Chapter Four
Ian wiped a dirty hand down the front of his coveralls and stepped back from the ’65 Corvette, giving it a narrowed glance.
“How’s it coming along, boss?” Frank, one of his employees, stopped by to check out the ’Vette.
“Just replaced the front panel.” Ian patted the hood. “Another couple days and I think this bad boy will be ready to go.”
“It’s looking awesome. We just got in a ’41 Willys Pickup, pretty sweet condition. They’re asking for some rust removal and a paint job.”
“Easy enough. I’ll check it out in a minute.”
“You should. But, hey, wanted to let you know that your phone has been going off.”
“Thanks. I’ll check it out.” Ian dropped a stained rag onto the counter and headed toward the small office at the back of the shop.
He picked up his phone and saw several missed texts from Aleck. He clicked on the first one.
Stay away from the pub for the next couple hours. She’s here.
Ian frowned. She? Sarah? He read the next text.
And that would be Sarah in case you’re a bit daft.
His lips quirked and he read the final message.
Apparently she’s staying for at least a month. It’s a condition of the will if she’s to inherit the house. And I swear I must’ve grown a vagina with all my gossiping.
Ian did laugh now, and typed in a quick reply that he’d avoid the pub. Because the last thing he wanted was to run in to Sarah again. He was still irritated from the first encounter. And held a bit of guilt, if he let himself admit it.
The next half hour he kept himself immersed in his work, but as lunchtime rolled around and he had nothing to eat, the idea of dropping by the pub had more appeal.
There was always a free meal available and it wasn’t unusual to drop by on his lunch break to go visit Kenzie and Aleck if they were working. Why shouldn’t he go?
Because Sarah’s there today, his conscience reminded him. You don’t want to aggravate her.
Ah, but he did. The devil on his shoulder was itching to stir up shit. To watch the anger and shock on her face if he were to show up for lunch.
Then there was the sentimental side of him, which barely existed anymore, that wanted any reason to be near her again. Because it was Sarah. The only woman who’d ever slipped so deeply into his soul.
He sent a quick text to Gina and then grabbed his keys.
“Going to lunch. Back in an hour,” he called out before he left the shop.
Driving from the small shop in Coupeville to Oak Harbor was only about a ten or fifteen minute drive, but it was plenty of time to let his mind wander.
*
“You know you’re lucky you don’t break your back doing that.”
Ian nearly laughed at the look of incredulity on Sarah’s face as she turned to face him.
With her hands on her hips, she was breathing hard from the series of handsprings she’d just done on the grass field. The black leggings and dark tank top hugged her body perfectly and showed off her petite, toned, athlete’s body.
“Seriously? You again?”
“I’m picking up Kenzie,” he drawled and crossed the grass toward her. “Do you need a ride?”
A look of discomfort flickered across her face and she looked away. “Kenzie is staying late. She didn’t call you?”
“No. And I assume by staying late you mean hanging out with Brady Vandercamp again?”
Surprise showed on Sarah’s face, but she didn’t reply.
“It’s cool. My sister is overdue for a little fun.” He stopped in front of Sarah. “You too, I’d bet.”
Her chin came up and she tossed her head, sending her long black ponytail flying. “Whatever fun I may or may not be having is none of your concern, Ian McLaughlin.”
“We could make it mine. You’re really good at that handspring stuff for being just a cheerleader.”
“I’m not just a cheerleader. I’m on the gymnastics team too.”
“Nice.” He grinned. “I bet you look hot in one of those spandex bathing suit type things.”
“Oh, you are such a jerk.” Her words were terse, but her cheeks filled with a pretty blush and he saw the flicker of pleasure in her eyes before she looked away.
Amusement eased through him and his smile widened. When he took another step toward her, so that they were just inches apart, she stepped back.
“Why do you keep running from me?”
“Because I’m a smart girl who knows she should avoid the bad boys.”
Before he could blink she’d turned and sprinted away from him. Her pace increased until she threw herself into another series of handsprings.
Only this time, on the last one, something happened when she landed. With a sharp cry of pain, she fell to the ground and clutched her ankle.
Not by any means an athlete, Ian surprised himself by how quickly he reached her side.
He fell to his knees and probed her ankle with gentle hands. “You land on your foot wrong? Does this hurt?”
“Ouch! Yes.” Tears filled her eyes and she bit her lip. “I think I heard a snap. Oh no, what if it’s broken? I’m so screwed. This is all your fault.”
