Beyond the Waves (Pacific Shores Book 1) (10 page)

Taysia hopped out of the car as soon as it came to a stop. “Thanks for the ride.”

Kylen pulled the lever to open the trunk and got out. “You sure I can’t take you to the church to get your car?”

“No.” She would walk the mile to church later to get her car before her date with Blaine. But she was careful not to mention that. She started to reach for her bag, but Kylen beat her to it and gestured her up the walk to her house. She turned to the couple in the backseat. “Bye, Marie. See you tomorrow. Brice, it was nice to meet you again.”

The couple waved, but barely took their eyes off each other to say goodbye.

Taysia swallowed and turned away from the car reluctantly. She just didn’t want to see Marie get hurt.

Kylen placed a hand gently on her back and guided her up the steps. “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to him.”

Relieved, Taysia looked up at him as she fumbled for her keys. “Thanks. I just don’t want to see her hurt.”

He touched her arm, stilling her before she could enter the house.

Her pulse quickened at the serious look on his face.

“Layne.” He cleared the gravel out of his throat. “I know I’ve done some really low things. And I can understand why you are struggling with trusting me. But I want you to know I’m not ready to give up yet. From the moment I laid eyes on you right there”—he nodded to the weeping willow just down the drive—”I knew you were special.” He gently traced her brow as he tucked a stray strand behind her ear.

Heart thundering, her mouth opened and shut like a fish out of water. How to respond?

“You don’t have to say anything.” He shook his head. “I know I’ve got a lot of ground to make up. But I’m going to show you Jesus really has changed me. And I’m going to pray that God will help you forget what lies behind us and instead look at what our future together can hold.”

He slipped his hands into his pockets, stepped back with a wink, and started for the car.

Taysia dropped her bag in the foyer and collapsed against the door as it clicked shut behind her. Her head tipped back and landed against the wood with a soft thud. A small whimper escaped her throat as she looked across her house to the grape arbor she could see through the sliding door. “Lord? I need a little help here.”

Kylen felt like whistling as he bounded down the walk.
Thanks, Lord!
All the way home he’d prayed that he would find the courage to tell her he wasn’t ready to give up.

He rounded the end of the convertible and started for the driver’s door, but stilled. In the backseat, Brice was plastered against Marie, one arm around her shoulders. His other hand rested on her lap toying with her fingers.

Kylen cleared his throat pointedly. Brice glanced up and, at the look on Kylen’s face, reluctantly removed his arm and scooted a bare inch away from Marie. Kylen kept glaring until, inch by inch, Brice scooted properly to his side of the car. Marie clasped her hands and bit her lip, unusually quiet. The silence remained thick all the way to Marie’s house, and when Kylen returned to the car after walking her to her door, Brice was slumped in the front passenger seat, one foot resting on the dash.

Kylen slid behind the wheel and backed out of the drive.

The air whistling past their heads was loud and made conversation nearly impossible, but Kylen knew he couldn’t let him out of the car without saying something to him. He pulled to a stop by the side of the road just before Brice’s house. Brice looked at him questioningly.

Kylen turned to face him. “Listen, Brice, I know you are not going to like this, but I want you to be careful with Marie.”

Brice rolled his eyes and looked away. “I was just holding her hand.”

Kylen wasn’t going to let him off that easy. “It was more than that and you know it. Look, I’m speaking from experience here. I know what it’s like to make a mistake with a girl. And you will only have regrets later. I just want to spare you—and her—that pain.”

Brice chewed one fingernail, refusing to answer or meet Kylen’s gaze.

Kylen sighed and started the car forward, rolling slowly into Brice’s drive.

Brice scrambled out of the car.

“Brice.”

He stopped, at least waiting to hear what Kylen would say, if not facing him.

“Earlier at church I heard you ask Jenny Sanchez to dinner on Friday night. And an hour later, you’re snuggled so close to Marie a piece of paper couldn’t have fit between you. You are not being fair to either one of those girls. And frankly, I’m disappointed in your behavior.”

Brice’s shoulders sagged slightly at that last statement. Good. Maybe it would get him to thinking about his actions.

Kylen started the motor. “See you next week.”
God, get through to him. He is so much like I was. Help him to see sooner than I did that Your way is always the best way
. He pulled out onto the road and added a prayer about his next destination.
Help Sophia to see reason. Help her to agree to a settlement so this issue will be settled for Layne and she won’t have this lawsuit hanging over her head
.

Fifteen minutes later he turned into the parking lot of the Pacific Café, where he was to meet her. He was a few minutes early. But when he stepped out onto the dining deck that overlooked the azure ocean, Sophia was already there, leaning against the rail in a pose that made him wonder if she’d mistaken this for a model shoot.

Her curve-hugging black dress could have been a tube sock in a former life. And red stiletto heels increased her height by at least four inches. Seeing him, she flipped her hair provocatively and sashayed his way.

He swallowed his distaste. What had he ever seen in her?

“Kylen, dahling!” Somewhere in her travels, Sophia had picked up a fake southern drawl. She took his hand, gave her body a quick spin so she was wrapped in his arm, and peered up into his face. “You’re early. Ah’m glad, because now Ah know you’ve missed me as much as Ah’ve missed you this past week.”

That was all he needed, for her to think he’d rushed over to see her. Setting her from him firmly, he said, “Actually, I had to drive Brice home, and his house is closer to here than mine, so that’s why I’m a little early. Shall we find a table?”

