She’d figure out something.
Maybe she could ask Kenzie or Sarah if she could stay with them. But, God, didn’t she just feel like a complete burden right now.
This night had gone to shit in a big way.
“The other officers who responded to your house will wait there if you want to return and pick up some things to stay elsewhere.”
“Thank you. I’d appreciate it.” Her heart was heavy, and while she appreciated everything these cops were doing for her, the one officer she really wanted to see right now was out with another woman.
More than anything, just curling up in bed and going to sleep sounded like a good idea. That wouldn’t be happening. At least not in her own home.
A half hour later found her and all her things sitting parked in the mall lot as she debated what to do.
Finally, swallowing her pride, she texted Sarah and explained she needed somewhere to crash. Hoping for the best, she breathed a sigh of relief when the answering text came just moments later.
Of course. You’re always welcome. Come on over.
The address of Sarah’s grandmother’s house—now hers—was included, but Hailey remembered where it was. Maybe it was good she was heading to Sarah’s. She wanted to talk to Ian about what Curt had said. It was time to clear some things up.
With a lump in her throat, she started the car and started driving.
Chapter Eighteen
Her house was exactly the same. Full of flowers and inspirational pictures and paintings.
Colin stepped inside, keeping his expression polite as Brenda closed the door behind him.
“Thanks for coming.” She gave him a sunny smile and clasped her hands behind her back. “I wasn’t sure you would.”
“I said I’d come to dinner and am not the sort to back out of a commitment.” He couldn’t resist returning her smile, but his was much grimmer. “Though, apparently, that’s not always the trend.”
With her eyes wide, she gave a nervous laugh. Then she completely disregarded his comment and asked, “Would you like a drink? I have this great bottle of red that my parents bought me from a wine from a winery in Spain.”
“Whatever works.”
“Great. I was saving it for a special occasion.”
“And this qualifies as such?” He couldn’t keep the dismay out of his voice now.
“Well, I think so.”
He paused and took a moment to really look at her. If she’d been trying to dress attractively last night, then she’d gone even more above and beyond tonight.
The dress she wore wasn’t pink and pretty, but black, short and tight. Revealing quite a bit of cleavage and hugging her ample curves.
She looked amazing.
Shite. Had his brothers been right? Was this her attempt at trying to win him back?
“What’s for dinner?” He could change the subject just as easily as she had.
“Portobello mushroom burgers and sweet potato fries—I made them all from scratch.”
“Mushroom burgers?” Maybe he was wrong—would a woman really serve such crap to a man she was trying to win back?
“Yes, but they taste like meat, I swear. You’ll love them. Everyone does.” She wrinkled her nose. “And all that red meat isn’t healthy for you anyway.”
“Ah, right.” Fuck that nonsense.
“Come on into the kitchen and I’ll pour you some wine.”
He followed slowly, taking in the decorations that hung on the walls—clearly made by children, likely her students. It was one thing that had charmed him—her love for teaching.
Sliding a gaze over her body, it was clear the other thing that had charmed him. A pretty face and an even prettier body.
“How have you been?” she asked as she poured two glasses of wine.
“Is it your intention to have small talk for two hours?”
She handed him a glass of wine and sighed. “No, of course not. You’re right. I’m just not even sure how to go about this.”
He accepted the glass but didn’t drink yet. “Go about what, Brenda?”
“Apologize for what I did last year.” She took a big swallow of wine.
“You apologized. In a text.”
She winced. “I know. And that was pretty horrible of me, I can admit it.”
“Yes.” He wouldn’t give her the comfort of softening what she’d done to him. “So is that why you’ve brought me here tonight? To ask for forgiveness? To be my friend perhaps?”
That last sentence came out harsh and mocking, but he really didn’t care. He took a seat at the table and mentally prepared himself to force down the rabbit food she’d prepared.
“No. I mean, yes.” She turned away and began dishing up their plates of food. “Are you, um, seeing anyone?”
What the bloody hell? “I’m not sure how that’s any of your business.”
“Because I’m not. Seeing anyone, that is. I mean, there was a guy for a while, but that’s over now.” She set a plate down in front of him. “In fact, I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately.”
“Have you?” Christ, this was about getting him back. His pulse pounded a little harder as anger and dismay raged through him.
“I made a mistake that day, Colin,” she said quietly. “A big one.”
He bit back a harsh laugh. “Well, leaving a man at the altar isn’t exactly a small blunder, now is it?”
“No. And I can only blame it on cold feet.”
“Cold feet?” He arched a brow and picked up a dubious-looking orange fry. “I believe your exact text said something about ‘not being able to handle being married to a police officer’. It was ‘too stressful’.”
“Well, it is. I would be worried about you all the time.” Her brows drew together. “And the divorce rate for law enforcement workers isn’t exactly encouraging.”
He didn’t deny it. “Something to consider before you accepted my proposal, perhaps?”
“Look, I was wrong. I couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen if I lost you. What if something happened to you on the job? But…” she hesitated, “…leaving you was even more painful, Colin, because I think I’m still in love with you.”
