Loch and Key: McLaughlins, Book 3 Read online

  She folded her arms across her chest and stared at him, clearly trying to place exactly who he was. Maybe she wouldn’t be able to. It had been six months and they really hadn’t known each other. Just some brief flirting when he’d gotten her to promise to have dinner with him when he returned from deployment. So long as she didn’t have a boyfriend, as they’d agreed.

  He thought of the overly protective, grumpy asshole behind the counter who she’d just embraced. Clearly that dinner wasn’t going to happen.

  “You’re right. I just come in here a lot, Kenzie.”

  He shouldn’t have used her name, because unease flickered in her eyes and she took a step back.

  “The hell you do. I’d remember you better. I know you from somewhere, but…ah shit.” Realization dawned and her eyes went round. “You’re that bloody sailor I promised to have dinner with.”

  With that last muttered statement, he heard the hint of an accent. The same accent as the bartender. Which just might mean he’d read the situation wrong.

  “Is he related to you? The giant behind the bar?”

  Kenzie followed his gaze. “Aleck? He’s my brother.”

  Triumph seared through him and he arched a brow. “Is that so? Well, then. Yes. I am that sailor who you promised to have dinner with.” He took a step toward her, not missing the slight hitch in her breathing or her quick retreat. “And I thought I’d collect on that promise.”

  Chapter Two

  He remembered her. How the hell had he remembered her?

  Kenzie’s heart hammered in her chest and she cast a panicked look around the pub. They hadn’t even planned on coming here tonight, but Baxter’s had been dead so they’d left after an hour to come have drinks and shoot some pool.

  While he clearly remembered who she was, it had taken a moment for her to remember who he was. Working as a waitress here, she saw many people come and go. Many faces that became familiar. So many regulars who’d become close friends.

  But he’d lied. This man, Brett was his name if she remembered correctly, wasn’t a regular here. He’d only come in a handful of times that she knew of, and the two instances she could recall he’d made it a point to talk to her. Made his interest in her known.

  Why had she been stupid enough to promise him dinner? It had been an impulsive response to his flirting when she’d been half-drunk at Sarah’s bachelorette party. She hadn’t for one moment thought he’d take her up on it.

  It had been the night before he was going out on the ship for six months, he’d said. He’d been cute. Charming. Some kind of sexy Southern accent that had her pulse doing weird things, so she’d said yes. Had momentarily let down all the walls she had up around her heart, and said yes.

  Who could’ve known he’d remember her? Taken her seriously even. But there was a stipulation. She only had to go out to dinner with him if she were still single.

  From beneath her lashes, she ran a slow glance over him. While he’d called Aleck a giant, he certainly wasn’t far behind. Likely several inches over six feet, he towered over her five foot six frame. His body seemed to be all muscle. He wore jeans and a nice button-up black shirt that showed the wide, hard-looking chest beneath.

  She lifted her gaze from his chest and glanced over his shaved head, the small amount of hair there hinting the shade was probably a dark blond. Her attention fell again, as if drawn by an invisible beam, to his eyes. He watched her with a pale blue gaze that was so intense it became a struggle to breathe normally.

  Shite, but he was attractive. A little too sexy, too confident, and the effect was enough to put her at unease. She drew in an unsteady breath and offered a small shrug.

  “Dinner sounds lovely and all, but I’m actually seeing someone.”

  It wasn’t a total lie. She was seeing someone. His name was Benedict Cumberbatch and she saw him on her television once a week.

  Brett stared at her through hooded eyes. She had the feeling he was scrutinizing her words for truth, but as far as he knew, why would she have a reason to lie? She very well could have a boyfriend as far as he knew.

  “Bullshit.”

  Her breath caught. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m calling bullshit on you having a boyfriend.”

  Bristling now, she straightened to her full height. “I find it a bit insulting that you’d doubt my relationship status.”

