One More Round

by Shelli Stevens

  Aleck cleared his throat. “Uhmm…”

  “You just told a lie, and that’s totally not good.” She laughed and rolled her eyes, before skipping back to look at the tent full of goodies.

  “We’ve not told the lass yet, you daft idiot.”

  Aleck’s brows rose as he glanced between Ian and Sarah. “You haven’t? Any reason why?”

  “We wanted to give her an afternoon to get to know you all without any pressure,” Sarah explained. “To let her see what the McLaughlins were about.”

  Aleck grinned. “Beyond whisky and troublemaking you mean?”

  “Aye, beyond that.” Ian glowered at his brother. “We’ll tell her soon, though.”

  “I was thinking tonight would be good,” Sarah murmured.

  Ian hadn’t been sure she would be ready yet, but one glance in Sarah’s eyes showed her resolve.

  “Tonight? You’re sure?”

  “Yes. I’d like to have you back for dinner. Chicken Tikka Masala? It’s an Indian dish we love.” She lifted a shoulder in a shrug, an impish smile flitting across her face. “Though I cheated and made it in the crock pot this morning since I knew we’d be gone most of the day.”

  “It sounds amazing, and I would love to come back for dinner.”

  “Ian’s coming for dinner?” Emily bounded up to them again. “Awesome! My mom’s a good cook—you’re going to love it.”

  “I know I will.”

  “Did someone say Indian food?” Colin joined the group, rubbing his belly. “If so, how do I get an invite?”

  “You don’t.” Ian cast him a warning look.

  “And who are you?” Emily asked.

  “Are you teasing me already, kid? I’m your—”

  Ian drove his fist into his twin’s side. “Colin. This is Colin. He’s my brother.”

  “He looks exactly like you. Except you got that funny line running down the side of your face.”

  “Emily!” Sarah’s admonishment was laced with horror.

  Unfazed, Ian murmured, “Aye, I do. I was a naughty youth and found myself in more than one fight.”

  Emily’s eyes rounded. “Did you win?”

  “Some of them.”

  “But not that one, huh?”

  “Actually, yes, even this one. It’s hard to best me.” He broke off into a gasp as this time Sarah’s elbow drove into his side. When he glanced at her, her gaze clearly said it was time to shut up. “But fighting is bad. Quite bad, actually.”

  “Well duh. Everyone knows that. Except you, I guess.” Her nose crinkled. “I’m sorry you got hurt, though.”

  “Thank you, Emily. I try not to fight anymore.” His gut clenched as a dark memory threatened to surface.

  Colin squeezed his shoulder. “Aye, well sometimes there’s no choice, brother.”

  “You guys all talk funny. I can tell you’re related.”

  As are you, little one. He bit his tongue, knowing that little tidbit would come out tonight with just the three of them. It was bound to be emotional and surely Emily would have a bundle of questions.

  Colin seemed to have gotten the hint, just as Aleck had, that Emily hadn’t been informed yet.

  “We’ll let you be then,” Aleck said. “But why don’t you all join us for lunch tomorrow at the pub? Say, eleven, before it opens?”

  “Can I even go to a pub? Is that like a bar?” Emily asked.

  Ian laughed, surprised she knew what either was. But then she was ten, maybe he shouldn’t have been. “Yes, somewhat. During the day children are more than welcome to come and have lunch.”

  “Because at night the adults get drunk?” she asked. “That’s what Neil would do.”

  “Emily.” Sarah shook her head, and gave their daughter a warning glance. “That’s not appropriate.”

  Neil had been a drunk? Hmm. Ian scowled, and tried to meet Sarah’s gaze, but she wouldn’t look at him. This guy was sounding more and more like a piece of filth. Hadn’t Emily said something about him making Sarah cry too?

  “Sorry, Mom.” Emily looked at the ground, kicking her sneakered feet into the dirt.

  “So lunch at the pub tomorrow?” Ian confirmed. “That’ll work for me.”

  Sarah nodded. “Us too.”

  It was an unspoken acknowledgment that by then Emily would understand the McLaughlins were her family.

