“My dad?” Sarah repeated, shaking her head. “He would never…”
Her words drifted off, and Hailey could see the moment Sarah gave up on that argument. The moment she decided her dad would have done that.
Ian seemed a bit less convinced.
“I may not remember much about that night, but I remember you climbing into bed with me. Why would I remember that if we didn’t have sex?”
“I kept plowing you with drinks, Ian. To make it look like you were just wasted.” Oh crap it was so hard to admit this. “But I slipped something like a roofie into your drink. Your dad suggested it, Sarah, and with my parents being who they were, it wasn’t hard to get one.”
“The fuck you did.”
Despite his roar of protest, there was realization in Ian’s eyes now. She could see the belief take over the shock, even as he denied it.
“It’s why you don’t remember what happened that night. Why it was so easy to convince everyone—including you—that we’d slept together.” She was going to be sick. Saying all this, confessing to the horrible sin she’d committed against them.
She was a nurse, she saved lives now. But what she’d done that night…
“Fuck.” Ian pulled Sarah closer to him. “I know your dad hated me, but I never could’ve imagined him doing this.”
“Neither could I.” Her voice broke and she stared up at Ian. “I’m surprised, and yet I’m not. Lately I’m learning my dad wasn’t the man I thought he was.”
“Ah, Sarah.” Ian pulled her into his arms and held her.
“Again, I should’ve never been so quick to assume,” Sarah whispered. “That morning when I found you, my gut screamed you’d never do that to me, but logically…”
“Hell, I was convinced I’d slept with her.”
“You didn’t. Oh my God, you didn’t.” There was joy in Sarah’s teary laugh now.
Ian joined in, his laughter filled with amazement. “I loved you too much. It never made sense. I still love you so much.”
Uncomfortable now and feeling intrusive on their moment, especially when they kissed, Hailey wanted to just back away, and leave them to wade through the discovery.
But Sarah pulled away from Ian suddenly to look at her, blushing as she seemed to remember where they were.
“Thank you, Hailey. I know you didn’t have to tell us.”
“Of course I did.” Her mouth curled into a bitter smile. “I’ve regretted my choice every day since. I’m not proud of what I did. I’m not going to make this about me and say I mourned our loss of friendship, Sarah. That’s a given.” Tears burned at the back of her eyes, but she struggled to keep them back. “I regretted ruining your relationship most of all. And when I heard you were back and that you and Ian had a child, I knew I had to come clean.”
“Thank you.” Ian gave a slight nod, even as he still wouldn’t look her in the eye.
She understood. It was a break in trust. A lot to take in. There was so much emotion flowing between them at a moment.
Hailey nodded and pulled her keys from her shoulder bag. “I’ll leave now. Good luck in life.”
She turned and walked away, climbing into her car a moment later. But with her hands shaking so hard she knew it would be another couple of minutes before she should drive.
Ian and Sarah walked back to the pub, arms around each other and talking with heads together before they disappeared inside.
She’d done the right thing. She knew she had. Maybe Sarah had heard some things about her dad that were upsetting, but she now knew Ian was innocent. And that had been Hailey’s goal.
Fumbling to put the keys in the ignition, she paused when the door to the pub again swung open.
Her chest went tight at the sight of Colin McLaughlin, large and intimidating with his glower, striding toward her.
Her windows were already open due to the heat, and he curled large hands around the frame and dipped his head down to look at her.
“Let me give you some advice, Hailey.” His voice was ice and it worked in chilling her to the bone.
“Stay away from them,” he continued. “You’re nothing but trouble and you’ve got no place in their lives. Not Sarah’s, Emily’s, or any of the McLaughlins.”
Her stomach clenched at the verbal kick. He fit well into his law enforcement image. Writing her off as trouble, no doubt because of who her family had been. Even if she hadn’t seen them in years.
“Well aren’t you the protective guy in the family,” she couldn’t help but reply tightly past the hurt.
“Aye. I sure as hell am. But you don’t really want to find out through trial and error.”
She gave a laugh of disbelief, and knew she should’ve bitten her tongue as she muttered a snarky, “You sure you’re not over compensating for something by wearing that badge, Sheriff?”
His nostrils flared. “Excuse me?”
She turned her gaze away from his unsettling stare. “I’ll stay away, Colin. You don’t need to worry about me.”
No one had in years anyway. She did fine on her own, and would continue to do so.
Still, as she backed out of the parking lot, she couldn’t help but lift her gaze to the rearview.
Colin hadn’t moved, but watched after her with an even deeper scowl still.
Maybe Mother Nature had to be somewhat kind and make him sexy, because clearly the man was a judgmental asshole. And actually kind of mean.
And he called her trouble?
She grunted and turned her gaze back to the road.
Stay away from the McLaughlins? No problem.
About the Author
Shelli is a New York Times Bestselling Author who read her first romance novel when she snatched it off her mother’s bookshelf at the age of eleven. One taste and she was forever hooked. It wasn’t until many years later that she decided to pursue writing stories of her own. By then she acknowledged the voices in her head didn’t make her crazy, they made her a writer.
