Read Online Blackfin Sky by Kat Ellis - Free Book Online

throwing problems at her which required space to think big thoughts.
Sky carried on down the centre of the pier until she reached the wooden railing at the end. The rail reached her chest when she leaned against it, looking out over the flat, dark water. Even when the wind was high and the waves came alive, Sky found it soothing. Catching sight of the whales and occasional dolphins which swam by this weird out-jutting piece of land was about the only draw Blackfin had for tourists, and in winter, even the most hardened whale-watchers shied away from visiting. Now that Sky thought about it, it had been some years since Blackfin had received any visitors – except the whales, of course.
No whale fins broke the surface today, though.
I tried to kiss Sean, then I came here, then…
Then, what? She knew she hadn’t jumped from the pier. She had no suicidal inclinations, and wasn’t fool enough to find the thought of an icy swim romantic.
But she’d been alone on the pier, hadn’t she? She couldn’t remember anyone else being with her. Maybe she’d tripped and fallen accidentally…
‘I’m going to take a wild guess that you’re Gui’s daughter.’
The handrail cracked under her elbow and she jerked forward, staring at the water from a precarious angle and gripping the remaining section of the rail with white knuckles.
‘Hey, careful!’
An arm wrapped securely around her waist even as Sky watched the splintered section of the handrail turning end over end as it fell into the ocean. Taking a shaky breath, Sky looked over her shoulder at the guy who was still holding onto her.
The first thing she noticed was his eyes – a magnetic grey that looked as deep and cold as the water she’d almost fallen into. Again.
‘Jared,’ he said, the flash of metal in his tongue as he spoke proving Cam had been right about the piercing. Despite the awkward angle, Sky could see Jared was really tall, and though the arm still wrapped around her waist wasn’t bulky, it was as hard as a steel cable. ‘Nice to meet you, Skylar.’
‘Jared,’ Sky repeated, subtly shifting until he released her. ‘So, you’re the guy working with my dad at the garage?’
‘I am. But he makes me call it le garage when we’re both there.’
Sky laughed at Jared’s chagrined expression. ‘That sounds like Dad. So, you’re a mechanic too?’ A note of doubt had crept into Sky’s voice as she looked at Jared more closely. He didn’t look like he was much older than her, despite his piercings and the faint shadow of stubble covering his jaw.
‘I’m nineteen,’ he said, with a look that told her he knew exactly what she’d been thinking. ‘And I’m kind of a trainee. I’ve never worked in a garage before, but I’m a fast learner and your dad doesn’t mind teaching me.’
‘He does like to talk about his beloved voitures, ’ Sky laughed, and Jared dipped his head in acknowledgement. ‘Where did you move from?’
‘Oh, here and there. I moved around a lot with my grandfather growing up.’
Sky almost asked where his parents were, but thought better of it. If he’d been raised by his grandfather, there really wasn’t going to be a happy story behind it.
An awkward silence fell between them, and Sky saw him studying her.
‘You want to know how I’m suddenly back from the dead, don’t you?’
Jared shoved his hands deep into his coat pockets, then pulled out a roll of mints. He held them out to her.
‘I wasn’t going to ask. But of course I’m curious. Your dad’s a great guy, but for the couple of months I’ve worked for him he’s also been like the most devastated person I’ve ever met. I mean, heartbroken. And even though I just met you, I can’t imagine Gui’s daughter would be the kind of girl who’d just take off and leave her parents thinking she was dead. Would you like a mint?’
Sky took one from the roll and handed it back. ‘I didn’t do it on purpose.’
Jared nodded. ‘I guessed as much. But it’s really none of