Good Girl Gone Plaid(47)

There was a story there, but obviously Kenzie wasn’t about to get into it. Not now anyway. Sarah tucked away that little tidbit of info.

“Sure.” She nodded slowly and gave her friend a reassuring smile. “I’m actually pretty hungry myself.”





After work Ian walked from his shop to Sarah’s house since it was only a few minutes away.

But when he spotted Kenzie’s car in the driveway, he hesitated.

Hell. He didn’t really want an audience for this whole apology scenario he had in his head. But then again, maybe it would help to have her there. She could be a diffuser to the situation. Ensure he wouldn’t try to jump Sarah’s bones again, because that would just be awkward with his sister watching.

After knocking on the front door a few times and getting no response, Ian dug his cell from his pocket and sent his sister a text to find out where they were.

She replied back a moment later saying they’d walked into town to have dinner out on the wharf. And why did he want to know where she was anyway?

He gave a slight smile and shook his head. Shite. Maybe the apology would have to wait.

Shoving his phone back into his pocket, he turned to walk back down the porch steps. The car that turned into the driveway slowed him down.

Chevy Sedan. A few years old. Looked like a rental. It came to a stop a few feet away.

With the sun behind the car, it wasn’t easy to make out the driver, but she emerged a minute later.

Eleven years had passed, and Ana Thornton had barely aged. Maybe a few more wrinkles and some gray hairs in her short bob, but Sarah’s mother could almost pass as her older sister.

Uncertain of how she’d react to seeing him, he hesitated on the porch, thrusting his hands into the back pockets of his jeans.

“Ian McLaughlin.” She took a cautious step forward. “Is that you? Or am I confusing you with Colin?”

“You had it right the first time.” A faint smile tugged at his lips and beneath his discomfort there was a familiar fondness for Sarah’s mom. “You look well, Ana.”

“And you’re a good liar, but thank you. I’m sure I look about as awful as I feel after traveling all day, I guess.” She grimaced and glanced past him toward the house.

“Has your husband come with you?” he asked mildly, trying not to let his expression turn bitter with the words.

The idea of seeing Sarah’s dad made his gut clench, but he’d face the man if needed. He’d never been one to walk away from a confrontation.

“No.” Her lashes fluttered down. “Ed died from a heart attack three years ago.”

Now he struggled to hide his shock. Ed had passed away? Sarah had never mentioned it since her return.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured a bit lamely.

“Thank you.” She gave a brief smile and glanced up again, looking past him. “Are you…spending time with Sarah?”

“No. Well, aye. A bit.” He paused. “I didn’t realize you were coming out.”

Guilt flickered in Ana’s eyes before she cleared her throat. “No. Neither does Sarah.”

Really? Sarah had no idea her mother was coming to Whidbey? Now that was going to be a shock and a half.

The sound of another car door opening had his attention shifting beyond Ana.

He stilled at the sight of the small girl exiting the vehicle. Sarah’s daughter. No doubt about it.

“Emily, I asked you to wait in the car.”

The little girl shrugged, her pretty face—so much like her mother’s—crinkled into a scowl.

“I was bored in there. And I feel sick, Grandma. We’ve been driving for too long.”

She was Sarah’s mini-me. Her hair wasn’t quite as dark as Sarah’s, maybe a little more brown than black, but it was long and shiny just like her mother’s. She was adorable and delicate in her denim shorts and a pink glittery tank top with matching sparkly pink sunglasses.

“We drove here straight from Sea-Tac,” Ana explained. “Before that we had about five hours on a plane.”

“Understandable. That’s a long time to travel.”

Shite this was a trip. Sarah’s daughter was here, standing right in front of him. Staring up at him with blatant curiosity, her hands on her hips.

“Where’s my mom?”

“Umm, she’s gone for a walk.”

“I don’t understand why people walk for fun. Who are you?”

And here came the questions.

“Ian.”

“I’m Emily. Sarah’s my mom.”

“So I gathered.”

“Are you friends with her?” She continued, barely taking a breath. “Did you know she’s single now? She can date.”

Christ. How old was this little matchmaker again? He could feel the heat in his neck as he struggled to answer that question. Children were just filterless little explosives, weren’t they?