Beyond the Waves (Pacific Shores Book 1) (18 page)

She smirked. “Well, Kylen, you’ve always been too perfect for your own good.”

“You and I both know that’s a lie.”

Something behind him caught her attention. Her lips thinned into a sultry smile, and she met his gaze once more. “Maybe the bad boy in you is what makes me like you so much.”

Kylen made a dismissive gesture of protest.

Abruptly, she stood and said, “I’ll be right back.” She started past him, her eyes fixed on some point near the entry.

Kylen was just turning to see what had caught her attention when the ankle on one of her ridiculously high heels twisted, and she sprawled into his lap. Before he knew what was happening, Sophia Clinesmith had both arms around his neck, and had planted her lips firmly against his own.

Taysia pulled into the parking space next to Kylen’s convertible and rested her forehead against the steering wheel.

Thankfulness that Daddy was going to be fine washed over her. After church, she’d run by the hospital and chatted with him and Loraine. Daddy would be released within the hour. He was just waiting for the doctor to come by on his rounds to sign him out. He’d looked better today, his color was up, and more of his usual spunk glittered in his eyes. Loraine had promised to drive him home and sit with him until Taysia could get to his place later today. Taysia planned to sleep on Daddy’s couch for a couple days to make sure he was really 100 percent on the mend before he was left on his own again.

Climbing out of the car, she smiled. Maybe Kylen would come with her this evening. She played a mean game of chess and would like the opportunity to beat him a couple times. Daddy’s board was always set up and waiting by the fireplace.

The sight of the beautiful Fisherman’s Wharf reminded her of the need to switch gears and get her mind on working out this situation with Sophia. Her heels clicked rapidly across the fitted stones. A glance out across the bay filled her with awe as she hurried up the walk toward the restaurant entrance. Today the ocean seemed to be smooth as glass. A single cloud, cottony white, floated in the distance, looking forlorn against the blue backdrop of the sky. The darkened glass walls of the Fisherman’s Wharf reflected the bay with mirrorlike perfection.

With a sigh and a mumbled prayer for patience with Sophia, Taysia pulled open one of the large doors and hurried inside. The foyer was glassed in but wide open to the whole restaurant. The builders of this place had wanted patrons to have an unobstructed view of the ocean no matter where they were standing. A quick perusal of the tables to her right didn’t reveal Kylen and Sophia. But Blaine was there, having lunch with his parents.
Great
. She smiled and gave a little wave when he looked up and saw her. He nodded his head toward a table at the other end of the restaurant, but as he glanced past her, his eyes rounded.

Taysia spun back to her left and froze.

She blinked. Forgot to breathe. Blinked again.
Oh Lord, no. Please. I’m not seeing that
.

But she was indeed seeing Sophia, in a skimpy black outfit, sitting on Kylen’s lap. And kissing him.

With a huff that came out more as a roar, Taysia did an about-face and stormed back to her car. Familiar hurt and anger and pain rushed in on a tidal wave that nearly blinded her.

With a startled grunt, Kylen pushed Sophia away and held her firmly at arm’s length. At the same time, he heard a sound from the entryway that made his blood run cold. He turned to see Taysia, just disappearing out the door. She’d obviously seen—what? How much had she seen?

“Sophia!” He gave her a little shake, his anger surging so close to the surface that he feared to say more. Well aware of what he might do if he kept his hands on her for even another second, he jerked away from her.

With a startled gasp, she stumbled back. The three-inch spike on her black shoe caught against the carpet, and she sprawled over backward, landing in an ungainly heap on the floor. Gasps from several people filled the room.

Kylen stood. Looked down at her, then out the window to where he could see the parking lot. Taysia’s little blue car was just backing out of the space next to his Mustang. Reaching down, he yanked her to her feet, and none too gently. “This might be the lowest thing you’ve ever done, Sophia.”

He dug in his wallet and tossed a five-dollar bill down to cover his drink, then rushed out the door, leaving Sophia behind to pay her own way without so much as a goodbye.

Taysia’s key fob took three presses before it finally popped the lock. Yanking open the door, she glared at Kylen’s shiny red Mustang. She could think of better things to do with her keys right about now. Instead she dropped into her seat, cranked the key so hard that the starter made a scary grinding noise, and then peeled out of the lot. She turned right onto the narrow coastal highway and laid the pedal to the floor. The landscape blurred as it whizzed by. A car blared its horn as she squealed around a corner in the wrong lane. She had the presence of mind to slow down a little then, but the scene from the restaurant kept flashing over and over in her mind.

Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord
. It was the only prayer she could come up with.

The tears didn’t come until she pulled into the park overlooking Mossy Rock Point, and then they came by the bucketful. She didn’t have any tissues, but she found an old workout shirt on the floor in the backseat and sobbed into it until it was damp and limp.

Tossing the shirt aside, she slammed her palm against the steering wheel. It felt so good that she hit it again. And again.
I’m such a fool!

Tipping her head back against the seat, she stared at a spot on the ceiling and smeared at her cheeks with the flats of her fingers.
God, why did You let this happen to me again?

Silence bounced off the windows and upholstery.

Seizing a forgotten scrunchie, she shoved open her door, scraped her hair back from her face, and strode down the path toward the sand. When she reached the shore, she kicked off her shoes and waded out into ankle-deep water.

Her heart felt vacant. Used. Like all the times in elementary school when she’d known she was the butt of a joke, but pretended to laugh along with the other kids.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she looked up toward the sky and closed her eyes, letting the sun dry her tears.

You can do this. You’ll just go back to the way things were and keep putting one foot in front of the other
.

A grimace twisted her lips. What a lame little pep talk. Oh, how she hated that he’d fooled her, again!

“Kylen Sumner, I HATE YOU!” she screamed across the waves.

“Do you?”

She spun around, spraying droplets of water in every direction, her heart hammering in her ears.

Kylen stood there, hands resting casually in the pockets of his slacks. And, blast the man, his eyes were shiny, like he was trying to hold tears at bay.

Taysia gave a dismissive sniff and turned her back on him. “Go away. I do not want to talk to you right now.”

“I know what you saw looked bad, Layne, but—”

Spinning, she kicked a stream of water at him. “I said, ‘Go AWAY!’” She was acting like a two-year-old. She needed to get a grip. Her shoulders slumped. “Just go.”

Instead of leaving, he stepped toward her. “Layne…” He stretched out one hand. “Just hear me out…”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m done hearing you out, Kylen! Done!” She pushed past him and snatched up her sandals. Skirt balled into one fist, she stomped up the trail toward her car. Halfway up, she couldn’t resist a glance down toward the beach. His back to her, Kylen stood still, head hanging down. A wave washed in farther than the others and sloshed over his dress shoes, but he didn’t move. A small twinge snagged her heartbeat, but she kept going. Good. Let him be the one to feel a little pain for a change!

Daddy moved his queen one space and proudly proclaimed, “Checkmate!”

“Oh, I didn’t even see that move.” Taysia knocked her king over and did her best to offer a smile and look perky.

Leaning back in his chair, Daddy tilted his head and studied her for a long moment. “You’re not yourself this evening.”

Taysia picked up their teacups. “I’m fine, Daddy. Can I get you some more tea?”

Daddy pursed his lips and pierced her with another look.

She blinked innocently.

He sighed. “Sure. Why don’t you bring it in by the couch?”

Taysia made her escape, thankful for the moment of reprieve from Daddy’s perceptive scrutiny.

She took her time in the kitchen. Put the cookies she’d baked earlier into Daddy’s cookie jar. Wiped down the counters. Loaded the last of the dishes into the dishwasher. Dipped, dipped, dipped the tea bags into the hot water in the cups. All of it mechanically. All while replaying the stupid, horrible revelation from the restaurant and rethinking every nuance of Kylen’s face when he’d caught up with her on the beach.

Daddy appeared in the entry and leaned his shoulder into the wall.

“Sorry I’m taking so long. I wanted to do a little cleaning up while I was in here. The tea is almost ready.”

Hands clasped loosely, he studied her, chin tilted down and head canted to one side. His silence and the understanding in his wise eyes were almost her undoing.

Taysia swallowed and wrapped the string of the tea bag around the spoon to squeeze the last drops into the cup. The cupboard door creaked when she opened it to toss the spent leaves into the garbage can. Without meeting Daddy’s gaze, she turned and reached for the sugar bowl.

Daddy sighed. “So. He’s broken your heart again.”

The teaspoon chattered against the rim, and Taysia gritted her teeth, willing away the trembling in her hands. She was here to be strong for Daddy tonight. He needed to rest, not worry about her.

Suddenly he was there beside her. “Ah, darling, come here.” He set aside the sugar and turned her into his embrace.

And that bit of gentleness was more than her composure could bear. The sobs started deep under her rib cage and shook her whole body as she buried her face in her hands and collapsed into the comfort of Daddy’s warm arms. Even though age had shortened his stature, her head still fit under his chin, and she relaxed into his strength and settled in.