Finding Home Again (Catalina Cove)

by Brenda Jackson

  Kaegan looked back at Sawyer. Although he hadn’t said anything, it was obvious from Sawyer’s smile that he’d agreed with everything Ray had said. Okay, maybe he was acting territorial, and he didn’t have any right doing so because Bryce wasn’t his girl. But little did his friends know that he intended to change that soon. Real soon.

  * * *

  “IT’S GOOD SEEING you again, too, Jeremy. What brings you to Catalina Cove?” She had spoken with him when he’d called last Tuesday to congratulate her on passing the exam. She didn’t recall him mentioning that he would be in the area this week.

  “I’m visiting someone and remembered you once said your parents owned a café here and served the best blueberry muffins. I decided to stop by and see if you knew what you were talking about.”

  Bryce threw back her head and laughed. “You’ll see how good they are. Do you want anything else to go with the muffins and coffee?”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “Depends on what you like. Some people like to eat bacon or sausage with their muffins.”

  “That sounds like a winner. I think I’ll take an order of bacon.”

  “Okay,” Bryce said. “I’ll be right back with your coffee.” Smiling, she walked off, glad to see Jeremy, but she knew nothing had changed. She still wasn’t interested in him and was pretty sure he’d gotten the voice message she’d left on his phone letting him know how busy she would be if she passed her exam. When she’d spoken with him on the phone last week he hadn’t asked her out.

  She wondered whom he was visiting in the area and had been tempted to ask, but knew it wasn’t any of her business.

  After placing his order on the counter for one of her brothers to pick up, she glanced over at Kaegan. He was staring at her and the heat from his gaze made sensuous currents flow through her as if she was holding a live wire. She broke eye contact with him to grab the coffeepot so she could pour Jeremy’s coffee.

  Bryce was tempted to look back over at Kaegan but didn’t. Instead she walked back to where Jeremy sat to serve his coffee.

  * * *

  BACK AT THE office Kaegan could barely get any work done for thinking about Bryce and that guy this morning. Even after Ray and Sawyer had left he’d hung back, getting more muffins and refills on his coffee and pretending to check messages on his cell phone just to linger around. There was something about the man he hadn’t liked. Namely, the man’s interest in Bryce. And like he’d told Ray and Sawyer, it was obvious they knew each other. How? Had the two of them dated before?

  When she brought over his refill of coffee, he’d been tempted to ask but didn’t. Like Ray had said and Sawyer had reiterated before leaving, Bryce was not his girl and he needed to stop acting territorial where she was concerned.

  The beeper on his desk went off. He pressed the button on his desk. “Yes, Willa?”

  “Ray is here to see you.”

  “Okay, send him in.” He stood and walked around to the front of his desk, leaned against it and waited for Ray to walk in. “And what brings you here for a visit, Ray? Bored with being tour-boat captain and want your old job back?”

  “No. First, I wanted to make sure you hadn’t gotten into trouble this morning after Sawyer and I left. You were pretty ticked off.”

  Kaegan went back to sit down in the chair behind his desk, thinking about that morning and feeling frustrated. “Yes, I was pretty ticked off, although I know I don’t have a right to be, like both you and Sawyer pointed out. I was the one who screwed up, Ray. I should have believed in Bryce, had more faith in her. I loved her. She’d been my best friend forever, but in that space of time I forgot all about that.”

  Ray sat and didn’t say anything for a minute. “I recall getting mad with Ashley when I thought she’d betrayed me. Something you said is what kicked my ass into gear.”

  “And what did I say?”

  “You basically told me that I could continue to feel sorry for myself, or I could grow some balls and be thankful for Ashley and do something to make sure I kept her.”

  “Grow some balls? I’m sure I didn’t use that terminology.”

  Ray grinned. “No, but what you said meant the same thing. I think it’s time you take heed of your own advice.”

  Kaegan rubbed a hand down his face and then met Ray’s gaze. “I love her, Ray.”

