Bound to the Past (Starville Series Book 1) (21 page)

Carson smiled and offered his hand. “How you doinʼ? Iʼm Carson Cooke.”

Jack scowled at his rival. Being used to towering over people, he hated that this guy topped him by at least a couple of inches. And the bastard was bigger, too. He looked down at his extended hand for a few long moments before reluctantly accepting it. “Jack Turner,” he grumbled, turning back to Sara. “So, can I talk to you?”

“Of course. Cars, will you excuse us?”

“No worries, kid. I gotta go, anyway.” Carson bent his head and planted a quick kiss on her lips—mostly to tick off the glowering man beside her, who promptly sent him another dark, pulverizing look. “Nice meeting you, Jack,” he said with a smug smile, tipping his Stetson.

Jack grunted something unintelligible and snatched Saraʼs hand. She gasped as he dragged her away, struggling to keep up with his long strides, but he kept working his way through clusters of laughing people and screaming kids until they reached a quiet area behind the square. She jerked her hand free, glaring at him.

“What the heck is wrong with you?”

He glanced at her hand and rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry, I didnʼt mean to interrupt you and your friend. I just wanted to let you know that Iʼm leaving.”

Sara flinched. “W-what?” Leaving?
Starville?

“Iʼm tired, and itʼs obvious that I wonʼt find what Iʼm looking for here.”

“But I… You…” She inhaled sharply and tried again. “Jack, you canʼt leave like this.”

“Iʼm sure your friend wonʼt mind driving you back home,” he said sarcastically―but his tone didnʼt register in Saraʼs mind. All she felt was the relief that came after his words. He just meant leaving the fair and going home, not leaving town! Her relief, however, died an instant death as she realized he was trying to dump her off on Carson!

Her scowl deepened. “Donʼt be ridiculous! Carson just got here and has better things to do than drive me around. Sorry, but I came with you, and I will be leaving with you.”

“I donʼt know, you guys seemed pretty pleased with each otherʼs company,” Jack replied with a casual shrug, but his caustic tone didnʼt fool her.

“All right, whatʼs going on? And I want the truth.”

A muscle pulsed in his clenched jaw. The muscles in his arms flexed as he folded them over his chest. “Fine. If you really must know, I donʼt particularly appreciate seeing my—whatever the hell it is you are to me—rubbing herself all over another man. Thatʼs whatʼs going on.”

Her mouth fell open in outrage. “I was
not
—” She stopped as his eyes kept shooting sparks of rage at her. Darn him, but he was sexy as hell…and so confusing! One minute he seemed to want to dump her off to another man, the next he acted like a jealous boyfriend. “I told you this already. Carson is one of my best friends. Yes, I was happy to see him tonight. And no, I donʼt owe you any explanation for it.”

“Of course not. Weʼre nothing to each other, right? So what the hell should I care if you wanna rub yourself all over him?”

“Stop saying that!” Sara fisted her hands and punched them to her hips to keep from strangling him. “Look, be honest with yourself for once in your life: You know this is not about Carson. This is about
you
and
me
.”

“What…”

“Youʼre driving me insane!”

“Wait a—”

“One moment you say you want to be friends, the next you kiss me senseless! Would you make up your mind already? Do you enjoy driving me crazy or something? Because, honestly, Iʼm sick and tired of your contradicting behavior.”

Jack gave her a disconcerted stare. His mouth worked, but no sound came out of it. Then he plowed both hands through his hair. “Dammit, itʼs not that simple!”

“Yes, it is. Do you want me or do you not? If you donʼt, just say so right now, loud and clear, and stop playing with me. But if you do want me―” Her voice broke. “If you want me, then take me already.”

Something wild flickered in his eyes. Suddenly, he erased the distance between them and pulled her in his arms. Her heart thundered. “Jack.”

“Shhh.” He kissed her temple and slowly started swaying against her to the rhythm of the distant music coming from the fair. “Dance with me, sweetheart,” he breathed in her ear.

All Sara could do was nod. Closing her eyes, she slid her arms around his neck and leaned her head on his chest with a sigh. Wasnʼt this what sheʼd been longing for all night? A chance to dance with him and feel his strong, hot body against hers…inside hers? Sara swallowed thickly. She had no doubts about it anymore. No more hesitation. She was going to make love with Jack tonight, and she wouldnʼt take no for an answer. With new resolve, she raised her head to let him know her intentions―but the intensity of his gaze burned through her, and she forgot all about what she was supposed to say.