“Whatever you say, dahling.” She giggled, grabbing his hand.

Pulling away, he shoved both hands deep into his pockets. He should have done this over the phone like he’d wanted to. She was the one who’d insisted they meet to talk about the lawsuit.

Undeterred, Sophia wrapped one of her arms through his and clutched his bicep. “There’s a cozy table right ovah here in the corner, Ky.” She dragged him toward an intimate, curtained enclave.

Kylen suppressed a growl. “The sun’s so beautiful today. How about this table right here?” He pulled out a chair at a table in the middle of the deck.

She didn’t sit. “But Ah thought…”

Kylen sat in the chair opposite the one waiting for Sophia and scanned the ocean horizon.

With a huff, Sophia sank into her seat.

The waiter approached, and Kylen spoke. “Just iced tea for me. And separate tickets, please.” He wanted her to get the message loud and clear. This was a business meeting, not a date.

Sophia sighed. “Uh…Ah’ll have the same.”

Momentary guilt touched his conscience. She had probably waited to eat until now. “You can eat if you are hungry.”

She batted away the idea with a flip of her wrist. “Ah need to watch mah waistline, anyhow.”

His eyes narrowed. “When did you pick up such a southern drawl? Did you move south for a while?”

“No.” Her face heated and she grinned at him. “Is it bugging you? To be honest, I’ve been trying some method acting for a role in a movie I’m hoping to get.” All traces of her accent had dropped off.

He smiled. “There’s the Sophia I know.”

She leaned forward sultrily. “You could get to know me better.”

He obviously needed to make things really clear to her. “Listen, Sophia. I need you to know I came back home to convince Taysia to give me a second chance.”

One slim penciled brow disappeared under her bangs. “I didn’t know there had been a first chance.”

His shoulders sagged. “Yeah, well, that’s my fault. And I’m hoping she’ll forgive me, because I’m in love with her.” There, he’d said it.
Maybe should have waited until after we negotiated the lawsuit
.

The waiter set their drinks on the table. Like a drought victim, Sophia snatched hers up, took three long gulps, and plunked the glass down with a thud. A plastic smile hardened her face. “Well…well, I hope everything works out for you.”

Kylen relaxed. She had taken the news better than he thought she would. Ever since he’d returned to town, she’d been making clear what she wanted. Never mind that Jim Saunders, the father of her son, still lived in town. They apparently weren’t together right now.

Kylen rubbed his palms against his knees. “So, about the lawsuit. You know your claims won’t hold up in court, Sophia. There is no way Taysia can be blamed for someone leaving garbage in her parking lot.”

“Oh, posh!” A flick of her wrist waved him to silence. “You know that’s not true.”

Kylen kept his face bland, but he knew she had a point. Some of the lawsuits won in court these days were absolutely ridiculous.

“Tell you what.” She ran a manicured finger around the rim of her glass. “For a hundred thousand, I’ll settle out of court.”

Kylen leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head. It was going to be a long afternoon.

Taysia arrived at Blaine’s apartment five minutes late.

Blaine opened the door before she finished knocking, relief etched on his face.

“Sorry I’m late.” The words felt lame even as they rolled off her tongue.

“Don’t worry about it.” He let her in, took her coat, and gestured toward the dining room. “Barbecued salmon and baby reds, just like I promised you.” He shut the door with a soft click.

Suddenly she knew the feeling a convict had when the jail door shut behind him for the first time.
Get a grip, get a grip
… “Smells wonderful.” She forced a smile and tried to look like she meant it. She wasn’t hungry; didn’t know if she could force one bite past the stranglehold of oh-what-am-I-doing-here that clenched her throat.

He stepped past her. “Come in, come in. Everything’s ready. I just need to pull the salmon off the grill. Have a seat and I’ll be right in.”

Taysia eyed the candlelit table with trepidation. She hated this taking-friendship-to-the-next-level business. Why was she so leery? She loved Blaine, didn’t she? Sure, she didn’t have the whoa!-my-heart-thinks-this-is-a-flamenco-party reactions that she did to Kylen. But that was just because Kylen was…Kylen. “And I won’t think of him any more tonight!”

“Who?”

She gasped and spun around.

Blaine, large red lobster-claw potholders on his hands, gripped a steaming tray of salmon garnished with lemon wedges.

“No one. Oh, Blaine, everything looks delicious.” He really had gone all out, and here she was thinking about Kylen. Guilt traipsed through her chest. “Is there something I can do to help?”

He set the salmon on the table and hurried into the kitchen. “No. Really,” he called. “Please sit. I’ll just get the sparkling cider and we’ll be all set.”

Taysia sank into her chair and took in the fare. Inhaled. Rolled her shoulders. Exhaled. She could do this. She was moving on with her life, and this was how it was done. Kylen was in the past. This was here and now.

Blaine hurried in, wisps of white vapor still rising from the top of the open cider bottle, and she smiled. “Everything looks wonderful, Blaine.”

And it was. She surprised herself by eating everything on her plate and even taking seconds on the salmon. Finally, pushing back from the table, she groaned audibly. “I don’t think I can walk, and I have classes to teach in the morning.”

He grinned. “I’m glad you liked it. Have time for a movie and some chocolate fudge cake?”

Taysia wanted to go home, but the puppy-dog pleading look in his eyes and the reminder to herself that she was trying to move on made her stay.

Two hours later she stood at the door saying goodbye. “Everything was great, Blaine. Thanks for a fun night.”