Rachel Brimble - A Stranger In The Cove

Good looks and even better bodies were not to be trusted. This guy could be just as much of a cheater as her ex. Even more so, if his terse manner was anything to go by. So why did she want to keep looking at him?

He leaned his elbow on the bar and faced her. “So...” He took a sip of his drink. “Do you live around here?”

Feigning nonchalance, she sat straighter on her stool and put forth as much of a welcoming attitude as she could. It wasn’t this stranger’s fault he’d briefly—very briefly—attracted and intrigued her in one very dangerous blow. “Yes.”

He lifted his eyebrows. “That’s all I get?”

“That’s all you get.” She held his unwavering gaze. His voice was rich and deep and had the same warming effect on her as a shot of whiskey on a cold night. “That is, until I know a little more about you. Your name would be a good start.”

He drank. “Mac. Orman.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

He studied her for a moment before he took a drink. “So, what else do you want to know?”

Her gaze dropped involuntarily to his mouth, most likely betraying her nonchalance. She shifted on her seat and lifted her eyes to his. “Why don’t we start with what brought you to the Cove?”

The seconds ticked by, his blue eyes darkening.

Kate’s nerves whispered with tension. “Was that not a good question to start with?”

He flitted his focus to the band once more. “I’m here on business.”

She frowned. “In Templeton?”

“It’s as good a place as any, isn’t it?”

She hazarded a guess that his cold tone was meant to make her believe it was no big deal why he was in Templeton. Little did Mr. Bad Boy know, she was blessed—or sometimes cursed—with the ability to read between the lines and notice when something wasn’t quite right with a situation. Her senses pinged to high alert with this guy, at the stiffness in his body, his clenched jaw and, quite frankly, his whole defensive demeanor.

She eyed him over the rim of her glass. “You don’t strike me as the type to have work in a small town. You have city nightlife, city women and city trouble written all over you.”

He faced her. “Why trouble? Because of the way I’m dressed? The fact I’m in a bar on my own?” He shook his head. “Give a guy a break, won’t you?”

She fought to keep her cool and shrugged. “You seem, I don’t know, a little guarded, that’s all.”

“Is that right?” Another sip of his drink. “Then why don’t we talk about you?”

She frowned. “What about me?”

“Well, I know your name’s Kate. I know you work at a charity. Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why a charity? Why that charity?”

“Does it matter?”

“No, but I wanted to see how open you are to sharing with strangers, seeing as you’re expecting so much from me.” He lifted his beer and looked around the bar. “As I thought. None of my business. Like why I’m in town is none of yours.”

She narrowed her eyes as she glared at his profile. “Fine.”

Vanessa reappeared and slapped a ledger on the bar. “Wow, we are fully booked for Saturday, Kate. It’s going to be a good one, judging by the people traveling in from out of town.” She glanced at Mac and frowned. “I know I promised you a double room if one became free, but are you okay with a single until after the weekend?”

He shrugged. “Sure. Can’t see any reason I’ll need a double.” He glanced at Kate, and the first semblance of a smile lifted his lips. “At least not for the first week.”

Her mouth dropped open, but nothing quick or smart emerged.

He faced Vanessa. “Where do you recommend I go for breakfast tomorrow?”

Concern flitted into her gaze. “You haven’t enjoyed the breakfast here?”

“It was fine, but I want to venture out. Discover a bit more about this little town.”

Little town? Kate shifted. The derogatory way he referred to the Cove niggled.

“Well, there are some good cafes on the seafront, a bakery if you want some ridiculously delicious pastries and superb coffee. Other than that, the Christie offers full English, but they’re kind of pricey.”

He sipped his beer. “Great. Thanks.”

Kate drained her drink. Suspicion whirled inside her about this man and his motives for being here. Mac Orman brimmed with confidence. His whole character screamed that he knew where he was going and what he was doing.

Yet, something about his cold gaze told her he wasn’t quite as self-confident as he made out. If his interest in the fund-raiser was anything to go by, he could be the caring type.

He nodded toward his empty glass. “Could I get another one of those?”

Vanessa picked it up. “Sure.”

“And one for the lady.”

Kate flinched. “Me?”

He nodded, his gaze steady on hers.

Damned if the man thought he could faze her. She lifted her chin. “A rum and Coke would be great. Thanks.”

Vanessa grinned. “You’re so funny, Kate. As transparent as a sheet of glass.” She shook her head. “I’ll go grab those drinks.”

Kate shot a glare at Vanessa’s turned back before taking a deep breath and facing Mac. She forced her mind to the matter at hand rather than wondering if he was ever going to take off his leather jacket so she could see what was underneath. “What sort of work are you in?”

“Work?”

“You said you were here on business.”

“Business, yes. Work, no.”

Kate frowned. “What does that mean?”

“It means I have business with someone.”

The band finished, and he clapped, his gaze shrewd as he stared at the trio. “Are they local?”

Perplexed and more than a little frustrated by his change of subject, Kate glanced toward the band. “No, but they play here every other month, or thereabouts.” She studied his profile, her unease intensifying. “So, this someone is who brought you here...to this little town?”

Vanessa slid their drinks on to the bar. “Right. I’ll leave you two alone. I need to get some work done before that husband of mine bursts a blood vessel.” She leaned closer to Mac and lowered her voice. “He’s always a little overly suspicious of the good-looking guys who come in here. He’s got a bark like a Doberman, but he’s as soft as a teddy bear. Just don’t tell him I told you that.”

Vanessa walked away, and Kate studied Mac’s turned cheek.

“To answer your question...” He picked up his drink. “I’m looking for someone.”

Inexplicable protectiveness wound through her for the people in the Cove. “Who?”

“That’s not really something you need to know.”

Her senses screamed with warning as he faced the band once more, his jaw tight as he watched them pack up their gear.

“It’s personal.”

His clipped, no-nonsense tone stopped further words from spilling from her too often unstoppable lips. She snapped her mouth closed.

The atmosphere was strained between them, and her mind raced as she ran her study over his neck and shoulders. Would he bring trouble to town? Looking to wreak some kind of vengeance? To right a wrong? He certainly bore the expression and stance of someone incredibly pissed about something.

Her best friend, Izzy, often accused Kate of running full-throttle and letting her overactive imagination leave her sanity behind. Yet, she couldn’t ignore the foreboding running through her. Her past made her suspicious. She didn’t like people making judgments. Assuming things when they had no idea. But she was doing exactly that with Mac. He wasn’t to blame for her ex. For her mother. For her sister.

She drained her drink, wincing as she swallowed. She needed to get out of here before Mac said anything else. She needed to leave the guy the hell alone. “Okay, well, it was nice to meet you. I’d better get home. I have a full day tomorrow.”