  “This isn’t Facebook, and that’s not what I’m doubting. Look, Kenzie, I came in here tonight to see you. I’m not going to lie. Six months ago I thought you were cute. Funny. Sassy. You intrigued me and that doesn’t happen a lot.”

  He shook his head and disappointment flickered in his eyes. Disappointment in her, she sensed. Guilt swept through her, and a hint of shame. This man served in the military and risked his life for his country, for the freedom she was fortunate enough to have. And she was treating him like a pesky fly she wished to swat away.

  She could feel her ears warming and she bit the inside of her cheek as she tore her gaze from him.

  What was wrong with her? Why couldn’t she be like a normal girl and just flirt? He seemed like a decent guy, one who was blatantly interested in her. She’d even promised to have dinner with him, and yet she was pushing him away. She always pushed men away.

  “Everything all right here?”

  Kenzie flinched at Aleck’s arrival. Usually she’d welcome his interference if a guy was getting too aggressive, but Brett wasn’t really being aggressive. More just confident in a nonthreatening way. He was simply attempting to cash in on an offer she’d made.

  Shite she sucked.

  Aleck stepped between her and Brett, and the warning vibe radiated off him in spades. Usually his height and stoic presence was intimidating to the scariest of men, but Brett didn’t even flinch. If anything he just appeared irritated if not completely unfazed.

  Something told her this was a man who was used to giving orders, not taking them. Being the intimidator, not the intimidated.

  “Everything is fine, Aleck.” Her words were quiet and firm as she kept her gaze on Brett. “I’ve got this.”

  “Aye? Well I’ll not be too far away if you need me, luv.” With another hard warning glance at Brett, he disappeared back behind the bar.

  “Nice protective brother you’ve got there.”

  She struggled to explain, but there really wasn’t any way to without getting into deep, dark subjects. “Look, he means well.”

  “I don’t disagree. Actually, I think it’s a good thing.” He smiled slightly. “I have a younger sister who I’d give my life to protect. I get it.”

  And he did, she recognized that in his somber gaze.

  “Clearly things have changed since the night before I left for deployment. Or I misread the signals. Either way, I’ll stop bothering you and let you get on with your evening. Have a good night, ma’am.”

  He nodded and turned to leave. Her heart pinched. She didn’t want him to leave, even if fear of the unknown was making her want to bolt.

  “Wait, Brett,” she blurted, grabbing his arm. “About those signals. You didn’t misread them.”

  Seriously? Was she for real? What the hell was going on in this woman’s mind right now?

  Frozen in midstride, Brett hesitated before turning around to face Kenzie again. He was torn between frustration and anticipation. Despite her statement that he hadn’t misread her signals, she was a mass of mixed ones. At one moment seeming as if she were about to flirt, maybe even dipping her toes into it, and then backing off quickly the next.

  Why the hell he wasn’t halfway to his truck right now, he couldn’t say for sure. High-maintenance women who didn’t know what they wanted were definitely not his thing. He’d been there. Done that. So why was he getting all twisted up by a curvy ginger who couldn’t decide what she wanted?

  “Look, no matter how tempted I am to stay here and let you play your head games, I think I’d better pass.” He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and sighed.

  H
e wasn’t stupid. Sometimes it was better to cut your losses and walk.

  “I’ve been on a boat for the better part of six months, flew home from San Diego just a few hours ago, and now, if you’ll excuse my language, I’m pretty fucking tired.”

  She didn’t even flinch at his words, a good indication that swearing didn’t faze her. But guilt flashed across her face, followed by what seemed to be a mix of fear and desperation.

  “No, please, don’t leave. I was attracted to you that night.”

  He made a soft laugh of amusement, yet wasn’t really amused. “That night, but not anymore?”

  Her mouth opened and she started to reply, but then she drew her bottom lip between her teeth and nibbled. The blush of color staining her cheeks and the way her lashes fluttered made him think that, yeah, she was still pretty damn interested despite the weird runaround she was giving him.

  This close to her, he could smell the soft, clean scent of her soap. No heavy perfume. If he were to slide his fingers into her beautiful red hair would it be as soft as he imagined? Would it hold the faint smell of her shampoo?

