Page 1 of All Wrong
CHAPTER ONE
CORINNE
Corinne McCain strolled along the walkway, taking in the sights, sounds, and scents of the county fair. It was the golden hour, the time when the annual event came to life and became a tangible, sentient thing.
The sun was almost gone, barely more than a glimmer behind the forested mountain slopes surrounding the fairgrounds. Colorful lights appeared to grow brighter in the looming darkness. The sweet smell of funnel cakes, mixed with pungent French fries swimming in malt vinegar, drifted on the light breeze. Joyous screams emanated from thrill rides, along with the blaring music, whilecarneys shouted out, competing for the attention of passersby.
The crowd was changing too—from one of wholesome family fun to something a little darker, edgier. Weary parents wrangled overfed and overstimulated little ones toward the exit while teens, preteens, and young adults entered in waves, brimming with energy and possibility.
As a single woman on the cusp of middle age, navigating the festivities solo, Corinne identified with neither.
She looped around and set a course for the cluster of pavilions, where the Callaghans and Connellys held their annual family reunion. She wasn’t one of those either, but her older sister, Lacie, was married to Shane Callaghan, and that was enough to merit an invitation.
She caught sight of her nephews hanging with friends. It was hard to believe she had been that young once or that the fair had held so much importance then. How she’d spent days planning her outfit and countless hours perfecting her hair and makeup in anticipation of meeting up with friends and capturing the eyes of cute boys.
The sheer sense of potential had beenintoxicating then, filled with the kind of hope and promise she hadn’t felt in ages.
As she neared the gathering, she saw that others had returned as well. Grills were going nonstop; coolers were emptying and being refilled. Additional folding tables and chairs had been set up, the massive pavilion not big enough to hold seven Callaghan brothers, three Connelly cousins, clan patriarchs, wives, children, and the occasional outliers who weren’t related by blood or marriage, like her and her brother, Brian; close family friend Aidan Harrison; andhim. Nick Milligan. The only other attendee who fell into thesibling to a spouse of a Callaghancategory.
Her mood lifted instantly.
Nick was around her age, maybe a few years older. He had the same pale gray eyes as his twin sister, Nicki—eyes so nearly colorless that they resembled smoky diamonds. He’d always been a good-looking guy, but he was one of those men who got better-looking as he got older. Not to mention, the edge of darkness surrounding him had grown more intense over the years, evolving frombad boytodangerous manlevels.
She’d never admit it, but Nick was a motivating factor in her appearance at these events. Not that shedidn’t love her family, but it was hard, having to be around so many blissfully paired couples in love, and she’d long ago given up on bringing a plus-one. Nick never did. He was the only other unattached adult here, and as such, he unintentionally provided a bit of moral support.
No one noticed her arrival. They were too busy watching the impromptu football game in progress off to the side. The game, like the grilling and the fireworks display that would take place later that night, was a tradition. And it wasn’t just the wives and kids cheering them on. That many shirtless, well-built men trying to best each other provided a scenic view appreciated by many fairgoers.
Corinne’s attention, however, remained focused inside the pavilion. Nick leaned casually against a wooden rail, looking down at his phone, one jean-clad, black-booted leg crossed over the other at the ankle. The hand not holding the device was tucked loosely into his front pocket. Both wrists were cuffed with strips of black leather. His T-shirt was plain and black, snug enough to put those lean muscles on display. He wasn’t overly broad, like the Callaghans, but lean and sleek. The man kept himself in good shape, which, as a dancer, Corinne could appreciate.
His swiping thumb stilled on the screen, as if hesensed he was being watched. Corinne turned her attention to the cooler beside her and studied the choices. Beer, soda, bottled water, iced tea, lemonade. After selecting an unsweetened iced tea, she closed the lid and looked out at the game, wincing in sympathy as her brother-in-law caught a short pass and was immediately taken down to the ground.
She lifted the tea and took a long drink, fully aware that the tables had turned. She was the one now being watched. He hadn’t moved a muscle, but she felt his gaze as keenly as if he’d reached out and tapped her shoulder. It was a predator’s gaze, sharp and assessing. And she liked it. Maybe a little too much.
It was a game they played. Stealing discreet, brief glimpses when the other’s attention was seemingly elsewhere.
What thoughts went through his head when he looked at her? Did he appraise her the same way she appraised him? Did he secretly take comfort in her presence the same way she did with his?
When half the tea was gone, she lowered her arm and chanced a glance his way. Those eyes met hers for a fraction of a second, and in that moment, she could have sworn that sharp ice softened a little.
Tag. You’re it.
The corner of his mouth quirked before he returned his attention to his phone.
She looked away, too, a secret smile curling her own lips, and cast her eyes toward the game once more. In another time, another life, she might have flirted with him. He was exactly her type.
In her peripheral vision, she saw him straighten and move toward her.Thiswas new. Was he finally going to say something to her? Her heart beat faster at the prospect.
But he walked right past her and went to his sister instead.
“I’m taking off,” he told her.
“Already?” Nicki asked, frowning at him. “You just got here.”
“Something came up.”
She looked pointedly at the phone he was sliding back into his pocket. “Something I need to know about?”
Corinne wondered if something had happened at the teen center that Nicki and her brother ran.
