Chapter Three
“Give me a Glenfiddich 18. Neat.” Ian kept his hands folded and his gaze on the bar counter, but he could still feel the surprise in his eldest brother’s stare.
The pub was near empty—apparently Old Man Cooper had gone home already as well.
“You do realize it’s just about lunchtime.” Aleck made his way down the bar until he was positioned right in front of him. “And you’ve gone and ordered one of the most expensive spirits we have?”
“You think I’m daft, big brother? Shut your mouth and just pour it already.” Scowling, Ian lifted his head to make sure his brother hadn’t taken offense.
Aleck, the eldest of all the McLaughlin kids was now sole owner of the pub. He didn’t seem the slightest bit offended by his brother’s comments. He was used to Ian’s quick temper. Instead, his green eyes crinkled around the edges with laughter and his mouth was twisted into a slight smirk.
“Aye, I’ll give ya your drink. So long as you fill me in on why the fook you’re in such a foul mood.” Aleck’s accent had always been the thickest and slowest to fade.
“As if you don’t know.” Ian accepted the shot and glared at his brother. “Go bring Kenzie a tire, you say. As if you don’t know just who exactly you were throwing in my path.”
“No. I haven’t a clue.”
The genuine bewilderment on Aleck’s face convinced him that maybe his brother wasn’t lying.
“Look, Kenzie called and said she was in a bit of a mess and needed me to come out and bring her a tire. She didn’t say she was with anyone.” Aleck placed the bottle of scotch back up on the shelf with the other bottles of spirits. “Fill me in already. Who was with her?”
“Sarah,” Ian finally growled.
“Sorry, who? Tera?”
Ian tipped back the scotch and slammed the glass on the bar. “Sarah.”
“Sarah?” Aleck went still and tilted his head. “As in your Sarah? The good girl you shagged around with in your youth?”
“Aye. That’d be her.” He stared into his empty shot glass, not seeing the drop of amber liquid, but instead the image of Sarah half-naked in the back of his Camaro. “And I wouldn’t necessarily call her a good girl.”
“Wasn’t she now? One step from the nunnery from the impression I got.” Aleck grinned. “Though I’m sure any corruption she experienced back then was your doing.”
“Hmm. Maybe.” The single malt scotch had warmed his insides and taken the sharp edges off the memory of his encounter with Sarah.
“So, how was it seeing her again?”
“Oh just fucking fantastic.” He gave a harsh laugh and pushed the empty glass to his brother. “Nearly as fantastic as taking a foot to the balls, I’d imagine.”
“That lovely? Was she mean? Did she go and hurt your feelings?” Aleck teased good-naturedly.
“No.” Ian hesitated, unable to share the humor. “More like I hurt her. I probably said some things I shouldn’t have.”
Aleck nodded. “Well, it wouldn’t be the first time either one of you has let your temper best you. You want another drink?”
“No.” Ian thrust a hand through his hair. “Wait, aye. One more.”
His brother grabbed the bottle and poured another glass. “I’m sorry. But let me guess. She’s fallen toward the ugly side and is as warm and cuddly as a porcupine?”
“Perhaps on the porcupine bit, but she’s not ugly.” He drank the second round. “She’s prettier now, if you can believe it.”
“Hmm. I’m trying to remember her. Short?”
“Petite. And she’d punch you in the stomach if she heard you call her short.”
“Which is probably as high as she can reach,” Aleck mused. “Long black hair, I think?”
Ian nodded.
“Aye, I remember her hair. She was a pretty thing. Quite exotic. She had that hint of olive skin, but blue eyes. I’m surprised you captured her interest. Back then she was too innocent for the likes of you.”
And maybe still was. He’d calmed down considerably from what he’d been in his teen years. But he wasn’t an idiot. Ian knew his reputation on the island, and his bad boy image hadn’t fully gone away. Then again, he hadn’t done much to dissuade it.
“Will you see her again?”
“I doubt it. I don’t think she cared much for seeing me today, to be honest.”
“Aye, well you didn’t end on the best terms. Am I right?”
No. They certainly hadn’t. Just the memory of it was like taking a two-by-four to the chest. His jaw clenched against the wave of guilt and pain. Both emotions had been violently at war that day—as much as they still were now. Beneath those two emotions had been another one. Bitter disappointment. And it was always there. Hot and dark, running a river of anger through his blood.
He didn’t think about it much. Couldn’t go there in his head, because it was all such a mind fuck.
“There’s a reason the past is behind you.” Aleck’s quiet words resonated through the warm haze the Glenfiddich had left.
“Aye. And it’ll stay there—no need to worry about that.”
“Good. No need to be digging up old dirt. Besides, you’ve got Gina now. I’d almost wager you’re serious about her.”