“My fault?” He scowled and lifted her into his arms.
“Yes, dammit you distracted me.” She wound her arms around his neck, clinging to him. “And you’re doing it again.”
He glanced down, gauging her face for the amount of pain she was in. Pretty bad, going by her pinched expression and the glaze of agony in her eyes.
His concern spiked and he increased his stride to his car. “How am I distracting you?”
“Not—oh God it hurts—telling. Where are you taking me?”
“To the hospital. Do I need to take you to the one on base?”
“Either one. My dad’s insurance lets me go anywhere. Look, you don’t have to take me—”
“I’m not leaving you. Hang on a sec.” He set her down gently, keeping one arm around her waist. “No pressure on the hurt foot, okay?”
He dug his keys out of his pocket and opened the car door. After knocking the pack of cigarettes off the passenger seat, he eased her in and then buckled her up.
Several hours later, when she’d been x-rayed and diagnosed at the ER, he again helped her outside to the car. This time she was on crutches and touting a hairline fracture.
Sarah’s navy dad was apparently out at sea on a ship, but her mom had come by the hospital initially with the insurance information and to check on her daughter. But despite the mom’s worries, Sarah’s antsy little sister had made it difficult for the two to stay.
After the assurance that Sarah would be fine and a promise that Ian would drive her home safely, the mom and younger sister had left.
“Thank you.” Sarah rolled her head to look at him, a wide, relaxed grin on her face. “My mom pretty much thinks you’re the best thing since sliced bread.”
“Really now? How are those painkillers working out for you?”
“The drugs are wonderful.” Sarah drew out the “uh” in wonderful. “And my mom?” She waggled a finger at him. “You’ve charmed her, but little does she know it’s all an illusion.”
He laughed and caught her finger, pressing a kiss to the fleshy underside. “An illusion you say? I think I’m quite a bit better than sliced bread, actually.”
He didn’t miss the way her breath hitched and her lips parted. “Yeah. You kind of are. Do you miss Scotland?”
Shite, she wanted to talk about Scotland? He’d much preferred the other conversation.
“Sometimes. But after four years I’m pretty settled here. Besides, there’s a lot I like about the States too.”
She waggled her brows. “American girls?”
“Aye,” he said softly. “At this moment, most definitely an American girl.”
Her eyes widened to crystalline pools of blue. Had he shocked her? Embarrassed her?
She opened her mouth, and he suspected she would blister him with a reply.
“You are ridiculously hot, Ian McLaughlin.”
All right, that was not what he’d expected. And he definitely wasn’t about to protest.
A lazy smile curved his mouth. “You think I’m hot?”
“Oh yeah.” She nodded and leaned toward him. “And you know it too.”
Ah, the truth came out under the influence of drugs. Pure masculine satisfaction slid through him. “I lied. Kenzie did call to cancel her ride today. I was just hoping you’d let me drive you home.”
Her mouth parted. “You did?”
“Oh yeah.”
“I’m glad.”
He cupped the back of her neck and tilted his head down.
“You know what else?” she murmured. “You’re nicer than you want people to believe.”
He frowned, her words not sitting well with him. “I’m not nice.”
And he proved it by kissing her. Slowly and deeply.
But it didn’t matter. He needed to taste her again. Touch her. And if it had to be a stolen kiss while she was drugged to the hilt, then whatever.
*
Ian blinked away the memory as he turned the corner that eased into Oak Harbor.
Only as the days had gone by and she’d eased off the pain meds, Sarah hadn’t seemed to regret the kiss or make any attempt to distance herself from him.
He’d followed her around school, carrying her books while she’d hobbled on crutches. He was late to almost every class—not that that was anything new. Just the reasons for it had changed.
For once the temptation to actually go to class—and chance passing her in the hall—had been stronger than skipping.
They’d been together non-stop, and when they couldn’t be together physically, they were sneaking in phone calls and expensive texts.
And the crazy thing was, she wouldn’t sleep with him—and he’d never been the type of guy who waited around for sex when plenty of girls were willing.
But he did wait for her. And as clichéd as it was, the night they finally made love was after his prom that she’d talked him into attending. She’d been a virgin and there’d been something heady and primitive about being her first. He’d wanted to be her last. Couldn’t imagine his life with any other girl.
And once the sexual seal was broken after that night, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Were together as much as they could be.