  He wanted to find out. God, he’d been way too long without a woman. He had to curl his fingers into fists to restrain the natural instinct to touch her.

  Despite what may have been an attempt to hide it in that gender-neutral outfit, every part of her body was an exaggeration of the female form. It was hard not to physically respond to it. There were a handful of women in this pub tonight who would’ve eagerly taken him home with them, or let him grope them in a darkened corner.

  But none of them had tempted him, and he rarely worked that way. He liked sex. A lot. He was your average red-blooded man in his thirties, added to the fact he’d been on a boat for six months and his only source of pleasure had been from his hand. So, yeah, it was a little hard to not think about what Kenzie would look like flat on her back on his bed.

  That hair spread out on his pillow, those breasts freed from her shirt and bra. What color were her nipples? Pink? Red? Maybe a—

  “Let me take you to dinner.” Her bold statement shocked him out of his dirty thoughts.

  Ah shit. He’d gone full-on triple X in his head while standing in the middle of a pub. Had it been obvious? Did he look like a guy seconds away from whipping his dick out and stroking off?

  And you’re a perverted fuck who needs to focus on what the object of your lust just said.

  “You want to take me to dinner?” He repeated it, even though he was pretty damn sure he’d heard her right. It was a bit blindsiding after being given the runaround.

  “I do.” She lifted her chin and seemed to reach some kind of decision.

  “You want to take me to dinner tonight?”

  “Yeah. I guess it’s, um, kind of late. Have you eaten?”

  It was nearly ten, of course he’d eaten.

  “Doesn’t matter, I can always eat more. You sure about this?”

  “Yes. Only… I don’t want to stay here.” She shoved fingers through her hair, sending the reddish strands back behind a delicately curved ear. “Why don’t we go to Applebee’s?”

  Applebee’s. It was bright, conspicuous and had mediocre food, but most of all it was a safe choice. Which he guessed was why she chose it.

  “What about your friend?” He nodded to the blonde who was chatting up Aleck behind the counter.

  “Delonna?” She followed his gaze. “I think she’ll be cool with it. I’ll go let her know, though.”

  “Great. I’ll wait here and then we can drive over there.”

  She had started to move away and paused. “Actually, if you don’t mind, I’d prefer to drive myself. Can we meet?”

  Either she was about to blow him off in a big way, or she was really big on this safety thing. Despite her inconsistent behavior from the evening, he suspected the latter.

  “Sure.”

  There was something different about Kenzie. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he had to ask himself why he was putting in this much effort. She moved past him and his gaze fell to the pert roundness of her ass swinging as she moved through the crowd.

  All right, maybe it was kind of a no-brainer.

  With the blood in his body stirring south, he grabbed his keys and headed out the door.

  “You’re seriously about to go out with that Navy guy?”

  After seeing the blatant shock on Delonna’s face, Kenzie shifted and folded her arms beneath her breasts.

  “Yeah. I am. I know it’s a bit crazy—”

  “It’s not crazy, it’s about time.” Delonna squeezed her shoulder and sighed. “You need to get out there. Like seriously.”

  “I’ve been out there.”

  “Your last boyfriend was what, like, 1980?”

  “Yes. I dated extensively while I was a twinkle in my father’s eye,” Kenzie drawled. “I need to go, I’m supposed to meet him at Applebee’s. He probably assumes I’ve blown him off by now.”

  “He’s probably hoping you’ll just blow him period. And really? Applebee’s?”

  “It’s a neutral spot.”

  “It’s practical, pretty boring, but safe. It works for you.” Delonna waved her away. “Go. I won’t tell your brother.”

  “And I appreciate that.” She glanced at her brother who was busy making drinks. “He’ll definitely not be thrilled.”

  “Another reason you’re doing this dinner thing somewhere else?”

  “Yeah.” Kenzie turned to walk toward the door, adding, “And the kitchen here at the pub is closed.”

