Page 101 of The Rancher's Secret Relationship

"Bluebell to be exact." She saw the brunette's eyes widened and shrugged. "I know. But at least it's not Tinkerbell, right?"

"Or doorbell," Blake said without thinking, and it was only when Blue snorted with laughter that she realized how rude and sarcastic her words might have come across. "Oh my gosh, I'm so—-"

"It's fine," Blue assured her, a twinkle in her eyes, which were the same shade as her name.

An awkward silence followed as Blake belatedly noticed the curious way Blue was studying her face. "I...um..."

"Have been crying?" the actress asked frankly.

Blake stiffened.

"You and the scary-looking dude had a fight, didn't you? The one who looks like Keanu with a beard?"

"I..."

"My acting might suck," Blue said candidly, "but it doesn't mean I don't have an eye for it. And you and that dude?" She remembered the way the other woman and local John Wick had been pretending to ignore each other from the opposite sides of the cafe, and Blue couldn't help shaking her head. "You two have it really bad for each other."

Blake shook her head. "You must be mistaken—-"

"Nope." To Blue's surprise, she saw the younger woman's lips start trembling.Shit.Maybe the others were right about her, and she was just a natural-born bitch with a talent for making people cry.

"I'm s-sorry." Blake was doing her best to fight back tears.

"No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have butted in—-"

"It just hurts, you know?" Blake choked back a sob. "I really wish what you said were true, but it's not."

Blake pursed her lips.Don't meddle.

"It's entirely one-sided..."

Nothing ever good comes out from getting unnecessarily involved.

"But he doesn't love me—-"

Oh, for shit's sake.

Blake was startled when the actress suddenly grabbed her shoulders.

"I'm dumb about a lot of things," Blue told the other girl flatly, "but never about love. And the way Bearded Hottie was looking at you the whole night? It's love."

"But—-"

"Did he tell you he didn't?"

"Not in so many words—-"

"Did he or didn't he?"

"No," Blake whispered.

"Then you should go after your man and ask him. Hear it straight from the horse's mouth and all that. It could meanlosing your face after, but it's a risk worth taking, don't you think?"

IT WAS RAINING AGAIN. Thornton was usually meticulously prepared for things like this, but a lot had changed since a certain dark-haired girl came into his life—-

And grabbed him by the balls,he thought grimly.

Rain fell harder and faster as he continued walking, but he didn't even notice. He just felt fucking empty, and he wasn't sure if he would ever be able to recover from it.

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