The internal door to our quiet side of the pub creaks as it swings open. Without the band playing, I hear every sound as Shane’s boots tread across the old wooden floor.
My breath halts. The handcuffs attached to his belt glint in the afternoon sun shining through the window. I pull my jumper away from my neck, needing some air.
Fern turns around, following my gaze.
Shane stops walking towards us when he sees Fern, leaving a table distance between them. “Fern.” He nods at her, forcing a smile.
“Hi.” Fern’s eyes roam over his black tie tucked under his police vest where the radio’s clipped, then down to the buckle on his belt. “Speak of the devil, and he’s sure to appear.”
Shane chuckles. “I thought my ears were burning.”
I butt-in before he gets the wrong idea, or the right one. “We were just talking about how nice it was that you paid for Mum’s care package.” I kick Fern under the table and smile at Shane.
Fern says, “Yes thank you for doing that, but you didn’t?—”
Shane clears his throat. “I wanted to. She was like a mother to me.”
Tension crackles between the three of us, the room becoming incredibly hot. “What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to change the subject before he realises what we were actually talking about.
“There was some trouble at the bar last night with some bikers. I just came to see Draven, check everything’s okay.” He scratches the back of his neck, watching me fan myself with the opening of my jumper at my collarbone.
My nipples pebble under his heated gaze and a prickly heat rises in my chest. I wonder if he feels it, too. Unless, of course, I’m losing my mind and he isn’t my shadow and is probably thinking I’m coming down with some sort of fever.
His tongue runs along his top teeth, poking at the chipped tooth there. The same tongue that was teasing my ass.
Heat floods my face and I’m grateful for my full coverage foundation. I’m sure underneath I’m the colour of beetroot right now as I’m transported back to last night.
Fuck me, this is torturous. Especially as my sister sits between the two of us. The tension stretches between us like a dark cloud. My pulse pounds, thumping in my ears and my breaths come in shallow bursts as if all the oxygen is sucked from the room.
Shane’s radio crackles, breaking the stifling void of silence. Voices come through about an incident elsewhere. Shane clears his throat. “I better get back to work. Good to see you, Fern.” He nods at me. “Lilly.” Then he walks away, those handcuffs secured at the side of his belt.
I relax back against my seat and knock back what’s left of my drink.
Fern gazes at me wide-eyed as if she’s uncovered the secret of the holy grail. “Oh my. You could cut the tension in here with a knife.”
My fingers wrapping around my empty glass, I brace myself for an onslaught of questions.
Eyes wide and palms flat against the table, Fern says, “I didn’t want to believe it, but he clearly still has feelings for me.” She shakes her head. “It all makes sense why he’s never settleddown with anyone else.” She reaches over the table and squeezes my hand. “That’s why he paid for Mum’s care.”
I gulp, mirroring her wide eyes. I’m not sure what’s worse, her knowing I have feelings for him, or her reigniting her feelings for him. Unable to speak, I give her a sheepish smile. She can think what she likes as long as long as they don't get back together, or find out the truth. Whatever that may be.
27
SHANE
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Lilly. Our night together is still at the forefront of my mind, but she’s been on nights this week, and I’ve been on days and other than texting, we’ve not had time to see each other in person or on a live.
Until tonight.
She thinks I’m working, but I couldn’t resist surprising her. I’m sick, craving her next orgasm like an addict craves his next fix. I’m no better than her brother, reduced to an animal with a hunger that can’t be satiated.
With my handcuffs clipped to my belt and a blindfold in my pocket, I use the spare key I have to let myself in at this late hour. My boot creaks the floorboard in her hall. I should get Kane to fix that, but this whole house creaks and groans as if it has a life of its own.
Gripping the bannister with my leather gloved hand, I’m about to take the first tread on the staircase when I hear voices from the living room. I slink down her hall, keeping my back against the wall, lifting the balaclava mask at the side to hear better.
“I don’t care if she’s your son’s mother. I refuse to believe anything that comes out of Jodie’s mouth. She knows you’re a good man and will help her. She’s using you.”
“You don’t know her, Lil. She’s telling the truth.”
