He was studying my face, wiping the droplets from my cheek and chin with his thumb, his eyes curious at my sudden change of expression as a hint of a smile broke through in between sobs.
“What are you thinking?”
“Oh, I was just hoping that if given the chance, I’d like you to kick my ex’s butt!”
“Believe me, I would love to. If I ever get within a few feet of the guy, I won’t be taking any prisoners, let’s put it that way.”
“Do you reckon you could take him on?”
Kyle’s lips gave me a light smile. “I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.”
“I still don’t like the idea of having to look over my shoulder all the time. I thought I would be rid of him for good in LA. It seems that’s impossible.”
My eyes felt swollen. Throat closed off. Nothing would be right until John was out of our lives for good. I didn’t know quite what that meant though as jail was too good for him. Somehow, he’d find a way to torment me even from behind bars. The alternative sent a shudder through me. Homicide?
The million-dollar question was, how far would Kyle go to protect me?
Instead of dwelling on something we had no immediate control over, Kyle took charge as he always did.
“I don’t want you worrying about this. We’ll take precautions. I’ll get my dad’s friend to do some snooping and to offer us protection if necessary.” He plowed a hand through my hair. “Now come on! Let’s get our boy to school. I’m not letting you out of my sight today. Get those negative thoughts out of your head. As long as I’m by your side, you have nothing to fear.”
He did make me feel safe. It was true. Whatever battle we had to fight we would face it head on, together. For today at least, I didn’t want to think of John or anything related to him. I needed to trust Kyle and believe that everything would be okay.
I loved getting out of the apartment to drive Daniel to school. We’d discuss his dreams to become a doctor. He was so smart for a child born without access to modern technology. His knowledge had come entirely from reading books. He had a thirst for literature that far surpassed my own yet it was this common passion we both shared that carved a solid base for our friendship. It was something unique to the two of us that even Kyle wasn’t a part of. We could talk books for hours.
The trip to school on this occasion still had an air of tension about it. As much as we all tried to pretend our lives hadn’t been thrown a curve ball, it was evident everyone was on edge. Daniel was distracted and Kyle’s only mutterings were something to do with me not worrying about anything and everything was going to be okay. I stared straight ahead but could feel his intense gaze on me every time we stopped at a set of traffic lights. I feared if I looked at him, I would see worry there that I didn’t want to have to deal with today.
The sun hid shyly behind a large cloud, painting the landscape grey. Goosebumps surfaced on my arms, causing me to shiver, not just from the coolness that had settled in but also from a sense of foreboding that washed over me briefly as we pulled into the school parking lot. I snuck a look at Kyle but he was fiddling with the heating system and hadn’t noticed, much to my relief. I wanted to try and put the hand delivered flower and all that it signified to the back of my mind for the day and just enjoy his company. Taking a cavernous breath, I willed myself to relax.
A black jeep Cherokee pulled in behind, dark tint covering its windows. Cars were pulling in and out like the herding of sheep. It was organized chaos.
Daniel grabbed his bag and was out of the car before I could turn to face him. For an instant I thought he was going to snub me but then he appeared at my door, opening it and standing tall, waiting for me to get out. I sensed he wanted to tell me something in private so I unlatched the seat belt and stepped out, limping over to him. Since the plane crash and my return from the dead I’d started physiotherapy twice a week to regain the full use of my leg, as Mr. Rutherford had promised that day he’d taken a risk and met me in the city for the first time after I had called to tell him I was very much alive. The injury was nothing more than a frustrating hobble now. The specialist had assured me it would disappear with time. It was more annoying than anything else.
Daniel had become so tall for a now thirteen year old and was morphing into a man with shoulders and a chest to match. His birthday had been three weeks ago and we’d all celebrated by going to a fancy restaurant and a movie.
We stood at a level height and when I looked into his chocolate eyes, they spoke to me long before his mouth opened.
“I know you’re scared about something, Dakota, but please know that even though I’m only a boy, I’ll do everything I can to help you. I’m not afraid. I’ve protected you once and I’ll do it again.” The hidden message glared at me overtly as my eyes expanded in surprise. I knew exactly what that meant and I was shocked that he’d come so close to breaking our promise of never talking about it. He was smarter than I’d given him credit for. He’d worked out the basics of my despondency earlier and now I had two males who were prepared to fight for me and another one that just wanted to kill me. I couldn’t bear thinking about it. It was too horrendous.
I pulled Daniel into a hug so that I could whisper to him without Kyle overhearing.
“Shhh. Don’t even say that. I won’t let you go to that place, Daniel. You’ve come such a long way since then. Please, let Kyle and the authorities handle it. I don’t want you to worry about me. Everything will be fine, I’m sure. Focus on school, okay? You have an English test today, yeah?”
“Yes.”
“Okay well, go in there and ace it like I know you will.” I kissed his forehead and even though his mood lightened, his dilated pupils carried a look of fierce protection before he waved to Kyle and headed up the long path towards class. I watched him carry the extra baggage of my life with him.
