by Liwen Ho
“Of course.” Devon took her glass and directed her down the hallway to their left.
He watched Kylie walk away, more intrigued and curious about the woman she had become. An air of mystery surrounded her, making him wonder why she was being so tight-lipped. She didn’t trust him like she once did. Why, he didn’t understand, but he was determined to find out. He wasn’t done wooing her yet.
Chapter Six
Kylie
As soon as Kylie stepped into the restroom, she knew she was in over her head. The opulence of the space decorated with dark cherry wood and white marble made her speechless. Light glinted off the crystal sink, making her blink twice as she stared at her reflection in it. She had a feeling the sink alone cost more than all her belongings combined.
Devon wasn’t just well-off, he was loaded—with a capital L. Even with her affluent upbringing and those of their classmates, Kylie had never seen wealth like this before. The realization made her stomach turn. That, along with the fact that Devon would be attending the charity event that her employers were throwing tomorrow, started a wave of nausea to roll through her. Their worlds—as different as they were—would soon be colliding.
There was no way she could enjoy the evening now. As much as she wanted to savor another drop of champagne, enjoy the sunset, and, most of all, be near Devon, she couldn’t let herself live a life that wasn’t hers. She was a working-class nanny; he was a rich entrepreneur. Ironically enough, she had looked down on people like herself once upon a time. The harsh reality of how the tables had turned coated her mouth like spoiled wine. She swallowed the bitterness, resolving to end the evening early.
Kylie stepped out of the restroom and made her way back to Devon’s side. As soon as she neared him, he turned and placed a hand on her arm. Heart aching, she stepped out of his reach. “I’m actually not feeling so great. Thank you for planning such a lovely evening, but I’m going to go.”
Concern creased his forehead as he studied her face. “Are you experiencing motion sickness? I can ask the captain to stop for a while.”
“Stop? We’re already moving?” She suddenly noticed the change in scenery outside the windows. There was only blue water as far as the eye could see. “I had no idea we’d left the shore already.”
A smile curved Devon’s lips. “It’s one of the perks of this boat. It makes for a smooth ride.” He paused and asked, “Would some ginger ale help? I’ll get you a glass.” He walked toward the bar before she could answer.
“No, it’s all right.” The concern in his hazel eyes melted her insides. Kylie felt torn between wanting to stay and wanting to run away as far as possible. Though, in her case, she’d have to swim, seeing as how far they were from land. “I’ll be fine. Maybe we can sit down for a while?”
His eyes brightened as he came back to her side. “I have the best seat in the house for you. Follow me.”
Devon led her down the spiral staircase until they reached the bottom floor of the vessel. The circular room was enclosed completely with glass from top to bottom. Six seats in the center, all facing outward, provided a perfect place to admire the view. Kylie’s jaw dropped as she realized they were smack dab in the middle of the Pacific, surrounded by sea life.
“Pretty cool, huh?” Devon grinned, seeming to enjoy her reaction. He took her hand and led her to one of the seats before sitting down beside her. “I’m sure this will take your mind off your seasickness.”
“This is amazing.” Kylie leaned forward, watching fish of every color swim by. Bright hues of yellow and fluorescent blues and reds filled the window as fish darted in and out of the coral reefs. Several times whole schools of fish swam by in a blur of fins and tails. “It’s like snorkeling but so much better. You don’t have to worry about being tossed around by the waves.”
“Or drinking salt water,” Devon joked as he sucked in his cheeks with his eyes open wide. “I always feel shriveled up after swimming in the ocean.”
Kylie couldn’t help but giggle at his ridiculous expression. Devon had always been able to make her laugh with his silly antics. “You’re all grown up, but you haven’t changed much at all.”
“I take it that’s a good thing?”
She nodded. “Yes, it is.”
