Holding Out For Skye (18 page)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Cian pulled into the parking lot of the mall while Skye called Tasha to ask her where she and Kiera were.

“They’re in the shoe department,” Skye informed Cian. She grabbed her bag and reached for the car door.

“Ok, we’ll meet them there.”

Skye froze. Then turned back to face him. “
We
?”

“Yes, we.” Cian stared back at her, amused.

“WHAT?”

“What?” he echoed, his eyes twinkling.

“You’re just supposed to drop me here, then wave bye-bye.”

“Am I?” Cian drawled, grinning at the image of him waving bye-bye. Her mind was a delight. He got out of the car.

Skye scrambled after him. “You know you are!”

“Well, I have some shopping to do, too. I’m already here, so I might as well get to it.” He locked the car, then took her hand.

“You might
not
! You already planned to, didn’t you?” Skye tried to tug her hand out of his. It was like trying to break out of a handcuff.

“You have such a suspicious mind. I just thought of it.”

“Yeah right.” Skye dug in her feet, refusing to move. “You’re not coming.”

“I’m not? What would Kiera think of our little errand?”

“You wouldn’t!”

“Wanna bet?”

Her eyes turned to slits. “You little shit.”

Cian wagged a finger at her. “That’s not what I had in mind when I said we should have endearments for each other. Now then, we shouldn’t keep Tasha and Kiera waiting.”

“You are so enjoying this, aren’t you?”

He grinned at the snide tone in her voice. “Absolutely, darling.” Assured of her compliance, he dragged her along.

Tasha and Kiera looked up from trying on shoes as they entered the store. Their eyes widened at the sight of Cian tugging Skye along.

“He’s coming shopping with us,” Skye explained, a sulky look on her face.

“He managed that how?” Tasha sent a curious look at Cian who winked at her.

“Well, what better way to do my shopping than with three beautiful ladies on my arm?” he remarked.

“He blackmailed me,” Skye spat out.

Kiera burst out laughing. Her laughter coaxed a smile out of Skye.

Tasha grinned. “Well, done, grasshopper. I’ve taught you well,” she praised Cian which caused him to grin and Kiera to laugh again.

Skye sent Tasha an accusing glare. “I should have known you’d be behind this.”

“Guilty as charged.” Tasha didn’t look guilty at all.

“So we’ve got you for the whole day?” Kiera asked Cian.

“For as long as you wish, Princess.” He shot her a charming smile, giving her a small bow.

“Great! This is going to be fun.” Kiera’s eyes lit up. Then a dark cloud seemed to chase the light away and she stopped smiling.

Skye shared a worried look with Tasha. Cian released her hand as she moved to Kiera’s side. “What’s wrong?”

“He broke my heart. How can I think of having fun?”

“Because that’s what will heal your heart. Little by little. Hanging out with your friends who love you to pieces, doing the things you love, laughing, enjoying yourself. It will help.” Skye wrapped an arm around Kiera’s side and Tasha moved to her other side.

“We’re here, sweetie. Don’t let him win,” Tasha added.

Cian slipped his hands in his pockets and watched them. Watched Skye. She didn’t know how much she meant to her friends. But he could see it, see how they loved her. How much
she
loved
them
. They were a tight unit. The way she was with Kiera, it just showed how big her heart was. She didn’t fool him one bit with her prickly exterior. He knew she had feelings for him too, no matter how well she camouflaged them.

Kiera untangled herself and gave them a determined smile. “All right. Let’s have fun.”

They spent the rest of the morning getting much-needed shoe therapy, while Cian looked on, urging them to model for him. He seemed particularly taken with a pair of high-heeled sapphire-blue strappy sandals that Skye tried on and absolutely loved. The straps were thin and looked delicate and fragile which was the attraction of it. The saleswoman assured her they were sturdy. Kiera and Tasha
oohed
and
aahed
over how they made her feet look graceful.

The smoldering look in Cian’s eyes when Skye tried them on had color creeping up her cheeks. He made up his mind to buy them for her and no matter what she said, he wouldn’t budge from it.

Her two friends teased her unmercifully about it. Cian bought the two of them a pair of shoes they liked best too, which had them wowing over him. He loved the attention. Figured, since he was in his element.

Skye’d been worried that seeing her and Cian together would make Kiera feel sad but it seemed to have the opposite effect on her. It absolutely tickled Kiera to watch the two of them trying to get the upper hand in their relationship.