Looking back on it now, he knew without a doubt it wouldn’t have been long before he started thinking about ring shopping. At eighteen. Christ, he’d been stupid.
Because one night had proven it all a lie. Everything he’d believed about her—about himself—was proven wrong.
One night was all it took to slice Sarah neatly from his life.
He pulled his Camaro up outside the pub a few minutes later and stared at the propped-open door and the darkness inside.
Maybe he was stupid for coming here today—actually, there was no denying he was. If he had any sense, he’d throw the car in reverse and get the hell back to Coupeville. Stay away from Sarah and all the trouble she was.
But he’d never had much sense, so why the hell start now?
Spotting the car that pulled up beside him, he gave a wave and climbed out of the Camaro.
*
Sarah set her glass of wine back on the bar to avoid spilling it as she snorted back a laugh.
“You are so funny, Kenzie.” She shook her head and grimaced. “Some things never change.”
Her friend gave an innocent shrug, her eyes wide. “What? I’m not trying to be funny. I’m just telling you about my last date. Seriously. How would you have reacted if you showed up to dinner and the guy asked to be addressed as Mr. Pleasure Hands?”
“Umm, I’d have walked out.”
“And I’d rather not hear any of this, thank you very much,” Aleck drawled from behind the counter and shook his head. “And, Kenzie, I believe your break is over now. Or rather, a half hour ago?”
“Such a hard-arse.” She rolled her eyes and hopped down from the barstool. But when she rounded the bar she pressed a smacking kiss on her brother’s cheek. “Thanks for the extended lunch, Aleck.”
“You’re welcome, kid.”
Sarah bit back a sigh at how sweet the siblings were together. Aleck had always been nice, though. Colin too, even if she didn’t know him all that well—only that he was the more well-behaved twin. While Ian loved to get in trouble, Colin was likely off doing some good deed.
Both had been equally charming with the girls, though.
“Ah shite.”
The muttered curse had Sarah glancing up at Aleck. His mouth was compressed into a line of displeasure, and his wary gaze was on the doorway.
Crap. Her heart sank and she knew who’d just entered the pub without turning around.
“You can’t be serious,” Kenzie joined in with a growl.
Yup. Sarah snuck a quick glance to the door, and even though the sunshine behind him turned him into a silhouette, she’d be able to pick his form out of a lineup any day.
Only Ian wasn’t alone. A busty blonde in tiny shorts and a skintight tank, proclaiming her Satan’s Bitch, clung to his arm.
Ouch. It shouldn’t have hurt. It’d been eleven years since she’d considered Ian hers. That was over a decade to dump the immediate emotional response at seeing him.
And yet, not really. Seeing Ian’s latest lover clinging to him hurt just as much as if Sarah and he had broken up the day before.
But she was damn careful so that he wouldn’t see any pain in her eyes.
“Serious about what, little sis?” Ian moved slowly into the bar, his stride almost a swagger and his smile a taunt. “Just came for a bit of a lunch, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, I mind quite a bit.” Kenzie rounded the corner and glared, jamming a finger into Ian’s chest. “Did Aleck text you?”
Sarah looked up at Aleck and caught the quick flash of guilt on the eldest McLaughlin brother’s face.
“As I said, we’re just here for lunch,” Ian protested with a tone of innocence that nobody was buying.
“Hmmph. Fine. Go sit in the corner and I’ll bring you out something in a minute.” Kenzie shook her head.
Unable to look away, Sarah swallowed hard as he suddenly turned his gaze to hers. The amused light in them and mocking tilt to his mouth made her insides flutter. For a moment she thought he would ignore his sister and come right up to the bar and take the two empty barstools next to her. And when his gaze fell on the open seats she bit her lip to avoid a groan of disbelief.
But then he winked and gave a small shrug before turning and leading his chick of the hour to the corner table in the shadows.
“I’m so sorry about this, Sarah. I don’t know what’s gotten into him,” Kenzie said softly, as she approached the bar again. Her gaze darted to her brother. “And you, Aleck, good job. You’ve officially joined Ian’s name on my shit list. I can’t believe you’d tell him she was here. I promised Sarah he wasn’t around.”
“We’re all adults now, Kenzie.” Aleck’s brows were drawn together, and though there was regret in his eyes, his voice was terse. “It’s a big island, but a small community. They’re bound to run into each other.”
