But he was thirteen now and he considered himself experienced, enough that a girl like Kitty might just find him interesting. Declan cleared his throat and she glanced over her shoulder.

“What do you want?” she asked, her voice tinged with boredom. “You’re in my sun.”

“What are ya readin’?” he asked.

“Jane Eyre,” she replied.

“Interesting?” He approached the blanket and sat down in front of her, then took the book from her fingers. “Would I like it?”

“It’s really not a book for blokes,” she said. “It’s romantic.”

Declan nodded as he examined the back of the book. “Blokes can be romantic.”

She laughed. “When were you ever romantic, Declan Quinn?”

“I wasn’t. Just said I could be if I wanted to be. So what would it take?”

“For what?”

“For you to go out with me?” Dec asked. He’d learned it was always best to use the element of surprise. And to display complete confidence, even if the odds of her agreeing to a date were astronomically low. If he caught her off guard she was more likely to think he’d done this before-and say yes.

“A lot more than you have,” she said.

“Like what?”

“A car for one,” she said. “I’m not going to be ridin’ around town on the back of your bleedin’ bicycle.”

“I have a car. And a chauffeur,” Declan said with a grin. “It’s a Rolls, you know. All the big rock stars have ’em.”

She considered his point for a long moment, as if the thought of riding around in his grandmother’s Rolls Royce appealed to her. “What about nicker?” she asked. “I’d expect you to take me somewhere nice and that will cost.”

“I’ve got money,” Dec said. “My nana gives me a big allowance and I never spend it all. I suppose I’d even have enough to buy you some flowers, or some candy.”