Crazy in Love (Blue Lake #3)(25)

“I understand,” Rachael said. She seemed to sober quickly, steading herself as her movements slowed. “When you see a family who’s lost everything, the things that really matter become clear.”

Joey cleared his throat awkwardly. “Makes a man want a nice woman to come home to.”

Cole had to give it to the guy—he had skills.

“Aww, that’s very sweet of you,” she crooned. “Whatever woman you end up with will be lucky to have you.”

“Maybe I could—” Joey began.

“The Robertson’s have always been the nicest people,” she interrupted, sagging against the door to block his advance. “I’ll have to invite them to stay here until their place is rebuilt.”

“I actually suggested that, but they said they’d stay with Chase, their son. Do you remember Chase? We went to school with him.”

She nodded and her voice softened. “Yeah, I remember. I sat next to him at graduation. I wish there was more I could do.”

“It’s not like they could stay here anyway,” Joey said. “I hear you’ve booked up every room for the rock star.”

She started to turn toward Cole, but stopped short. “Yeah, he’s rented the entire place.”

“Bet you can’t wait to get rid of him, huh?” Joey said, half-laughing. “You hate rock music.”

Play up the hero act, run the singer through the mud. Way to fight dirty, Fireman.

Rachael shuffled her foot along the wood floor. “I haven’t heard him play, actually. He’s been keeping quiet.”

“Well, he’ll be gone soon enough.”

“Yeah.” Rachael kicked her heel against the door. “You’re right. He’s leaving Sunday for a show in Tahoe.”

“If I were you, I’d keep that guy at arm’s length. He’s from a whole different world than we are. He’s a different breed, probably counting his money as we speak.” Joey paused, taking Rachael’s hand. Cole couldn’t see what happened, but the muffled sound of lips smacking against skin gave it away. “I, on the other hand, am going to count the minutes until our date Sunday night.”

“Me too,” she said.

As she shut the door, Cole wasn’t sure whether Rachael was going to want to pick up where they left off, or call it a night.

“Where were we?” He stole behind her and took the flowers from her hand, dropping them to the floor. Nuzzling against her neck, he wrapped his arms around her waist and suckled her ear lobe into her mouth.

“Cole,” she said, and it was all the invitation he needed.

He spun her around and pressed her back against the wall, humming low in his throat as his mouth found hers once more. With one touch of her lips, the fire that’d been burning before rekindled. It was so easy to get lost in her, in the moment, and the chemistry between them.

“Cole,” she whispered again, the sweet sound of her voice music to his ears. “Can we take this slow?”

“Slow?” He slid his hand down to the button of her jeans. He tugged slowly, gently, until it popped free. “I can go real slow baby, if that’s the way you like it.”

She caught his hand. “Joey’s a good guy…”

“If you say so.” He kissed the smooth slope of her neck and swirled his tongue round and round against her skin. “But are you really going to kiss me and talk about him?”

She shook her head. “What he said was right. You’ll leave Sunday and never look back.”