Beyond the Waves (Pacific Shores Book 1) (7 page)

“Thank you, Mr. Reed!” Taysia shouted over the cacophony to the white-haired man. “We appreciate your support for the youth of our church!” She handed the stoop-shouldered gentleman the box of baked goods he had just paid for and wished again that Daddy would come with her to church. There were some wonderful men he would enjoy getting to know.

Mr. Reed pointed to one hearing-aid-filled ear and shook his head. But the smile on his face said “thank you” as he scuttled out of the gym on rickety legs.

Marie, who was arranging cookies on a tray, looked over and grinned. “Thanks for bringing me, Taysia. This is fun.”

Taysia smiled and gave her a one-armed squeeze, glad Marie was enjoying herself.

Blaine stepped up next to them, hands in his pockets, as Tom Quigley snagged a cookie from the tray set out for the youth. The six-foot-six lanky senior stuffed the whole cookie in his mouth and spoke around it. “We’re trying to get a pickup game going, Miss Green. We need one more player. Will you play with us?”

Taysia gave Blaine a sly look. “Why don’t you ask Blaine here?”

Marie huffed. “Blaine can’t pla—oh!” Taysia’s elbow connected solidly with one rib.

Tom shrugged and glanced at the floor, face red.

Blaine was quick to come to the young man’s rescue. “I’ll take my turn at the table now, Taysia. Why don’t you go play ball? You can work at trying to get me into shape another time.” At Taysia’s dark look, he continued, “Tell you what, I’ll toss the ball at the beginning of the game.”

Taysia rolled her eyes but grinned at him and then turned to Marie. “Do you mind if I play a little ball before we go to lunch?”

Marie waved a hand, her eyes darting toward the court. “No. Go ahead.”

Taysia followed her gaze. Reece Cahill stood chatting quietly with one of the other female players, but even as Taysia watched, his focus drifted over the girl’s shoulder toward Marie. By the time Taysia turned back to Marie, her receptionist had returned her attention to arranging the cookies on the tray like her life depended on it.

Hmmm…so maybe the breakup hadn’t been as easy for Reece as she’d thought. She’d love to see Marie settled in a relationship with a guy like him. She’d have to put the matter to some prayer.

Looking back to Tom, Taysia said, “Alright. I have some gym clothes in my car. Give me five minutes to change, and I’ll be there.”

Taysia ended up on the “shirts” team, for which she was thankful because the two girls on the “skins” team wore sweatbands around their heads to distinguish them—and she hated wearing a sweatband.

Scooping her hair back into a careless ponytail, Taysia walked onto the court as she cheered her team on. “Alright, guys! Come on, let’s do this.” She clapped her hands and stepped into the center circle, ready to jump for the ball. Tom Quigley looked down his nose at her from the other side of the line, and she grinned up at him. “How’s the weather up there?” She knew he was proud of his height—even hoped to play college ball for Gonzaga next year.

Reaching out, he ruffled her hair playfully and replied, “Don’t worry, I won’t even jump.” Then in an aside to his team he chuckled, “I won’t need to.”

Taysia’s eyes narrowed in a friendly challenge. “Alright, team, let’s whip ‘em!” And, as Blaine prepared to toss the ball, she batted her eyelashes coyly in his direction.

“Hey! No fair,” yelled one of the players from the other team as the ball rose into the air, arching decidedly in Taysia’s favor.

Blaine’s crooked toss was to no avail. Tom reached out one long arm and snatched the ball out of the air, and the first points went to the other team.

Still, fifteen minutes later the “shirts” were ahead when Tom’s mother called to him that it was time for them to go home. Groans sounded from several of the other players who weren’t ready to quit the game yet.

“Bye, Tom.” Taysia waved and stepped to the top of the key, dribbling the ball and waiting to see how the players would be redistributed.

Someone spoke from the sidelines. “I’ll take his place.”

The ball ricocheted off Taysia’s foot, jounced across the gym, and clanged into the metal bleachers, causing the teenagers to eye her curiously. Her pulse raced like a rabbit with a coyote on its tail. Why did she let him affect her so?

