Also, sturgeon. You rock.

Gracious publisher Katherine Tegen, cover designers Amy Ryan, Joel Tippie, and Torborg Davern, photographer Howard Huang, editorial assistant Katie Bignell, and the rest of the team at HarperCollins for their support, savvy, and hard work.

My parents, Zella and Stephen, who gave me the crazy idea that I could be anything I wanted to be when I
grew up. Susannah and Aubrey, who are the best sisters and best friends a girl could ask for. My late grandmother Rose, who always said there was a little larceny in everyone. (She was talking about swiping rolls from restaurants, but hey.)

And my husband, Jesse, for reading and commenting, assisting with research, offering pep talks, disrupting me when I needed disrupting, and loving me in the best possible way. Aidan Murphy’s got nothing on you.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELISA LUDWIG
studied writing at Vassar College and Temple University. She has been pickpocketed twice, and once caught someone midpocket. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and her cat, Beau.
PRETTY CROOKED
is her first novel. You can visit her online at www.elisaludwig.com.

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CREDITS

Cover design by Torborg Davern

Pretty Crooked

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Ludwig, Elisa.

Pretty crooked / Elisa Ludwig.—1st ed.

p. cm.

Summary: High school sophomore Willa and her artist mother move to Arizona where Willa starts attending an elite prep school after her mother finally sells some paintings, and Willa attempts to even things out by stealing from the rich students and giving to the poor ones.

ISBN 978-0-06-206606-0

EPub Edition © FEBRUARY 2012 ISBN 9780062066084

[1. Social classes—Fiction. 2. Wealth—Fiction.
3. Stealing—Fiction. 4. Preparatory schools—Fiction.
5. Schools—Fiction. 6. Arizona—Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.L9762Pr 2012

[Fic]—dc23

2011016555

12 13 14 15 16 CG/RRDH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1