The fry he’d eaten suddenly tasted even more like shite in his mouth. Had she honestly just declared her love for him?
She’d destroyed his world last year. For months on end he’d wanted her back. Would’ve given anything to have her back. And it was only when Hailey had become a part of his life that he had started to feel anything for another woman.
Hailey.
His thoughts slipped to her and suddenly he wished he were with her. It was wrong, him being here with Brenda.
“I can see you’re a little taken aback right now, Colin,” Brenda said carefully. “And clearly I’m going about this the wrong way. You don’t have to say anything. Not tonight. Just think about it.”
“I’m not sure there’s anything to think about.”
She took a bite of her burger and chewed slowly. When she swallowed, she set her burger down and stared at him again.
“Of course there is. We were good together. Really good. And you know I’m right. We were like the poster people for adorable couples.” A whimsical smile crossed her face. “Maybe we could start over. You could visit my classroom and talk to the kids about what it’s like being a police officer. We could go out on a few dates and see if the spark is still there.”
She tossed her hair over her shoulder, and her golden ringlets caught in the setting sunlight. The smile she gave him showed pearly white teeth, as she stared at him from beneath her lashes.
It was a combination of moves that he was familiar with. At one point it had driven him mad—to the point where he couldn’t wait to kiss her or pull her into his arms.
She was pretty, no doubt about it. And from deep inside him, he could almost feel the stirrings of attraction. It was so far buried beneath indifference that it was hard to muster it up.
“Where did you get a
thousand dollars, Brenda?” He changed the subject again, curious as to how she could afford to drop such a large amount on such a risky move.
“Daddy gave it to me.” She nibbled on her faux burger. “He’s really supportive of us getting back together.”
Of course. Her father had always been her financial backer. For school. For her apartment. Even for the house she was in now.
He decided to try the burger and after one bite, wished he hadn’t. People ate this shite?
“I thought your father didn’t much care for me.”
“He was skeptical of your career,” she agreed. “But now that you’re becoming a detective—”
“And how the bloody hell did you hear about that?”
She gave him a patient, almost-chiding smile that she, no doubt, used on her students. “Word gets around the island, Colin, you know that.”
Aye it did, unfortunately.
“Tell me something. Does my promotion have anything to do with you suddenly reappearing in my life?”
“No! Of course not.” Her cheeks flushed as she glanced down at the table. “Well, I mean, maybe a little. It changes things. You can understand that, right? I feel like you’ll be safer at your job. More desk work. Better hours.”
“Unbelievable.” He laughed harshly. “I’m suddenly much more appealing husband material as a detective, is that it?”
“You’ve always been appealing husband material. I was the problem—I was the one who freaked out. Don’t you see?” she pleaded for him to understand. “I think about where we’d be today if we’d gotten married. How I could be pregnant with your baby. I know you’ll be a great father, someday.”
Fuck it all, but she was going straight for the emotional kill. Brenda carrying his child? Once it had been all too imaginable, but now…
“Just give me another chance, Colin. Please. At least say you’ll think about it.”
He shook his head and looked away. He would have to be a complete fool to do such a thing.
“Remember those little hikes we used to take down by South Whidbey State Park? Maybe we could go on one again on your next day off.”
“I should go.” He stood and carried his plate to the sink.
“But you’ve barely touched your food.”
“I can’t do this.”
“Is it not good?”
“The mushroom thing is bloody awful, but that’s not what I mean. I can’t stay here a minute longer.”
“Okay, so no mushroom burgers. There’s this great black bean one we can try.” Brenda rose to her feet and followed after him. “Please don’t leave. I know I kind of ambushed you with this getting-back-together business.”
“Ambush. That word brilliantly describes what you’ve done to me in the last twenty-four hours.”
His pocket vibrated as someone texted his phone. Grateful for the distraction, he reached to pull the phone free.
Brenda’s body slammed flush against him, catching him off guard, as she pressed her mouth against his. The kiss was bold and sweet, and he felt nothing.
No spark. Not even a hint of desire. There was literally nothing but the feel of their lips connecting. And then guilt hit. A bone-deep guilt that he was here with Brenda, when the only woman he wanted was likely home alone right now.
He pulled away from Brenda and stared down at her, as if seeing her for the first time. She was almost a stranger now.
“That was nice, wasn’t it?” Her hopeful tone had him releasing a heavy sigh.
Hailey had been wrong—only neither of them had known it. He didn’t have feelings for his ex-fiancée. Or, if he did, they were nothing more than pity.
“I’m sorry, Brenda…” he tried to be gentle, even though he owed her nothing, “…but I am seeing someone—someone I care about quite a bit now. And I can only hope I didn’t fuck it all up by coming here tonight.”
“I see. Well I had to at least try.” With disappointment flashing in her eyes, she grimaced. “She must be pretty special.”
“Aye. She is.” His phone vibrated again, reminding him he had an unread text. “Good-bye, Brenda, and good luck.”
He left her house then, striding quickly down the driveway.
This night, as completely fucked as it had been, might have been just what he needed. Maybe he’d been the one to need closure. And tonight had received it. Had proven to himself that when she’d left him at the altar it had been the right thing to do.
