Obsessed

KENSINGTON publishing corp.

www.kensingtonbooks.com

KTEEN BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.

119 West 40th Street

New York, NY 10018

Compilation copyright © 2014 by Kensington Publishing

Crush copyright © 1994 by H. L. Swensen, Inc.

Crush II copyright © 1994 by H. L. Swensen, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund-raising, and educational or institutional use.

Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Special Sales Manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018. Attn. Special Sales Department. Phone: 1-800-221-2647.

Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

KTeen is a trademark of Kensington Publishing Corp.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61773-238-6

ISBN-10: 1-61773-238-9

First Kensington Trade Paperback Printing: June 2014

eISBN-13: 978-1-61773-239-3

eISBN-10: 1-61773-239-7

First Kensington Electronic Edition: June 2014

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

The Crush

1

The Crush II

177

CRAVE

KENSINGTON publishing corp.

www.kensingtonbooks.com

KTEEN BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.

119 West 40th Street

New York, NY 10018

Compilation copyright © 2014 by Kensington Publishing

Crush copyright © 1994 by H. L. Swensen, Inc.

Crush II copyright © 1994 by H. L. Swensen, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund-raising, and educational or institutional use.

Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Special Sales Manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018. Attn. Special Sales Department. Phone: 1-800-221-2647.

Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

KTeen is a trademark of Kensington Publishing Corp.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61773-238-6

ISBN-10: 1-61773-238-9

First Kensington Trade Paperback Printing: June 2014

eISBN-13: 978-1-61773-239-3

eISBN-10: 1-61773-239-7

First Kensington Electronic Edition: June 2014

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

The Crush

1

The Crush II

177

CRAVE

Books by Jo Gibson

OBSESSED

TWISTED

AFRAID

And writing as Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swensen Mysteries

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE MURDER

BLUEBERRY MUFFIN MURDER

LEMON MERINGUE PIE MURDER

FUDGE CUPCAKE MURDER

SUGAR COOKIE MURDER

PEACH COBBLER MURDER

CHERRY CHEESECAKE MURDER

KEY LIME PIE MURDER

CANDY CANE MURDER

CARROT CAKE MURDER

CREAM PUFF MURDER

PLUM PUDDING MURDER

APPLE TURNOVER MURDER

DEVIL’S FOOD CAKE MURDER

GINGERBREAD COOKIE MURDER

CINNAMON ROLL MURDER

RED VELVET CUPCAKE MURDER

BLACKBERRY PIE MURDER

JOANNE FLUKE’S LAKE EDEN COOKBOOK

Suspense Novels

VIDEO KILL

WINTER CHILL

DEAD GIVEAWAY

THE OTHER CHILD

Published by Kensington Publishing Corpora
tion

KTEEN BOOKS are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp.

119 West 40th Street

New York, NY 10018

Compilation copyright © 2014 by Kensington Publishing

Crush copyright © 1994 by H. L. Swensen, Inc.

Crush II copyright © 1994 by H. L. Swensen, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

All Kensington titles, imprints, and distributed lines are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchases for sales promotion, premiums, fund-raising, and educational or institutional use.

Special book excerpts or customized printings can also be created to fit specific needs. For details, write or phone the office of the Kensington Special Sales Manager: Kensington Publishing Corp., 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018. Attn. Special Sales Department. Phone: 1-800-221-2647.

Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

KTeen is a trademark of Kensington Publishing Corp.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61773-238-6

ISBN-10: 1-61773-238-9

First Kensington Trade Paperback Printing: June 2014

eISBN-13: 978-1-61773-239-3

eISBN-10: 1-61773-239-7

First Kensington Electronic Edition: June 2014

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

The Crush

1

The Crush II

177

CRAVE

The Crush

One

Deana Burroughs beat her fists against the steering wheel in pure frustration. This had been the absolute worst day of her life, and now her car had conked out on her. The old black Nissan had started making strange chugging sounds right after she’d turned left from Olive Street, and she’d barely managed to make it over to the curb before the motor had given a gurgling cough and died.

She stared out at the deserted residential street with small, one-level bungalows that were so common in South ern California and thought about the horrible day she’d had. For starters, she’d overslept. And then, when she’d hopped out of bed, knowing she’d be late for her summer session Spanish class, she’d stubbed her toe on the dresser. That little incident should have warned her. She should have gone back to bed, pulled the covers up over her head, and slept the day away. But she hadn’t. She’d raced to the shower, turned on the water, and the cold water knob had twisted right off in her hand. She’d wasted valuable time attempting to re-attach it, so much time that the hot water had run out and she’d finished washing her hair in an icy stream. And from that point, things had just gotten worse.

Deana rested her forehead against the fake sheepskin steering wheel cover and mentally added up the disasters. The zipper on her favorite pair of
jeans had broken, her left shoelace had snapped, and the watch band she’d been mean ing to replace had finally given up the ghost. And all that had happened before she’d even left her room!

She had arrived at summer school twenty minutes late, and found her class taking a surprise quiz. Since it was oral, she’d missed the first fifteen questions, and ended up flunking. So much for her first class. Algebra had been next, and naturally, she’d forgotten her homework . . . again. Miss Berman had been so angry, she’d called Deana’s mother at work, pulling her out of an important conference.

Deana had been ready to give up right then and skip her last class. But Miss Berman had personally escorted her there, forcing her to sit through another of Mr. Scharf’s boring lectures. She’d dozed off a couple of times, but to her surprise she had managed to answer the three questions he’d written on the board at the end of the period.

Deana had stared at the questions, and groaned along with the rest of the class. What was the date of the Battle of
New Orleans? Who led the American troops? Which river did they travel? It was all Greek to her. But then she’d remembered their last rehearsal at Covers, the teenage nightclub their speech and drama teacher owned. Michael Warden, the featured singer at the club, was fascinated by vintage rock ’n roll and he’d sung a number called “The Battle of New Orleans.” The lyrics had been so catchy, Deana had remembered them.

In 1815, we took a little trip,

Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip.

We took a little bacon and we took a little beans,