River's End (River's End Series, #1)(101)

He had seen it all. She closed her eyes. Oh, so not cool. She blinked and drew in a breath. “You said you just came out here.”

He shrugged as his eyes left her again. He was done. She shook her head. He was truly the most frustrating person she ever dealt with. Reaching for the front doorknob, she started to head in, but his voice stopped her.

“Don’t be alone with him anymore. He’ll try it again.”

She stopped and turned slowly. Ian met her gaze for a split second before he swung his eyes away. “Drew is harmless.”

“He’s not harmless.”

She shook her head. He was so odd. She couldn’t begin to comprehend what he thought about anything, but this was the most he’d said to her in a month. What the hell? She snapped her spine up. “I wasn’t in the mood right now. I might be next time.”

Ian shook his head and pursed his lips, still avoiding eye contact. “And next time, he might not take no for an answer.”

“What’s it to you?”

“I don’t relish having to kill him.”

She stepped back and Ian didn’t turn his head. His gaze was still casually scanning the dark around them and his shoulders were slouched and relaxed. Her mouth popped open. Where did that come from? “Did you say kill him?” Her voice went high with surprised shock.

“If he refuses to take no for an answer.”

“You don’t even like me.” She clapped a hand over her mouth. She didn’t mean to let that out. But to discuss Ian killing her boyfriend? It was the weirdest, strangest conversation she’d ever engaged in.

His gaze traveled over her and settled on her face. “I like you just fine.”

She scoffed. “Yeah, as your housekeeper.”

“Fine. Then as my housekeeper, I won’t let you be treated like that. So stay away from Drew and spare us all the ordeal. He will try again.”

“Maybe I’ll want to.”

“Then do so. But make sure you already have that decided before you get into his car. Because after that, he won’t take no next time.”

“How would you know that?”

“Because I know him. I don’t like him.”

She shook her head. “Who do you like, Ian? I’m sure I don’t know anyone you even associate with.”

He held her stare and was silent for a long moment. His silence made the air feel heavy. It was abnormal to not try and fill the uncomfortable pauses. What was wrong with him?

“You.”

She stepped back. “Me? What?”

“Don’t be reckless. Goodnight.”

He spun on his heel, lightly taking the steps before swinging his legs over his four-wheeler. The Rydells often rode up on the ATVs or their horses to hang out here. He gunned the motor, switched the headlight on, and started down the track that crisscrossed up the hill and separated their place from the Rydells. Her mouth was still open. Hanging. She was what? Totally shocked and freaked out. She must have misheard him. Or misunderstood him. She, well, she didn’t even really follow their conversation. His apathetic conversational skills didn’t leave much too clear. He could not have meant he liked her. So what then?

She shook her head, literally trying to shake off his intense, strange, but almost flattering concern for her. It was concern, wasn’t it? What he’d been trying completely, albeit inadequately, to convey. She stepped into the front room. The light, aluminum door opened into the worn vinyl of three-foot entryway, which led into the box-like kitchen, or the small living room. She started to enter and immediately drew up to her full height. Shane was there. Ian had come with Shane. A sigh escaped her lips.

Shane had his arm loosely draped over Lauren Townsend. She lived up the valley about twenty miles. She was older than Kailynn, and nice enough, but Kailynn had to grit her teeth to keep from frowning in agony. Why did Shane always have a girl?

“Hey, Melon head, lucky date?” her brother, Caleb, asked, his speech slurred. He lay across the couch, with a hand over his forehead. Jordan sat on the floor, playing a video game. He didn’t look up or bother to notice her. Another girl, whom she didn’t know, sat rubbing Caleb’s leg, way too close to his crotch. Gross. As if she needed a visual demonstration of her brother’s sex life. She spun into the kitchen to grab a diet pop. “It was fine.”

Shane raised a hand up. “Beer me, Lynnie.”

Heat filled her cheeks. He didn’t raise his head to look her way, but just asked her. She quickly grabbed a can out of the new twelve-pack. No doubt, Shane brought it there. He often supplied it for her brothers. They couldn’t afford it most of the time, and Shane could. She walked over to him, trying to strut, while concentrating on not falling. Shane didn’t look up, and was actively watching Jordan’s video game as he hooted and groaned over its progress. He didn’t even pause when she handed him the can, but cracked it open and started chugging. He strained his neck, making his message clear: she was standing in his way.

She stepped back and turned around before retreating to her room. She didn’t want to watch Shane with Lauren. Her dad’s door was shut, as always. He was usually asleep at seven, and never worried about her. There was no curfew, and never had been. There was no one who noticed when or if she even came home.

Except Ian. He most definitely noticed. She threw her sweatshirt on the bed and kicked her shoes off. What was that about? Her own brothers even assumed she was off getting laid. Had Ian noticed the headlights coming into the driveway? Was it an accident or was he deliberately out on the porch?