Seaside Avenue (Cedar Cove #7)(106)

“I love you, Bobby,” she whispered.

“Yes,” he said solemnly. “I know.”

Forty-Two

Monday evening, after she’d finished her housework and folded the last clothes from the dryer, Rachel sat in front of the television. Her thoughts weren’t on the game show, however; she couldn’t even have said what it was. For the past week, she’d done her best not to think about the muddle her life had become since she’d broken up with Nate. All her fears about Bruce had proved to be accurate. She hadn’t heard from him since their last awkward conversation. Nor had Jolene contacted her.

The only thing she was happy about was Bobby Polgar’s success at the chess match in New York—and Aleksandr Vladimir’s arrest. That was truly satisfying. She wondered whether she’d have to testify; if so, she’d certainly be willing.

The phone rang, startling her. Rachel half expected it to be Teri, who was still in New York.

Caller ID informed her it was Bruce. Or Jolene.

“Hi, Rachel,” Jolene said excitedly. “I’m baking a cake and we only have one egg and the recipe says I need three.”

“Add two extra tablespoons of water,” Rachel advised her.

“Thanks.” The girl seemed about to hang up when she said, “I haven’t talked to you in a whole week.”

“I know. I’ve missed you, Jolene.”

“I’ve missed you, too. Oh, can you hold on a minute?”

“Sure.” Rachel could hear Bruce talking in the background.

Then Jolene was back on the line. “Dad would like to speak to you.”

“Okay.” Her heart started to pound.

“Hi,” Bruce said. His voice was unusually hoarse, and she wondered if he had a cold.

“Are you sick?” she asked.

“Uh, no.” He cleared his throat.

He didn’t say anything else.

Rachel kept waiting for him to tell her why he’d wanted to speak to her. “So Jolene’s baking a cake,” she said when she couldn’t stand the silence for one more second. “Any particular reason?”

“Not really. She said she was in a baking mood.”

Another silence. She was tempted to get off the phone.

“You mentioned something the other day, and I wasn’t sure I heard you correctly,” he finally said.

“What?”

“Did you tell me you’re not seeing Nate anymore?”

“Yes.” She didn’t elaborate.

“Why?”

“None of your business.”

Under no circumstance was she going to admit to loving him, especially when he’d been so obtuse.

“Personally, I think you’re making a mistake. I think you should marry Nate.”

What? Rachel blinked with shock. “Fine, maybe I will. Thank you so much for your helpful advice. I’ll keep it in mind.” With that she slammed down the receiver.

The phone rang again. Again, Caller ID told her it was Bruce. She had no intention of picking up. As the answering machine came on, his voice resounded in the room. “Rachel, I know you’re there. Come on, be reasonable, would you?”

She turned and shouted back, “No, I will not!”

She had to get out. Grabbing her purse, she was halfway to her car when she realized she’d been so furious with Bruce she’d forgotten her coat. By the time she’d unlocked the house, retrieved her coat and climbed inside her vehicle, she saw Bruce’s car turn the corner. She sped away and prayed he hadn’t seen her.

No such luck. Not only did he see her, he followed her into the Safeway lot. He parked two cars over, and left his car the same moment she did.

“Why are you mad at me?” he asked.

Rachel ignored him and hurried toward the store, as intent as if she were gathering provisions before a snowstorm.

Bruce refused to give up. “I don’t understand what I said that was so horrible,” he said, trotting beside her. “Nate Olsen would be a good husband for you.”

Rachel didn’t deign to reply.

“He loves you.”

She continued to ignore him and seized a cart at the outside entrance to the store.

“Nate has connections and money and prestige.” Bruce collected a cart of his own.

She’d had enough. Whirling around to face him, she demanded an answer. “Why did you kiss me?”

“When?”

“Any of those times.”

“Why?” he repeated. “I don’t know. I guess I shouldn’t have.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more.” She shoved her cart past him and noticed that the other shoppers moved quickly out of her way. Apparently these strangers recognized the mood she was in. Bruce, unfortunately, didn’t seem to.

As she tore down the aisle, Rachel tossed in items, although she had no idea what they were or if she needed them. Bruce was right behind her at the checkout stand.

When she’d finished paying, he abandoned his empty cart and reached for her groceries. “I’ll carry these for you.”

“I’m capable of taking out my own groceries.”

“I’m sure you are.” He walked out of the store, hauling her three bags.

Rachel had no other choice but to follow him. When she got to her car, Bruce was standing there, waiting for her.