Fight Like You've Never Lost (Summer Lake #14) - S.J. McCoy Page 0,8

airport. I’m going to turn around and get the next flight home.

Okay.

Did you get me the info on the car?

I did.

Can I have it?

There was a long pause before he replied.

Are you safe to drive?

She frowned.

How much have you had to drink?

She glanced at the two empty bottles and the tiny bit remaining in her glass.

I’m guessing that your lack of response means more than you should if you’re going to drive up here. So …

She glared at her phone. A nasty sense of foreboding settling in her stomach.

I set up a car and driver. Since I figured you both might need a drink.

Leanne waited. But she already knew what was coming.

The ride up here will give the two of you more time to sort things out. Make your peace with each other.

She loved Dan dearly. He was one of her oldest and closest friends. But right now, he was at the very top of her shit-list and lucky that she couldn’t get her hands on him. She was going to throttle him just as soon as she could.

Talk to me?

She pursed her lips.

I really don’t want to. I’m not sure if I’ll ever want to talk to you again.

You can’t ignore me properly till you’re here. So, are you going to come?

She glanced over at Ryan.

Does he know about the car?

She watched his expression change as he opened a message. She understood when she looked down at her phone again.

He does now. See you when you get here.

Ryan turned to look at her. “Are you going to kill him, or should I?”

She shook her head. “What does he think he’s playing at?”

A warm fuzzy feeling filled her chest when he smiled. Damn him! Why hadn’t any other man ever been able to make her feel that way? She hated her face for smiling back at him. She didn’t want to, but she couldn’t stop it. She knew what he was thinking.

“Remember?”

She nodded. How could she ever forget?

Chapter Three

Nine years earlier

Leanne checked her watch and looked around as she paced back and forth at the top of the steps in front of the library. This wasn’t like Dan. He was usually early. She tended to be punctual herself, but if either of them was late it was usually her. Where was he? She blew out a sigh and went in through the doors; perhaps she’d misunderstood, and he was waiting for her inside. Nope. No sign of him.

She went back out and watched people come and go. Berkeley students were a mixed bunch. She didn’t feel like she fit in, but that wasn’t surprising. She’d never felt as though she fit in anywhere. Most of the students her age wore jeans and sweatshirts. Few of the girls wore makeup. There was no way she’d blend in with them—or want to. She was a full warpaint and heels kind of girl. It drew attention. A professor gave her a shame-faced smile when she caught him eyeing her chest as he made his way up the steps.

She knew she was a walking contradiction—drawing attention was the best way to remain invisible. People—especially men—saw the blonde with the big boobs and were incapable of seeing beyond that. Which meant that she—Leanne, the girl she really was—was safe and went unnoticed.

“Hey, Leanne!”

She looked up and felt heat flood her cheeks—and points farther south. Damn, he was sexy.

“Oh, hi, Ryan.” She smiled and waited for him to walk on and go inside. He didn’t.

“Have you seen Dan?”

She checked her watch again. “He’s late.”

Ryan smiled, and she felt her knees go weak—even though that was ridiculous and too cliché for words. “Good. I thought I was.”

She frowned. “You’re meeting him?”

He met her gaze. “Yeah. You too?”

Leanne’s heart raced. “I am. He didn’t tell me that you were coming.”

Ryan shrugged. She couldn’t help noticing how broad his shoulders were. Her heart was beating too fast and too loud. She had to get a grip. “He didn’t tell me that you were.”

She nodded and looked around again, wondering if she should make her excuses and go. This was supposed to be a study session. Dan had offered to help her out, but she didn’t think she’d be able to focus if Ryan was going to be there too. The man was far too distracting with all his muscles and that smile of his … there it went again.

“Do you mind?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Do you mind me being here?”

She shook her head. That was the trouble. She didn’t mind