  “Hell, you don’t think I know that. I’ve always known that. You loved her even when you swore you couldn’t stand her. Nobody believed you, by the way. Not even the women in town, those who slept with you and those who didn’t. Those sleeping with you did it just to get a piece of you and for you to get a piece of them, hoping you’d be impressed. You weren’t. And those who wouldn’t waste their time sleeping with you refused to do so because they wanted more and knew your heart belonged to Bryce.”

  His heart belonged to Bryce... “Too bad they know and she doesn’t.”

  “Have you told her?” Ray asked.

  Kaegan shook his head. “No, it’s too soon. I’m working out a strategy with Bryce. For us to make a comeback, she has to want it as much as me.”

  “Yes, but at some point you might have to turn up the heat,” Ray said. “How you handle your business is your decision. However, there’s a quote someone at the hospital gave me the day I checked out to come here. At the time I wondered if I would ever get my memory back. Would I ever recapture the love I was convinced I had prior to my accident? The quote said, ‘No matter where your path may take you, you can always find your way back home.’”

  Ray paused, as if he was giving the quote time to sink into Kaegan’s mind. “Home for you has never been Catalina Cove, Kaegan. Home for you is the love you have for Bryce. The two of you need to find your way back home together.”

  Kaegan didn’t say anything. His mind was absorbing the quote like he figured Ray wanted him to. His friend didn’t know it but he’d pretty much stated what Kaegan had concluded a while back. Only Bryce could make Catalina Cove home for him. Then to make light of the situation, he said, “You came all the way over here to get my confession of loving Bryce?”

  Ray grinned. “No, but I’m glad you finally gave it. The other reason for my visit is because for the last few months I’ve been thinking like Devon Ryan.”

  Kaegan rolled his eyes. He’d discovered that Devon Ryan used to be a business-suit-wearing, suave, debonair and sophisticated sort of guy. Someone too smart for his own good and who had an IQ the likes of which most people couldn’t even dream of ever having. Aside from the smarts, the man had been the total opposite of Ray. “Please don’t tell me you’re going to start wearing expensive business suits and Gucci shoes around town.”

  Ray chuckled. “No. Those days are totally over for me. I was thinking more along the lines of how I can grow my assets.”

  Kaegan leaned in closer to listen. Ray was the one who’d planted the idea in his head to expand his business and the results were paying off big-time. So whenever he spoke about finances, Kaegan listened. “All right, so what do you have in mind?”

  “A water-taxi service from here to New Orleans. I had Ashley conduct a survey and there are a number of people living in the cove who work in New Orleans. They prefer living here for the small-town feel, but the bigger job opportunities are in New Orleans. Those same people have started complaining, and rightfully so, about the commute into work, which usually takes an hour or so on a good day. We can do a water-taxi service and get them there in half the time and it would be a relaxing trip since they won’t have to drive.”

  Kaegan rubbed his hand over his chin, already liking the idea. “I can see it working.”

  Ray smiled. “So can I. We can even serve a complimentary breakfast from Witherspoon Café. Something simple like blueberry muffins and coffee. That would boost sales for the Witherspoons, and the increase in blueberry sales will be good for Reid’s blueberry plant. It would help ou
t with traffic jams whenever the cove hosts one of their festivals. A big bonus is that there will be less auto fumes on the road from here to New Orleans. And it might even increase home sales for people who prefer living in a small town.”

  Kaegan nodded. “I’m sure you’ve talked to Reid about it. What about Sawyer?”

  “Yes, and like you, both think it’s a great idea and are surprised no one has thought of it sooner. Of course, we’ll have to get permission from the state, but Reid doesn’t think there will be a problem.”

  Kaegan chuckled. “I’m sure he doesn’t. We’re voting for a new governor next year, and any candidate would love to have Reid’s support and the nice campaign contribution that goes along with it.”

