Kilty Pleasure

by Shelli Stevens

  Too late for regrets, really. She was likely no better than her mother, who was a complete mess. He’d been called out to her mother’s house more than once while out on patrol.

  Drugs. Noise complaints. Assaults. And the living conditions had been pure filth.

  “That was easy enough.” Kenzie strode past him, clearly trying to appear nonchalant as she went to fill the drink order.

  But he was too good at his job—much too observant—to miss the hint of pain beneath her positive attitude. And it just upped his irritation with Hailey’s presence here.

  They’d been friends. All three of the girls had. Kenzie, Hailey and Sarah. Until Hailey had jumped on the betrayal train and placed money above friendship.

  He watched as the group of mostly women chatted amongst themselves. Had she even realized he was here yet? Clearly she was aware of Kenzie, yet as far as he could tell, she hadn’t yet discovered him.

  Though some of the other women certainly had. He wasn’t daft enough to miss the sidelong glances some of the party were casting his way. Hailey, though, seemed to be keeping her focus—and body—turned away from him and the bar. Everything about her demeanor screamed that she didn’t want to be here.

  So why had she come? Could she not have found a way to get out of this little party?

  As he watched, one of the women stood up and approached the bar. At first he assumed she was coming to ask Kenzie something, until she snagged the barstool next to him.

  “Deputy McLaughlin. Not out protecting the island tonight, I see?”

  The woman tossed her long raven hair over her shoulder and watched him through her lashes.

  “I’m off work.” Who in the bloody hell was she? “I’m sorry, have we met?”

  “Back in the day. Maybe.” She gave a flirty laugh and leaned in. “We went to high school together. I was a freshman when you were a senior. Our paths didn’t cross often but I knew who you were.”

  Ah, so she was a few years younger than him. Her face didn’t look the least bit familiar. But she certainly wasn’t shy with her flirting.

  “Um, right. Nice to meet you then…”

  “Angela.”

  “Angela.” Always polite, he gave a faint smile. Again his gaze slid over her shoulder to the table of women just as Hailey glanced his way.

  Her eyes widened just barely, then narrowed again. Her mouth thinned with displeasure and she looked away.

  Clearly she hadn’t realized he was in the pub and the discovery had annoyed her.

  Good. His lips quirked. Why her irritation brought him a bit of pleasure wasn’t quite clear, but he took it.

  His mood soured a bit when a group of sailors—who’d clearly had a few too many—approached all the women to flirt.

  “Buy a girl a drink, Deputy?”

  He turned his attention back to Angela and frowned slightly. Her words were slurring as it was.

  “You’ve probably had enough.”

  She blinked, her head rearing back as offense replaced the flirtation in her eyes.

  “Well you’re no fun. Asshole.” She spun on her heel and wobbled back to the table of women.

  Hmm. So if he judged the other gals’ level of intoxication by this last one’s, they’d better have a designated among them.

  Kenzie slipped by him in his peripheral vision and he saw her deposit what looked like a soda to Hailey. Maybe she was the designated. She seemed to be trying really hard to ignore the baby-faced sailor flirting with her.

  “That’s not Hailey over there, is it?”

  Colin turned his attention back to his brother Aleck, who’d made his way down the bar toward him.

  “Aye. That’d be her all right.”

  Aleck’s dark brows drew together into a frown. “Strange to see her here, don’t ya think? Is she with the group of nurses?”

  “It looks like it.” Colin paused and lifted a brow. “You know, we could ask her to leave.”

  “And why would we do that? She’s every right to be here.”

  “After what she’s done to Sarah and Ian?”

  Aleck waved the dishrag in his hand in dismissal. “Years ago, dear brother. She’s a customer. We don’t discriminate just because—”

  “—someone’s a black-hearted bitch without morals?” Colin finished on a mutter.

  There was a moment’s silence, and he glanced back at his brother to find Aleck staring in surprise. Consideration.

  “Well now, that’s a pretty extreme reaction. You have quite a bit of hate for the girl, aye?”