They ended up buying more shoes that they could possibly ever wear more than once. Cian shook his head as he took in all they’d bought, wondering why they possibly needed that many at which they laughed and told him he wouldn’t understand. It was a good thing he was there though because between the three of them they would never have been able to carry the bags to the cars. After dropping off the packages, they collectively decided on lunch at the food court.

The girls found an empty table while Cian went off to place their orders. Tasha took out her phone and laughed at something on the screen.

“I just texted my darling boyfriend that Cian was here,” Tasha informed them with a satisfied smile.

“You’re so bad,” Kiera giggled.

Skye groaned. “He’ll show up here soon enough.”

It was really funny how ever since Tasha and Cian had become friends, Tyler tended to make sure they were alone as little as possible. It had become a pet peeve of his. He said Cian was a bad influence on his girlfriend. Tasha got a kick out of teasing him over it.

“So what did Cian hold over your head to get you to let him join us?”

Skye was startled. Did Kiera have a six sense or something that they’d gone to see Ash earlier? “Oh, that. You know how he is,” she evaded. “You really don’t mind he came along for the ride?”

“Na. Actually, it helps that he’s here. Seeing the two of you together always cracks me up,” Kiera replied. Tasha guffawed at that.

“Thanks a lot,” Skye told her wryly.

Kiera’s hazel eyes twinkled with an impish look. “You’re welcome. I love watching the two of you together. I always wondered what it would be like if someone ever got through that prickly attitude of yours. Now I know. You two are so in tune, you fit.” She smiled at the flummoxed look on Skye’s face.

“We do not!” Skye exclaimed, disconcerted.

“Kiera’s right,” Tasha agreed. “He doesn’t let you get away with anything.”

“Somehow I don’t find that very couple-like,” Skye differed irritably.

“That’s the beauty of it,” Tasha grinned. “You keep each other on your toes.”

“Yep,” Kiera concurred. “Anyone else would have been scared off by your sarcastic, prickly, stubborn, kick-ass attitude. But not him. He holds his own with you.”

“How the hell did this conversation turn to me and Cian?” Skye complained.

“And why am I being left out of it?” Cian remarked as he sat down besides Skye.

“Because we were talking about you,” Kiera and Tasha said together, giggling.

“Is that so? Do share.” Cian watched with interest as Skye’s cheeks reddened.

“Nope,” Kiera replied.

“Girl talk,” Tasha added.

“Aw, c’mon,” Cian cajoled charmingly.

Skye watched them as they joked around. Kiera was faring better.

Their food arrived and as usual she had to protect hers from Cian. For some reason, he always seemed to only want to steal
her
food. When he tried it again, to Tasha and Kiera’s delight, this time she threatened to stab his hand with her fork. He burst out laughing. The goof.

They were almost finished eating when right as rain, Tyler showed up.

“I see I was kept out of all the fun.” He kissed Tasha on the cheek and gave Kiera a big bear hug. “How are you doing, beautiful?” Tasha had filled him in earlier. He wanted to go beat Ash to pulp for hurting her.

Kiera gave him a shaky smile. “As good as can be.”

“Good.” Ty gave her a loud kiss on the cheek, making her giggle. Turning to Cian, he greeted coolly, “Hunter.”

“Walker.” Cian flashed him his trademark smug smile, probably to annoy Tyler.

Skye rolled her eyes at their manly exchange. “Geez. Give it up already, you two.”

Tyler flashed her a broad grin. “And how’s my favorite lunatic?”

“I haven’t killed anyone. Yet. But you can be the first.”

Ty laughed as he hugged her too. “You’ll have plenty of opportunities to try the rest of the day.”

“Does that mean you’re hanging out with us?” Kiera asked him.

“I wouldn’t miss this for anything in the world,” Ty told her.

“I’ll remind you of that statement the next time I go shopping,” Tasha declared.

Ty looked chagrined. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

“You sure did,” Skye snorted.

Ty got some food for himself and dessert for all of them, which he and Cian argued over paying for. Skye shared an exasperated look with the girls. When she elbowed Cian, he let Ty win. They all knew he only did it to annoy Tyler.

Cian rubbed his side. “We need to put a muzzle on that elbow on yours.”

“Poor darling, does it hurt?” Skye teased, a twinkle in her eyes.