He was over her. Completely and thoroughly. There was only one woman who consumed him now, and he just had to convince her to take their relationship a bit more seriously.
After climbing into his truck, he pulled his cell from his pocket and checked the text. It was his friend from Skagit Valley PD.
Probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but Hailey called in to report an assault from the guy with a restraining order. He slipped us again and is on the loose. Not sure she has anywhere to go tonight and thought you might want to check up on her.
Rage slammed through Colin, followed by concern. Fuck. Curt was toast if he ever got his hands on him.
He quickly acknowledged the text and thanked his friend, then dialed Hailey’s number.
When she didn’t answer, cold dread slipped into his blood. He started his truck, pulling out of the driveway and leaving dust in his wake.
“I’m so sorry to do this to you.” Hailey stood on the porch, giving a hesitant smile to Sarah and Ian, who’d opened the front door.
Their smiles were broad, almost suspiciously big, but Sarah waved that last thought away. Right now she welcomed the friendliness.
“Oh stop it—it’s not a bother at all.” Sarah waved her into the living room. “You’re always welcome here and I hope you know that.”
Hailey stepped into Sarah’s home and gave the couple a small, appreciative smile. “I still feel awful. I just really wasn’t sure where to go.”
“Like she said, it’s not a problem,” Ian agreed. “But maybe you should share why you’re not able to stay at your home so late at night.”
“I will. In fact, I have something to talk to you guys about and am hoping for some answers from you.”
“That sounds serious.” Sarah’s brows drew together. “Come have a seat in the living room. Can I get you something to drink?”
“Water would be great, actually.”
She made her way into the living room and sank down into an oversized chair.
“Where’s the little one?”
“Emily’s in her bedroom listening to music and writing in her journal, last I checked,” Ian commented and exchanged an amused glance with his wife. “It’s like she’s already become a teenager.”
Hailey gave a faint smile. “She’s a sweet kid.”
“Aye, she certainly is.”
Sarah arrived back in the living room with a glass of ice water that she handed off to Hailey.
“So what’s going on?”
After taking a sip of water, Hailey cradled it between her hands and debated how to approach this. Finally, she went with directness.
“I’ve come to speak to you about Curt MacGregor.”
“MacGregor?” Ian growled, his eyes narrowing. “Aye. He’s a bloody bastard. I’m sorry you ladies had that run-in with him up in Oak Harbor the other day.”
Crap. This wasn’t easy. Delicately, she murmured, “Colin explained that you both know each other, Ian, but I’m not certain he was there because of you or Sarah.”
“What do you mean?” Sarah glanced at Ian. “He wouldn’t have any reason to seek out Kenzie, would he?”
Ian shook his head. “At this rate, I think he’d try to intimidate anyone with the McLaughlin name.”
“Why does he want to intimidate you guys? I don’t understand that. I don’t know your history with him.” Hailey paused and took a deep breath. “I only know mine.”
“Yours?” Ian stilled, his expression turning somber and concerned. “You have a connection with MacGregor?”
&n
bsp; “I not only have a connection, I have a restraining order against him. We dated for a while.”
Sarah’s mouth fell open in surprise, and she made a murmur of dismay, but Ian’s expression remained stoic, though the concern deepened.
“Small world,” he muttered. “And I take it he’s been threatening you?”
“Yes. He was pretty upset about the breakup. I don’t know why, we weren’t together very long.”
“Aye, well when MacGregor gets it into his head that he wants something, he’s not quick to let it go.” Ian shook his head. “I’m sorry, Hailey. Is that why you’ve come here tonight? Did something happen?”
She nodded. “He broke into my house and was waiting for me when I got off work.”
Fury flashed in his eyes. “Did he hurt you?”
Hailey hesitated for just a moment, and then shook her head. “He got a little rough. Might’ve left some bruises, but I got away from him before anything serious could happen.”
“The son of a bitch is a dead man,” Ian ground out, standing up and pacing the room. “He’s threatened me, my family, and now it seems is a danger to you. You don’t fuck with a McLaughlin or those close to us.”
Sarah looked shaken as she stood up and mumbled something about going to check on Emily.
“What’s your connection to Curt?” Hailey asked. “Why is he threatening you? I was under the impression you two became friends while serving your sentences.”
“Aye, we were. And for a bit, after our release, I helped him in a way I shouldn’t have. Bought some car parts from him that I suspected were stolen.” Ian shook his head, shame blatant in his eyes. “It was stupid, and I fucked up, no doubt.”
“We’re all guilty of it now and then.” She rarely judged. After what she’d been through, usually made a real attempt not to judge people about their choices.
“Maybe. But fortunately I got my shit together and told him I was done helping him out.”
“And he didn’t take it well?”
“No. He’s clearly desperate and made threats against my family and me.” His jaw flexed. “I hadn’t seen him for a month or so and had hoped he’d given up.”
She grimaced. “I’m probably the reason he got his hopes up. When he realized I knew you guys, he started showing up more, blatantly breaking the no-contact order. And he kept telling me to get in good with Colin. Maybe he thought I could help change your mind or something.”
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