  Hate? No, that emotion would take up far too much of his energy.

  “Her conflict was not with you, little brother, but with Sarah and Ian.”

  “Well, Ian’s my twin and I feel his pain as if it were my own.”

  “I think you use that twin theory as an excuse more often than you need to,” Aleck drawled.

  “And being that there was a decade’s worth of misery that Hailey could’ve prevented,” he continued, as if his brother hadn’t spoken, “then, aye, I’m not too fond of the girl.”

  And really, not a girl, but a grown women. She was twenty-eight or so, the same age as Kenzie and Sarah.

  “Maybe so, but it’s not your grudge to hold on to.” Aleck shook his head. “Can I get you another beer?”

  “No. Thank you, one is plenty.”

  “You’ve got a day off tomorrow, aye?”

  “Aye,” he agreed and scrubbed a hand down his cheek. “I’ve agreed to take Emily for the day. Some uncle and niece bonding of the sort.”

  “Ah right. Did I hear the engaged couple is heading to Seattle for the day to enjoy some alone time and to fill out their gift registry?”

  “Something along those lines.”

  “Should be fun. For all of you. Think you’ll be all right with her?”

  Emily. A ten-year-old niece whose existence they’d only just discovered earlier this summer.

  “I’ll be fine. I like children.”

  “You do. Always have.”

  Aleck’s gaze slid beyond him, and Colin glanced over his shoulder to see Hailey rising from the table and then walking out of the pub.

  “Hmm, looks like she’s leaving without paying her bill,” Colin said lightly. “Shall I arrest her?”

  Aleck gave a hearty laugh. “She’s probably going to have a smoke or something of the sorts.”

  Was she a smoker? Somehow Colin doubted it. Not that he knew her all that well, only from back in high school when he’d been stupid and sported a bit of a crush on the cheerleader.

  Back then they’d only had one class together and had rarely talked. There’d been a couple longer, shared glances that had made his heart pound a little harder, but nothing had ever happened between them. Not that it could’ve anyway, because she’d already had a boyfriend.

  From the corner of his eye he saw another figure move toward the door, and Colin quickly recognized the man as the sailor who’d been flirting with her earlier.

  “Looks like she’s on the prowl tonight,” Aleck murmured.

  “Maybe.” And yet she hadn’t been flirting back. His instinct for trouble kicked in and he set his pint glass down. “Then again, maybe not.”

  Aleck raised an eyebrow as Colin stood. “I’m sure the girl can take care of herself.”

  He didn’t reply to his brother, and instead made his way outside just as the young sailor had.

  Pushing open the door, he was momentarily distracted by the orange and pink sky from the setting sun. But his focus quickly shifted to the couple near the end of the building.

  At first glance the position might’ve appeared intimate, with the man’s head ducked close to Hailey’s and his hands on the wall of the building beside her.

  But Colin caught the compressed lips, slight frown, and small hand that she had pressed against the man’s chest. And it wasn’t the touch of a lover, more so with the intent to ward him off.

  “Everything all right out here?” He took a casual step t
oward them.

  The sailor glanced his way, irritation flashing in his drunken gaze. “Great. We’d like a little privacy, if you don’t mind.”

  Hailey used the distraction to slip beneath his arm and away from the guy.

  “I mind,” Hailey replied and shot the guy a frigid smile. “I wasn’t interested five minutes ago, and, seriously, not a damn thing’s changed since then.”

  The sailor gave a cocky grin and shook his head. “You’ll change your mind, gorgeous.” He stumbled away from her and nodded at Colin. “They always do.”

  Colin didn’t bother to step out of the man’s way, instead made him walk around him.

  The drunks were certainly out in spades tonight. He’d have to give Kenzie the heads-up to cut that guy off. Though she was probably already on top of it.

  He slid his attention back to Hailey, noting that the tension in her body had only increased. Her shoulders were stiff beneath the lacy purple tank top, her slender arms folded across her chest.

  A chest he was trying really hard not to notice, but her arms plumped up her cleavage into a pale, tantalizing view.

