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Resisting the urge to look behind her, Tanya waited. She had to do this. Caroline and Jay were only the first of many who would surely ask why she was back and for how long. Her mother had warned her how hard it would be to convince people she wanted so much more now than just a high-flying banking career. Her previous hunger for money and power had bruised a few egos and broken some dreams. She had a lot of making up to do.
Somehow, she would find a way to prove to the people who remembered her that she no longer bulldozed through everything and everyone who got in the way of her ambition. She’d changed. Her mistakes and their consequences had altered her beyond anything anyone might assume they saw on the surface.
Tanya cleared her throat. “Look, I’m back for good if my plans for my new business work out, so—”
“New business?” Caroline raised her eyebrows as she met Tanya’s gaze. “In Templeton?”
Tanya frowned. “Yes. What’s going on, Caroline? Do you really have that much of a problem with me being here? I know I upset a few people in town, but I thought you and I—”
“We’re fine.”
“Then why—”
“Is it just a drink you want? Or shall I grab you a table when one becomes free?” Caroline shot yet another anxious look toward the door. “Unless you want to try somewhere else? I think it’ll be a while before I can seat you.”
Something wasn’t right. Tanya remembered Caroline greeting friends and strangers with the exact same warmth. The Caroline Tanya knew broke her back seating anyone and everyone who came into the restaurant.
“I’ll wait.” Tanya turned to see what was constantly snagging Caroline’s attention and making her jumpier than a cat being stared down by a hungry canine.
Her heart stopped.
Liam Browne’s unwavering gaze locked on hers and Tanya’s heart turned over. Slowly, he stood but made no move toward her. Her stomach knotted, even as instantaneous attraction stole into her blood. If possible, he looked stronger, more handsome and even more quietly capable than he had eight years ago. Age had enhanced, rather than diminished, his dark, serious looks. The addition of his dark-rimmed glasses, longer hair and clean-shaven jaw made her fingers itch to touch him.
This was bad. Really bad.
She snapped her gaze from his and slid from the stool. “I think I’ll try another restaurant, after all.”
Caroline nodded, her gaze soft. “Might be for the best.”
The hint of sympathy in Caroline’s voice brought the smallest hope of a lifeline that forgiveness might not be the impossibility Tanya feared. She forced a smile. “Well, I hope to see you again soon.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Hitching her bag onto her shoulder, Tanya approached Liam, trepidation ricocheting through her. What choice did she have but to talk to him? If she walked out without a word, things would only be harder the next time they met—and there would most definitely be a next time in a place as small as Templeton.
His shoulders straightened beneath his crisp white shirt as she neared. The music seemed to grow in volume, the beat matching her footsteps and the banging of her heart. When she was a safe distance away from him, Tanya stopped. “Hi.”
His crystal-blue gaze bored into hers, his jaw tight and his mouth a thin line. The burning stares of the other patrons pricked at her skin, making her want to turn and face each of them down.
When it was clear Liam had nothing to say to her, Tanya inhaled. “Right, well, I guess I’ll see you around, then.”
“Wait.”
She halted with her back to him. Let me go, Liam. Please. She briefly closed her eyes, before opening them and facing him. “What?”
“Why don’t you join me?” He waved toward the empty seat at his table. “It’s...good to see you.”
Tanya glanced at the seat, at him and then around the restaurant. Familiar faces swam in front of her. Faces she remembered from a different life, a different time. Kevin and Nick. Bianca and Ella. All people she should’ve known would still be here. People who thought they knew her and her mother but never really did.
She snatched her gaze back to Liam. “Maybe another time. I’ve got to go. I’ll see you soon.”
“Where are you staying?”
“Sasha’s. Look, I’m sorry.” She raised her hands, warding him off. “I can’t do this now.”
She moved to walk away and he gripped her wrist. Tanya’s pulse quickened beneath his fingers. He stared deep into her eyes, and her mind went blank as her body turned from hard to soft.
She swallowed. “Please, Liam. Not now. We’ll talk soon, I promise.”
His jaw tightened for a second before he nodded and released her. “Okay.”
Tension simmered as she tried and failed to drag her gaze from his. “You look good. Happy.”
He nodded.
