Crazy in Love (Blue Lake #3)(55)

Her chest warmed. “I think that’s a great idea.”

“Rita won’t think so, but that’s all right. By the time it takes me to write an original song, she’ll warm up to it.”

“It’s the right way to go,” she said, playing with the necklace in her hand. “Your fans will love the personal touch.”

“Will you wear it?”

“Of course.”

He draped it around her neck and adjusted it over her chest. It was long, like a dog tag chain, with a tiny hole cut into the top of the pick.


“Run to him,” Cole said softly, spinning the pick around. “But if you can, if it’s not too much to ask…think of me when you wear this and know I’ll be thinking of you. I want you to be happy, Rachael.” He leaned down and planted the softest of kisses on her lips. “No matter what.”

Her insides tumbled. “I want you to be happy, too.”

He kissed her again and it tasted like goodbye.



* * *



“And then he just left?” Lucy cried, leaning against the doorjamb in the downstairs bathroom. “What’d he say?”

“Nothing.” Rachael scrubbed the tile behind the toilet. “Well, that’s not entirely true. He asked about breakfast again.”

Lucy hmph’d. “Typical male. You know what they say…the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

“Clearly I don’t know anything about how to get to a man’s heart,” Rachael said, putting up her glove-covered hand. “Can we talk about something else? Please?”

“Sure.” Lucy tapped her boot heel against the wall. “Did you watch him as he drove away?”

“Lucy!”

“Hey!” She threw up her hands. “I didn’t talk about his heart!”

Knees aching, Rachael peeled the gloves off her hands and tossed them in the trash. “I watched until he turned off Main.”

Lucy smacked her. “I knew it!”

“Why does that even matter?”

“Didn’t you read The Love Game by Grey Thompson?”

“No, but I hear he’s great.” Rachael sprayed Windex on the bathroom mirror and started swiping. “Isn’t he coming to the Book Bandit for some kind of tour in October?”

Lucy grabbed Rachael by the shoulders and spun her around. “I’m not talking about the Book Bandit or Grey Thompson. I’m talking about you and Cole Hottie Turner. You love him, and that’s why you watched him leave. At least that’s what the book says.”

Rachael’s stomach turned as she remembered the way she’d wanted to run into the street and holler for Cole to turn around and come back. To stay.

But she didn’t.

Couldn’t.

“I don’t love him,” Rachael said, doubting the words as she spoke them. “I don’t.”

Lucy pursed her lips. “Does saying it twice make it true?”

“What kind of a fool would I be if I let myself fall in love with him?” Rachael scoured the sink and faucet until the entire vanity was squeaky clean. “It was a weekend fling. I always knew it.”

“Is that what he said?”

“No.” The necklace hidden beneath Rachael’s sweater burned against her skin. “I think it was more for him, too.”

At least that’s what she hoped.

“Then why are you here?” Lucy whispered. “Why don’t you go after him?”