  Ray shrugged. “Hey, whatever works.” He eased out of his chair. “Well, I’m glad you like the idea of the water taxi. Once more details are worked out, I’ll bring it before the Catalina Cove zoning board.”

  He paused a moment and then said, “And think about what I said about Bryce, Kaegan. She’s a beautiful woman and men are going to want to talk to her. Instead of getting jealous, do something about it and make her yours permanently.”

  * * *

  KAEGAN WAS STILL thinking about what Ray had said when he and Bryce met later that evening to discuss music for the high-school holiday reunion. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know she hadn’t wanted to meet with him. She’d tried getting him to agree to a discussion over the phone. He turned down her offer both times.

  It still bothered him whenever he thought about the guy who’d come into the café that morning, but like Sawyer and Ray had said, he had no rights where Bryce was concerned, so he needed to get over it. Besides, the last thing he needed was for her to think he was being territorial.

  He had everything set and when he saw her strolling down the pier toward his yacht he couldn’t help but feel the love he had for her. She looked comfortable in a pair of warm brown slacks and a beige blouse. It was mid-October and the weather today was rather warm for this time of year.

  He stood on the deck of his yacht and studied her. She’d always had a regal walk but had never been one to hold herself apart from anyone. Unlike him, she was a people person, but she’d always included him in everything, making it clear that, along with Vashti, the three of them were a team. And during that time when Vashti had been sent away to have her baby, the two of them continued to bond and their bond had transformed into love.

  That she was even communicating with him after what had happened was a miracle in itself. But he knew that, although she’d forgiven him and had now reclaimed him as a friend, she still guarded her emotions where he was concerned. He knew that and for now he accepted it as the price he had to pay for hurting her the way he had.

  “Nice yacht,” she said when she came aboard. He had reached out his hand to assist her, and the moment their hands had touched, he’d felt full sexual awareness. A part of him knew she had, as well, but was refusing to acknowledge it.

  “I admit one of the reasons I accepted your offer to meet you here was because I’ve been dying to see around your yacht for a long time. It’s beautiful. Ry and Duke brag about it every time you invite them to go night fishing with you.”

  He chuckled, thinking how much fun he had with her brothers whenever they all went fishing at night with Ray and Sawyer. “Now you can take a look around for yourself. Spencer’s will be delivering our pizza shortly.”

  “Okay, but you didn’t have to order food. I only need to be here for a minute to go over the music ideas with you. I made a list.”

  “It’s just something light.”

  “Pizza?”

  He grinned. “I know how much you like pizza. By the way, I checked out a number of bands that perform in the area. Only two were within the committee’s budget.”

  “Figures. Good bands aren’t cheap these days.” She glanced up at him. “Well, are you going to show me around?”

  “No, feel free to look around. I have no secrets where you’re concerned.” He could see the surprise in her eyes at what he said. There. He’d planted that thought in her head and he wanted it to take root.

  She didn’t say anything. Instead she turned and, out of the corner of his eye as he began setting the table for their meeting, he could see her looking around. She was right—his yacht was a beauty. His dream come true...behind her, of course. Bryce was his first dream and would always hold that position.

  When she left to go check out other parts of the yacht, he released a deep breath. Her scent alone could render him weak. It was such a luscious fragrance. His phone went off and he checked the caller. It was a number he didn’t recognize, so he let the call go to voice mail and then listened to it.

  “Kaegan, this is Sasha. I was wondering what you would be doing Friday night. A girlfriend of mine is in town and I would like her to meet you.”

  Kaegan frowned. Why was she calling when she didn’t know him like that? Some women had a lot of nerve. A better question to ask was, how had she gotten his number? Since Farley Johnson was one of the team leaders on his boat, Farley did have his personal number, but Kaegan couldn’t see him sharing it with his sister.

  Twenty minutes later Bryce returned, all smiles. Undoubtedly, the smiles were for what she’d seen on her tour of the yacht. “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” she said, her smile widening. “I am so proud of your accomplishments, Kaegan.”