Kylen Sumner, dressed handsomely in khaki cargo shorts and a black T-shirt that enhanced his dark eyes, stepped onto the court and brought his nose to within an inch of hers, a grin sparkling in his gaze. “You are going down.”

She arched her brow and chuckled. “We’ll see if you can live up to that big mouth of yours.”

He stepped back and smiled at the other players, who, without exception, watched them curiously. “Let’s play ball, then.” He stripped off his shirt and tossed it aside, stepping between Taysia and her teammates.

Taysia swallowed and refused to allow her gaze to fall.

Her attention settled on Blaine, who had a grim look on his face as he roughly shoved a plate of cookies into a startled patron’s hands and plunked the money into the cash box. Marie caught her eye and made her “he’s so gorgeous” face, covering her mouth with one hand. Taysia suppressed a smile and looked away, holding out her hands to receive the throw-in from Reece.

The other two girls in the game unashamedly gawked at Kylen as, muscles rippling, he crouched and slid smoothly across the floor, anticipating Taysia’s every move.

Taysia feinted one way, then spun, intending to dribble around him the other way, but she collided with the solid wall of his chest, lost complete control of the basketball, and dissolved into a fit of giggles. Kylen grinned and took time to steady her, or he would have had the ball. Luckily Reece recovered it and made the shot.

The game was full of joking and fun. Smack talk reverberated off the gym walls, mixing in with the laughter of players and spectators alike.

Taysia snatched a pass out of the air and made a dash for her basket at the other end of the court. But Kylen loomed before her, reaching for the ball. She headed for the sideline, trying to make it past him as he backed down the court, taunting her. Suddenly he tripped and fell, and Taysia sprawled across his chest in an undignified heap. The ball bounced jauntily toward the middle of the court, the other players laughing and scrambling for it.

They both gulped air as she pushed herself up on one elbow, her face only inches from his. She forced herself to ignore the heat emanating from the place where his arm rested across her back. He had clutched her to him as they fell. To protect her and take the brunt of the impact? She brushed the thought aside. “You’re a sweaty cheater!” She jabbed his chest and tried not to smile. Kylen attempted a grin as he flexed first one foot and then the other, but it was more of a wince, and Taysia’s eyes widened with sudden chagrin. “Your feet!”

He closed his eyes and heaved a breath through his nose. A garbled sound of acknowledgment was his only reply.

“Come on.” She jumped up and reached down to help him stand. “Let’s get you home.”

He took her hand, but didn’t release it once he was on his feet. “Not home. Let’s go to the beach for a picnic.”

She chewed one side of her lower lip. “I can’t, I have Marie with me.” She looked up at him, but when he attempted to lace his fingers through hers, her gaze darted across the gym to Blaine. His eyes were on them, a frown firmly in place. Taysia pulled her hand from Kylen’s with some reluctance.

His jaw hardened. “Have a date with Pittman again today?”

“Hey, are you two still playing or what?” one of the teenagers called.

Taysia gave Kylen her best “none of your business” glare, then turned to the group. “We have to go, guys! Thanks for a great game. We should do it again next month after the car wash.”

Agreement went around the court, and Taysia headed toward Marie at the baked goods table. Kylen ambled along at her side, slipping his shirt over his head. “Brice, you ready?” he called to a young man talking with a group of girls across the gym.

He lifted his hand in Kylen’s direction, said something to the girls that caused a giggle, and then loped across the gym toward them. He had Kylen’s dark good looks, but his eyes were a striking green.

“Hi, Brice.” Taysia smiled, recognizing Kylen’s cousin. “It’s nice to see you again.” She reached out her hand. “Last time I saw you, Kylen and the rest of the guys from our senior class were stuffing you in your locker.”

He grinned and shook her hand. “Yeah, ninth grade was pretty miserable for me.”

Marie glanced up as they approached. “I’m—I—we—” She stuttered to a stop before she even got started, her eyes fixed directly on Brice.

Taysia grinned at Kylen, then turned to Marie. “Marie, this is Brice. He is Officer Sumner’s cousin. Brice, Marie is my receptionist at the gym.”

