“We’re having a great summer.” Rafe leaned close and pressed a kiss against her cheek.
Her knees trembled, and she reached for and squeezed his hand. “That’s right. We are. So, when do we meet Amanda Stevens?”
“Right now.” Coop turned and gestured toward the reporter across the room.
Amanda walked toward them, and Sara took in the attractive woman with wavy blond hair and porcelain skin.
“Coop! I still can’t believe we’re both here at the same time.”
“Well, since we are, I’d like you to meet my friends, Rafe Mancuso and Sara Rios,” Coop said.
“From the Bachelor Blog!” Amanda exclaimed. “It’s so nice to see you both together.”
“You recognize us?” Rafe asked.
Amanda smiled. “Of course.”
Sara wondered if the words that fell so easily from the woman’s lips could be true and the only reason she knew of them. Not because she was secretly chronicling their lives.
“How do you feel being the subjects of the blog?” Amanda asked.
Sara felt Coop’s eyes boring into the woman as if he could find answers that way.
“Can I be honest?” Sara asked.
Amanda nodded. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s off the record anyway. I’m just curious. I know Coop complained about his experience as the bachelor, but he certainly ended up with the right woman for him. So the blogger scored in that relationship.”
Now Sara flip-flopped in her musings. Amanda gushed about the idea of the blog in a way that made Sara wonder if Coop was right, and the other woman had an agenda and she really was the blogger.
“I met Lexie because she had an interest in a ring I was given as a reward, not because the blog paired us together,” Coop pointed out, just as he had when Sara made similar comments back in the city.
“Details,” Amanda said with a laugh. “Now, back to you two. You never answered my question,” she said, wagging her finger in a chiding motion toward Sara and Rafe.
“I think we’d prefer privacy,” Sara said honestly. “But when I look into his eyes, I’m so happy sometimes I don’t care if the whole world knows!” she exclaimed, pulling Rafe into a spontaneous hug.
Over her shoulder, Coop’s eyes filled with laughter and gave her an invisible thank-you for playing along with his game.
“And I couldn’t agree more,” Rafe said with more restraint than Sara had shown.
“That’s sweet. I don’t think there’s anything better than true love,” Amanda said.
Sara settled in back at Rafe’s side, and he slipped his hand into her back pocket, pulling her close. The gesture had the effect of cupping her behind in his hand, resulting in a rush of arousal that nearly had her sighing in pleasure.
Somehow she managed to refrain and cleared her throat.
“I agree. Love is wonderful.” Sara looked up at Rafe with adoration before turning back to Amanda. “So, how is your article on Angel’s going?”
“This place is so charming,” Amanda said, her gaze taking in the small family room area where Angel was entertaining. “The home cooking is divine. I really think Angel’s is a hidden gem in Hidden Falls. That’s a great tag line, don’t you think?”
Sara nodded. “I’m glad you can give Angel the recognition she deserves. It’s so lucky that you found this place in the blog.”
“Isn’t it?” Amanda agreed. “Oh! There’s Stu, my photographer. I want him to take some shots of everyone gathering around at the end of the day. Nice and homey. It was great to meet you.” Amanda waved and took off after her photographer.
“Great performance. I’d applaud, but that would call her attention back to you,” Coop said, obviously pleased.
“Do you think it was enough that she’ll give herself away?” Sara asked.
Coop shrugged. “It’s a start.”
Rafe had been uncharacteristically silent, and Sara realized he wasn’t paying attention to them but to Pirro. “Why don’t you go talk to him?” she suggested. “I know you’ll feel better, and maybe he will, too.”
Rafe glanced at his watch. “It’s almost time to go anyway, so I’ll give him a last-minute pep talk. Excuse me.” He started toward the older man, then turned back to Sara and placed a long, lingering kiss on her lips.
A long, long kiss, she thought, winding her arms around his neck and reciprocating until he broke off contact and walked away.
“He’s really into the role,” Sara said, laughing even as she was aware of the tingling that aroused her straight down to her toes.
Coop shook his head. “He’s not playing, Sara. The man’s crazy about you.”
“And I’m not discussing this here and now. Answer a question for me instead.”
Coop frowned at her cavalier dismissal of the subject. “Fine. Shoot.”
“Why would a beautiful woman with a fabulous editorial career turn to sensational journalism for a story?” she asked of Amanda, the probable writer of the infamous Bachelor Blog.
“Because she believes in love, fairy-tale endings and happily ever after. Even if she still hasn’t found it for herself just yet, she believes it’s out there.”
“Next thing I know you’ll be saying she also believes in unicorns and the tooth fairy,” Sara said with a grimace.
“You never know. She is playing Cupid.”
Sara studied the woman, who spoke animatedly, waving her hands as she made her point to both her photographer and Angel. “So she really believes she’s doing a service with this blog.”
Coop nodded. “I believe she does.”
“Then maybe the solution is as simple as informing her she isn’t.”
“Huh.” Coop glanced at the other woman.
“If she’s rational, reasonable and has ethics, she might listen to you.”
“Your captain already appealed to the editor in chief and came back with a no,” Coop reminded her.
“Then appeal to her as a friend. Use your persuasive skills. It’s certainly worth a try.”
From across the room, Rafe gestured toward Sara. “Time to go,” she told Coop.
She shivered, wondering if she’d ever be ready for this sting. She’d never worked a job with so many personal elements involved. She wanted to wish Pirro luck before he began his role.
And she prayed everything went off without a hitch.