“Yes. You should kiss it better,” he bantered right back.

“Don’t hold your breath,” Skye retorted.

Tasha and Kiera giggled at their exchange.

Watching them, Skye thought she couldn’t possibly love them more. Cian had wormed his way into the lives of her closest friends and all three of them had easily made a place for him. Something Kiera had said came back to her.

You two are so in tune,
you fit.

A happy smile curved her lips. How about that? They fit.

CHAPTER TWENTY

They were getting ready to leave when a flash of blond hair caught Skye’s eye. She
knew
that princess hairdo. In fact, she would have recognised it anywhere.
What were the odds?
she mused. This was just too good. This was
perfect
, the chance of a lifetime, a direct sign from God himself. Who was she to ignore a sign like that?

It’d be disrespectful, simply
disrespectful
not to take advantage of such an opportunity. Now the choice was: Milkshake or cola? Maybe a latte? Skye decided on milkshake. It was frothier, hence messier.

She stood up with a start. “Ah, I need to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” Not giving them time to ask questions, she shot out of there like she was being chased by wild animals.

Not suspecting anything, Kiera chuckled. “She must have really needed to go.”

“Yeah.” Cian stared thoughtfully after Skye. He shared a speculative look with Tasha and Tyler. Yep, all three of them were in accord—Skye was up to something.

SKYE WAS smiling, absolutely beaming with glee at the cute guy behind the counter of
A1-Shakes
and thanking him for the extra strawberry when Cian’s voice said from behind her, “What are you doing?”

“
Gah!
” Skye almost jumped ten feet in the air. He was better at this subterfuge thing than she was. She hadn’t even sensed his presence.

Skye turned with a bright smile. “What does it look like I’m doing?” Good, her voice sounded calm.

Oh, she didn’t fool him one bit. If she thought she was charming him with that hundred-watt smile, she had another think coming. “You’re buying a milkshake?”

“Correct! You get an A+ for observation!”

Cian tried not to smile at her chirpy tone. “Bright and sparkly just doesn’t suit you, love.”

“It does too.” How was she going to get rid of him while she ran her errand?

“Trust me, it doesn’t,” he disagreed. “That smile looks like a barracuda’s in anticipation of easy prey too stupid to see the danger. And FYI, this isn’t the bathroom.”

“I know that, silly. I got thirsty. Hence the milkshake.” Hence the
large maxi-size
milkshake. Skye lifted it to him. “And I don’t look like a barracuda. How mean.”

“I said your smile looked like one, not you. That’s a strawberry milkshake.”

“So?”

“So, you never drink any other flavors
but
chocolate.”

Crap.
“I’m broadening my taste horizon,” Skye replied indignantly.

There was a muffled cough from the guy behind the counter as he tried to stifle his laughter. Cian shot him a warning look. He was looking entirely
too
interested in Skye. He took hold of Skye’s arm and tugged her a bit away from Too-Interested-Bastard’s strike zone.

“No, you’re not. You’re stuck on chocolate for life. You told me so yourself. Now, what’s going on? Just in case you get it in your head to avoid answering, I’m not moving from your side until you tell me.”

Why was he such a know-it-all pain in the tush? Skye let out a resigned breath. “I can’t tell you.”

Cian cocked his head, intrigued by this side of her. Usually, whenever she didn’t want to tell him something, she got a mutinous look on her face and avoided answering or flat-out told him she
wouldn’t
tell him. She never said she
couldn’t
tell him. “Why not?”

“Because you might try to stop me.” Actually, she had a feeling he’d probably do the
opposite
.

Now his curiosity was doubly picked. “Why?”

“Because it’s something naughty and bad,” Skye whispered.

Cian felt as if the breath had been knocked out of him.
Naughty
and Bad?
Holy mother of God! Did she have any idea what kind of image she’d wrought into his mind with those words? How sexy she looked with that mysterious look in her eyes? Probably not. His body went tight and his only thought was to get her somewhere they could be alone. It was a wonder he managed to hold on to his control and not kiss her senseless.

He leaned closer to her. “What if I promise not to stop you?”

Skye’s eyes widened with awareness. Her pulse sped up. He was looking at her just like the Big Bad Wolf must have looked at Red Riding Hood, thinking how yummy she was. Oh, god. She felt her stomach dip at the analogy. The intensity in his hooded mesmerizing silver eyes caused a shiver up her spine. She bit her lower lip nervously. “Okay.”