  “Great. Tomorrow at eleven then.” Aleck reached down and ruffled Emily’s hair. “Nice meeting you, kid.”

  If Emily was taken aback by Aleck’s gesture, her dismay grew visibly when Colin did the same thing and then winked at her.

  Then his two brothers disappeared back into the crowd. Who knew where Kenzie had vanished off to?

  Emily stared at their retreating backs. “I think I like them. But I’m not sure yet.”

  Ian laughed and resisted the urge to ruffle her hair too. Something about the two ponytails today made it so tempting.

  Glancing at Sarah, he asked, “Are you ready to head out?”

  She folded her arms across her chest, looking suddenly nervous. “Don’t you want to stay for the closing ceremonies?”

  “Generally, I’d say aye. But not today.”

  The truth felt like a heavy weight upon his shoulders, and more than anything he wanted everything out in the open. He wanted to be back in Sarah’s house, just the three of them. Enjoying a lovely dinner, and a much-needed conversation.

  Understanding flickered in her gaze, and she nodded. “Then we should go.”

  “Is it all right if I catch a ride with you? I drove with my brothers.”

  “Of course.” Sarah glanced over at Emily. “Ready, kiddo?”

  “Yeah. I wanna go practice my backward handsprings in the front yard again. That’s the best yard ever.”

  They made their way toward the entrance and had just left the fair grounds when someone stepped in front of their path.

  Son of a bitch.

  Knowing another confrontation was unavoidable, Ian faced it head on.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “What’s up, McLaughlin? You compete in the games?”

  Ian’s demeanor chilled a few dozen degrees. “MacGregor. Aye, I did. Though we’re just leaving now.”

  At the mention of “we” Curt’s attention switched to Sarah and Emily. He did a double take when he looked at Emily, before lifting his gaze and arching a brow at Ian.

  “I didn’t know you had a kid?”

  Sarah’s indrawn breath was clearly heard, and Ian balled his hands into fists. Anger pounded through his blood and he had to draw in a slow calming breath.

  A quick glance showed Emily slipping behind her mom, but clutching her hand. If Curt’s words had registered, she didn’t show it.

  Ian ignored the question. “We’re on our way out. If you’ll excuse us.”

  As they moved to walk by, Curt wrapped a beefy hand around Ian’s shoulder.

  “I need a minute of your time, bro.”

  Slowly, Ian pried each finger away. “I know what you need, MacGregor, and you should well be aware of my answer by this point.”

  “Well maybe I don’t like your answer.”

  “We’ll meet you at the car, Ian.” Sarah’s gaze slipped to the ground as she tightened her grip on Emily’s hand. “We’re near the front of the lot.”

  Once they were gone, Ian was done holding back. “I told you to leave me the fuck alone.”

  “There’s a few things I realized I forgot to sell you. I’ve got this big—”

  “We’re done, got it?” Ian lunged forward and grabbed the other man by the shirt. “You stay the hell away from me and my family.”

  Curt’s lips twisted into a sneer. “I knew that chick wasn’t just an acquaintance like you said. And you didn’t say nothing about a kid when we were serving time, bro.”

  “It’s not any of your business, and I’m not your bro.” Ian shook his head. “I’m done, MacGregor. I’ve come a long ways from the man I was back then. We’re clearly in different worl
ds now. Go your own path; I’ll go mine.”

  “This is fucking bullshit.”

  “Do you understand?”

  Curt was silent for a moment then grunted. “Yeah. I understand you’re stupid as hell to walk away from this kind of deal, but whatever. I’m done with this shit.”

  “Good.” Ian thrust the man away from him, then turned and walked away.

  He joined Sarah and Emily in the car a moment later. She started the car and didn’t say a word. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel so hard they were white, and her gaze stayed on the road in front of them as she drove out of the fairgrounds.

  He knew he needed to say something, because it was clear she was ill at ease with what had happened. “Sarah?”

  She shook her head. “Not now.”

  Did she intend to ignore him the hour drive home? Shite, it was going to be a long hour. He settled back against the seat and closed his eyes.