Marie stretched out her hand. “Hi.” She smiled.

Brice’s eyes sparked with pleasure as he raked Marie from head to toe. He took her hand. “Nice to meet you.” He lingered over the contact, not letting her hand go. Marie blushed and tried to pull away, but it wasn’t until Kylen cleared his throat pointedly that Brice finally dropped her hand.

The basketball landed in the middle of their group, hitting Brice in the knees and rolling off behind him. Brice turned to retrieve it, and Reece was suddenly right there beside Marie, breathing hard and looking more than a little uncomfortable as he waited for Brice to grab the ball. He glanced sideways at Marie. “Hi.”

“Hi,” she returned. Her voice sounded soft and vulnerable. And Taysia didn’t miss the way Marie’s feet shifted uneasily.

Brice had the ball now and turned to see who to throw it to.

Reece held up a hand. “Right here. Sorry about that.”

“No worries.” Brice tossed him the ball, and Reece headed back to the game without another word.

Kylen didn’t seem to notice the electrified undertones. He looked at Marie. “I was just trying to talk Taysia into a beach picnic. Brice and I had planned to go there for lunch anyway. What do you say? Sound like fun?”

“Uh, that sounds great.” Her eyes widened, and she turned to Taysia sheepishly. “I mean. It’s good with me.” But Taysia didn’t miss the way Marie’s gaze darted toward the court, where Reece and the others had resumed the pickup game.

Taysia glanced at Kylen. He wore a look of contrived innocence and arched his brow.

A picnic at the beach did sound like fun. And Marie could probably use the distraction. The day was beautiful. She glanced over at Blaine as she answered, “Just give me a minute. I’ll meet you by the door.”

Kylen and Brice grinned and high-fived each other like two little boys who’d just been promised a double scoop of their favorite ice cream. Taysia rolled her eyes at them as Marie gathered her bag from under the bake sale table and all three headed across the gym.

Taysia waited for Blaine to finish talking with the lady buying treats from him before she approached, trying to decide what to say. Did she need to say anything? It wasn’t like she owed Blaine an explanation for everything she did. She could go to lunch with whoever she wanted to. But really, she ought to tell him something. He was a nice guy. He deserved at least some sort of explanation.

Mrs. Masters thanked Blaine and picked up her cake, calling for her children as she walked away.

Taysia stepped forward, opened her mouth, paused, and snapped it shut again. Her mind was a blank slate. “I’m going to go now. I’ll see you later.”

Jaw clenched, he tucked the money into the cash box. Then he looked directly at her. “Taysia, there’s something going on between you two, isn’t there?”

She swallowed, glancing over her shoulder. Kylen leaned casually against the wall, his eyes deep and black, boring into her as though he could see her very soul. Marie and Brice talked quietly by his side. Taysia sighed. “Blaine, things are complicated between me and Kylen. They’ve always been complicated.”

Blaine picked up a cookie and glared toward Kylen. “He’s not good enough for you, Taysia. He never has been.”

Taysia reached under the table and pulled out her gym bag, slinging it over her shoulder. “Kylen is the reason I’m saved, Blaine. If it weren’t for him…” Her voice trailed off, and she shrugged. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

He stuffed the cookie in his mouth and nodded. But his eyes were still on Kylen across the gym.

She started away.

“Taysia.”

“Yes?” She paused.

“I just don’t want to see him hurt you again, you know?” There was pain in his eyes.

She swallowed and nodded.

“Come to dinner at my house tonight? A rain check from last night.”

How could she say no when he cared so much for her? “Okay. What time?”

“Six?”

She smiled softly. “I’ll be there. Can I bring anything?”

His shoulders relaxed as he slid his hands into his pockets. “Just yourself.”

“‘Kay. See you then.” Another patron approached, taking Blaine’s attention, and Taysia stood quietly for a moment, just looking at the floor. Then she glanced up and met Kylen’s eyes. He stood erect from the wall, waiting. With one last glance at Blaine, she moved toward Kylen.

Why did she feel like she was heading into a minefield? One misstep on her part and her carefully ordered life could blow apart at any moment.