Read Online Crazy for Love by Victoria Dahl - Free Book Online Page A

was he supposed to say, anyway? “Hey. Sorry I faked my death in order to escape your love.”
    Acid burned in her stomach, but, strangely enough, nothing else hurt very much. Could love wear off that quickly? And if it did, had it really been love at all?
    Chloe shook her head, afraid to poke too intently at that question. “The whole point of coming here is to not think about it. Just for a few days. If I can manage that, you can, right?”
    â€œYeah.” Jenn tilted her head, looking in Chloe’s direction. “I just don’t want you to be hurt any more.”
    â€œWhat’s going to happen? What can be worse than finding out that your loving fiancé would rather give up everything in the world than marry you? Hejumped out of a plane, Jenn. He abandoned his house and his family and his job and he jumped out of a fucking plane in hopes of never seeing me again.”
    â€œChloe…” Jenn sounded like she might be crying.
    â€œCome on, sweetie. I’m sorry. It’s okay. Thomas was obviously a coward. I knew he was a mama’s boy, but I should’ve seen something more than that, right? I should’ve seen something long before he faked his own death. So part of this must have been my fault, too. I’ll get over it someday. And right now, I’ll just pretend that I’m great because this is a beautiful place and I’m happy.”
    â€œAre you? I’m so glad you like it here. And maybe, after we get back and the hearing’s over, things will get better.”
    â€œYeah, the press can’t possibly be interested for much longer.” Chloe’s vision had fully adjusted to the dark, and now she could make out the pale, sugary circle in Jenn’s hand. “If you’re so upset that you can’t eat that doughnut, you should give it to me. I’d hate for it to go to waste.”
    â€œHere.”
    â€œJenn—”
    â€œI’m awful company. I’m tired and the waves gave me a headache, so I’m going to bed. I’ll be more fun tomorrow, I promise. Why don’t you go see your new boyfriend?”
    The coyness in her friend’s voice pushed a hesitant smile onto Chloe’s face. “Come on. He hasn’t even pretended to accidentally touch me.”
    â€œI’ve seen him shoot you a few hot looks. And then there’s your lustful staring.”
    â€œThere is that.”
    â€œWander over and see him. He looked wide-awake when we got back.”
    Chloe shrugged. She was thinking of wandering over, but she couldn’t decide if she should go in the hopes of luring Max into a make-out session or solving a mystery. Maybe both? The light of his front window beckoned.
    Yeah, maybe both.
    Jenn stood. “I’m turning in. Go get some nookie for me.” She pressed a kiss to Chloe’s head.
    â€œGet your own nookie,” Chloe said, but Jenn just shook her head.
    It was only ten o’clock. The boys were going to be awake for a while yet. Taking a bite of the last doughnut, Chloe craned her neck, trying to see if they were on the porch or not. A slightly darker area of shadow on the porch might’ve been one of the men, or it could’ve just been a chair.
    She thought of Max frowning down at those dials, thought of the way he’d checked the hoses and tanks over for long minutes before any of them had splashed into the water.
    He was none of her business, really. She’d only been single for a few weeks. Even under normal circumstances, that would be too soon for anything, even a fling. But at least the puzzle of Max Sullivan was taking her mind off her own problems.
    Chloe dusted off her hands and headed for the men’s cabin.
    Aware of the crabs that scuttled frantically around from the moment the sun set, she stepped carefully across the sand, trying not to cringe every time her foot touched something hard.
    â€œHi,” a deep voice said. Though she could only make