His continued silence inched its warning over her skin. She knew him well enough to know he had a lot to say. Whatever that might be, it wouldn’t be said here with everyone watching them. “Okay, well, I’ll see you soon.”
Tanya left the restaurant, each assessing gaze of the diners branding her skin like tattoos. Weakness threatened and she pushed it away. She had to be strong if she stood any chance of turning her life around. She had to keep smiling, no matter how hard that might be; she had to focus on taking each new step toward a different life. She had to be willing to do whatever it took to get back into the warm fold of Templeton, no matter how difficult that might be.
She’d returned with the hope of creating a quieter life once she’d done everything in her power to find her sister’s molester. Until Matt Davidson was behind bars, she had no choice but to throw herself into the fray. She was done with the backstabbing and stress of her city job—she longed for a softer, happier life and would ensure she got it, no matter how long that might take.
Pulling out her phone, Tanya headed for the beach. She dialed her sister’s number and Sasha picked up on the third ring. “Hey, how’s it going?”
Tanya sighed. “Not great.”
“You’ve got this. You can get through a bit of gossiping.”
“It’s not even the talk.”
“Then what?”
“They’re cold, Sasha. Ice bloody cold.”
“You knew this wouldn’t be easy. You’re going to have to expect some curiosity and detachment for a while. Templeton doesn’t have great memories of you, that’s all. It’s going to take time to make new ones.”
Tanya leaned down and took off her high-heeled sandals. “I saw Liam.”
“Oh.”
“Exactly.” She descended the stone steps onto the beach. “I thought I might have at least twenty-four hours before that dreaded meeting, but no, less than one.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
Tanya walked along the warm sand, her gaze drawn to the evening sky that was purely Templeton. Shades of pink and peach hovered above the ocean, and the sun glowed brightly even as it slowly lowered toward the waves. She breathed deep. “He just stared and then asked me to join him for something to eat.”
“And you didn’t?”
“No. I’m not ready for his questions. At least, I’m not ready yet. Things weren’t right between us when I left, and most of that was my fault, but still I shouldn’t have just walked out on him. I realize that now.” She swallowed as Liam’s face filled her mind’s eye. “He looks fabulous. Why didn’t you tell me how good he looks?”
Sasha laughed. “Why would I? You were the one who said you wanted more than Templeton...more than Liam. I told you then, and I’m telling you now, he’s one of the best guys out there.”
Tanya swallowed. She couldn’t deny the spark was still there between them; the tension of unspoken words punctuating the air like unexploded bombs. “Maybe.”
“There’s no maybe about it. Who knows, in time, the two of you—”
“The chances of him ever thinking of me that way again are zero. I just hope the disgust in his eyes disappears sooner rather than later, that’s all.”
“Disgust? Are you sure? That doesn’t sound like Liam.”
“What else could that dark, intense, unblinking study mean? He wants me? I don’t think so.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. Liam looks at me like I’m his baby sister. The look he gave you sounds a lot more interesting.”
Tanya joined the line outside Bart’s food hut and eyed the fast-food menu with a mixture of nostalgia and nausea. “Yeah, well, I’ve had as much as I can take for my first evening back. I’m going to grab a burger and Coke and take it back to the apartment. A night of unpacking feels a lot more appealing than anything else right now.”
“And what about the weekend?”
Tanya sighed. “I’ll have plenty to keep me busy until I start sorting out the office on Monday.”
“Good.”
Tanya cleared her throat. “I also might take a walk to Funland and see what they’ve done to the place since you’ve been gone.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
Tanya closed her eyes. “You know why. The fairground is where Matt Davidson hurt you, Sash. It makes sense that Funland is the best place to start trying to track him down.”
“I’ve told you John and I have done all we can think of—”
“I know you have, but isn’t it worth me trying again? I’m here, Sash. I’m in Templeton, and as far as we know, Davidson could be, too.”
“Of course he won’t be in Templeton. The police combed the area. They followed up leads and came back to us time and time again with a dead end.”
Tanya glared toward the ocean, her fingers curled tightly around the phone. “Well, that was then, this is now. I want to at least try to find him.” She exhaled a shaky breath. “Please. Let me do this. Let me try to make up for not being there for you when...”
“It’s in the past, Tanya.”
