Page 26 of Alaskan Blackout
“Of course he won’t,” Clay said so quickly that she knew he must mean it. “I know you’d never do anything to give me away. But Quinton is—I don’t know what you’d call him. A technology savant? The guy could probably hack a bank if he wanted to, so if he’s set his mind to finding me...”
Not finishing the thought, Clay cursed instead.
Guilt weighed heavily on her.
She bit her lip, unable to squelch the memory of Quinton’s kindnesses to her. His promise to help her prosecute her bastard ex. “Would that really be so terrible?”
She understood why he’d hated his father. But why would he resent his siblings so deeply that he wanted nothing to do with any of them?
“For me? Right now? Yeah, it really would be.”
Anxiety made her shoulders tense. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Yes. Don’t talk to him. And I’m going to ditch this phone, so it might be a week or so before I can call again.”
Her nerves tightened more at the thought of seeing Quinton again. Maybe he wouldn’t want to talk to her anyhow. But given the news that she might have to share once she picked up a pregnancy test...
“But Clay—”
“Kenna, I’ve got to get on top of this,” he said quickly, no room for interruption. “Thanks for the heads-up and I’ll call as soon as I can.”
A moment later, the call disconnected.
Leaving McKenna worried and alone on the deck of theUn-Reel,an uneasy feeling stirring faster than any wind. She retrieved her rucksack and dumped her keys into it, knowing she needed to pick up a pregnancy kit before she went home, no matter how weary she felt. But just as she was stepping off the deck and onto the dock, the sound of footsteps echoed in the darkness before a familiar tall form stepped beneath one of the pier lights.
Her mouth went dry as Quinton came into view a few yards away, walking toward her.
“Hello, McKenna.”
His voice stole her breath, the sound reminding her of all the times he’d whispered or shouted her name during the unforgettable night they’d shared. A shiver tripped through her.
And for the first time in her life, she knew she wouldn’t be able to follow through on something her stepbrother had asked of her.
She couldn’tnottalk to Quinton.
Then again, until her suspicions about a pregnancy were confirmed one way or another, she didn’t have any intention of broaching the subject that was very much on her mind.
So she pasted on her best placid smile and told herself to play it cool. After all, hedidpractically leave tracks in his rush to leave her the day after the storm.
“Hi yourself, Cowboy.” She didn’t bother slowing down to speak to him though, no matter how much she’d missed him.
No matter how much she’d ached for him during the long two weeks and three days apart.
Pointing her feet toward the parking lot, she kept right on walking.
Standing under the buzzing fluorescent streetlamp at the end of the quay, Quinton supposed he shouldn’t be surprised at the decidedly lackluster reception from McKenna.
He’d been the one to put the brakes on their relationship after the night they’d spent together, so maybe it was no wonder that she breezed right past him after two and a half weeks apart. Was there a chance she didn’t feel the same staggering draw between them that rocked him back on his heels even now? Breathing in the salty damp air and hoping for a hint of her scent after she’d walked past, Quinton wanted her so badly it hurt.
Grinding his teeth against a surge of possessiveness that he’d never experienced for any other woman, he told himself to pull it together. Because there was a whole lot that remained unresolved between them no matter how she felt about him now.
“McKenna, please wait.” He caught up to her in a few steps, dodging a couple of teens taking photos of themselves holding huge crabs from their day’s catch.
Shifting a black rucksack on her shoulder, she slowed her step as she turned toward him. In dark jeans and a thick gray fisherman’s sweater that didn’t hide her curves, she was windblown, makeup free, and drop-dead gorgeous. Her thick auburn hair had been braided with a bright pink ribbon, the silky fabric weaving in and out of the plaits.
“I’m surprised to see you here.” Her face was half in shadow as they moved away from the last streetlamp and headed toward the parking area. But her blue eyes were shrewd, missing nothing as they ran over him. “I had the sense you would be leaving town when we last spoke.”
A light mist of rain began to fall as he recalled the uncomfortable conversation the morning after the blackout. He’d never said he was leaving Dutch Harbor in so many words, but he could understand why she’d thought as much given his behavior. He’d been quick to assure her he would still send her the information she needed to prosecute her cyber harasser, hadn’t he? No wonder she’d assumed he wouldn’t be in her life by the time she came back to town.