Loch and Key (3 page)

“Look, no matter how tempted I am to stay here and let you play your head games, I think I’d better pass.” He shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and sighed.

He wasn’t stupid. Sometimes it was better to cut your losses and walk.

“I’ve been on a boat for the better part of six months, flew home from San Diego just a few hours ago, and now, if you’ll excuse my language, I’m pretty fucking tired.”

She didn’t even flinch at his words, a good indication that swearing didn’t faze her. But guilt flashed across her face, followed by what seemed to be a mix of fear and desperation.

“No, please, don’t leave. I
was
attracted to you that night.”

He made a soft laugh of amusement, yet wasn’t really amused. “That night, but not anymore?”

Her mouth opened and she started to reply, but then she drew her bottom lip between her teeth and nibbled. The blush of color staining her cheeks and the way her lashes fluttered made him think that, yeah, she was still pretty damn interested despite the weird runaround she was giving him.

This close to her, he could smell the soft, clean scent of her soap. No heavy perfume. If he were to slide his fingers into her beautiful red hair would it be as soft as he imagined? Would it hold the faint smell of her shampoo?

He wanted to find out. God, he’d been way too long without a woman. He had to curl his fingers into fists to restrain the natural instinct to touch her.

Despite what may have been an attempt to hide it in that gender-neutral outfit, every part of her body was an exaggeration of the female form. It was hard not to physically respond to it. There were a handful of women in this pub tonight who would’ve eagerly taken him home with them, or let him grope them in a darkened corner.

But none of them had tempted him, and he rarely worked that way. He liked sex. A lot. He was your average red-blooded man in his thirties, added to the fact he’d been on a boat for six months and his only source of pleasure had been from his hand. So, yeah, it was a little hard to not think about what Kenzie would look like flat on her back on his bed.

That hair spread out on his pillow, those breasts freed from her shirt and bra. What color were her nipples? Pink? Red? Maybe a—

“Let me take you to dinner.” Her bold statement shocked him out of his dirty thoughts.

Ah shit
. He’d gone full-on triple X in his head while standing in the middle of a pub. Had it been obvious? Did he look like a guy seconds away from whipping his dick out and stroking off?

And you’re a perverted fuck who needs to focus on what the object of your lust just said.

“You want to take me to dinner?” He repeated it, even though he was pretty damn sure he’d heard her right. It was a bit blindsiding after being given the runaround.

“I do.” She lifted her chin and seemed to reach some kind of decision.

“You want to take me to dinner
tonight
?”

“Yeah. I guess it’s, um, kind of late. Have you eaten?”

It was nearly ten, of course he’d eaten.

“Doesn’t matter, I can always eat more. You sure about this?”

“Yes. Only… I don’t want to stay here.” She shoved fingers through her hair, sending the reddish strands back behind a delicately curved ear. “Why don’t we go to Applebee’s?”

Applebee’s. It was bright, conspicuous and had mediocre food, but most of all it was a safe choice. Which he guessed was why she chose it.

“What about your friend?” He nodded to the blonde who was chatting up Aleck behind the counter.

“Delonna?” She followed his gaze. “I think she’ll be cool with it. I’ll go let her know, though.”

“Great. I’ll wait here and then we can drive over there.”

She had started to move away and paused. “Actually, if you don’t mind, I’d prefer to drive myself. Can we meet?”

Either she was about to blow him off in a big way, or she was really big on this safety thing. Despite her inconsistent behavior from the evening, he suspected the latter.

“Sure.”

There was something different about Kenzie. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he had to ask himself why he was putting in this much effort. She moved past him and his gaze fell to the pert roundness of her ass swinging as she moved through the crowd.

All right, maybe it was kind of a no-brainer.

With the blood in his body stirring south, he grabbed his keys and headed out the door.

“You’re seriously about to go out with that Navy guy?”

After seeing the blatant shock on Delonna’s face, Kenzie shifted and folded her arms beneath her breasts.

“Yeah. I am. I know it’s a bit crazy—”

“It’s not crazy, it’s about time.” Delonna squeezed her shoulder and sighed. “You need to get out there. Like seriously.”

“I’ve been out there.”

“Your last boyfriend was what, like, 1980?”

“Yes. I dated extensively while I was a twinkle in my father’s eye,” Kenzie drawled. “I need to go, I’m supposed to meet him at Applebee’s. He probably assumes I’ve blown him off by now.”

“He’s probably hoping you’ll just blow him period. And really? Applebee’s?”

“It’s a neutral spot.”

“It’s practical, pretty boring, but safe. It works for you.” Delonna waved her away. “Go. I won’t tell your brother.”

“And I appreciate that.” She glanced at her brother who was busy making drinks. “He’ll definitely not be thrilled.”

“Another reason you’re doing this dinner thing somewhere else?”

“Yeah.” Kenzie turned to walk toward the door, adding, “And the kitchen here at the pub is closed.”

“Wait, let me walk you out. I just need to grab my coat. I threw it behind the counter.”

Kenzie was used to the gesture and didn’t protest, even if lately she was starting to think it a bit silly. It was habit to anyone who knew her, knew what had nearly happened to her, to not to let her walk out to her car alone at night.

“Fine. I’ll meet you out front, Delonna. I need some air.”

She stepped out of the crowded pub and into the darkness. She wasn’t alone, a handful of smokers lingered nearby since it was illegal to smoke inside the pub.

Leaning against the side of the building, she let her gaze sweep around the parking lot. The pub had a light on the side of the building, and a streetlight nearby, but there were shadows. Especially back by the trees.

The trees
.