Ian’s lips quirked. Almost serious meaning he’d been casually dating her for two months. Or really, they’d mostly just hooked up. Though in his world, that was nearly a lifetime.
The only exception had been Sarah. They’d been together for almost seven months. His half-smile faltered and he shook his head. That didn’t mean much—only that he’d been young and stupid.
“Damn, Ian. Who shit on your parade?”
The soft feminine question had him glancing up and giving a slow grin to Delonna, the bartender scheduled to work the swing shift.
“A fourteen-thousand-pound elephant, if you’d believe it,” he murmured and gave her a glance-over. “Hello, Delonna.”
Her wavy blonde hair was drawn up in a ponytail and her blue-green eyes were narrowed on him with open curiosity.
She was young, maybe twenty-three, and an absolute stunner. She always brought in a good amount of tips on the nights she worked. While he hadn’t worked at the pub in years, Ian made himself available now and then on a busy day and he’d seen how popular she was.
He’d asked her out. Once. And she’d turned him down gently, using the “better off friends” line. It had been hard not to take offense at the time, even if nowadays she was just like another little sister to him.
“Seriously. You look all brooding and scary. Like, more than normal. Are you and Gina fighting?”
Gina. No, they hadn’t been fighting. Hell, they hadn’t even spoken in days.
“No, we’re doing grand.” Though grand might’ve been pushing it.
“He ran into an ex-girlfriend,” Aleck called out from the other end of the counter.
Delonna glanced down his older brother’s way. “Really now? That can have the potential to wreck anyone’s day.”
“It didn’t wreck my day, dammit. It just threw me. I haven’t seen her in years.” And then when he did, first chance he’d got, he’d made her feel like shit.
“Weird. Usually you’re the one agitating the ladies, but it seems like it’s swinging the other way this time.” Delonna cleared her throat when Aleck shot her a sharp look. “I could be wrong though.”
“A little discretion, Delonna?” Aleck muttered as his scowl darkened.
She had the decency to flush. “Right. Let me just look that word up again. Always good to see you, Ian.” She shook her head and moved out from behind the bar, making her way to the kitchen.
“Sorry, sometimes her filter is a bit rusty,” Aleck apologized as he stared after the blonde bartender.
“It’s Delonna. Not much of a surprise there. We forgive her because she’s got a lovely arse.”
“Watch your mouth,” Aleck grumbled, glancing away from the retreating blonde. “You shouldn’t be checking out her arse.”
“I’m not. Actually haven’t in years. She’s all yours.”
His brother grunted and shook his head. “She’s practically a child. Far too young for my liking. Besides, the last thing I need is a woman right now.”
“Bollocks. You should be getting laid, and often.”
Aleck threw his head back and laughed—a low, rumbling sound that resonated in the bar.
“I never said I wasn’t enjoying female companionship, little brother.”
Ian grinned and shook his head. “Aye. You’re a true McLaughlin. You taught me everything I know.”
“Not everything.” Aleck’s amusement seemed to fade some and his eyes clouded. “You should go see Gina. It’ll take your mind off of…things.”
“Maybe I should.” Ian slid the shot glasses back toward his brother and stood up. “Thanks for the drink. What do I owe you?”
“Bartend for me the Friday night of Labor Day weekend. We’ll need the extra help.”
“Done.”
Aleck collected the glasses and set them in the sink behind the bar. “Can you drive?”
“Aye. What do you take me for, a novice? It’d take three times that amount to begin to addle my mind.”
“Of course. Whatever was I thinking?” Aleck came around the bar and hugged him. “Love ya, wee Ian.”
Though Ian wasn’t short by any means, Aleck certainly could get away with the wee comment. While Ian had inherited more of his mother’s looks, Aleck had taken after Da. Still the McLaughlin green eyes, but with darker hair and an impressive height that ensured he towered over most men.
Aleck gave him a thump on his back and then pulled away. “Go have fun. You’ll forget all about the other one.”
The one that got away. The thought raced through his head before he could stop it. And it lingered as he made the drive to his shop in Coupeville instead.
It was a good thing she’d left him, he told himself. With Gina, what you saw was what you got. She swore like a sailor, was aggressive sexually, had a body like a pin-up girl, and had a streak of meanness that could come out with enough provocation or alcohol. But together, the two of them worked. It complemented the dark side of him so many wanted to deny was real.
Sarah seemed so sweet and innocent. Lovely and delicate in a way that made men pause and stare. But if you didn’t look beyond the front, you might get blindsided. She could turn on you in an instant. Once she had your heart, she could destroy it with the precision and calculation of a military missile.
Yes. If he were smart, he’d avoid her until she’d once again left the island.