Their gazes locked, and her stomach dropped. The tenderness in his hazel eyes overwhelmed her. For a split second, she felt like a teenager again, about to be kissed for the first time. She remembered her and Devon’s first kiss well, how he had moved in slowly, taking his time to savor the moment before their mouths met. Tilting his head to the side, he’d given her the most endearing smile, all the while holding her hand as if he never wanted to let her go. He wouldn’t have either if he had any say in the matter. She was the one who’d closed the door on them, just like she was doing now as she forced herself to look away. They may have shared a past, but there was no future for them. This was just a date, a chance to live out a temporary dream before reality came calling.
“Hey, uh, check this out,” Devon suddenly spoke up. He reached for a remote on the side of his seat and pressed a few buttons. A small screen lowered from the ceiling directly above them. “This shows us real-time info about the seabed and the fish we’re seeing. You can also adjust the opacity of the windows, depending on how sunny it is. And there’s an option to turn on some lights for nighttime viewing.”
“Wow, whoever designed this thought of everything.” Kylie’s eyes widened as she took in the sight. She was relieved to have something else to focus on besides the hunk of a man sitting next to her. Several names flashed on the screen: Bluestripe Snapper, Longnose Butterflyfish, and Trumpetfish. Devon pointed out the fish to her as they flexed their bodies to propel themselves through the water. When a football-shaped fish with an extra-long snout and bright stripes passed by, the name of Hawaii’s state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa, popped up. “That’s a mouthful. I still can’t say the full name.”
Devon chuckled. “I’m not even going to try. You know I barely passed Spanish.”
“But you did so well in all your other classes. Much better than me.”
“I had to in order to keep my scholarship.” A wistful look crossed his face. “It’s so nice to not have to worry about finances anymore. Now I can do what I want and buy what I like without giving it a second thought. It’s a pretty great lifestyle, isn’t it?”
“Hmm,” Kylie murmured as if in agreement. She focused on the scene outside the window, trying to take her mind off the topic of money. Yet, the more she tried not to think about it, the harder it was to move past the idea that money—or the lack of it—was the main obstacle in her life. And now it was a stumbling block in her relationships, too. If only she could swim as freely as a fish.
Her heart heavy, she took a deep breath and reminded herself to look on the bright side. She was fortunate to have this evening out and to be able to spend it with such a handsome and charming man as Devon. With him, there were no pretenses and no awkward silences. Theirs was a friendship born out of familiarity and pleasure. They truly enjoyed one another’s company, and for that, Kylie was grateful.
Soon, a marvelous sight caught her attention. A large sea turtle swam up, its two front flippers stretched out like the wings of a plane. “Dev, look! A turtle!”
“Nice!” He flashed her a grin. “I was hoping we’d see one. He’s coming right up to us. Kinda makes you wonder who’s checking who out.”
Kylie leaned in for a better look. She spotted several bright yellow fish on the turtle’s back. “What are those Yellow Tangs doing?”
“They have a symbiotic relationship with each other. The Tangs keep the turtle’s shell clean by eating the algae and parasites off it.” He paused as a thoughtful look crossed his face. “You know how your household staff keep your mansion clean? That’s what the fish are doing for the turtle.”
She raised a brow at Devon’s answer, surprised at the analogy he used. “So, the fish are like hired help?”
He shrugged
nonchalantly. “That’s a good way to put it.”
Kylie swallowed hard, her heart aching. She was wrong; Devon had changed. Now that he was at the top of the success ladder, he talked like someone with money, power, and influence. A man who no doubt had dozens of staff waiting at his beck and call. People like her, one of the hired help. No amount of pretending could erase the fact that someone like Devon would never associate with someone like her.
With a heavy heart, she rose to her feet. “I’d like to go now, if you don’t mind. I’m not feeling my best.”
Devon’s brows rose in surprise. “Of course. I’ll let the captain know to head back.”
She followed him up the stairs, feeling like a small fish in a big, wide ocean. She may have enjoyed a free ride for the evening, living like a big fish, but it was time for her Cinderella adventure to come to an end.