Maybe it was because it had happened on a winter’s night just like this, but this time when the memory rushed her hard she couldn’t quite hold it back.

“You want another drink?”

Kenzie hesitated to answer the man beside her as they walked toward the trees at the edge of the parking lot of McLaughlin’s Pub.

She wasn’t exactly a novice at drinking, but that would make three swigs from the flask of vodka. Not to mention he’d poured some in her soda while they’d grabbed a free dinner inside her family’s pub.

If Da had realized that she’d been drinking under his nose at the pub, he would’ve had kittens.

It wasn’t that she didn’t drink, it was pretty common when she was visiting family in Scotland, but she was still considered underage by almost a couple years here in America.

“I’ve had enough. Thank you.” She had a good buzz and was at that stage where one more drink would topple her over into the drunk category.

From beneath her lashes she glanced up at the man beside her. Charles was beautiful. Maybe it was a silly way to describe a man, but he was. His blond hair was perfect. Not too long, but not short. And his eyes were such a lovely, striking shade of dark blue. She’d asked him once if they were contacts, but he’d sworn they were genetic.

Which made sense, because she’d seen pictures of his dad—a well-known judge on the island—and he had the same eyes.

“You are such a beautiful girl, Kenzie.”

Flattered, she gave him a slow smile and tossed her long red hair over her shoulder.

“You think so? You’re pretty handsome yourself, Mr. Charles Richland.”

He winked and reached out to hold her hand as he led her beneath a tree. The sun had set in the past half hour and a chill swept through her.

She knew why he’d brought her out here. To have some fun without the prying eyes of her family. Not that they could’ve stayed, the pub was switching over to the twenty-one and up crowd and she’d had to leave. She knew the rules.

So she’d taken him up on his suggestion to go outside and walk around, knowing it was pretty much a chance to take it to the making-out level with him.

And truthfully she was a little excited for it.

She wasn’t inexperienced; she’d dated and had a couple boyfriends. She was often told how pretty she was, especially when her body had begun developing early and her curves came in big time. Her virginity had left the building somewhere in her sophomore year of high school.

But Charles was different. He was a twenty-five-year-old man climbing the social ladder in life. Rich. Handsome. Many women chased after him, and yet he’d turned his interest her way.

“I’ve been waiting all night to get you alone, baby.”

He grabbed her around the waist, pulling her hard against him. His lips smashed down on hers, his tongue thrusting so deep she almost gagged.

When she finally escaped to grab some air, she was almost unnerved, but she took a deep breath and gave a shaky smile. She couldn’t blow this. Couldn’t afford to look like a nervous, immature girl who wasn’t even twenty yet.

“That was nice. We make a cute couple, don’t you think?” she asked, looping her arms around his neck.

“Couple? You got the wrong idea, baby. I already have a girlfriend in law school.” He nuzzled her neck and slid a hand up beneath her thin sweater to squeeze her breast painfully. “Thought I’d just fuck you a couple times for fun. It’s about time I tried a piece of this sexy Scottish ass I’ve heard so much about.”

What the hell? Had he truly said such complete shite? He had a girlfriend? Was hoping to sleep with her and toss her aside?

She blinked, fury spreading through her, and unwrapped her arms from his neck.

“Aye, well I think I’ve changed my mind. Perverted, cheating narcissists aren’t my type.”

Rage killing her buzz, she turned and walked away, but the hand that grabbed her hair jerked her back so hard tears sprang to her eyes.

She stumbled in her heels, falling back against him and crying out with fury.

“Let me go, you bloody—”

His hand slapped across her cheek, sending her head brutally to the side. The move wasn’t hard enough to leave a mark, but shocking enough to stun and incapacitate her for a moment.

And he took that instant to push her to the ground, hands everywhere, as he tried to push her skirt up above her waist.

She clawed, fought, screamed against the hand over her mouth, even as part of her wanted to deny what was about to happen. It couldn’t. She wouldn’t let it. Terror and adrenaline kicked in and she fought blindly with the instinct to get away. She may as well have been a mosquito up against a bear, and her fear only seemed to fuel his arousal. His strength.

Everything went hazy and dark for a moment as she retreated into herself mentally. She was brought back into reality when someone lifted her up off the ground.

It was her brother Ian, and before he rushed her into the pub, she was vaguely aware of Charles’s body lying bloody and lifeless on the ground.

Her head had been spinning. She’d been in such distress and shock that even with the relief of her family rushing to her side, her stomach heaved up all the vodka she’d drunk.

With questions being fired at her, the police being called, she curled up on the floor and faded into the darkness.

“It’s fucking freezing out here.”

At the sharp words, Kenzie blinked from her thoughts and glanced up to see Delonna stepping out of the bar.

“Hey, you okay? You look upset.”

“I’m fine,” Kenzie said quickly, shoving her hands in the pocket of her jeans. “Just a bit hungry. I’ve not eaten since before we left the house this afternoon.”

“Ah, yeah, seriously. I’m going to head back into the kitchen once you leave. See if there’s any meat pies left from the dinner special.” Delonna glanced her way. “So this sailor guy.”

“Brett.”

“Okay. Brett. You realize he’s not going out to meet you tonight just for the food, right?”

“I know.” Kenzie’s stomach did a little flip as she imagined exactly what Brett was after tonight. “It’s not likely he’s going to get it. From me at least.”

Reaching her car, she turned and gave Delonna a swift hug. “Thank you, sweets. If I don’t text you by midnight, call the police.”

“I’m pretty sure you’ll be fine.”

“Me too. I’ll be home tonight.”

Delonna arched a brow and pursed her lips. “You don’t need to, you know. You could go have fun.”