  How the hell was he going to convince her that MacGregor was a fluke in his life and she wouldn’t have to worry about him?

  Crap. He heaved a sigh and tried to calm his temper.

  “Ian, are you really my dad?”

  He stilled at Emily’s quiet, serious question. So she’d not only heard Curt’s assumption, but had taken the time to process it and consider it.

  Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, he stole a glance toward Sarah for how to proceed. Maybe she would know the best way to stall her until they got home. But she wouldn’t look at him.

  “Yes, Emily, he is.”

  Damn. She’d just blurted out the truth without even trying to communicate with him first. He didn’t look away from her—couldn’t figure out what the hell he could even say next. All he could do was wait for Emily’s response.

  *

  There was silence from the back seat and Sarah wondered if she should’ve just bitten her tongue and waited to tell Emily. But she’d already been so frustrated with what had just happened—that Emily had come face to face with that creepy friend of Ian’s—that when her daughter had flat-out asked if Ian was her dad Sarah had just spit out the truth.

  The choice hadn’t been hard. In the car right away? Or two hours from now over dinner? It wasn’t worth trying to stall her just so they could make this conversation go smoothly. Who knew if it would’ve gone smoothly anyway.

  Finally she stole a glance in the rearview mirror to check on her daughter.

  Emily was staring at the back of Ian’s head, a tiny crinkle between her brows that she knew Emily got from him.

  “Really?” she finally asked with suspicion. “Ian’s my dad?”

  Sarah gave a small nod. “Really.”

  “You’re not lying because I said he was nice?”

  Ian laughed at that. “We’re telling the truth, Emily. We actually planned to tell you when we got back to the house, but you’re so clever you figured it out beforehand.”

  Sarah gave a small and not so silent harrumph. Figured it out with the help of his no-doubt criminal friend.

  The quick look Ian gave her was filled with apology.

  “So is that why you came to Whidbey Island, Mom? To marry my dad?”

  Hearing the hopeful note in her daughter’s tone, Sarah tightened her grip on the steering wheel. Crap, this is not the direction she wanted to steer this conversation.

  “Honey, it’s like I first told you. I came back to work out the details of inheriting Gran’s house.” Sarah kept her voice patient and light, trying not to betray how deeply this topic shook her. “Ian and I bumped into each other again and have become friends.”

  “Why didn’t you get married when I was born? Why hasn’t he come and seen me before?”

  Because I never told him about you.

  Oh God. Hearing her daughter ask that question was hard enough, but seeing the pain on Ian’s face just compounded her guilt.

  “I…” She swallowed hard. “Because I…”

  “Your mother didn’t know if I was ready to be a father,” Ian said softly. “She made a decision she felt was best at the time. But the important thing is I’m here now, Emily. And more than anything I want to get to know you and be a part of your life. Are you all right with that?”

  Emily was silent for a moment and seemed to be weighing his words.

  “Yeah. I’m all right with that. How come I don’t look like you though?”

  “Oh but you do.” He turned again and pointed to his eyes. “You see? We both have the McLaughlin green eyes.”

  “Oh!” Her face lit up and she touched the corner of her eye. “Mom, did you know that? Your eyes are blue, but I have my dad’s. That’s so cool.”

  “Aye, it is pretty cool,” Ian replied sagely. “And you know, you also remind me of Kenzie when she was a child. You’re smaller, but you have some similarities.”

  “Kenzie.” Emily squealed and bounced in the seat. “That means Kenzie is my aunt, huh? She’s awesome.”

  “She is awesome. And that also means Colin and Aleck are both your uncles.”

  “Hey, so that man wasn’t lying when he said he was my uncle.” She sighed. “I owe him an apology, huh, Mom?”

  Sarah couldn’t help but laugh at the fact her daughter’s manners had come back at this moment.

  “Yes, you just might, honey.”

  There was silence again for a few minutes, before Emily let out a squeal of excitement that had obviously been building.

  “This is the best summer ever. I found out who my dad is and he’s way better than stupid Neil the stepdad.”