Chapter Seven
Devon
Devon took a deep breath and positioned his hands on his golf club, gloved hand on top. He planted his feet, shoulder width apart, on the lush green lawn and bent his knees slightly. With a fluid motion, he brought the club back and swung, pivoting his right foot in the process. He squinted against the midday sun and lifted his visor to spot where the ball had gone. It wasn’t until he heard the sound of a woman clearing her throat behind him did he realize the ball still sat in the same spot.
“Are you serious, Dev?” his sister Laurene remarked from where she sat in a nearby golf cart with her boyfriend, Noah. She turned to Noah and grimaced. “He whiffed the ball.”
“Whiff?” Noah asked. “Does that mean he missed it?”
“Oh yeah, big time.” Laurene’s red ponytail swung about as she nodded. “Dev’s not the best golfer, but he usually does better than this. I have a feeling something or, more specifically, someone is distracting him.”
Devon rolled his eyes and exhaled. As much as he didn’t want to admit his older sister was right, she was. Ever since his date with Kylie last night, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He still didn’t understand why she’d ended the evening so abruptly. Had he said something to offend her? Why had she left without so much as a glance back?
Noah hopped off the cart and approached Devon with both hands in the pockets of his lime green shorts. He tilted his head of sandy brown hair up to look Devon in the eyes. “Is everything okay? You haven’t said much all morning. It’s not like you to be so quiet.”
“I just have a lot on my mind,” he murmured, wondering how much he should divulge to his friend. Noah had only started dating his sister recently and likely wasn’t the best person to ask for advice on women. But he obviously must’ve done something right to catch Laurene’s attention. “My date with Kylie didn’t go the way I’d hoped,” he finally admitted. “And now she’s not answering any of my calls or texts.”
“Sorry to hear that. You don’t have any clue what went wrong?”
Devon shook his head. He’d replayed their conversation over and over in his mind and had come up empty. “If I did, I wouldn’t be here right now. I’d be trying to fix things with her instead of playing my most pathetic round of golf ever.” Despite the beauty of the golf course which overlooked the ocean, Devon had no heart to enjoy the view or feel passionate about the charity he was supporting. Even his outfit of a gray polo shirt and black shorts reflected his somber mood. Everything appeared dull and uninspired now that Kylie had walked out of his life again.
“I don’t understand how you can care this much about a girl who dumped you.” Laurene strode over, exasperation darkening her green eyes. “It doesn’t make sense, but for some reason, you always try to see the best in people. Are you sure Kylie deserves a second chance?”
There was nothing Devon was more sure of. “She’s changed, Laurene. Kylie’s been through some hard times, but she’s come out for the better because of them.”
Laurene nodded. “I trust your judgment. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I’m willing to take my chances. She may be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I can’t lose her again.”
“All right, then stop moping around,” she insisted. “Put yourself out of your misery and go find her. Please. I hate seeing you like this.”
Go find her. Those three words bounced around in Devon’s head, even as he stood rooted in place. “Okay, I will.”
“Great!” She reached for his club. “I’ll take over for you here.”
He gave Laurene a wide-eyed look. “You may be dressed to play golf,” he began, eyeing her white golf skirt, “but you’ve never played a day in your life. Are you sure about this?”
She placed one hand on her hip and gave him a pointed look. “I’m pretty sure that between Noah and me, one of us will be able to hit the ball.”
Devon scoffed. “Very funny, sis.”
“Don’t worry about us.” Noah smiled. “You go find your girl.”
“All right, thanks.” Devon touched the rim of his visor in a brief salute goodbye and hopped onto the golf cart.
With determination coursing through his veins, he stepped on the gas and pushed the vehicle to its limits. The fresh ocean air filled his lungs and also cleared his mind. Laurene was right. Kylie was worth pursuing. He needed to let her know how he felt about her. He wasn’t ready to give up yet.
