But it didn’t matter. He needed to taste her again. Touch her. And if it had to be a stolen kiss while she was drugged to the hilt, then whatever.
Ian blinked away the memory as he turned the corner that eased into Oak Harbor.
Only as the days had gone by and she’d eased off the pain meds, Sarah hadn’t seemed to regret the kiss or make any attempt to distance herself from him.
He’d followed her around school, carrying her books while she’d hobbled on crutches. He was late to almost every class—not that that was anything new. Just the reasons for it had changed.
For once the temptation to actually go to class—and chance passing her in the hall—had been stronger than skipping.
They’d been together non-stop, and when they couldn’t be together physically, they were sneaking in phone calls and expensive texts.
And the crazy thing was, she wouldn’t sleep with him—and he’d never been the type of guy who waited around for sex when plenty of girls were willing.
But he did wait for her. And as cliché as it was, the night they finally made love was after his prom that she’d talked him into attending. She’d been a virgin and there’d been something heady and primitive about being her first. He’d wanted to be her last. Couldn’t imagine his life with any other girl.
And once the sexual seal was broken after that night, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Were together as much as they could be.
Looking back on it now, he knew without a doubt it wouldn’t have been long before he started thinking about ring shopping. At eighteen. Christ, he’d been stupid.
Because one night had proven it all a lie. Everything he’d believed about her—about himself—was proven wrong.
One night was all it took to slice Sarah neatly from his life.
He pulled his Camaro up outside the pub a few minutes later and stared at the propped open door and the darkness inside.
Maybe he was stupid for coming here today—actually, there was no denying he was. If he had any sense, he’d throw the car in reverse and get the hell back to Coupeville. Stay away from Sarah and all the trouble she was.
But he’d never had much sense, so why the hell start now?
Spotting the car that pulled up beside him, he gave a wave and climbed out of the Camaro.
Sarah set her glass of wine back on the bar to avoid spilling it as she snorted back a laugh.
“You are so funny, Kenzie.” She shook her head and grimaced. “Some things never change.”
Her friend gave an innocent shrug, her eyes wide. “What? I’m not trying to be funny. I’m just telling you about my last date. Seriously. How would you have reacted if you showed up to dinner and the guy asked to be addressed as Mr. Pleasure Hands?”
“Umm, I’d have walked out.”
“And I’d rather not hear any of this, thank you very much,” Aleck drawled from behind the counter and shook his head. “And, Kenzie, I believe your break is over now. Or rather, a half hour ago?”
“Such a hardass.” She rolled her eyes and hopped down from the barstool. But when she rounded the bar she pressed a smacking kiss on her brother’s cheek. “Thanks for the extended lunch, Aleck.”
“You’re welcome, kid.”
Sarah bit back a sigh at how sweet the siblings were together. Aleck had always been nice, though. Colin too, even if she didn’t know him all that well, only that he was the more well-behaved twin. While Ian loved to get in trouble, Colin was likely off doing some good deed.
Both had been equally charming with the girls, though.
“Ah shite.”
The muttered curse had Sarah glancing up at Aleck. His mouth was compressed into a line of displeasure, and his wary gaze was on the doorway.
Crap. Her heart sank and she knew who’d just entered the pub without turning around.
“You can’t be serious,” Kenzie joined in with a growl.
Yup. Sarah snuck a quick glance to the door, and even though the sunshine behind him turned him into a silhouette, she’d be able to pick his form out of a lineup any day.
Only Ian wasn’t alone. A busty blonde in tiny shorts and a skintight tank proclaiming her Satan’s Bitch, clung to his arm.
Ouch. It shouldn’t have hurt. It’d been eleven years since she’d considered Ian hers. That was over a decade to dump the immediate emotional response at seeing him.
And yet, not really. Seeing Ian’s latest lover clinging to him hurt just as much as if Sarah and he had broken up the day before.
But she was damn careful so that he wouldn’t see any pain in her eyes.
“Serious about what, little sis?” Ian moved slowly into the bar, his stride almost a swagger and his smile a taunt. “Just came for a bit of a lunch, if you don’t mind.”