Damn it.
As soon as he turned the corner, he immediately knew something was wrong. Lights from two police cars blinked at him, and he could see where they were parked.
Right in front of his gym.
His pulse raced as he jogged forward. There was a barricade up, and he couldn’t get through, but he could hear well enough to know that something was wrong.
Deadly wrong.
“We found the body in the back,” one of the officers whispered to another. “We better call in homicide. I don’t know if we can handle this ourselves. There’s never been a murder in Whiskey before.”
Body.
Murder.
And all near Loch’s damn gym.
He knew all about dead bodies, had seen more than he could count in his life. But he had a feeling this one would hit too close to home. It had already. Literally. Chills broke out over his skin, and he prayed to God that it wasn’t someone he knew.
He quickly messaged his family in a group text to see if they were okay, grateful they each responded saying “goodnight.” He didn’t mention why he’d texted, nor did he text Ainsley as he’d just seen her, but he swallowed hard, knowing that this was only the beginning.
There had been a murder in Whiskey.
And from the look on the officer’s face, Loch had a feeling he was going to be in the middle of it all.
Again.
Chapter 3
Ainsley Harris really wanted a stiff drink and a nap, but even after a long day at school, she knew she wasn’t about to get that anytime soon. The whole campus had been abuzz about the dead body and the potential murder in Whiskey the night before, and keeping her students’ attention on chemical bonds and not on their phones had taken all of her energy and patience.
It had been worse with the teachers during their breaks, with so many wondering who had been killed, and trying to do the math as to whom was missing. The authorities and news cycles were keeping a tight lid on things, but Ainsley knew that could change any minute. Murder in small, tourist towns tended to wreak havoc.
Ainsley’s heart hurt for whoever it was and whatever had happened, but a small part of her was relieved that it wasn’t any of her friends. She only knew that because she’d texted or spoken to each of them the night before after she heard, or this morning before work, and all of them had checked back in.
Even Loch.
She pressed her lips together, pushing thoughts of him from her mind.
The students were home or on their way home, and the doors of the building would be locked in five minutes, so she only had half that to pack up the rest of her things and head to her car before starting the next phase of her day: working outside of her classroom on grading and lesson plans. Her school didn’t actually like it when teachers did that on campus, so they kicked them out. Ainsley had always found that odd since the work that piled up was because of the administration and so on. But, apparently, paying for electricity after so-called work hours wasn’t on their agenda.
Ainsley didn’t mind working at home, though. Or at Loch’s house, since she did a lot of her grading there, as well.
She paused in her packing, her throat going dry and her thighs clamping together at the thought of Loch.
Nope, not going to think about that.
Him.
Not going to think about him.
Or that.
Where was she?
Oh, right, she’d been thinking about grading. That was nice and safe and took most of her energy, but as her mother had always said, she was Ainsley Harris and had a lot of energy to burn. She worked her ass off, and sometimes even got weekends off to spend time with her friends. She took cooking classes because her skills were abysmal—at least, before—was taking a dance class with her new friend Melody at the new dance studio in town, and sometimes she even went out on dates with nice guys with bright smiles—who did absolutely nothing for her.
And they really did nothing for her, to her, or even with her in most cases because she was in love with her best friend.
She was the cliché of clichés, and she was pretty sure every single person in her life except for the man himself knew.
But because she was a big girl with big-girl panties, she did her best to never let it be an issue. It couldn’t be. She focused on work, her friends that were her only family left—at least that’s what it felt like most days even though she still had her mom in her life, albeit somewhat removed because of her own issues and grief. She missed her sister so much some days it hurt to breathe, yet she kept going. But she wasn’t going off on that tangent at the moment. And, sometimes, she even focused on her sad little dating life.
Like her night out with the sweet man she’d skipped out on. She had called the night before after the incident and had backed out of their date this evening as politely as she could. It wasn’t as if she could sit in front of him at Marsha Brown’s over delicious gumbo and act as if she hadn’t had her hand down her best friend’s pants, or her mouth on his, or his dick inside her as he made her come not once but many times the night before.
Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. And since she was currently still frozen at her desk thinking about said dick and all its magical dick powers, she shut down those thoughts as quickly as she’d shut Loch down the night before when he wanted to freaking talk after whatever the hell had happened. Instead, she packed the last of her things.
She ran down the empty hall, thankful that none of her students were there to witness that fact since she’d given a few of them a stern warning just that day about running in the halls like a lunatic. Thanks to the myriad thoughts she shouldn’t be having, she was running late, and there was someone far more important than her or Loch waiting on her.
The person who meant the world to both of them and who, therefore, guaranteed the incident of the night before should never be repeated or talked about.
Because if Ainsley had to talk about the fact that she’d made a horrible mistake and given in to the one need she’d hidden for so long, she’d break. And she’d broken enough in her life, thank you very much.
She didn’t want to break down over Loch Collins.
