Page 45 of Under Pressure

At the bottom of the stairs, Kate waved to her friend. “Grace, have you met Bluebell?”

Grace popped up from where she’d been petting the Lab, a huge smile spreading over her face. “Bluebell! Fancy running into you again.”

Lamely, Blue pointed upstairs. “I was, um, just checking my email.”

Kate laughed. “She was reading the news. Did you know there’s a mobster in Chicago named Ryker Rockefeller?”

Grace’s eyes about popped out of her head. “What?” she nearly screeched, then quickly recovered with a smile. “There is?”

Her reaction was so strange, it surprised Blue and put her on guard. She scrutinized Grace. If Blue wasn’t who she said she was, it was possible Grace wasn’t who she said she was either. They eyed one another like gunslingers in a bar, waiting to see who would draw first.

Not Kate though. “Isn’t that too funny?”

“Yeah, hilarious.” Grace was smiling, but her reaction seemed forced. She glanced at Blue and her smile turned sincere. “I thought you’d still be with Sean?”

“Who, me?” Blue pointed at herself, then wanted to smack herself in the forehead. Of course Grace meant her. “I mean, no. It was just a pop-in. To say hi. We’re old friends.”

Grace gave her a knowing look that made her uncomfortable. “Old friends, huh? I thought you said you used to date.”

“Are you talking about Sean Clayton?” Kate asked.

Grace nodded. “Yes, she and Sean have history.” Grace shimmied her shoulders.

“You’re kidding, and here I was starting to think Sean was a lost cause with women,” Kate said.

Blue blinked. “You know him too?” What was Sean, Mr. Social with the ladies now? Gah! His stupid underwear model physique and helpful personality probably earned him a loyal following of Diamond Cove single females.

“He’s my brother-in-law,” Kate said, lifting her left-hand ring finger to show a two-carat cushion-cut diamond on a plane platinum band. “Soon-to-be anyway.”

Blue’s mind whirled. “Johnny or—”

“Axel,” Kate said, with a dreamy look in her eye.

“Axel’s getting married?!” Blue yelled, her voice echoing throughout the large building. “Seriously?” She blinked hard. Grace nodded slowly, allowing her to take the info in and digest it. “It feels like yesterday he kicked a bra at Sean during a concert.”

Kate laughed. “Sounds about right.”

She nodded her head from side to side. “After all these years,” she mused. Through the years, Axel had been the one Clayton, she hadn’t had trouble keeping track of. He was all over the news all the time—with one girl after another. “I just wouldn’t have guessed it. Though, to be fair, I would’ve been just as surprised if it’d be Johnny.” The only one of the three Clayton boys she wouldn’t have been surprised to learn was married would’ve been Sean. He’d always been the marrying type.

“Wow, you really do know the Clayton’s well, don’t you?” Kate asked.

Blue shrugged. “Used to.”

“Well, since you’re not hanging out with Sean tonight,” Grace came up on her side and took her arm. “I think that means you should hang out with us. We’re having a girl’s night with some of our friends.”

Kate came up on her other side and took her arm. “Oh, heck to the yeah. I need to hear everything you know about the Claytons. What do you say?”

Her flight instincts kicked up, a whole night talking about her ex-boyfriend? Heck no! Then again . . . this was her home. Diamond Cove was herhome. And she was allowed to have friends. “I say reciprocity. I’ll tell you what I know if you tell me what you know.”

Both women grinned.

“You’re going to fit in around here just fine,” Grace said. “Oh, yes you are.”

Blue certainly hoped so. She’d never really had girlfriends, and the call from these funny, outgoing women was strong. It made a place in her heart that she’d never really gotten a chance to fill ache just a little less. Maybe this time around, in this cozy little beach town, things would be different. Maybe it really would become her safe haven—her home.

8

Chapter 8

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