*
Sarah glanced in the mirror and adjusted the delicate purple scarf she’d added to her khaki skirt and black crossover top.
The scarf had been Gran’s and she’d added it to her outfit at the last minute. She was due at the lawyer’s office in fifteen minutes and if she didn’t start walking, she’d be late.
She’d already slept in longer than planned this morning. After a long phone call with Emily, she’d spent her evening struggling with painful memories. Not to mention the attempt to spend time on her latest project. She was fortunate enough to be able to travel with her work. Being a freelance graphic designer didn’t always bring in a ton of money, but fortunately the online projects allowed her to work from anywhere.
Sarah lingered for just a moment more, bringing the scarf to her nose and closing her eyes as she inhaled.
There was still the hint of her gran’s perfume, and tears pricked behind Sarah’s closed lids.
With an unsteady, but determined breath in, she opened her eyes and grabbed her purse.
A few minutes later she was walking down the street toward the small law office in downtown Coupeville. The town had expanded some since she’d been here last. More people had moved into the charming area, but it was still quite small, with most things within comfortable walking distance. A place where everybody seemed to know everybody, and she could feel the probing gazes as she walked down the street.
Maybe she looked familiar and they were trying to place exactly who she was. Or maybe they knew. But if she wasn’t already, she knew it wouldn’t be too long before she was the talk of the town.
She found her stride increasing until, with some relief, she entered the small building that housed Gran’s lawyer’s office.
He was a small man, probably close to seventy, but his gaze was sharp and his grip was strong when he grasped her hand.
“Ms. Rawlings. I’ve heard quite a bit about you. I’m William Yates.” He smiled and gestured to a chair.
“Nice to finally meet you in person, Mr. Yates.” Once she had sat with her hands folded in her lap, she met his gaze.
“You look like your grandmother.” For a moment the all-business expression slipped from his face, replaced instead by something softer. Sadder.
How well had he known Gran? Sarah knew he’d been her lawyer for at least the last decade, but had their relationship gone beyond the professional? She wasn’t about to ask.
“Do I?” She gave a small shrug. “I’ve always been told I take after my father’s side more.”
“Perhaps the eyes, yes. But in other ways…you resemble her so much.” He cleared his throat and reached for a folder on his desk. “Here is a copy of Libby’s will. As I explained during our phone call, she does have a condition that you live in the house for the duration of one calendar month before you are able to place it on the market, should you decide to sell. If you can’t meet this condition, the house will be given to your younger sister with the same understanding.”
Sarah stared at the words, her throat tightening as the lawyer clarified them aloud. Her sister had a rich husband, and rarely saw anyone because they were off traveling the world. They didn’t need another house. Sarah on the other hand…
But a month on the island? She’d known about the condition, and yet hearing it aloud, the finality of it, made the blood rush from her head. She clutched the leather handles of the chair, steadying herself as she grew a bit dizzy.
It wouldn’t have been a problem if it weren’t for one person. One person with deep green eyes that left her heart pounding and her head a complete mess.
“Do you think you’ll be able to meet this condition, Ms. Rawlings?”
“What?” She blinked, focusing again on the printed will in front of her. It was all legal speak and seemed as foreign to her as if it had been written in German. “I, umm, yes. I’ve made plans to spend the month of July out here.”
It was June 29th. She was only a couple of days early from starting the countdown of the month of hell. Not that she didn’t love Whidbey—who wouldn’t love the island? It was Ian. It had always been Ian…
“Did your daughter join you on the island for the summer?”
“No. Emily is spending the month with her grandmother in Florida.” She glanced back up and gave a forced smile. “Bonding time. You understand, I’m sure.”
“I see.”
Was that disappointment in the older man’s eyes? If so, it was hard to decipher as he quickly slipped his reading glasses back on.
He continued touching on several points in the will that she needed to be aware of, but most of it she’d already grasped.
By the time she left the office, copy of the will in hand, she was emotionally exhausted and ready for a nap. Or a glass of wine.
Wine would have to wait until she made a trip to the store. Which was actually the next thing on her to-do list. The fridge was empty.
She’d fallen asleep without dinner last night, and hadn’t even realized she hadn’t eaten until she’d woken up with a growling stomach.
Grabbing her phone, she dialed her mother’s house. Emily answered on the second ring.
“Hi, Mom! Grandma said it was probably you.” Her daughter’s chipper voice coiled around Sarah’s heart, and her throat tightened as tears pricked at her eyes.
She missed Emily so much. This would be the longest they’d ever been apart.
“Hi, sweetie. Are you behaving for your grandma?”
“Yeah. But she watches a lot of stupid shows on TV, and she tells me the Disney channel will rot my brain.”