Shelli currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her daughter where she writes various genres of romance. She’s a compulsive volunteer, and has been known to spontaneously burst into song.
Look for these titles by Shelli Stevens
Now Available:
Trust and Dare
Theirs to Capture
Four Play
Foreign Affair
Savage
Savage Hunger
Savage Betrayal
Seattle Steam
Dangerous Grounds
Tempting Adam
Seducing Allie
Chances Are
Anybody but Justin
Luck be Delanie
Protecting Phoebe
Holding out for a Hero
Going Down
Command and Control
Flash Point
Coming Soon:
Savage
Savage Revenge
The man who vows to protect her may be her biggest threat.
Savage Hunger
©2012 Shelli Stevens
Savage, Book 1
Being the daughter of a world-renowned scientist, Sienna Peters has struggled to carve out her own career in the field. But her world is sent spinning when she discovers a secret species being held in the lab where she works, and the horrible things being done to them. Compelled to do more than hand off an information-packed jump drive to her father, she sets out to free the creatures.
The minute his team enters the compound, federal agent Warrick Donovan knows their mission will have more trouble than they bargained on. Unfortunately, trouble comes in the form of Sienna Peters, the younger sister of his close friend. Now not only does he need to save her pretty ass, he needs to discover just how involved she is with the imprisonment of the shifters.
Sienna knows she should trust no one—not even the man she might still love. But as the danger escalates and past passion ignites, her heart has other ideas. Even when the shroud of mystery is ripped off more than one stunnin
g truth…
Warning: Must love alpha males, be intrigued by federal agents who may or may not shift into wolves, and most importantly be prepared for intense action of the dangerous and sexual kind.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Savage Hunger:
“How much trouble are you in?” she asked quietly.
His jaw flexed, before he gave a short shake of his head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll face it when the time comes.”
No. Oh, God, no. He was in trouble. None of this would’ve happened if she were a better scientist. Or if she’d gone straight to her father. Or if she hadn’t tried to escape… The last thought sent a wave of guilt and horror through her that sucked away her ability to breathe.
“Stop it,” Warrick muttered fiercely. “I know what you’re thinking, Sienna, and you need to stop.”
“But I promised you I wouldn’t leave the house.” She shook her head, angry tears filling her eyes. A shifter was dead because she was an impulsive, stupid—
Strong hands pulled her across the bed and her mind immediately abandoned its dark path as she found herself dragged up against Warrick’s hard chest. His arms curled around her to keep her cocooned against his warmth and his lips grazed her forehead.
“Dammit, Sienna, I couldn’t watch you die,” the words seemed ripped from him almost as if he hated himself for saying them. “I was willing to risk whatever punishment the elders would pass down on me.”
Whatever punishment the elders would pass down? His words tightened her throat and sent stabs of fear through her. Oh, please no. How had she not considered that Warrick could be in far more trouble than just a slap on the wrist?
“You shouldn’t have to,” she whispered. “This is my fault. It’s always my fault. I shouldn’t have run. I should never have—”
Warrick’s lips covered hers, smothering her frantic words. Her eyes widened before slipping shut, and a sigh of dismay parted her lips.
His tongue plunged inside, claiming her mouth and calming her. Fracturing her guilt and fear into a million tiny pieces, sending her instead to a place of molten heat and need.
Sienna slid her hands up his back, clinging to him and kissing him fervently. Her heart jackhammered in her chest and her muscles turned to jelly with each delicious stroke of his tongue against hers. Her head spun with only the thought of them and this kiss. This connection that she never wanted to end.
Warrick’s hands, so large and rough from life, moved to cup her face. She felt his possessive groan rumble from his chest against her breasts. Arousal sifted through her blood, stirring all the soft and hidden parts of her into awareness.
She slid fully onto his lap so that she faced him and could wrap her naked legs around his waist. Her T-shirt bunched up around her middle and the thin fabric of her panties was little shield from his erection that strained against her through his jeans. A throbbing ache blossomed between her legs. Scalding lava seemed to have replaced the blood in her veins, bubbling and spreading a fire through her body as her arousal grew.
Sienna rocked against him and his hips jerked upward, grinding into her so she felt the thick curl of his need. She moaned low in her throat, wanting so much more as her nipples tightened and panties dampened.
Warrick’s kiss gentled and her heart clenched, because she knew he was going to lift his head in a moment. But he didn’t right away. Seemed just as reluctant to break the kiss as she was. His lips trailed to the corner of her mouth, his tongue flicking and his teeth nibbling while his hips ground against hers. He groaned again, before his head lifted and his lips feathered across her forehead. And then, then he was gone.
The coolness of the air brushed against her skin and Sienna bit her swollen lip, not wanting to open her eyes and face the reality that he’d just ended another sensual moment. That it would go no farther than a heated, passionate kiss.
“Sienna,” he said gently. “Look at me.”
Part of her wanted to deny him like a stubborn child. Keep her eyes closed and stay locked in a moment that had taken her to an alternate reality.