Remember, we’re in a crowded food court
, Cian told himself. When she bit her lower lip like that, it took all of his control not to lean that extra inch and take a bite. Good lord, she was killing him!

Skye flushed. She shook her head, trying to think. She felt too warm. She wanted to forget everything and jump in his arms. What the hell was happening between them?
Focus
on the plan,
she reminded herself firmly. The plan. Yes, the plan. She cleared her throat. “Um, okay, so I’ll see you in a bit?”

And miss this delightful facet of your
personality? No way in hell.
Cian took a deep breath and regretted it immediately when her citrusy fragrance tantalized his nostrils. It didn’t help his condition at all. He needed a cold shower.

At his silence, Skye gave him a resigned look. “You’re coming with me, aren’t you?”

Cian felt a wave of laughter wash over him at the resignation in her voice. The laughter loosened his muscles a bit so he was able to give her a smug smile. “You know me so well, love.”

Skye scowled at him. “Fine, but keep a three feet distance.” Then seeming to think about it, she rectified, “Make it five and keep quiet.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Amused at her I-mean-business tone, Cian followed her as she navigated past the tables. He pulled out his phone and sent Tasha a text.

Skye moved closer to a table where two women were sitting, drinking coffee. She stared at the blond woman’s head, relishing the upcoming scene. When she was within one foot’s distance, she turned around as if she heard someone calling her name and was checking who it was. Instead, what she was actually doing was pulling the lid off her milkshake cup.

Cian had to grin at her acting. She shot him a warning look. He suspected he knew what she was about to do. He held up his hands, letting her know he wasn’t stopping her and settled himself for one hell of a show.

Skye sidled up behind the blond woman, pretending that she was just navigating her way between tables. In a move that looked totally natural, she tipped the large cup and dumped all the milkshake over the woman’s head, before jumping back to avoid the splash on her own clothes. “One strawberry milkshake served!” she announced.

Cian couldn’t help it, he burst out laughing. He didn’t know why she had just doused that woman but what he did know, was that he had one hell of a girlfriend. Admiration swept through him at her guts.

Skye felt a rush of satisfaction when Rachel jumped out of her seat, and let out a blood-curling scream.

“Oh my god, Rachel,” the other woman called out in an appalled voice but kept her distance.

Rachel turned around and Skye calmly took her picture. Her eyes widened as she recognised her.
“You!”

“Yes, me,” Skye acknowledged with a self-satisfied smile.

“You dumped this—this—on
me
!”

“Yeah. How do you like the shake? Yummy, ain’t it? It’s got extra strawberries,” Skye informed her helpfully. A snort of laughter came from Cian’s direction.

“My hair! My clothes! They’re ruined!”

Skye appraised her thoughtfully. “Yes, I suppose they are.”

Rachel glared at her threateningly but with the milkshake dripping off her eyelashes, she looked pathetic instead of menacing. “You’ll pay for this.”

Skye dropped the innocent act as she gave Rachel
her
menacing look. “No,
you
will. Remember this ‘incident’ the next time you decide to pretend to be sweet and caring to
my
best friend. Kiera’s
my
best friend, you skunk, not yours. You stay the hell away from her. If you get within even one foot of her, I’ll blow up this picture and post it all over Boston. Bet your picture’s already circulating over the net by now anyway.”

Rachel looked horrified. “Oh my god, you’re crazy!”

Skye stepped close to her and met her eyes with a frigid look. “You betcha I’m crazy, Rachel. Completely bonkers and totally unpredictable. Think a thousand times before you try that little act you pulled with Kiera the other day. We both know what you did, don’t we?” Rachel flinched at that. Skye continued, “Trust me, if you ever do that again, this ‘little’ incident will seem like a walk in the park compared to what I’ll do to you.” Skye gave her a big toothy smile.

Rachel’s eyes widened with fear.

“Rachel, do you want me to call the cops?” the other woman said.

“Yes, Rachel, why don’t we call the cops?” Skye agreed pleasantly.

“No, no. That’s not, um, necessary, Jill. Let’s just… let’s just get out of here.” Rachel shot Skye another scared look then her eyes shifted behind her. She hurriedly walked away, her shoes squeaking.