“Are you, uh, going to kiss me again, or do you just intend to torture me?” she asked instead, breathlessly. The slow smile he gave her made her insides go to mush.

“Iʼm thinking about it, yes.”

“Kissing me or torturing me?”

He softly brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “Kissing you.”

“In that case, would you please stop thinking about it, and just do it?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

A thousand butterflies fluttered wildly in her stomach the instant their lips met again, making her sigh in his mouth. Why did he have to feel so good? Smell so good? Taste even better? Sara had no idea how long theyʼd been kissing, but she knew she would have kept going for hours had Jack not pulled back.

“Do you want to leave?”

She tilted her head and scanned his face, trying to figure out if his words meant what she hoped they did. “I would love to.”

His lips slid into a smile. His eyes glittered in the dull glow of the overhead streetlight. “Letʼs go.”

Sara snatched his arm to stop him as he started toward the parking lot. “I need a couple of minutes to say good-bye to Brent and Nicky.”

“Okay. Iʼll wait for you in the parking lot. And Sara?”

Sheʼd started to walk away but stopped and turned around to give him a questioning look.

“I canʼt wait to be home,” he said, his voice low and suggestive.

Barely managing a nod, she willed her shaky legs toward the dance floor, where sheʼd last seen Brent and Nicky. Max Lacrod was talking to Doc and the mayor by the cotton candy stand but left both of them and strode toward her as soon as he saw her. Taking a deep breath, Sara braced herself to meet his furious gaze.

“Just what do you think youʼre doing?”

“I donʼt know what youʼre talking about, Sheriff.”

“Donʼt play dumb with me, missy. What were you thinking, bringing Turner here?”

“Now, thatʼs none of your bus―”

“The hell it isnʼt! Heʼs a murderer, and youʼre helping him!”

“Jack is not a murderer! Heʼs confused and hurt. Youʼre all treating him like a leper, accusing him of something he doesnʼt even remember…” Her words broke off in a gasp as he snatched her right arm, squeezing it hard.

“Jesus, girl, wake up! How can you be so damn naïve? Just because Turner says he doesnʼt remember killing J.T., it doesnʼt mean heʼs innocent!”

Sara yanked her arm free. “And just because you want to believe heʼs guilty, that doesnʼt mean he actually killed a man, does it?” she retorted, lifting her chin up defiantly. “Jack already stood trial years ago, Max. For heavenʼs sake, he was detained for years. Isnʼt that enough already? Why canʼt you all just leave him alone?”

The sheriff shook his head, his eyes a few shades darker. “The only reason heʼs not in jail right now is because he was too damn smart to leave any evidence behind. Everybody in town knows heʼs guilty, we just canʼt prove it,” he snarled in a disgusted tone. “But we donʼt want him here, Sara. We never did and never will. And your acting like a love-struck ninny is not going to change that.”

She saw red, yet she held her breath and squared her shoulders, deciding that Max wasnʼt worth an ounce of her anger. “Well, luckily thatʼs none of your business, either. Have a good evening, Sheriff.” Her smile was pure sugar when she turned around and walked away.

“Youʼre playing with fire, Sara.”

She heard his hissed words but didnʼt stop. All she wanted was to get the hell out of there and go back to Jack. Unfortunately, Brent and Nicky seemed to have vanished. Noticing David next to the drink stand, she hurried toward him.

“Sara,” he greeted her with a cheerful smile.

“Hey. I was wondering if you knew where Nicky and Brent might be.”

David pointed at the dance floor, where her friends were dancing together. “They look pretty busy to me.”

Saraʼs eyes popped wide. A smile spread on her lips, despite her agitation. “I wanted to tell them good-bye, but Iʼll definitely leave them alone.”

“Are you and Jack leaving already?”

“Yes, weʼre exhausted.”

David glanced at his watch and pouted. “I guess Iʼll be going soon, too, since youʼre all abandoning me.”

“Laylaʼs still here,” she reminded him with a mischievous smirk, pointing her chin toward the woman, who was totally immersed in an intricate dance.

Davidʼs horrified face made her burst out laughing. “God, no―my poor headʼs hurting just looking at her! Plus, I have to swing by the clinic and check on Mr. Pearsonʼs very pregnant dog.”

“All right. Have a good night, then.”

“You, too.”

Oh, I hope so
. Sara stepped on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, then turned around and headed back toward the parking lot.

