Straight, No Chaser by Shelli Stevens

Author:Shelli Stevens
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Published: 2018-03-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

That had been the question in her head for the last hour.

“I didn’t realize he even knew Sarah.” She paused and lifted one shoulder in a small shrug. “Well, maybe I did. Or I suspected it because he...”

“He what?”

Maybe she shouldn’t even admit it, but then it would look as if she were hiding something. She nibbled on her lower lip and scowled.

Colin appeared beside her, his questioning gaze weighing down on her.

“Hailey, are you going to answer me?”

“He told me to ‘make nice with the McLaughlins’,” she blurted. “And, honestly, I couldn’t even begin to tell you why he said that.”

“‘Make nice with the McLaughlins’?” he mused. “Now I wonder why he’d tell you that.”

“Like I said. No clue. How do Sarah and Curt know each other?”

“It’s more Ian and Curt, if I understand correctly. They served time together and became friends. Which makes no sense to me—the man is clearly filth.”

“He is,” she agreed, “but he’s charming filth. He gives off a great first impression to win you over.”

“Is that what he did with you?” he asked softly.

Damn, but she hated to think how naïve she’d been. “Yeah. We weren’t together long. Six months, if that. His charm quickly wore off.”

“You ended the relationship, I assume?”

“Yes.”

Colin grunted. “And he was not pleased.”

“Not at all.”

“Hence the restraining order.” He paused. “Did he ever hurt you?”

“No, but he came close.” She thought back to the times when he’d lost his cool. How he’d slam his fists into the wall beside her so hard he’d break the skin on his knuckles. “I knew if I stayed in the relationship he would.”

“He sounds like a bloody bastard. I’m glad you left him,” Colin muttered and drank another sip of his tea. “You know we need to report his presence today.”

Her heart sank, but she nodded. “I know. Just to have it on the record, at least.”

“Right. And also mention that he showed up at your house last week.”

Her life was just one big drama after another. She’d been so stupid to have gotten involved with Curt. All she wanted was a normal life. A normal fucking life. And for a while she’d convinced herself she was close to getting it.

“Have a seat and relax a little.” Colin gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, as if he knew the turbulence in her head right now. “I need to step inside for a quick moment to call Ian, if you don’t mind.”

“Go for it. I’ll entertain myself with the view...” she reached for her glass and managed a small smile as she put on her best faux Scottish accent to mock him “...and my dreadfully bland iced tea.”

“Ah, taking the piss are we?”

This time her laugh was genuine. “I don’t even want to know what that means.”

“I’m teasing you. Back in a few, sweetheart.”

And there it was again. Sweetheart. This time not in the midst of sex. Or in a derogatory way while they were arguing. It was just a light endearment he’d tossed her way.

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