She’d just bury that need and memory down deep and ignore it until it festered. And then she’d stuff it down again. That was the right thing to do when it came to a four-year-old girl who meant the world to Ainsley—if not the most healthy and mature course of action.
Ainsley got into her car and shivered a bit from the wind that seemed to come out of nowhere, but since it was Whiskey, Pennsylvania, it had probably been there all day. Then she started her way to Loch’s to relieve his mom of Misty duty.
Ainsley turned the corner as a smile played on her lips, thinking of the little girl who lit up her life. When Loch and Marnie dated, Ainsley hadn’t thought much of it since Loch was pretty secretive about his personal life—she never called it a love life because Ainsley had boundaries and her mental health to care for—and the man hadn’t truly seemed serious about the other woman. He’d gone on trips often for his job with the old firm she didn’t know much about, but when he was in town, it was always for short periods where he seemed to spend as much time with Ainsley as he did with Marnie.
It hadn’t mattered that Ainsley had feelings for him. It truly didn’t. Because those feelings were never allowed to interfere with the fact that Loch was her best friend. She trusted him with everything.
Almost everything, she corrected herself.
She didn’t trust him with her heart, but that wasn’t something that would ever change, so she did her best to not think about it at all.
She reminded herself once again that she wasn’t going to think about him. Remember?
“Easier said than done,” she muttered under her breath as she turned down Main Street.
The town was in full winter bloom with tourists, and because a few streets were cordoned off thanks to an upcoming festival and parade, she’d had to take Main Street through town. Not tha
t full bloom in winter was huge, it was still technically their downtime and had less tourists and cars than any other time of the year. She drove past Dare’s bar and inn, then past the street that held Fox’s paper. Then past Loch’s gym and Melody’s studio. There was the ice cream place she loved that even had booming business in February. And the other restaurants and art galleries, the tattoo shops and trinket shops.
Ainsley drove past the old church, the bridge that covered the waterfall, and the huge red barn that housed the small theatre company.
People were bustling, going from place to place, though not as many as there could be since most were still working and it was cold. But, honestly, Ainsley was glad to see the crowds.
News that someone had died in Whiskey had broken, and she had been afraid that people would be too scared to come to town.
She didn’t know what would happen in the coming days or weeks if the person wasn’t caught—if it was a murder—or if and when the news came out that it was only an accident. Whiskey relied on tourism, and she knew the town’s residents were thinking about that while, at the same time, they were worried about the poor soul who had lost their life—as well as the fact that a killer could still be out there.
Ainsley shook her head and turned once more on the way to Loch’s home, wondering how her brain could be going so many different directions.
Whiskey was family, and yet the town was growing.
Perhaps she needed to worry about what could be coming next and if she might be left behind.
Ainsley turned off her car and sighed after she’d parked beside Loch’s mother’s car. She knew there were dangers in the world, horrible things that happened to good people. She’d witnessed it with Kenzie and Melody recently, and she knew that Loch had done things in his past that he was still closed-off about. Yet the idea that someone could be killed in her town felt like something that should never happen.
Apparently, she was naive, but she liked that naivety.
Loch’s mom opened the door as soon as Ainsley got to the porch and she sank into the woman’s arms. Barbara Collins gave amazing hugs—something the woman had apparently gifted to her sons and daughter.
Ainsley had been on the receiving end of the hugs from the Collins siblings enough times in her life to know that she was wanted, needed, and thought of as part of their family.
Not that she necessarily felt that way about Loch at that moment, but thinking about that while in his mother’s arms probably wasn’t the best.
“You look good, hon,” Mrs. Collins said as she let go of Ainsley and took a step back. “Come on in. Misty is washing her hands after her snack. I need to head home now, but now that you’re on shift, she should be set until Loch comes home for dinner. It took four years, but we have our system down.”
Ainsley just smiled, shaking her head as she stepped into Loch’s home, taking off her shoes and jacket after setting her things down on the table nearest the door. Mrs. Collins closed the front door behind them, keeping the warm air in the house and the chill from the outside far enough away that it was almost a memory.
“You say that, but full-day classes are coming with the next school year. Plus dance lessons with Melody and the new assistant she hired to help when she has the baby. Then there’s bound to be teams and other lessons and numerous after-school activities because Misty loves to do everything and anything she can so she can learn it all.”
Mrs. Collins just smiled. “Sounds like someone else I know.”
Ainsley tilted her head to the side, confused. “Loch? I don’t remember if he did all of that as a kid. I was way younger than him and didn’t really start becoming friends with all of you until after high school.”
She was a full eight years younger than Loch, meaning she’d had a crush on him as young girls do with the older guys with the dark looks and wicked smiles. Then she’d found other boys her age and had forgotten Loch for a time.
Perhaps not quite forgotten, he’d always been there. But it wasn’t until she graduated high school and was in college, still living in Whiskey since she hadn’t been able to afford dorms or other apartment pricing away from her town, that she’d really gotten to know Loch and the rest of the family.
