But even though he smiled, his eyes were frigid emerald stones that pierced deep. They were potent enough to shatter her heart all over again.
He tilted his head and murmured, “Welcome back to Whidbey Island.”
Ian made sure the shock riding through his system wasn’t evident on his face. He draped an arm on the open door and stared down at her.
Sarah was here. On the island. Fuck it all.
How long had it been? A decade? No, more. Eleven years, almost exactly.
Eleven years since she’d up and left without so much as a good-bye.
As a teenager she’d been pretty. He knew her exotic looks came partly from her grandmother, who had come from India to marry an American soldier. Sarah had silky, black hair that had almost reached her waist—God he’d loved to touch that hair. And her flawless skin with a hint of olive that he’d spent so much time kissing. But then there were her eyes. Cloudy, blue pools of emotion that had never failed to make him trip over his tongue a little. And he wasn’t the type to stutter.
Her body back then had been petite and thin, with just a bit of curve. But now… She was still thin, but not quite as skinny. A quick glance at the pink T-shirt she wore showed breasts that seemed fuller. The blood in his body pounded a little harder, because those tits had already been pretty damn amazing before. To think of that—
“Rawlings.”
Jerking his mind off the dirty road it had wandered down, he arched a brow at the thread of hostility in her tone.
“What’s that you say, doll?”
“It’s Sarah Rawlings now.”
The memory of how amazing her breasts had felt in his hands—not to mention his mouth—disappeared as her words penetrated.
“That’s right.” He gave a slow nod, not happy with the stab of something dark inside him. “I heard you got married. Had a kid.”
“I did. But then, that’s what responsible people do when they grow up. They settle down, maybe have a family.” Her tone was indicative of someone talking to a child, and her smile was just condescending enough to make his teeth snap together.
“Aye? And how’s that working out for you?” The taunting words were out before he could stop them.
Her eyes went wide, shock and hurt reflecting in their depths, before she seemed to school her expression again. Her delicate shoulders lifted in a stiff shrug.
“It didn’t.” She slid her gaze away from him and stared out the windshield. “I’m divorced now.”
“Hey.” Kenzie appeared at his side, tugging on his shirtsleeve. “You know I love you, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Ian. But you’re being a total asshole, so leave her alone already.”
“Just getting reacquainted,” he drawled and pulled his arm off the door. “Now, you said something about a tire needing changing?”
The minute his arm was off the door, Sarah jerked it closed and he couldn’t stop a chuckle when the lock clicked.
Almost as if she were afraid of him. He couldn’t really blame her. Maybe he was being a bit of a bastard.
Kenzie glared at him, hands on her hips. “Are you daft? I specifically asked Aleck to come help me, not you.”
“And he fully intended to come help you, until Old Man Cooper picked a fight with a sailor. I wasn’t busy, so he asked me if I’d mind coming to your rescue.”
His sister sighed, but the fury in her gaze diminished some and she gave a terse nod.
Because she bartended at the pub, she knew exactly who Dwayne Cooper was. A bit loud, but usually harmless, the elderly man was a regular at McLaughlin’s Pub. He loved to boast of his Scottish roots—especially when he’d been drinking—and would engage anyone willing in a verbal debate over anything and everything. The man seemed to think he was twenty-five, not seventy-five.
“You should’ve sent Colin then.” She mentioned Ian’s twin brother’s name with a grumpy tone that indicated she still wasn’t pleased.
“The man is busy being a sheriff’s deputy.” Ian moved past her to his car, and plucked a tire from the backseat. “Besides, why are you so worried about Sarah and I running in to each other? We’re both grown adults.”
Kenzie snorted, folding her arms across her chest. “You think so, do you? Is that why you had to throw that taunt in her face about her marriage failing?”
Her words hit home, evoking guilt, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he moved past her to return to her car and begin changing her tire.
“I know things didn’t end well for you guys.” She stayed on his heels, the move so familiar from when they’d been growing up.
Though instead of begging for sweets or money as she had when she was a child, now she scolded him.