Chapter Three
Kyle
I was grateful Dakota and Daniel were outside. I dug my cell out of the dash holder and dialed my father’s office number.
“Hello? J. Rutherford’s office. Claire speaking. How can I help you?”
“Hi, Claire. It’s Kyle. How are you?”
“Kyle! So nice to hear from you! I’m fine, how are you?”
“I’m fine. I was just wondering if I could speak with, Dad?”
“Well, he’s in a meeting at the moment. Do you want me to get him to return your call?”
“Actually it’s kind of important. Can you interrupt the meeting? It won’t take long.”
“Hang on a moment, Kyle.”
I waited only about ten seconds before Dad addressed me with concern in his voice. “Kyle? Son, is everything all right? Claire said it was important.”
“Hey Dad. Everything is fine. Well, sort of. I need you to do me a favor.”
“Anything! What’s wrong?” My father’s voice had raised an octave.
“It might not be anything and I don’t want to get the police involved yet…”
“The police! Son, are you in some sort of trouble?”
“No. Everything is okay. I need you to get in contact with your friend Mike from the FBI.”
“Jesus, Kyle! The FBI?”
“Before you say anything else, let me finish. I need Mike to get a hold of the security footage from my apartment building and send you a copy. I need to know if anyone suspicious entered last night or this morning.”
“What do you mean, suspicious? Son, you’re not making yourself clear.”
“Dakota received an envelope this morning and we think it might be from her ex-husband. I told you that story, remember?”
“Yeah, go on!”
“Well there was an envelope pushed under our door with a dried rose in it. The handwriting on the front belonged to her ex, John. He could be in L.A., Dad, and I’m a little concerned right now because of his mental state. He’s unstable and Dakota thinks he’s going to finish her off because he failed last time.”
“Shit. Was there a note or anything in
the envelope with the rose?”
“No, just the rose. It’s a symbolic token from John because today is their anniversary. He’s a sick bastard, Dad, and I don’t want him within three feet of her. Can you call Mike and get him to check out the camera footage and then send it to you? Anyone that has come or gone from the building will be on it.”
“Sure, son. I’m in a meeting now but as soon as I’m finished I’ll call Mike and get him on it. You sure you don’t want the local police involved yet?”
“No. Not yet. It may pan out to be nothing.”
“Is Dakota with you now?”
“Yes. We’ve just dropped Daniel at school and I’m not letting her out of my sight today.”
“Good. Make sure of it, Kyle.”
“Don’t worry, okay? Like I said, it may turn out to be nothing.”
“Wait for my call.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
I pressed the off switch just as Dakota opened the car door to get back in.
Once settled, I entwined her left hand with my right, turning her face to look at me directly with my other hand. “I have a surprise for you.”
“What?”
“Well, I can’t tell you that now, can I? You’ll just have to wait until we get there. I think you’re going to love it though.”
I smirked slightly as I leaned in to kiss her lightly, teasing her with my almost silent voice. “Let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Four
Dakota
It was easy to sulk, given the mood I was already in. How could anything brighten this rotten day? It would have to be something epic. I could almost hear Kyle chuckling. He loved to goad me with suspense. He also knew how much I hated surprises.
By the time we turned towards the coast, my curiosity was excruciating. His smile had only broadened and I couldn’t help but feel a little better, despite the surprise and everything else on top of it. I loved that smile. I tried to keep up the pretense of being annoyed, although it was dwindling fast.
“I hate you, Kyle Rutherford!”
“Hmmm, later you can show me how much.” He glanced sideways with one eyebrow lifted in an inviting gesture.
I punched him playfully in the arm, causing an explosion of laughter.
Damn! How could I sulk properly with him next to me? It was impossible. We hadn’t even had our first argument yet. I just couldn’t bring myself to escalate anything into a fight when every time his eyes met mine I turned to mush.
The silver Lexus IS200 that Kyle had presented to me when I first returned from the dead as a welcome home gift slowed to a crawl on the esplanade of a small coastal hamlet about thirty minutes out of the rat race. I watched Kyle’s face, hoping for a sign, but it was unreadable.
“We’re going to the beach?”
“Sort of.”
“Sort of?”
“Yes, sort of.”
“That’s it? What sort of an answer is sort of? We’re either going to the beach or we’re not.”
I wound down the window to inhale the briny air and to hear the thunderous surf pounding the shore. We hadn’t visited the ocean since my stay on Ragged Island. There had been too many harsh recollections associated with it. Things I would rather bury. Each time Kyle had offered to go to the beach, I’d made up some lame excuse, much to Daniel’s disappointment. Today I hadn’t been able to do that. Kyle squeezed my leg as if reading my mind. “You okay with that? Going to the beach, I mean?”
“Mmm. Here with you, I’m fine.” I really was. With Kyle by my side the ocean invoked blissful memories. Days and nights we’d spent falling in love with the sound of the waves as our background music. I was surprised at how much I was now enjoying the slow drive, being able to reminisce.
Kyle signaled just before we turned right onto a private residence. I was confused.
“Are we visiting someone?”
“Yes.”