She’d been friends with Tabby throughout high school and had even been in the same grade as Loch’s sister, but once the other woman left Whiskey for college out in Denver, eventually staying and meeting the love of her life, Ainsley had gravitated toward Loch. Not just because of a crush she’d had as a little girl with a dream, but because they’d gelled. In jest, the family always said that she and Loch had been best friends since forever, but they really hadn’t been. It had only been about ten years or so. But that seemed like a lifetime to Ainsley.
Mrs. Collins shook her head as the two of them made their way into the living room. “I was actually talking about you.”
Ainsley frowned. “Me? Misty doesn’t take after me.” After all, she wasn’t the little girl’s mother, something she reminded herself often when it came to certain things like bedtime, watching Misty grow up, or even when thinking about Loch.
There was a fine line between helpful and delusional when it came to how she interacted with Loch’s family and, sometimes, she wasn’t sure which side she stood on.
“I think she does. You’re the one taking dance and cooking classes. In high school, you did track, swimming, cheerleading, math team, and a few other academic things I can’t name off the top of my head. You’ve always done so much. You want to learn all the things, just like Misty.” The other woman reached out and squeezed Ainsley’s hand. “It’s not genetics that makes a child become who they are, not really. You’re here with us day in and day out with that little girl, Misty’s bound to pick up a few of your traits.”
Ainsley swallowed hard, trying not to think about the fact that if she and Loch ever actually talked about what had happened the night before, he might push her out of Misty’s life altogether. She might be forced out of Loch’s life altogether. Ainsley’s palms went damp, her mind going a little fuzzy as the ramifications hit her full-on. She was grateful that Mrs. Collins had let go of her hand or Ainsley would be in trouble. The older woman saw everything. And from the way she was looking at Ainsley, she was afraid she saw too much now, too.
“You should get going, or you’re going to be late,” Ainsley said quickly, ignoring the conversation they were in the middle of. She wasn’t doing a good job of tracking her thoughts, and if she weren’t careful, she’d spill it all to Mrs. Collins—and then her life might as well be over.
“I’m on my way out the door as we speak, but Ainsley, dear, are you okay?”
Ainsley smiled widely, hoping it reached her eyes and not in the manic way she felt at the moment. “I’m fine. Really. Long day at school and I’m ready for the weekend.”
“Aren’t we all. But if you need to talk, honey, I’m here.”
“Ainsley!”
She turned at the best sound in the world and crouched down. Misty ran into her arms, and she hugged the little girl tight, her eyes closing as she remembered how truly thankful she was that she had this family and this child in particular in her life.
Misty smelled of soap and chocolate, meaning Grandma must have snuck in a few cookies right after school. Loch wasn’t a fan of that since they all tried to watch their sugar intake and the man did own a gym, after all, but Ainsley knew Mrs. Collins only did it on the occasional Friday.
“You’re here,” Misty whispered. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Tears stung Ainsley’s eyes, and she did her best to blink them away before they dared to fall down her cheeks. Mrs. Collins didn’t need to see them, nor did the little girl in Ainsley’s arms.
“I’m glad I am, too.” She kissed Misty’s cheek before standing up, keeping her hand in Misty’s. “Want to say goodbye to your grandma before she goes home?”
Misty grinned widely and then scampered over to hug her grandma goodbye. Ainsley knew Mrs. Collins was
probably the world’s proudest grandmother—a title Ainsley’s mother would never want nor care to use. Not that Ainsley was a mother yet, but for some reason, her mind was going to strange places tonight even thinking about her mom and everything they likely wouldn’t share. But Mrs. Collins had Loch’s daughter, Dare’s son, Tabby’s upcoming birth, as well as Fox’s newly announced pregnancy with Melody. Ainsley had a feeling Kenzie would be joining the ranks soon, making Dare a dad two times over. Soon, there would be twice as many Collinses in Whiskey as there had been before.
And Ainsley would forever be the best friend.
The place she needed to stay because this was her family, the people she loved and clung to. Because they were who she needed, and she did her best to do right by them. Doing whatever she’d done with Loch in their moment of weakness and passion wasn’t something to be repeated.
Not if she wanted to keep living the life she’d built for herself.
Not if she wanted to keep her best friend in her life.
“Oh, Misty, why don’t you get your art project out to show Ainsley and then your dad when he gets home? I’ll just say goodbye to Ainsley now, okay?”
“Okay, Grandma. Love you!” Misty ran off, and Ainsley just smiled. Misty was in a good mood today, and that meant loads of energy for both of them.
“I just wanted her away so I could tell you to be careful when you leave tonight after Loch gets home,” Mrs. Collins whispered. “I haven’t heard much about what happened last night, but because there isn’t much news, and not even Fox has let anything slip, it has to be serious.”
Ainsley nodded. “I know. Do you think they’ll release the deceased’s name today?”
“I think they’ll have to. But, Ainsley? I do know that they found the body in back of Loch’s gym.”
Ainsley froze, tongue going dry. “Loch…”
Whiskey Undone Page 3