How to Keep a Secret

Mitch obviously agreed. He recognized Scott and promptly let go of Mack, thrusting her away from him so roughly she would have fallen if Scott hadn’t caught her.

He steadied her, his hand firm on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

There was a big wedge of tears lodged in her throat but she managed to nod.

Scott’s mouth tightened into a grim line. Mack quailed. He was obviously really mad at her.

Mitch must have seen it, too, because he took a step back.

“Hey, she got in the car. She chose to come. There’s no law against that.”

Scott paused. “Maybe not, but there are laws against underage drinking, drinking and driving, and driving without seat belts, not to mention laws about consent. She told you to let her go. You need to work on your listening skills.” Dangerously calm, he glanced at Mack and jerked his head toward the car. “Get in.”

“But my bike is—”

“I’ll deal with it.”

Head down, she walked to Scott’s pickup and slid into the front passenger seat. It had started to rain and through the misted windshield she could see Scott talking to Mitch. The boy had his head dipped so Mack couldn’t see his face, but his body language told her it wasn’t a comfortable conversation.

Something licked her hand and she almost jumped out of her skin.

She turned round in her seat and noticed the dog in the back seat.

She hadn’t thought anything could make her feel okay ever again, but the sight of the dog lifted her spirits.

The car door opened and Scott slid into the driver’s seat.

Mack swallowed. “I didn’t know you had a dog. He’s gorgeous.”

“Fasten your seat belt.” He checked his mirror and reversed down the track until he reached a turning spot.

Mack reached out her hand to the dog, who leaned forward and licked it again.

“What’s his name?”

“Captain. He’s a Chesapeake Bay Retriever.”

The light was fading fast. His headlights picked out the track as they bumped their way to the main road. The landscape around them was indistinct. In London the streets were illuminated so brightly it was like sleeping with the lights on. Here on the Vineyard there was nothing but stars.

Mack closed her eyes for a moment, relieved to be safe.

She’d worry about the impact of it all tomorrow. For now she needed a rest from it all.

“Thank you for rescuing me. How did you know where I was?”

“I was on the beach with Captain and saw the cars drive past. I recognized that boy you were with.” He tightened his grip on the wheel. “It didn’t take you long to find the wrong crowd.”

“I didn’t know they were the wrong crowd.” But she had known, hadn’t she? Deep down she’d known, but she’d been so grateful to be included she hadn’t cared.

She was pathetic.

Scott’s gaze was fixed on the road ahead. “Over here, underage drinking is an offense.”

“I know.”

“That guy who had his hands on you—”

“I met him an hour ago. He’s a friend of Kennedy’s brother.” She glanced sideways and saw that his jaw was tight.