  He knew her words were sincere. “And I am proud of yours. You did great on your exam.”

  “With your help.”

  “Then I can also say that I got all of this,” he said, spreading out his arms wide, “with your help. You, your family and Vashti were always there for me in my early years. You know my history better than anyone, Bryce.”

  He’d deliberately mentioned a connection between them that would always be there. “What do you think of the upper deck?” he asked her.

  “Oh, I loved it. I could spend a whole day up there while out in the middle of the ocean.”

  “So can I and usually I do. That’s normally where I am on Sundays when I’m not doing my volunteer work.”

  She lifted an eyebrow when she sat down at the table. “You do volunteer work?”

  “Yes.”

  “For who?” she asked him.

  “One of the soup kitchens in New Orleans.”

  “Oh? How did you get involved with something like that?”

  He shrugged as he sat down at the table after pulling out his music list. “While in the marines a group of us began volunteering on our days off-base. Rick Astor, one of my team members, gave us the idea. He said while growing up that was the only place he got a decent meal. Rick was killed in Iraq eight years ago, and in his memory, we all agreed to continue what he’d encouraged us to do.”

  He didn’t say anything for a minute and then said, “Rick’s story showed me that no matter how bad you think you had it growing up as a child, there is a kid out there somewhere who had it even worse.”

  When he heard a knock on the cabin door, he stood. “That’s probably our pizza.”

  Over pizza and beer they covered their music lists, satisfied that what they would present to the committee at the next meeting would please everyone, including Laura. He even had sound equipment on the yacht that they used to listen to some of the songs Bryce had selected that he could not recall.

  “I can’t believe you don’t remember Prince.”

  He shook his head, grinning. “Let’s not get it twisted, Bryce. I remember Prince, but not that particular song.”

  By the time she gathered her items to leave, he was already looking forward to Saturday. That was the day they would meet again when they discussed his company’s expansion plans in Boston.

  “I take it you’re registered with the state of Massachusetts now?” he asked her when he walked her back on deck to lea
ve.

  “Yes. Everything is done electronically these days and I got my paperwork in a week.”

  “Good. You haven’t changed your mind about working for me as my broker, have you?”

  “No, and you haven’t changed your mind about hiring me?” Bryce asked him.

  “No.”

  “Good, because I’ve been doing my research already.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. “Now, why am I not surprised.”

  She chuckled as she glanced at her watch. “I need to go.”

  He wondered why the rush. Did she have a date for later? Was it the guy who’d come into the café that morning? He bit back asking why she was in such a hurry to leave. Instead he said, “Okay. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

  She smiled over at him. “Thanks. I will.”

  * * *

  “SURPRISE!”

  Bryce threw her hand to her chest in total disbelief. The last thing she’d expected when she arrived for lunch at Ashley and Ray’s home was to find balloons and a cake.

  She looked at Ashley and Vashti. “Surprise? What for? It’s not my birthday or anything.”

  Ashely laughed. “No, but you’ve been studying hard for that exam and you aced it, so we decided to celebrate your achievement. You did it, girl, and Vashti and I are proud of you!” she said, giving Bryce a hug. Vashti gave her one, as well.

  “We got a bottle of wine, although neither of us will be able to share a glass with you. We’re drinking apple cider.”

  Bryce didn’t want to get all emotional, but she was definitely feeling it. Vashti had been her best friend forever, and since moving to town and marrying Ray, Ashley was someone who’d become a dear friend to her.

  “Don’t you dare start crying, Bryce,” Vashti warned.

  Bryce smiled. “I won’t but this is so special.”

  “Because you’re special. I made sandwiches for lunch and a fruit tray. The weather is nice, so we can sit out on the patio and smell the apples,” Ashley said, maneuvering around the room pretty easily for a woman who would be giving birth to twins in a month’s time.