Good Girl Gone Plaid (2 page)

That car. She knew that car.

Her heart, which she’d managed to slow, picked right back up again.

Please no
.

“Can’t anybody follow instructions?” Kenzie growled, and opened her door. “Stay in here, Sarah. I’ll handle this.”

This wasn’t happening. Sarah shook her head as the Camaro door opened and six feet of tall, hard male slid out.

Everything inside her head started to spin as he strode toward Kenzie, a big, shit-eating grin on his face.

Sarah gripped the edge of her seat, her nails digging into the fabric. Her neck started to protest the awkward, twisted position, but she couldn’t look away.

Shock cocooned her body, but through it, almost clinically, she drank him in. He looked so much like he had eleven years ago. Beneath the tinted sunglasses she knew she’d find those rare, piercing green eyes all the McLaughlins had.

His brown hair held a hint red in the sunlight, and it was just a little too long. The body, still tall and solid, was maybe even bigger now. It looked as if he’d taken up lifting weights.

His shoulders were wide and she couldn’t help but remember how she used to cling to them when his mouth was on hers. How those shoulders, and his hands on her waist, had been the only things that kept her standing.

Just like all the McLaughlin boys, he was entirely too sexy. But more than sexy, he seemed dangerous. Especially now. He was the ultimate bad boy, seemed happy to claim the title and revel in it.

Instinct demanded she run. That she jump out of the car and run like a startled deer into the woods, no matter how illogical and ridiculous it seemed.

Whatever Kenzie was yelling at her brother couldn’t reach her ears through the car, but the tone did. Kenzie was livid.

Her brother shook his head, and then his big grin vanished. He yanked off his sunglasses and whipped his gaze to the car to where Sarah sat in frozen disbelief.

Their gazes locked and her world bottomed out.

It was unavoidable. She would have to face him. The realization that she had no choice became evident when Ian ignored her sister’s protests and strode toward the car.

No, no, no.

Despite the childish instinct to hit the lock and keep him out, she made no effort to stop him when he reached her door and pulled it open.

“As I live and breathe. Sarah Thornton.” His Scottish accent was faint, but stronger than his sister’s. The voice was so familiar and had the power to make her knees weaken.

But even though he smiled, his eyes were frigid emerald stones that pierced deep. They were potent enough to shatter her heart all over again.

He tilted his head and murmured, “Welcome back to Whidbey Island.”

Ian made sure the shock riding through his system wasn’t evident on his face. He draped an arm on the open door and stared down at her.

Sarah was here. On the island. Fuck it all.

How long had it been? A decade? No, more. Eleven years, almost exactly.

Eleven years since she’d up and left without so much as a good-bye.

As a teenager she’d been pretty. He knew her exotic looks came partly from her grandmother, who had come from India to marry an American soldier. Sarah had silky, black hair that had almost reached her waist—God he’d loved to touch that hair. And her flawless skin with a hint of olive that he’d spent so much time kissing. But then there were her eyes. Cloudy, blue pools of emotion that had never failed to make him trip over his tongue a little. And he wasn’t the type to stutter.

Her body back then had been petite and thin, with just a bit of curve. But now… She was still thin, but not quite as skinny. A quick glance at the pink T-shirt she wore showed breasts that seemed fuller. The blood in his body pounded a little harder, because those tits had already been pretty damn amazing before. To think of that—

“Rawlings.”

Jerking his mind off the dirty road it had wandered down, he arched a brow at the thread of hostility in her tone.

“What’s that you say, doll?”

“It’s Sarah Rawlings now.”

The memory of how amazing her breasts had felt in his hands—not to mention his mouth—disappeared as her words penetrated.

“That’s right.” He gave a slow nod, not happy with the stab of something dark inside him. “I heard you got married. Had a kid.”

“I did. But then, that’s what responsible people do when they grow up. They settle down, maybe have a family.” Her tone was indicative of someone talking to a child, and her smile was just condescending enough to make his teeth snap together.

“Aye? And how’s that working out for you?” The taunting words were out before he could stop them.

Her eyes went wide, shock and hurt reflecting in their depths, before she seemed to school her expression again. Her delicate shoulders lifted in a stiff shrug.

“It didn’t.” She slid her gaze away from him and stared out the windshield. “I’m divorced now.”

“Hey.” Kenzie appeared at his side, tugging on his shirtsleeve. “You know I love you, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Ian. But you’re being a total asshole, so leave her alone already.”

“Just getting reacquainted,” he drawled and pulled his arm off the door. “Now, you said something about a tire needing changing?”

The minute his arm was off the door, Sarah jerked it closed and he couldn’t stop a chuckle when the lock clicked.

Almost as if she were afraid of him. He couldn’t really blame her. Maybe he was being a bit of a bastard.

Kenzie glared at him, hands on her hips. “Are you daft? I specifically asked Aleck to come help me, not you.”

“And he fully intended to come help you, until Old Man Cooper picked a fight with a sailor. I wasn’t busy, so he asked me if I’d mind coming to your rescue.”

His sister sighed, but the fury in her gaze diminished some and she gave a terse nod.

Because she bartended at the pub, she knew exactly who Dwayne Cooper was. A bit loud, but usually harmless, the elderly man was a regular at McLaughlin’s Pub. He loved to boast of his Scottish roots—especially when he’d been drinking—and would engage anyone willing in a verbal debate over anything and everything. The man seemed to think he was twenty-five, not seventy-five.

“You should’ve sent Colin then.” She mentioned Ian’s twin brother’s name with a grumpy tone that indicated she still wasn’t pleased.

“The man is busy being a sheriff’s deputy.” Ian moved past her to his car, and plucked a tire from the backseat. “Besides, why are you so worried about Sarah and I running in to each other? We’re both grown adults.”

