Here With You (A Laurel Heights Novel) - By Kate Perry Page 0,40

the sales lady said as she adjusted the straps. "This style is really great on you. You have such a sweet figure."

She touched the tiny heart sewn on the strap, feeling so pretty. "I'll get it."

"Awesome." Nicole grinned at her. "I knew I recognized a fellow lingerie girl."

"What's that?"

"My boss always says that there are two types of women, those who love shoes and those who love lingerie. You're definitely a lingerie girl. I'll let you change."

Rachel waited till the curtain was closed before she changed back into her clothes. She felt so much better about life, even if she hadn't seen Griffin Chase. Picking up her bag, she parted the curtain and went out to the front.

Nicole was on the phone. "Grif and I are going out tonight if you want to go with us," she was saying, her back turned.

Grif? As in Griffin Chase? Rachel froze and strained to hear.

"We're going to the Boom Boom Room, because a friend of his is playing there, probably around eleven o'clock." Nicole laughed and then nodded. "Okay, I'll talk to you later, Susan."

Griffin Chase was going to be at someplace called the Boom Boom Room tonight.

Rachel's breath caught with excitement in her chest. If she went there, she could give him the lyrics she'd written. And maybe he'd even sing. Maybe if she asked him, he'd sing to her specially. She'd bought a bunch of things from his best friend after all.

Nicole turned around. "Ready?"

"Yeah." She handed over the underwear. "Um, do you have another color, too?"

"I have a slightly different style in emerald." She strode to a dresser on the side and pulled out the drawer. "Green is this season's black."

Rachel looked at the bra the woman handed her. It looked like something a fairy would wear, lacy and delicate in a dark jewel color. She touched it. It was the sort of underwear a bold, unstoppable girl wore. Maybe she'd wear it tonight when she snuck into the Boom Boom Room. "I'll take it, too."

"I'll ring you up."

As Nicole rang her up, Rachel took out her phone and messaged Aaron. What are you doing tonight?

Two seconds later the reply came in: Are you asking me out?

She swallowed nervously and thumbed her screen. Do you know a place called the Boom Boom Room?

Aaron Hawke: It's on Fillmore at Geary, but it's 21 and over.

Rachel Rosenbaum: Can we sneak in?

Aaron Hawke: Why?

Rachel Rosenbaum: There's a musician I want to see.

Aaron Hawke: Badly enough to sneak in.

Rachel Rosenbaum: Yes.

She waited for what seemed like forever but he didn't reply. Finally, impatience won out.

Rachel Rosenbaum: Well?

Aaron Hawke: I'll pick you up at 11. Don't wear neon.

Rachel Rosenbaum: I think you're safe on that count.

Aaron Hawke: You can never be too sure.

"Here you go, Rachel." Nicole handed her the bag. "Welcome to the club."

The lingerie club wasn't the only one she was crashing. She took her package and went home. She had to figure out what to wear.

Her dad knocked on her bedroom door as she was getting ready. "Rachel?"

Her heart jumped into her throat. She froze, her jacket halfway on. "What is it?"

"I want to talk to you. Open the door."

She looked at herself in the mirror. She'd just ringed her eyes in eyeliner, trying to look older, and she was fully dressed. It wouldn't have been an issue except her father didn't know she was going out. "Not now, Dad."

"Yes, now."

He was using that I'll brook no argument from you tone that meant he wouldn't budge until he spoke with her. Sighing, she kicked off her shoes as she shrugged out of the coat, smudging off some of the eyeliner. She threw her robe on her clothes and flung open the door. "Yes?"

He leaned in the doorway, arms crossed across a pastel polo shirt.

Pastel.

She pointed at his shirt. "What are you wearing?"

He frowned at her face. "What's that on your face?"

"Nothing." She rubbed under her eyes. "I was trying on makeup."

For some reason, he looked affronted. "You don't need makeup, Rachel. You're already pretty."

He picked now to act interested? "That's what you came here to say to me?"

He rolled his eyes. "No. I need to talk to you."

"I'll clean up my room tomorrow," she preempted, glancing at the time. Aaron was going to be here any minute, and she didn't want her dad to find out. Ever since the drunken party episode that landed them in San Francisco, she'd been on lockdown.

"That's not what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to