Love Me if You Dare Read Online Free Page B

problems.”
    Coop followed her inside, shutting the door behind him.
    “Why aren’t you at work?” she asked. He was usually out the door early and back home late at night.
    “I took the day off. How are you feeling?” he asked, glancing at her knee. “And the truth this time.”
    Sara frowned. Though she’d been avoiding answering anyone’s questions about her injury, pretending she was fine, she couldn’t lie to her friend.
    She wasn’t okay. And it wasn’t just her leg that hurt. If the knee didn’t heal properly, her days at the NYPD were over.
    “I’m scared it won’t heal enough for me to return to active duty. It’s all I can think about or focus on.”
    He looped an arm around her shoulder.
    As an only child, Sara thought of Coop as the brother she’d never had. He was dark-haired, good-looking, charming, smart, and she’d never slept with him. Never wanted to. Together they made a lie of the claim that men and women couldn’t be just friends, and she was grateful to have him in her life.
    “I won’t tell you not to worry, but I am going tosuggest you do something to keep busy and not think about it all the time.”
    “Easier said than done when I’d rather be active than sitting around staring at the four walls.”
    “How about reading the paper, then?” he asked, gesturing to the Daily Post on the table, still wrapped in delivery plastic.
    She glanced at the dreaded paper and shuddered. Ever since Rafe had been named the newest bachelor, she’d stopped reading that particular newspaper. She still had it delivered for Coop’s byline, nothing more. Of course ignoring the paper didn’t mean she wasn’t thinking…and dreaming about Rafe. She hadn’t been this obsessed when they were partnered together, because back then he’d been off-limits. He’d belonged to someone else. A free Rafe, one who’d admitted he noticed her as a woman, was dangerous to her peace of mind.
    Coop cleared his throat. Obviously he had something to tell her.
    “This isn’t just a social visit, is it?” she asked warily.
    He shook his head. “Not entirely.”
    “Let me have it.” She gestured for him to talk.
    “You know that low profile you’re still supposed to keep?” He tapped on the newspaper with one hand.
    Sara stiffened. “Don’t tell me. The blog’s writing about me again?”
    “See for yourself.”
    He remained silent while she opened the newspaper and paged through to the correct section.
    THE DAILY POST
    THE BACHELOR BLOG
    Our newest bachelor hasn’t been spotted around town in over a week. Looks like he made a clean getaway. In the past, this would pose a challenge to yours truly, but no longer. Beginning next week, the Bachelor Blog will be in syndication, appearing in select newspapers around the country. So if Rafe Mancuso is spotted, hopefully we’ll know it. In the meantime, keep your eyes on his lady friend, Sara Rios. She might hold the clues to our bachelor’s whereabouts. And if not, she’s certainly a single, beautiful bachelorette.
    “That’s just freaking fantastic. Turn the city’s attention on me now,” she muttered. “This blog is just…wrong.”
    “Maybe it’s right.”
    She whipped her head around to face him. “Excuse me? Aren’t you the man who was inundated with women’s underwear thanks to the blog?”
    “I did meet Lexie.” He raised an eyebrow, as if daring her to argue.
    “You met Lexie thanks to being featured on theTV news after you stopped a robbery. The blog had nothing to do with it.”
    He shrugged. “Whatever. The point is, I met Lexie. And that’s another reason I’m here today. I have something to tell you.” The beginnings of smile pulled at his lips.
    “What is it? Are things good between you and Lexie?”
    “You could say that.” The smile turned into a full-fledged grin. “We’re going house-hunting in the suburbs.”
    She blinked, startled. “Wow. I knew you’d settled things after the auction, but…moving? White picket