Kenzie snorted, folding her arms across her chest. “You think so, do you? Is that why you had to throw that taunt in her face about her marriage failing?”

Her words hit home, evoking guilt, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he moved past her to return to her car and begin changing her tire.

“I know things didn’t end well for you guys.” She stayed on his heels, the move so familiar from when they’d been growing up.

Though instead of begging for sweets or money as she had when she was a child, now she scolded him.

“But you don’t need to be a complete arse to her.”

“Just a partial one?”

Kenzie whacked him on the shoulder. “You, big brother, are impossible. Change my tire and be gone already.”

It should’ve been that easy, really. He should’ve wanted to be out of here as soon as possible. But as he snuck a glance at Sarah, hunkered down in the front seat as if hoping he’d forget she was there, he realized rushing away was the last thing on his mind.

“You’ll have to ask Sarah to step out of the car while I do.”

After a moment’s silence, he glanced at his sister. Her expression held disbelief and frustration.

“Surely you can change a tire with her in the car. This is a busy road. She’s tiny—barely five feet and probably a hundred and fifteen pounds soaking wet. There’s no reason for her to get out of the car.”

“There’s no reason for her not to.” He cocked his head. “Now, if you want me to change your tire, you’ll have to move your friend.”

Her eyes flashed, but for once she didn’t argue and instead moved to go ask Sarah to get out of the car.

Even though he was rifling through the trunk of Kenzie’s car, he caught the movement of Sarah exiting.

He slammed the trunk and straightened, jack in hand. He glanced over at the women, witty comment at the ready, but it died on his tongue.

Chapter Two

Sarah was talking quietly to Kenzie, her body twisted away from him. But the angle gave him a full view of all the curves she hadn’t had the last time he’d seen her.

Sure she’d been pretty, but her looks had only been part of the reason he’d fallen for her. Her unwavering faith in him, and her ability to see beneath the surface of the image he projected, had struck him core deep.

Shoving all that bullshit aside—because it seemed it had been nothing more than illusion—she was a knockout now. Not overweight by any means, but she had more meat on her than before. Hips and an arse that definitely curved beneath dark jeans.

Mentally, he peeled off the clothes, imagining the body he’d once known with the new curves. What would it be like to explore them? To hold those sweet hips while driving into her—

Dammit, what the
hell
was he doing? He was not fantasizing about Sarah. That was a part of his life best buried and forgotten. They weren’t two reckless teenagers anymore who acted on hormones and had silly visions of love. He’d moved on to other women, and Sarah…she had a kid. The last damn thing he wanted was to get involved with a single mom.

Children tended to fear him, and he returned the emotion somewhat. They were emotional, asked too many questions, and could be entirely too prone to leaky diapers and projectile vomit.

Scowling now, Ian turned away from the two and got started on changing Kenzie’s tire.

By the time he’d finished, he was ready to get the hell out of Dodge.

Kenzie still glared at him—which was a bit ridiculous since he’d taken time out of his day off to help her—but Sarah still avoided looking at him completely.

Grabbing the flat tire, he placed it back in the trunk along with the jack and then turned to the women.

“That should do you, li’l sis.”

She flashed him a hard, sarcastic smile. “Thanks. I appreciate your help. Best be on your way now, I’m sure—”

“So how long are you staying on the island?” He wiped the dirt and oil from his hands onto his jeans and glanced at Sarah.

She didn’t answer right away, and he saw her chest slowly rise and fall and she seemed to take a deliberate breath in. Then she finally looked at him.

“Not too long. I’m only here to clean up Gran’s house and put it on the market.”

Sarah had always been close to her grandma, and it must’ve been painful for her to deal with the loss. Had she ever visited? As far as he knew, Sarah hadn’t returned to the island in the past eleven years. Word would’ve gotten out if she had.

“I was sorry to hear about Libby. I always liked her.”

For a moment, tears brightened Sarah’s blue eyes. She gave a jerky nod and looked down.

“Thank you. She liked you too.” The words seemed almost reluctant. “Her death was a shock to everyone.”

“I imagine so. I’m sure you’re regretting not visiting her more often before she passed. Actually, now that I think about it, did you ever visit?”

There was such blatant pain and guilt in Sarah’s eyes, for a moment, he would’ve sworn she was going to burst into tears.

But then she straightened her spine and she muttered, “You haven’t changed a bit, have you, Ian? Still a complete jerk when you want to be.”

“When I need to be,” he agreed softly.

Kenzie stepped forward, placing herself between him and Sarah. “Okay, really? Stop this shit. What are you guys, fifteen?”

“Twenty-nine. Colin and I both are, actually. Twins if you recall.”

“You’re not even a little bit funny right now. In fact, you’re quickly making it on my shit list. So, yeah, we’re going to leave.” Kenzie’s tone was overly bright for the heavy tension. “Thanks again for the tire.”

Taking the not-so-subtle hint, Ian nodded and turned to walk back to his car.

“Good to see you again, Sarah.” But it hadn’t been. Not really. Seeing her had ripped open a wound he resented—one that shouldn’t have existed.

As far as he was concerned, Sarah’s presence on the island was completely unwelcome.

She didn’t reply to his farewell, but then, he hadn’t expected her to.

The sooner she left, the better.

Silence was golden. Or it was the breeding ground for a host of memories and thoughts that were pure toxic.

Sarah locked the front door of her grandma’s house and then pulled back the curtain on the window beside it.

She watched Kenzie’s car speed off down the dirt road and could only feel relief.

Her hands hadn’t stopped shaking since Ian had showed up in his Camaro, looking just as carefree, dangerous and sexy as he always had.