“You have done so much for me over the last few months. You’ve helped me with therapy, what you said to me in the hospital persuaded me to come home and start over. I couldn’t have gotten as far as I have without you. Please. Let me at least try to be the big sister I should’ve always been.”
“I don’t know.”
“Wouldn’t you do anything to see Davidson behind bars?”
“Of course.”
“Then let me try to find him. Please.” Tears burned Tanya’s eyes. If only she had done something years before... “Sash?”
“Fine. Do what you can, but promise me you won’t put yourself in danger. If...and it’s a big if...you find anything that might lead you to where he is, you tell the police.”
Tanya exhaled, relief she had her sister’s permission to pursue Davidson relaxing the tension in her shoulders. “We’ll face that bridge when we come to it.”
“Okay. Look, John’s calling me. I’ll speak to you soon. Look after yourself.”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” Tanya cut the connection and swapped the phone for her wallet.
Tomorrow would be the first day of her new life. Today was just the warm-up. Whether Templeton was ready for her or not, she was back for good, and her reasons went a lot deeper than just a need to start anew. Matt Davidson needed to be brought to justice, and over her dead body would she rest until he had his day in court.
* * *
EVERY BITE OF the sea bass was like sandpaper, every sip of the wine like vinegar. Liam scowled and stared through the restaurant doors once more. He’d lost count how many times he’d looked up from his food to catch Caroline, Marian or someone else looking in his direction. The curiosity in their gazes made him want to punch a damn wall.
He refused to leave a morsel of food on his plate or a drop of wine in his glass before he left the Seascape. His insides might be a mess and his mind even more so, but he would not give anyone in town the ammunition to shoot the breeze over Tanya’s unexpected appearance. Everyone knew he liked his food. If he left the restaurant with anything remaining on his plate, it would be enough to start the tongues wagging.
The aftershocks of his astonishment at seeing her again still pulsed at his temples.
Stabbing his fork into an untouched pile of beetroot salad, Liam concentrated on chewing and swallowing rather than debating how he would deal with seeing Tanya next time. Her weight loss and the dark smudges under her eyes had twisted at his emotions so much more than if she’d looked the picture of health. Her long, dark hair, usually so lusciously thick and shiny, had been wound into a haphazard ponytail, her shirt slightly crumpled. Before, it was as though her clothes had been ironed with her inside them.
Yet her looks and clothes did nothing to lessen the sexuality that oozed from her every pore. His pull to her was as intense as it had always been. Nothing had changed on that score. At all.
When she looked at him, her usual obstinate “don’t mess with me” attitude lingered, but he sensed a whisper of uncertainty as though one accusation would make her crumble. The subtle change in her had knocked him off-kilter, made him abandon his previous decision to show Tanya the no-nonsense man he was today. Instead, he’d let her walk away.
He picked up his glass and drank. The hit of alcohol fueled an impatience to leave and go find her, insist she tell him why she was back. More important, for how long. Questions and demands became a maelstrom of frustration and hunger. His reaction to her ill advised and dangerous. It screamed confirmation of something he had feared for years. That Tanya was The One.
Whispering a curse, he shook his head and speared some fish onto his fork, shoving it into his mouth and washing it down with the last of his wine.
“Nice table manners, my friend.”
Liam lifted his head and closed his eyes. “Not now, George. I’m not in the mood.”
“And you think that’s reason enough to satisfy my lovely wife? Not a chance. I’m not going to risk Marian lopping off my manhood when I tell her I walked away from you none the wiser.”
Liam opened his eyes and looked past George toward Marian. The damn woman sat eagerly forward at their table, nursing a glass of wine, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Liam faced George. “Why should I care about your manhood when mine has just been yanked on?”
George pulled out the chair on the opposite side of the table and sat. “So why’s she back?”
Liam sighed as defeat washed over him. He put down his fork. “No idea. We didn’t get that far.”
“I see.” George lifted his eyebrows. “So, what happens next?”
Liam wiped his hand over his face. “I don’t know. I can’t tell her to go back to wherever the hell she came from, can I? Templeton’s as much her home as it is mine. If Tanya’s back, it’s my problem to deal with, not hers.”
George stared, his wizened gaze running over Liam’s face before he leaned back and crossed his arms. “She looks lost.”
