Love and Death in Blue Lake Read Free

clothes from thrift shops. She had an eye for design; it had given her a career. A way to leave Edward and this town behind. A way to have a child.
    What she hadn’t known then was that without Edward, she and Ruby, so in love with each other as only mother and newborn child can be, were lonely together. Everyone in L.A. was a player, so except for work, Courtney didn’t go out much. She didn’t want her daughter to have to deal with a merry-go-round of men. She loved her girl more than the world, but just not more than Edward. Ruby and Edward were meant to be her family, but somehow it never happened.
    And somehow, when Ruby was four or five, Courtney forgot about him. Was over him. Wasn’t interested in saying hi when she came home to Blue Lake. All this memory in a flash as she walked through the door of his home. It was a jewel box of stars and night and glass and wood. This was no typical Blue Lake abode. She’d seen some unbelievable places in L.A., but this was something else. She was in awe.
    “So little Bobby Bryman did this as his Master of Architect project?”
    “Yep.”
    “It’s awesome, Edward.”
    “Thank you. The design was my idea.”
    “Well, now that you don’t play guitar anymore, I guess you need some other outlet besides selling beer.” It was a mean thing to say, and she didn’t know why she’d said it except that her sister had needled her with the way Edward prowled. So stupid to feel a stab of jealousy after all these years.
    The kitchen and living area was one big room, and Edward made no reply as he walked to the fridge for a glass of water. “Anything?” He held up a second glass.
    “I’m good.”
    “Sweetheart, you’re better than good.”
    “Aw, now you’re just proving my sister right.”
    Edward didn’t miss a beat. “I know what people say about me. I don’t care. That’s why I have a glass house. I don’t bring women here.”
    “But you have your own cottage at Blue Heaven. And a special room at the bar.”
    He hooted at that. “Gwennie doesn’t have enough to do with twins? She has to make up fantasies about old Eddie?”
    She wished she hadn’t been so open with him, but that’s what he did to her. No secrets. Never could keep anything from him. Impossible to start now. “Did you sign them?”
    Edward drank down the entire glass of water there at the sink before he answered her. “No, I did not.”
    “Why?”
    “I was busy.”
    “So why not now?” She whipped the other set of papers from her bag, walked toward him, slapped them on the sink. Then she handed him a pen. Or tried to. He didn’t take it from her.
    ****
    “I will sign the papers before you leave town. You have my word. Just not tonight.” Truth was, Eddie shook so hard he couldn’t hold a pen if his life were at stake. His heart slammed against his chest, over and over, like a punching bag. She was so beautiful. Barefoot in blue jeans. He wanted to hold her more than he wanted to breathe. On the outside, he stayed calm, inside he was afire.
    Lightning ripped the sky in a ragged fork, and the rain beat down harder. She jumped at a clap of thunder, and before he knew what he was doing, he had taken her into his arms. It just happened. And she stayed, one second, two, three. He kissed the side of her forehead, just rested his lips on her skin, not a real kiss, not what he wanted to do. As if she knew and wanted it too, she lifted her face to his, and he brought his mouth to hers. Holding back, trying not to tear into her mouth with all the passion moving through him, he kissed her soft lips, slicked with a hint of summer rain.
    She had been huddled inside his arms, but now her hands slid around his shoulders and she was holding him like she used to, pulling him closer, kissing his mouth open, still soft, still sweet, but yearning for more. She felt it too, then. He knew she must. He would not be signing those papers because she would not be leaving town. He just couldn’t let her go. Not