When he reached the edge of the golf course, he parked the cart and stepped onto the walkway leading to a modern-looking clubhouse. Before him stood several circular buildings situated around a large pond filled with red and gold koi. He made his way toward the main building, intending to thank the hosts of the charity before heading off. He also had in mind to ask them for recommendations of some upscale hotels in the area, possible places where a wealthy young woman might be staying. The social circles of the rich often overlapped, and he wouldn’t be surprised if the Joneses knew of Kylie or her parents.
A blast of cold air hit Devon in the face as soon as he stepped through the front doors. The air conditioning was on full blast, bringing quick relief from the humid heat. While the outside scene was a bright mix of green and blue hues, the inside of the clubhouse boasted darker, richer colors. Most of the furniture was made from reddish brown koa wood. The place reminded him of the clubhouse he frequented back home, but with a tropical feel. A couple of blue and yellow parrots hung out on a perch stand next to the reception area. The employees behind the desk wore Hawaiian print shirts and leis made from purple and white plumerias.
Devon took off his visor and golf glove and stuck them in his back pocket, then ran a hand through his short crew cut. He was about to walk over to the reception desk when he felt a tug on his leg.
He looked down, right into a pair of light blue eyes and a toothy grin. A young child about three or four had made herself at home on his black golf shoes. She hugged his calf so tightly, he imagined he could take a few steps without her falling off. Perhaps that’s what she was looking for—a free ride? But who did she belong to? Just as he wondered how he should pry her sticky hands off his leg, a woman called out in the distance.
“Molly! Where are you?”
The hair on the back of Devon’s neck stood on end. He’d recognize that voice anywhere. Glancing up, his gaze landed on the woman who had occupied his dreams all night. Her dark brown hair lay in a braid that was draped across one shoulder. She wore a casual outfit of a pink athletic top and black yoga pants with sneakers. After a moment of shock, he picked up his jaw and exclaimed, “Kylie? What are you doing here?”
Her complexion paled as embarrassment and fear flickered across her face. With a nervous smile, she rushed over to coax the little girl away. She avoided his eyes as she apologized, “Please excuse us, Mr. Brooks.” She then turned to Molly and pled with her, “Let’s go. We need to find your sister.”
The child shook her head resolutely and clung to Devon’s leg even tighter. It wasn’t until a fashionably dressed woman with stern eyes approached them that the little girl loosened her hold.
With a look of displeasure, Mrs. Jones shooed the girl away. She then greeted Devon with a sugary smile. “I see you’ve met my youngest. I do apologize for her behavior. She must have had one too many cookies today.”
“It’s no problem at all,” Devon reassured her. “I remember being that energetic once.”
“Yes, well, it seems the nanny is a little off her game today, letting her run amok like this,” she murmured out of the corner of her mouth as Kylie and her daughter walked away. “You’d think with the amount of money I pay her, she’d do a better job. It’s so hard to find good help these days, don’t you agree?”
Devon squeezed out a polite smile as Mrs. Jones lamented further about her staff. He swallowed his shock as the pieces of the puzzle began falling into place. Kylie worked for the Joneses. Moreover, she had lied about her situation. But what bothered him the most was the fact that she hadn’t trusted him enough to tell him. Now more than ever, he was determined to find her and get the truth.
Chapter Eight
Kylie
Humiliation washed over Kylie like waves crashing onto the shore, knocking her over and pulling her down. She could hardly breathe; her chest was so tight. Bumping into Devon had been a nightmare come true. Except the shock and confusion on his face had been all too real. Her secret was exposed, and Devon now knew how little she was worth.
Kylie wished she had a minute to compose herself, but Mrs. Jones soon entered the conference room where she and the children were. One look at her employer made her skin grow cold.
Mrs. Jones gestured with one curved index finger for Kylie to approach, her expression as grim as ever. “Ms. Martin, I continue to find your work ethic less than acceptable. My children require discipline and structure, both of which you are not able to provide. Instead, you allow them to run around like wild animals! I cannot have you exerting your bad influence on them. I regret to inform you that we shall no longer be needing your services.”