  “Wait, let me walk you out. I just need to grab my coat. I threw it behind the counter.”

  Kenzie was used to the gesture and didn’t protest, even if lately she was starting to think it a bit silly. It was habit to anyone who knew her, knew what had nearly happened to her, to not to let her walk out to her car alone at night.

  “Fine. I’ll meet you out front, Delonna. I need some air.”

  She stepped out of the crowded pub and into the darkness. She wasn’t alone, a handful of smokers lingered nearby since it was illegal to smoke inside the pub.

  Leaning against the side of the building, she let her gaze sweep around the parking lot. The pub had a light on the side of the building, and a streetlight nearby, but there were shadows. Especially back by the trees.

  The trees.

  Maybe it was because it had happened on a winter’s night just like this, but this time when the memory rushed her hard she couldn’t quite hold it back.

  “You want another drink?”

  Kenzie hesitated to answer the man beside her as they walked toward the trees at the edge of the parking lot of McLaughlin’s Pub.

  She wasn’t exactly a novice at drinking, but that would make three swigs from the flask of vodka. Not to mention he’d poured some in her soda while they’d grabbed a free dinner inside her family’s pub.

  If Da had realized that she’d been drinking under his nose at the pub, he would’ve had kittens.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t drink, it was pretty common when she was visiting family in Scotland, but she was still considered underage by almost a couple years here in America.

  “I’ve had enough. Thank you.” She had a good buzz and was at that stage where one more drink would topple her over into the drunk category.

  From beneath her lashes she glanced up at the man beside her. Charles was beautiful. Maybe it was a silly way to describe a man, but he was. His blond hair was perfect. Not too long, but not short. And his eyes were such a lovely, striking shade of dark blue. She’d asked him once if they were contacts, but he’d sworn they were genetic.

  Which made sense, because she’d seen pictures of his dad—a well-known judge on the island—and he had the same eyes.

  “You are such a beautiful girl, Kenzie.”

  Flattered, she gave him a slow smile and tossed her long red hair over her shoulder.

  “You think so? You’re pretty handsome yourself, Mr. Charles Richland.”


  He winked and reached out to hold her hand as he led her beneath a tree. The sun had set in the past half hour and a chill swept through her.

  She knew why he’d brought her out here. To have some fun without the prying eyes of her family. Not that they could’ve stayed, the pub was switching over to the twenty-one and up crowd and she’d had to leave. She knew the rules.

  So she’d taken him up on his suggestion to go outside and walk around, knowing it was pretty much a chance to take it to the making-out level with him.

  And truthfully she was a little excited for it.

  She wasn’t inexperienced; she’d dated and had a couple boyfriends. She was often told how pretty she was, especially when her body had begun developing early and her curves came in big time. Her virginity had left the building somewhere in her sophomore year of high school.

  But Charles was different. He was a twenty-five-year-old man climbing the social ladder in life. Rich. Handsome. Many women chased after him, and yet he’d turned his interest her way.

  “I’ve been waiting all night to get you alone, baby.”

  He grabbed her around the waist, pulling her hard against him. His lips smashed down on hers, his tongue thrusting so deep she almost gagged.

  When she finally escaped to grab some air, she was almost unnerved, but she took a deep breath and gave a shaky smile. She couldn’t blow this. Couldn’t afford to look like a nervous, immature girl who wasn’t even twenty yet.

  “That was nice. We make a cute couple, don’t you think?” she asked, looping her arms around his neck.

  “Couple? You got the wrong idea, baby. I already have a girlfriend in law school.” He nuzzled her neck and slid a hand up beneath her thin sweater to squeeze her breast painfully. “Thought I’d just fuck you a couple times for fun. It’s about time I tried a piece of this sexy Scottish ass I’ve heard so much about.”

  What the hell? Had he truly said such complete shite? He had a girlfriend? Was hoping to sleep with her and toss her aside?

  She blinked, fury spreading through her, and unwrapped her arms from his neck.