***

“Jack, can I talk to you for a sec?”

Standing beside his motorcycle, he stiffened and bit back a curse at Charleneʼs hesitant voice. “Iʼm about to leave.”

“Please. It will only take a few minutes.”

He blew out an irritated sigh, whirling around to face her. He was tired, his head was throbbing, his knee was screaming, and he just wanted to go home. With Sara. “What do you want?”

“I…would like to apologize for what happened the other day at The Cove
,
” he barely heard Charlene say―but the hurt and uncertainty in her voice were impossible to ignore.

“Thatʼs all right; donʼt worry about it.” He said that as nicely as he could, then turned to the bike, hoping she would get the message and leave him alone.

She didnʼt.

“Iʼm serious,” she insisted, grabbing his arm. “I was so surprised to see you after all these years that I reacted like a scared little girl.”

“You donʼt need to apologize, Lene. I caught you off guard.”

“Well. In that case, maybe you should be the one apologizing.” In a flash of movement, she took a step forward and leaned sensually against him.

Jack frowned. “Now, wait a―”

“You called me Lene. Thatʼs what you used to call me when we were together.” She tried to wrap her arms around his neck. He shrugged her away.

“Knock it off. Youʼve been avoiding me the whole night; now I have no time for this bull.”

“Oh, honey, I havenʼt been avoiding you. I was just waiting for the right time to be alone with you.” Charlene looked around, as if making sure nobody was there, then leaned forward again. She heaved a dramatic sigh as he jerked away again. “Isnʼt it what you wanted?”

“No. I just wanted to talk to you.”

“There are much better things the two of us could do instead of talking.” Her gaze locked with his as she ran her fingertips across the side of the Harley. “Donʼt you remember what it was like between us, Jack?”

“No. And I donʼt care to.”

Her hand slipped to his chest. Her fingernails trailed along it the same way theyʼd done with the bike. “Well, I do—and I want it back. I want
you
back.”

“Really.” Jack yanked her hand off. “And where the fuck were you during the last ten years?”

“Hey, you canʼt blame me for leaving you! You were accused of murder, for Godʼs sake! What was I supposed to do?”

“Believe in me? Stand by me?” He scoffed a sarcastic laugh. “For better or worse…ainʼt that what loveʼs supposed to be all about,
honey
?” When she didnʼt answer, he took a deep breath. “Look, Charlene, Iʼm afraid youʼve misinterpreted my intentions. I have no interest in getting back with you. The only reason Iʼve been looking for you is because I hoped that you could talk to me about my past, maybe tell me something that might help me remember. But itʼs clear that youʼre not going to do that, so thereʼs no reason for me to insist. Now, if youʼll excuse me, I really have to go.”

He saw the spark of anger that flashed across Charleneʼs eyes before he turned his back to her, but he didnʼt care. He just wanted her to leave.

“What, are you in a hurry to go back to your latest conquest?”

“Thatʼs none of your business.”

“Puh-lease! Everybody knows youʼre messing around with Sara now.” Jack whirled around again. She ignored his menacing glare and shook her head with disgust. “Youʼre screwing her, arenʼt you? I saw how you kissed her earlier.”

“Good night, Charlene.”

“Whatʼs gotten into you?” she screamed in frustration, but he didnʼt even flinch when she shoved him in the chest with both hands. “What are you doing with somebody like her when you can have me?”

“I donʼt want you.”

“And you expect me to believe that you want
her
?” She shook her head, a sarcastic grin on her face. “Go ahead, Jack, keep fooling yourself. But you wonʼt fool me. You know that little dweeb could never satisfy you like I can. Like I have. Youʼll get tired of her, and then youʼll come crawling back to me.”

“Donʼt hold your breath.”

“She doesnʼt give a damn about you!”

Jack halted on his way to straddle the Harley. “What the hell is
that
supposed to mean?”

“Oh, come on.” Charleneʼs laughter was cold and sharp. “Open your eyes, will you? Do you really think she would have given you a chance if you guys had met under different circumstances?”

Inhaling sharply, he took a step closer to her.
Fine.
If all she wanted was his attention, she got it now. “What are you talking about?”

“The only reason sheʼs interested into you is because she pities you. Oh, poor, misunderstood Jack! Nobody likes him, nobody gets him!” she said in a mocking tone. “Face it, hon: In Saraʼs eyes, youʼre the underdog, and she
always
sides with the underdog. Trust me, weʼve all seen the pattern before.”