“It’s fine,” Sarah agreed, her voice husky. “I’m nearly done with my lunch anyway. I should probably just leave.”
Kenzie sighed. “Oh, please don’t. We’ve only just had a few minutes together.”
“We’ve had almost an hour.” Keeping her tone gentle, Sarah pulled a twenty from her wallet and placed it on the counter. “This should cover my lunch.”
Aleck pushed it back toward her. “It’s on me. It’s the least I can do. I’m sorry, Sarah.”
Shaking her head, she refused to pick up the money. It didn’t matter that it was almost the last of her cash and her checking account was running dry.
She hated feeling indebted to anyone, and owing any favors to a McLaughlin brother was just a bad idea in her book.
“I insist on paying.” Sarah slid off the stool, which was high for her petite frame, and adjusted her purse. “Kenzie, give me a call and we can hang out at Gran’s home one of these nights. Watch movies, eat Top Ramen. You know, just like the old days.”
“Okay, I’ll call you later.” The apology was blatant in Kenzie’s gaze as Sarah rushed past her to the door.
Outside in the sun, Sarah struggled for her eyes to adjust as she dug in her purse for the keys to Gran’s car.
“Always on the run, I see.”
Her fingers wrapped around the keys just as the soft, lilting voice reached her ears.
Dammit, he’d followed her outside? Heart thumping and mouth dry, she waited for Kenzie or Aleck’s voice to demand he come back inside. But there was nothing, just silence.
As the seconds ticked by, her disbelief grew. She had to face him. Alone. Sarah turned around, struggling desperately not to let every emotion rushing through her reflect on her face.
“What do you want?” She’d meant to say something clever. Flippant. Not only had she not managed that, but her question was almost a plea, infused with a faint anguish that was chronic when she thought of him.
His lopsided smile fell back into a grim slash and his gaze darkened. “Now there’s a loaded question, aye?”
“Not really, no.” She clenched her hands around her keys and turned away to unlock the door. “It should be fairly simple.”
His hand fell past her to the door, holding it closed. “Well it’s not. We should talk.”
A laugh of disbelief ripped from her, but then it died and her throat went tight. “You want to talk? About what?”
“Fuck. I’m not even sure anymore.”
Really that shouldn’t shock her. He was making trouble, just because it’s what he did best. “I’m only here for a month. Can we just make it a point to avoid each other?”
“How very adult of us,” he mocked.
She spun around to face him, not bothering to hold back the frustration. “Maybe it isn’t, but I think we said everything that needed to be said eleven years ago…” She trailed off as his expression slid from mocking to dark. Bitter.
“Aye,” he said with deceptive softness. “Eleven years ago you were quite thorough in telling me how you really felt.”
She could feel her cheeks flushing at the memory of that day—at the alternate personality she’d seemed to instantly develop. She smothered the quick rise of regret and guilt—because her words had been well deserved. Hadn’t they?
“Which means there’s not a lot left to say, right?” She pushed his arm away from her car door and succeeded in opening it this time. “Go back inside, Ian. I’m sure your bimbo girlfriend is getting lonely.”
“Ouch.” He gave a harsh laugh, but didn’t stop her. “You’re really quite good with the barbed insults for someone who tries hard to be known as the nice girl.”
A response was on her tongue, but she refused to let it fly. Instead she climbed into her car, shut the door and drove off a moment later.
In the rearview she watched him move back into the pub, and she bit her lip.
He wanted to turn this on her? Make her look like the evil bitch? It wasn’t fair. But then it’d never been fair.
“He’s an asshole,” she whispered. “He’ll always be an asshole.”
When tears filled her eyes, she gave a growl of dismay. She wouldn’t cry over him. Not again.
She turned the old Chevy onto the main road and hit the gas. Impatiently, she wiped the moisture from her eyes and then cranked the radio to distract her.
One month. She just had to get through one month. And she’d do it by holing herself up at Gran’s with some good books and her work to keep her busy.
She left Oak Harbor, roaring down the two-lane highway that was soon thickly lined by trees.
It was the tears in her eyes that delayed her spotting them. But when she finally focused on the deer and a small fawn moseying across the road ahead, Sarah slammed on her brakes.
She wouldn’t be able to stop in time! A scream tore from her throat. Instinct, and the desire not to murder Bambi, had her swinging the wheel to the right.
The car veered off the road and even though she still had her foot on the brakes, she knew she was going to hit the tree.