title: Run to You (Risking It All)
author:  Rachel Lacey 
description: "4 Stars! Readers will love how the lives of the main characters meld together while still maintaining their individual lives."<b><i><em>RT Book Reviews</em></i></b><br /><br />"A stirring romance with complex characters!"<b><i>FreshFiction.com</i></b><br /><br />"There's much to like in this sweet romance, including the strong hero and heroine, the cast of supporting characters and the beautiful mountain setting. Readers will eagerly anticipate the next installment in the series, <em>Crazy for You</em>, due out next spring."<b><i>Bookpage.com</i></b><br /><br />"Lacey's Love to the Rescue contemporary series keeps getting better and better."<b><i><em>Publisher's Weekly</em> (starred review) on <em>Ever After</em></i></b><br /><br />"4 Stars! An engaging plot and colorful, genuine characters make the author's latest a sweet, enjoyable read."<b><i><em>RT Book Reviews</em> on <em>For Keeps</em></i></b><br /><br />"Your heart will be captured many times by the genuine scenarios, and the happily-ever-after for all, both human and canine."<b><i>HeroesandHeartbreakers.com on <em>For Keeps</em></i></b><br /><br />"Endearing! Rachel Lacey is a sure-fire star."<b><i>Lori Wilde, <em>New York Times</em> bestselling author</i></b>
zlib_text: > > _CLAIRE SEEBER_
  
  > Bad Friends
  
  > ![](Images/image00220.jpeg)
  
  For all my parents  
  and  
  in memory of my beloved Granny.  
  I’m running towards you (though it might take me a while).
  
  **BAD FRIENDS**
  
  ‘If love is judged by most of its effects,  
  it resembles hate more than friendship.’
  
  François de La Rochefoucauld – _Les_ Maximes
  
   **AFTER: DECEMBER**
  
  I am running for my life, I know that now.
  
  The moon slips behind the clouds. Perhaps the darkness is a boon, but the
  shadows that fall beside me seem to mock me as I flee, as I fly down the drive
  from the house. Desperately my hand closes round the bunch of metal; my little
  finger catches on a jagged edge, I feel my flesh tear slightly, but I ignore
  the pain. I slide dangerously in the mud but I will not fall, will not allow
  it; I right myself, though my leaden legs suck me into the stony ground; they
  scream with every step that I should stop but I can’t, I daren’t. I push
  myself on, stumbling on and on, because they are nearer now