Skye watched her, the squeaking and laughter following in her humiliated tracks. She turned to Cian with a satisfied smile, which faltered when she caught sight of her friends standing beside him. Oh,
shoot
. Cian and Tyler were grinning like lunatics. Tasha had a matching grin on her face whereas Kiera was just standing there with her mouth open.

“Hey, guys,” she said weakly.

“Did you put the fear of God in her or what! You go, girl!” Tasha was practically bursting with laughter and pride.

“Remind me never to piss you off, Skywalker,” Tyler remarked.

“You constantly do,” she muttered at him, trying not to look at the crowd that had gathered around.

“I think we should vacate this crime scene,” Cian advised as he caught sight of security headed their way. He caught Skye and Kiera’s arm, who had yet to say anything and guided them towards the exit. Tasha and Tyler followed as they beat a hasty retreat.

Out in the parking lot, they gathered around Cian’s car.

“So, that’s what you were plotting when you took that ‘bathroom break’,” Ty stated.

“Good thing Cian gave us a head’s-up or we would have totally missed that memorable scene,” Tasha offered helpfully, blue eyes sparkling with humor.

Skye sent Cian a menacing glare. Cian just beamed at her. He was absolutely, to take a word out of her vocabulary,
bonkers
about her.

“I can’t believe you just did that!” Kiera burst out, finally finding her voice. She was simultaneously shocked and deeply touched by what Skye had just done for her. Even though Kiera knew everything there was to know about her, Skye still caught her off guard sometimes with the way her mind worked.

Skye watched her warily. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”

“You wanted me to miss that? Oh my god, you dumped milkshake over precious Rachel!” Kiera’s throat bubbled with laughter.

“Uh, yeah. She totally deserved it.” Skye was relieved Kiera was taking this so well. “You’re not mad?”

Kiera shook her head. “Mad? God, no. Sure, I could never have done that. I would never have had the nerve to do it. And on the spot like that. Oh my god, you sounded like a totally jealous nutcase overly possessive of her best friend!”

“Gee, thanks a lot!” Skye said sarcastically.

“You really did,” Tasha added, chortling.

“Well, what matters is that
she
knows why she got milkshake dumped on her.” Skye’s voice dripped with satisfaction.

“And I’ve got it all on video,” Cian interjected smugly.

Four pairs of eyes whipped in his direction. Three filled with interest and one pair with horror. Guess who’s?

“What?” Skye said, horrified.

Cian pulled out his phone and played the little recording he’d made. Skye groaned. They were right. She looked totally crazy. She didn’t regret having done it but that didn’t mean she wanted it to go viral! Did Cian have to record the damn thing?

“There’s no way you’re gonna delete that, are you?” Skye asked resignedly, already knowing the answer.

“None whatsoever. I’m saving this for posterity, love,” Cian retorted with a broad grin.

“Dude, send me a copy, will ya?” Tyler told him.

“Me too,” Tasha quipped.

“Me three,” Kiera added, giggling.

“Oh, hell,” Skye muttered. “I’m going to end up on Youtube.”

They burst out laughing at her statement.

“You probably already are!” Tasha giggled.

Cian’s eyes gleamed. “You should have thought of that before the dumping.”

“Life’s sure never dull around you, Skye,” Tyler commented, chuckling.

Kiera hugged her tightly. She couldn’t get over what Skye had done for her. She was the best. “Thank you, Skye. I love you.”

Skye’s heart squeezed at the love Kiera so easily gave her. “Aww, I love you too, Kiera. She deserved the shake, with extra strawberries,” she added mischievously. Kiera laughed.

“You’ve got her running scared,” Tasha asserted. “She’s gonna remember you as,” she quoted Skye’s own words, “
completely bonkers and totally unpredictable
.”

Her friends hooted with laughter at that. Even Skye had to laugh.

Cian was never going to forget this for as long as he lived. And he had it all on record.

At their prompting, Skye finally told them how she’d seen Rachel just as they were about to leave and it’d seemed like too good of an opportunity to let go. She’d been thinking of getting back at her, anyway.

Then Cian added to the story, saying how he’d found her making gooey eyes at the milkshake guy.

“I was not!” Skye denied vehemently.

“You were too. He was practically eating out of your hand.” Cian realized he was only half-teasing.

“What? He was not!” Color crept up Skye’s cheeks.

“Another few minutes of that blindingly sunny smile you were shining on him and he would have been putty in your hands,” Cian went on tetchily.