  “Are you all right?” he asked gruffly.

  Her gaze shifted from the ground to meet his, full of skepticism and wariness. “Do you honestly care?”

  “Aye.” The law enforcement side of him did, he told himself. “I don’t have much tolerance for women being harassed.”

  And maybe it went beyond the badge. He was a little bit more cautious, being that Kenzie had been attacked several years ago outside the pub.

  Her chin lifted slightly while she met his gaze. “Well, you can save the concern, Deputy. We both know you couldn’t give two shits what happens to me.”

  She moved toward the door and before he realized what he was about, he’d caught her arm.

  “Why did you come here tonight, Hailey?”

  Hailey froze in his grip, her pulse quickening. He was touching her. Why? Her gaze slid down to the long, tapered fingers that had curled lightly around her upper arm.

  His touch made the tiny hairs all over her body rise, and her tongue suddenly feel like cotton in her mouth.

  Colin McLaughlin was an attractive man. No one would deny that. He was probably around six feet of muscled hotness. His hair, mostly brown with a hint of red when the light hit it right, was cut short in a way that just fit with his career in law enforcement. And then there were those green eyes that were so beautiful, and so damn quick to condemn her right now.

  “Are you serious? I need to explain why I’m at a bar?”

  “Ah, but you’re not just at any bar, are you? You’re at my family’s bar.”

  She tried to pull away, because his thumb was doing these tiny, maddening circles on her inner arm. It became a little hard to think.

  “And it’s a public establishment.”

  His gaze narrowed. “Hailey—”

  “I didn’t realize our little party was here tonight, okay?” she finally admitted, then gave a ragged sigh. “Trust me, if I’d known, I sure as hell wouldn’t have come.”

  Colin gave a slow, languid laugh that belied the flicker of anger in his eyes. “Oh, but you’re likely the last person I’d trust, sweetheart.”

  Sweetheart. As if there was anything endearing about his words. Her heart stung a little, and she wasn’t sure why.

  “Look, I get it,” she muttered. “You hate me. You all hate me.” And she didn’t blame them. “My being here tonight has nothing to do with you. So let me go back inside, have another soda and get out of here as soon as possible.”

  “Why did you come outside in the first place?”

  “I’m sorry, Colin, are you on duty? Is this some kind of interrogation?” She paused. “I came out to make a phone call—I had no reception inside.”

  “Hmm.” Seeming in no hurry to release her, he asked, “So you weren’t encouraging that sailor?”

  “Seriously? The kid barely looks old enough to drink and is not remotely my type.” She gave a harsh laugh. “Though maybe it’s a good thing you came out—for his sake—because he was about to get a knee in the balls.”

  He stared at her for a moment. For a second she thought she caught a glimmer of respect in his eyes. A flicker of amusement.

  And then he killed the moment by asking, “And just what is your type? Taken men?”

  Ouch. That was a low blow.

  “Well, my type certainly isn’t assholes, so congratulations. You can sleep well tonight.” She tugged her arm free and slipped past him. “And don’t worry, once I leave here this evening, I can promise you I won’t darken the McLaughlin pub door again.”

  She caught his black scowl as she slipped back inside and returned to the table with her coworkers. There was something beneath Colin’s brooding demeanor that put her on edge.

  Then again, Colin McLaughlin had always put her on edge. He’d always made her a little self-conscious and hyperaware of herself as a woman—or, back in high school, a young woman. And she’d been wary of that, hated to be so aware of her femininity. Hated feeling delicate. Vulnerable.

  Even her boyfriend back in high school hadn’t evoked such a sharp reaction.

  Colin had brought out that response in her, though. He’d seen past so many of the defenses she’d put up in her teen years. Those piercing green eyes that regarded her steadily had always understood too much. They’d been a silent invitation to open up if she’d ever needed someone to talk to.

  He’d seemed like a safe harbor in the violent storm of her life, one she’d never allowed herself to take advantage of. She knew she would’ve found protection in those strong arms and reassurance in his embrace. For once he would’ve been someone who cared.