Okaaay. Now I was beginning to get frustrated. Kyle was never this quiet but I guessed he had to be so he didn’t give anything away. I certainly didn’t want to burst his bubble. I kept playing his game, waiting patiently.
A man was already parked inside the imposing entrance and was leaning on the hood of his car, studying some paperwork when we drove up the pebble driveway.
The intriguing, dark slate-roofed house was massive next to the middle-aged salesman. The large stones that made up the walls plummeted us into another era. The gardens around the house needed a lot of work, with tall, spindly weeds overshadowing most of the once glorious shrubs.
The stranger outstretched his hand to Kyle when we’d exited the car and then he looked at me briefly. “Hey Kyle! How are you? This must be your lovely girlfriend! I’m Joe Adams and I’ll be showing you around this neighborhood. Feel free to ask me questions about the properties and hopefully I’ll be able to answer them.”
What on Earth? Look around the properties? What were we doing? I started to smell something fishy that had Kyle written all over it.
I nudged him in the ribs to get his attention, animating my face with a questioning glare.
“What are we doing? I thought we were visiting someone? Why do we have a tour guide?” My teeth were compressed in an attempt to stifle my voice so I didn’t offend Joe.
Letting the stocky salesman lead the way, Kyle stole a kiss below my ear then whispered to me, “I’m buying you a house.”
I stopped walking, tugging on his hand.
“You’re what?” I nearly sang the words, my high-pitched voice alien to me. I could have sworn he said he was buying me a house.
Kyle turned to face me fully, clasping one side of my cheek in his soft hand. “This is the surprise. I’m buying you a house. Well, us actually. I want to get you out of the city, somewhere safe. Not only that, I’m tired of living in an apartment. I want a garden with trees and grass and…and vegetables!” He was waving his hand around to accentuate the word.
I giggled. “Vegetables? Since when do you have a green thumb?”
“Believe it or not, there are still some things you don’t know about me.”
“Obviously!”
I yearned to know everything. I wanted this man inside and out. If there were things still to uncover, I’d relish the new discoveries. We’d grow vegetables together.
“What do you say? Will you accept such an extravagant gift?”
Holy smoke! When I’d first agreed to come to America it had only been to stay with Kyle for a little while to see how our relationship would go and now two months later, we were buying a house! Well, Kyle was buying it. For us. Did I want to take that step?
How could I not? There were such endearing sentiments behind it. We both knew we wanted to stay together.
If this house was anything to go by, he wasn’t buying me a house. He was buying me a mansion. I knew my safety was everything to Kyle so if he thought by moving here I would be protected, then hell yeah!
I pulled his head close to give him an answer. “Yes.” I breathed onto his lips as I kissed him as if he would break. Our awareness was stolen to the gentle touch of two mouths moving in time to the ebb and pull of the ocean—our background music.
The earlier anniversary gift from John—or more to the point, the reaction I had from it—had been left back in the city. Now with my lips locked onto my own version of God, there was nothing to do but succumb to the moment and bask in its glory, although kissing was never enough.
Joe coughed nice and loud to break up the two-person party. “If you’ll just follow me inside, I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
A southern drawl seemed out of place in the impeccably dressed man living in California. His balding hair was brushed over to one side and stuck up like a peacock’s tail every time the sea breeze snuck under it. I snickered as I watched him try to flatten it down again but he gave up after the third or fourth attempt. His warm nature put me at ease as I followed the two men through the carved timber double doors and stopped to take in the un-renovate
d interior.
Straight away, the musty smell burned my nostrils, constricting my throat somewhat. The foyer light was on to try and add ambience to the house, but to little avail. The large gothic windows hindered the glorious outside light from penetrating the gloom. It was too dark. I shivered as the archaic staircase creaked and groaned under the pressure as we ascended to the second story. Talk about stepping back through time. A chandelier hanging by a brass chain failed to fight off cobwebs that looked like they had been there since the dawn of time. Immediately I knew it was not the house for me. It made me depressed. The walls felt like they were closing in on me. I didn’t know what taste Joe thought we had but I certainly was not, “pleasantly surprised.”
I looked at Kyle, trying to gauge his expression, but his face appeared neutral as he talked things over with Joe as we sullenly walked through the bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. Large sheets of heavy, velvet curtains in dull reds and greens shielded the barred windows from view. Whoever was trying to sell the house obviously had liked living in a closed off, dark world.
Even the large galley kitchen downstairs failed to impress. The house was cold and lifeless. It would need far too much work done to modernize it and tidy it up.
It was a relief when we finally walked outside again into the fresh air and daylight.
“Well, what do you think so far?” enthused Joe, hopeful that his day’s work was complete.
“It’s not really what we’re looking for.” I looked at Kyle for support.
“We’re after something a little warmer and more homely,” added Kyle, not caring to look around the outside of the house.
Joe wasn’t perturbed and navigated down his list. “There are a couple on the beach side of the road. You literally step out your backyard onto the sand. They’re a little pricier than the ones on this side, but I think they’ll be more suitable. Shall we go?”
Saving Me (Finding You #3) Page 2