The unhappiness in her daughter’s voice had Sarah smiling reluctantly.
“A break from TV isn’t a bad thing. You should go outside more and practice your gymnastics.”
“It’s too hot outside. I feel gross if I’m out there for more than a few minutes. I hate Grandma’s house.”
Emily had never liked hot weather. For just a second, the thought of what it would be like to move them both to the island flitted through her mind. Emily would love the mild weather in the Pacific Northwest. But it was impossible. She’d spend the required month here and then she’d sell the house. There was no other choice.
“I know it’s a little hot. Maybe you guys can catch a movie.”
“I dunno. I miss you, Mom.”
“I miss you too, sweetie. So much.” Tears did fill her eyes now, and she resented the fact that she was being forced to stay here for a month. “Hey, tell me how Bubba is handling the stay at Grandma’s?”
Once her daughter launched into an excited conversation about her chubby Chihuahua, Sarah knew her daughter was sufficiently distracted from her unhappiness at being banished to Grandma’s house for the summer.
When Sarah hung up the phone a few minutes later, though, she knew her own unhappiness wasn’t so easily dismissed.
Her phone buzzed again and she frowned, wondering who would be texting. Her mother didn’t even own a cell phone and would’ve just called her back.
Sarah stared at the message and smiled slightly.
Kenzie who was at work. She wanted her to drop by the pub and hang out, fill her in on how the lawyer’s visit had gone.
No way. Not going to happen. Sarah started to put her phone away, deciding to text her back later, when a second text popped up.
And I promise the brother with jerk tendencies won’t be there. He’s at work.
Unable to stop a soft laugh, Sarah shook her head. Most of her hesitation at going to see Kenzie had been because of Ian. But if he really wasn’t going to be there…
It would be good to go see her friend. Kenzie would be a good distraction from how much Sarah was missing her daughter. And then she could have that glass of wine…
Before she could overthink it, she hit reply and told Kenzie she’d be there within a half hour.
*
Why Sarah took the time to reapply her lip gloss and fluff her hair was beyond her comprehension.
She wasn’t trying to look good for anyone. Not that the person she was most concerned about would even be there.
McLaughlin’s Pub was off a side street in Oak Harbor. It literally looked like someone’s small one-story home that had been gutted and made into a bar.
When she stepped inside, though, there was no denying the place was a Scottish pub. The national flag of Scotland was placed throughout the connecting rooms of the pub in no less than four spots, along with photos—some autographed—of various celebrities native to Scotland.
The place was dim, the stage in the back currently empty. But there was music piped in from hidden speakers, and her throat tightened as she recognized the band Simple Minds. The song playing, “Don’t You Forget About Me”, seemed a little too apt.
Surprisingly, it was fairly busy for a Tuesday afternoon. It was weird being here now, knowing she was of legal age to stay until closing time, instead of being kicked out by eight because she was a minor.
So many changes. So much time had passed.
“So the rumors are true.”
Following the sound of the voice, Sarah’s gaze darted to the extended bar counter to her right. Tall and dark, with an expression that held only warm curiosity, Aleck McLaughlin watched her from where he stood framed by the various beers on tap.
Her stomach clenched as she summoned a polite smile. Well. Apparently the rule still held that all McLaughlins must be attractive.
“Hello, Aleck. It’s been a while.”
“Aye.” He gestured to an empty barstool. “Have a seat. Kenzie is in the kitchen at the moment, but she’ll be out shortly. I assume you came to see her?”
“You’d assume right.” She pulled out the barstool and sat, folding her hands in her lap. “Could I get a glass of merlot? I’m not picky.”
He winked and reached for a bottle behind the bar. “Well lucky for you I am picky. I’ll only give you the best.”
“I appreciate it.” She accepted the glass a moment later and took a small sip. He hadn’t been kidding—it was definitely one of the better wines she’d tasted.
“You made it!” Kenzie slid onto the empty barstool next to her a moment later. “I want to hear everything the lawyer said.”
Sarah grimaced. “Everything? I’m not sure even I remember everything.”
“Well the big points. And I see you’ve got wine already—must’ve been a doozy.” She glanced at her brother. “Aleck, give me a pint of the African Amber Ale.”
Aleck folded his arms across a broad chest and arched a brow. “You do realize you’re working, Kenzie?”
“I’m on my break.” She rolled her eyes. “Now don’t be an arse, and pour me my beer already.”
Surely there were regulations about that kind of thing, Sarah thought, but smothered a laugh when Aleck dutifully went to pour the beer.
Kenzie had always had her brothers twisted around her finger. It seemed some things never changed.
“Now.” Kenzie turned back and propped her elbows on the smooth bar surface. “Tell me about this morning.”