  The career as a sheriff deputy suited him, and to anyone else Colin was all manners and charm. One of the truly good guys.

  But not with her. Not anymore. Clearly, now he found her about as attractive as a pile of cat vomit on his rug.

  The door to the pub opened again, and her gaze followed Colin as he reentered the bar. He didn’t even look her way, just took his seat again at the counter and immediately began chatting with Aleck.

  The oldest McLaughlin glanced her way, and the stoicism she saw there sent a fresh wave of sadness through her.

  “Sure you don’t want a drink, Hailey?”

  “I’m fine, thanks.” She offered Tanesha a small smile and lifted her glass of soda. “I’m not much of a drinker. Besides, it’s been such a long day, I’m pretty sure if I had anything with alcohol in it, it’d just knock me out.”

  Unable to help herself, she sneaked another glance at Colin. Along with Aleck, he watched her now. Both of them with furrowed brows and slight scowls on their faces.

  God, it was awesome to be loathed so thoroughly. Or not.

  She took comfort in knowing that once upon a time it had been different. Once Colin had been one of her best friend’s older brothers, whom she rarely spoke to, yet always found herself watching.

  She’d sensed his intrigue in her too. When they’d exchanged glances in the two classes they’d shared over the years, or the soft greetings in the hallways of school.

  Not to mention the more intimate glimpses of him during the slumber parties at Kenzie’s house.

  The McLaughlins were a large family, and only Aleck had been out of the house and off to college back then.

  And both Colin and Ian had always seemed to be around the house when Kenzie had a sleepover.

  It was always Colin she found herself watching for. He liked to work out—that much she’d garnered. She’d catch glimpses of him after he’d gone running, or maybe after he’d been lifting weights. He’d be a little sweaty, though not in an unattractive way, and pretty much had the body of a grown man at seventeen.

  She couldn’t deny that she’d been attracted to him then, and big-time. But he’d been way out of her league. She’d known that then, just as she knew that now. Colin was the golden boy, while she’d been the white-trash girl most people
didn’t spare a second thought.

  Except Kenzie and Sarah. They’d become friends—true, legit friends she would’ve done anything for. Until the choice had come down to her friends or her family.

  It had been an agonizing decision, and not a day went by that she didn’t hate herself a little for what she’d done to Sarah and Ian.

  The little comfort she took from it was knowing that her brother had been able to stay at home with her. That he hadn’t been separated again from his big sister—the only person he trusted and loved. Though, some days, she questioned whether it had really been all that much of a good thing.

  An hour passed where she did her best to join the animated discussions of her coworkers and friends. But it was hard. Forced. Not only because she was so tired, but because of shielding the constant death glare Colin was shooting her way.

  “I’m heading out.”

  She vaguely heard someone at the end of the table make the announcement and her ears perked up. Another nurse who worked the occasional day shift with her.

  “Are you going back to Mount Vernon now?” Hailey called out.

  The other lady nodded and winced. “Yeah, I’ve got to be at work by 0700 tomorrow, so I need to crash.”

  “Can I grab a ride back with you? I’m exhausted.”

  “Of course. Not a problem.”

  Hailey filled Tanesha in on the change of plans, then grabbed her purse. Getting the hell out of the pub was priority number one.

  She ignored the weight of Colin’s gaze and quickly slipped out the door after her coworker.

  Chapter Three

  It was a good thing she’d left the pub. Colin pushed aside the rest of his drink and sighed.

  “Okay, someone want to fill me in on who that was?” Delonna, the pretty blonde bartender working alongside Aleck, meandered down the counter toward Colin. She lifted an eyebrow. “Because all you McLaughlins are sporting Club Scowl membership cards right now.”

  “Hailey Alexander.” Aleck grabbed the pint from Colin and dumped the remaining beverage. “She was a high school friend of Kenzie’s.”

  “Was being the key word,” Colin muttered, watching his sister as she took an order from the group of navy guys. “But she turned out to be a brilliant backstabber.”