BlackJack (A Standish Bay Romance Book 1) by Christine Donovan Page B

decided she would look into
Cole’s trial. With any luck she would get to talk to the detective or
detectives in charge of the case. She’d use the excuse she was doing a book
about the murder of Lindsey Jackson. Of course, that wasn’t the real reason—the
real one was a selfish one. Shannon wanted to clear his name so she could see
him without John hassling her. And put the nagging minuscule amount of doubt in
her brain to rest. Maybe she could dig up something everyone missed way back
when. She would contact his lawyer, knowing ahead of time, he wouldn’t reveal
anything confidential, but he may have some helpful suggestions on where she
should investigate.
    When the
signing ended, she walked to a small café in Copley Place and ate a late lunch.
Back at her hotel room, she stripped down to her underwear and bra and climbed
in bed to take a nap. When she awoke, darkness swirled around her. She wondered
how the concert was going for Cole and wished she were there. He’d been
incredible to watch last night. His tall, lean, muscular body playing guitar
and singing song after song had made her totally aware of the fact he was all
male and she was all female. His blond hair flying, his body dancing and
jumping on stage had taken her breath away. The memory had her burning for him
now.
    How he had
treated Cameron as one of the band members, instead of the self-absorbed
teenager he could be at times touched her deeply. She had been shocked when he
told her he’d never been with anyone but his wife. The tabloids had portrayed
him as a philandering playboy, even though he was married. What they never said
was he had genuine morals. He’d had so many opportunities to trip up in life
with his career, but he hadn’t. His only real mistake had been to drink himself
to the point of numbing his heart and brain from his unfaithful wife.
    Shannon could
not, for the life of her, understand how Lindsey had turned to other men when
she had Cole. And why did she not remember that being a factor in
the trial? They portrayed her as the innocent monogamous wife and Cole as the
adulterer.
    Her mind made
up, she would go to Cole and see him once more before they both left tomorrow
for different lives. She’d let her imagination run wild last night with the
possibility she and Cole could have a future together. Then reality crashed
around her. She traveled the country on book signing tours or researching
settings or was held up in her office in her bedroom writing. He toured the
country in a band and Christ, she didn’t even know where he lived. But none of
that mattered at the moment. The only thing that mattered was she had to touch
him, see him, smell him and taste him one more time. Say goodbye one more time.
    ***
    Cole was not
nearly as nervous for the concert tonight as last night, nor was he as enthused.
Shannon and Cameron had added to the air of excitement. Electric currents
crackled through the air with her around. Tonight the electric currents eluded
him. The air around him hung suspended, void of life, choking and suffocating
him. Some things would never change though—he still puked in the barrel off the
stage before he went on. There was a great crowd again tonight, enthusiastic,
energetic and cheering them on, and it wasn’t long before they sucked him into
their excitement. The band gave it everything they had, and then some. Cole’s
body and soul were truly wiped out when the last encore ended. And as with the
previous night, he took off immediately, leaving everything once again for AJ.
    After he
arrived at the hotel, he showered and put on a robe courtesy of hotel
management. He ordered up room service, an action flick on cable and settled
down for his last night in Boston. Dozing on and off on the bed, he snapped
awake when room service knocked on his door. He let them in, signed the bill,
and pushed his food around more than he ate. His mind wouldn’t get off Shannon.
Her sad face when he’d walked away from the