  She felt rather than saw Ian’s scrutinizing gaze on her. Emily had certainly dropped enough hints that while Neil had an honorable career in the navy, he wasn’t the best husband.

  They needed to talk later. They really had so much to chat about.

  *

  When they arrived home, Emily ran outside to practice gymnastics, leaving Sarah alone with Ian.

  They lingered in the kitchen where Sarah checked their dinner in the crockpot. Still at least another hour or so.

  “I’m sorry. About everything that happened, but especially about this afternoon.” He paused, seeming to search for the right words. “Curt MacGregor is someone I met while I served my prison time.”

  “I gathered.”

  Just hearing him say the words prison time had her stomach dropping to her feet. It was a harsh reminder about the man she’d fallen in love with—or really, the man she’d never stopped loving.

  He wasn’t perfect—he was at times dangerous as proven by the second-degree assault conviction.

  Was he as dangerous as Neil? Maybe not. The closest she’d seen Ian to being violent was when he’d learned about Emily. But even then he’d kept it restrained.

  “Curt and I were friends at one point,” he admitted, “but it was circumstance-driven. Our lives don’t mesh anymore. Our life goals are different. I’ve asked him to stay away.”

  “And what are your life goals?” She set the lid back on the crockpot and turned to stare at him.

  “I want to keep my shop’s success. Build upon it.” He sidled closer. “And I want you and Emily beside me. I want the chance to earn your love back, Sarah. You know that I’ve never stopped loving you.”

  A declaration of love. He’d given it as a teenager and her heart had swelled like a flooded river. But hearing it now, even though her heart took off at lightning speed, she couldn’t quite accept it at face value. How much of this declaration was from the fact that he wanted to be in Emily’s life? Why hadn’t he said it before he’d known about his daughter? Why now?

  “I’m bored.” The door slammed just after Emily came inside and uttered one of the most popular tween phrases.

  Sarah couldn’t have been more grateful for the diversion.

  “Go read a book.”

  “Hmm. No thanks. Can we walk down to town and go out on that dock again?” Emily asked, her gaze darting between Ian and Sarah. Obviously she was oblivious to any tension. “Please, I reall
y want to look for starfish.”

  Sarah shook her head. “Honey, I can’t right now. I need to make the saffron rice and heat up the naan.”

  “I don’t mind taking you,” Ian offered. “If you’d like to that is, and it’s all right with your mother?”

  She would have to get used to this, Sarah realized. He was her father. Even if her stomach knotted at the idea of sending Emily off alone with him. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him, she just feared the bonding time between the two.

  What if he won her over so completely Emily didn’t want to leave the island? To leave him?

  You don’t even want to leave Ian again. Would you blame her?

  “That’s fine,” she finally answered with a nod. “Behave yourself and listen to Ian, okay?”

  Emily made a woot of joy and grabbed Ian’s hand. “Come on…Dad. Oh my gosh that is so cool to say!”

  Sarah watched them leave the house, her heart a bit heavier. There was the crunch of tires in the driveway, and then she heard more chatter.

  A moment later Kenzie appeared in the doorway.

  “Knock, knock. Can I come in?”

  “Hey, you. Please do.” Sarah waved her inside.

  “I just swung by to drop off Emily’s sweatshirt. She left it the games while watching me dance.”

  “Oh, thank you.” She took the green Tinker Bell sweatshirt from her friend. “This is one of her favorites and she would’ve been bummed out. Hey, do you want to stay for dinner? Chicken Tikka Masala.”

  “No, but oh wow, girl. Save me some leftovers.”

  Sarah laughed. “You can just stay.”

  Actually, it would make her feel a bit more at ease having Kenzie here to break up the tension. Her earlier plan of just the three of them sounded a little more intense now.

  “Nope. I’m going to let your happy little family eat together and bond.” Kenzie’s face split into a grin. “I saw the father and daughter walking to the wharf together. Emily was holding his hand and chatting a mile a minute. It was so fantastically adorable.”

  And to think she’d been worried at one point that Emily might be upset by the discovery Ian was her dad.

  Kenzie tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “And yet, you don’t seem too thrilled. What’s going on?”