The strong fingers that lifted her chin took the choice from her and her lashes fluttered open unwillingly. His eyes, more gray now than blue, swirled with need and yet a control that clearly spoke he had no intention of acting on his desire.
“If you say that shouldn’t have happened again, I swear I’ll drive my elbow in to your ribs,” she threatened unsteadily.
His lips twitched into what was almost a sad smile. “I’m not going to say that shouldn’t have happened, Sienna. I wanted to kiss you. Had to kiss you and feel you alive and clinging to me. Dammit, when I thought I almost lost you—”
“You can have me, Warrick,” she cut in, her voice husky with desire. She reached for him again, sliding a hand up his jaw and feeling the prickle of stubble there scrape her palm. “All of me. I want you so much right now it’s a physical ache. How can you not see that? Feel that?”
Something close to pain flickered across Warrick’s face as he caught her wrist and pushed it gently away.
“You have no idea how much I want you,” he said raggedly. “But I can’t have you, Sienna—”
“Why?” Her stomach clenched. “Is this some self-imposed torturous rule?”
“No, it’s not my rule. It’s shifter law. We can only mate with other shifters. If we take a human mate we’re banished from the community.”
Some scars cut right to the heart.
Beautiful Scars
© 2013 Shiloh Walker
Three years after her divorce, Chaili Bennett is over her ex. Her only problem now? Of the few men she’s dated since, no one “gets” her. Not like Marc Archer—a man who’s never seen her as more than a friend.
Marc Archer needs a date for a last-minute charity event, and he needs it fast. Not that women aren’t throwing themselves at his world-famous face and body, but sometimes it’s less messy—as in less personal—to use his sister Shera’s escort service.
The last woman on earth Marc expects to see in his sister’s office is Chaili. There’s something different about her, but nothing pleases him more when Shera sets them up. That simple date quickly evolves into much more as they both discover the other fills a deep, secret need they’ve shared with no one else.
Though Chaili insists one night is all she wants, Marc isn’t walking away now. Not until he discovers what put the shadows in her eyes. And the scars on her soul.
Warning: This book involves soulful songs, soulful sex, a soulful singer and lots of heartbreak. But no worries, there’s a happy ever after.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Beautiful Scars:
The office was tucked away not far from his home in Lake Forest. Marc knew most of the people in the area had an idea just what Escortè did, and he suspected a few of them also thought there was more to the companionship service that his sister offered. He also knew she had her hands full chasing away the idiots who weren’t convinced by the office policy. He’d seen their mother dealing with it before she retired, had watched Shera handling it off and on, had listened to some of her stories, ranging from the funny to the messed-up.
Personally, he was glad he had an in to the place.
It made his life easier.
He could play the dating game okay, but he got tired of trying to do it. It was easier for him to keep it impersonal, professional. After Lily, he’d tried a few casual relationships, the just friends sort of thing, but those hadn’t ended up any better than any other messed-up relationship in his life. So he’d quit trying for a while and used Escortè.
There were similar services in other cities where he did the same thing. Kept it all nice and simple.
Then he hadn’t had to worry about it for a while.
He’d met Selene. They clicked. They were compatible—in bed and out, and he hadn’t had to mess with this crap.
Now? Starting all over again.
He tried not to feel aggravated. It was just a business thing. He paid for a date, h
ad a woman with him for a few hours, spared himself the headache of dealing with some of the nightmares that came from being single at some of these parties. He also spared himself the nightmare that came from trying to have a friendly relationship that would just end in a disaster.
Really, this was for the best, right? All he had going with Selene was friendship anyway—granted, it was the friends with benefits sort of thing, but that could be found elsewhere.
Impersonal as hell. Yeah, that bothered him, and right now it was bothering him more than normal, but he’d finally found a way to balance his life and he didn’t need anything rocking that boat.
You need to stop being so negative, he told himself. But it was damned hard considering every relationship he’d been in since high school had gone from hell to hella-bad in a blink.
“No.” He threw the Porsche into park and climbed out, leaning against the side. “Not thinking about that.” Part of the reason he hated coming back here. And that pissed him off. Chicago was home. It was home, and he avoided it like the plague except for rare visits home to see his sister, all because coming back here made him think of…
“And you’re doing it again.” Shoving away from the car, he pocketed the keys and headed toward his sister’s office. It was quiet around here at night. During the day it was busy, but at night it was mostly vacant. Just a few random cars scattered in front of the other businesses. He recognized his sister’s car, parked in front of the office, but he didn’t see another one close to hers.
He didn’t want to have to drive her home…that made it seem even more like a date.
A taxi, then. He’d get her into a damn taxi, or hell, Caleb would probably have cars there.
Yeah. He could get her into a car once the night was over with.
Then he’d head out to Blue’s. Blue usually preferred that people wanting the…more private services contact her in advance, but she’d work something out. Distracted, thinking about that, he pushed through the door, thinking about maybe trying to put in a call to her before he even left Shera’s. He needed to do something, right? He was edgy as hell and the only way to burn this kind of energy off was—
Good Girl Gone Plaid: The McLaughlins, Book 1 Page 21