Undertow: A Forbidden Love College Sports Romance (Rising Tides Book 1)

by Kaia Knight

  Kailani frowned. She imagined how offended the Flockharts would be if they heard their name associated with bingo parties.

  “Anyway, where is this hot Brazilian roommate you were telling me about? But I’m still not convinced you didn’t make him up.”

  As if Melody’s words summoned him, Cristiano walked in front of the car, carrying an enormous ladder over his shoulder. He leaned it against the front of the farmhouse, bending over to stabilize the feet.

  Melody whipped her head towards Kailani, scooting down in her seat and mouthed holy shit. “Okay, I believe you. Also, when can I come over?”

  Kailani laughed, “Anytime. Please. I could use a little more feminine energy around here.” Perfectly timed, Cristiano tugged off his damp shirt, tossing it onto the garden fence before climbing the ladder with a paint scraper in his hand. He glanced over his shoulder with his dark, catlike eyes, as if searching for an audience. He smiled when he saw the girls in the car.

  Melody giggled harder, “Oh, he’s giving us a private show?”

  Kailani rolled her eyes. “Yep. It’s like Magic Mike here all day. I’ve been avoiding him a little bit, to be honest.” She sighed and gathered her books and backpack. “I guess I should go help him.”

  “Wait!” Melody said, “Give me your number so I can text you!”

  “Uh...my phone died in the whole cliff incident. But if you give me your number, I can call you from the landline.”

  Melody shook her head with a mournful expression. “No phone? No car? Girl, what era are you in?” Again, Kailani blushed, but Melody continued, “I like your style.” She scrawled her number on a notebook paper, ripping it out and handing it to Kailani. “See you later.”

  Kailani nodded at Cristiano as she stepped onto the weathered front porch, her arms straining beneath the pile of books. The front windows were open, sheer curtains billowing in the breeze. Setting her books down on the bench, she knocked on the front door.

  Josie answered quickly, her face lighting up.

  “Kailani!” Josie patted her apron, sending plumes of flour between them. She beckoned Kailani inside, and her gaze caught the stack of books. “Did you bring home the whole library?”

  Kailani grinned. “Just a little school shopping.”

  “Tell me all about your classes – what are you most excited for?” Josie looked at her eagerly, as if talking to Kailani was the best part of her day.

  Touched by Josie’s interest, Kailani listed her classes for the semester. While they talked, Kailani settled herself on the stool and watched Josie flit around the kitchen. Her arms flexed as she kneaded dough with an air of expertise.

  “So, you’re studying business marketing? Maybe you can give me some tips. We have the Fall Festival coming up soon and need it to be a success this year.”

  “I’d love to help. What exactly is the Fall Festival?”

  “It’s been a tradition since our first year of owning Lilac Ranch. We host a bake sale, families purchase pumpkins in the patch, and we sell homemade goods like soaps and honey. It’s a fun get-together with some local friends and family to celebrate the harvest season.”

  Kailani leaned her head on her hand, thinking of Melody’s comments earlier. “That sounds wonderful. How long have you been doing it?”

  Josie’s hands paused and she tilted her head. “Oh, gee. I think fifty-four years now?”

  “Wow! Was this your dream, running a ranch in Eugene?”

  She chuckled. “You could say that. I grew up down the road from here, and at the time this land was part of a larger homestead. I had a bit of a crush on the boy who lived here, so I’d cut through their property on my way to the schoolhouse in the hopes of seeing him. He didn’t notice me at first, but I was persistent.”

  Josie craned her neck and pointed out the kitchen window. “You see that lilac tree past the goat pen? That’s where we had our first kiss. Walt and I got married two summers later. His pop sold us this plot of twenty acres, and we lived in what is now the inn while saving up to build the farmhouse.”

  “That sounds like a fairytale,” Kailani sighed wistfully. “Is that why you named it Lilac Ranch, because of your first kiss?”

  Josie smiled and nodded. “It’s become a symbol of sorts for us. We each plant a new lilac along the driveway every year on our anniversary.” Josie’s expression grew troubled. “But I suppose it can’t last forever. Nothing is permanent except love.”

  Kailani furrowed her brows at Josie’s shaking voice, but before she could ask her what she meant, Josie stuck the baking tray in the oven and pulled off her apron. “I should tend to the goats while this is cooking.” She swept out of the kitchen, leaving Kailani in stunned silence.

  Kailani slid off the stool and walked to the front hallway, wondering if she said something wrong. As she passed the entry table, a pink slip on top of a stack of mail caught her eye. The words ‘NOTICE OF DEFAULT’ jumped at her from the folded up-paper that stuck out of the envelope on top. Her breath caught in her chest as she leaned closer, the floorboard underneath her foot creaking in the silence.

  She unfolded the sheet of paper, her eyes skimming down the letter bursting with legal jargon. Finally, in plain English, there was one sentence she could read. The mortgage had not been paid in ninety days, and Lilac Ranch would be at risk for foreclosure if the amount owed was not paid in the next ninety days. Lilac Ranch is in trouble? Why didn’t Josie say anything?

  At the sound of a slamming door in the distance, Kailani jumped, dropping the paper back on the table. She opened the front door, pausing at the wooden sign next to it: The Flockharts – Est. 1958. Deep in thought, she stepped onto the porch in the warm afternoon breeze.

  Cristiano had not made much progress in scraping paint from the front of the farmhouse in her absence. He was lazily scrolling his phone while sitting on the bottom rung of the ladder. Kailani sighed as she went to join him, debating whether she should tell him what she had discovered.

  Turning to the lilac-lined driveway that marked the Flockhart’s love for each other and their home, Kailani felt an ache in her chest. Something has to be done to save this place.

  Chapter 12

  Gabriel

  Gabriel licked his thumb to turn the page of the textbook, but his eyes stayed on the same spot on the page. He lay on the hanging bed in a trancelike state as it rocked in the breeze. His mind drifted to the last time he was in this bed. Kailani was there, and he remembered her dark curls, her soft lips, and the way her body responded as he pulled her close to him. He groaned, dropping his head onto his textbook and closed his eyes, heavy from a lack of sleep.

  Pull it together. Focus. Taking a deep breath, he began at the top of the page once more: The treatment of fibrocartilaginous embolism…His eyelids began to droop, each word running into the next.

  A shrill noise by his elbow made him jump, his book flipping shut. He looked around, confused for a moment, before the insistent sound registered and he reached for his phone. He frowned as the name ‘Josie Flockhart’ appeared on the screen.

  “Hey Josie!” Silence. “Hello?”

  “Uh – hi, Coach. It’s Kai.”

  Surprise colored his tone. “Kailani?” A long silence stretched between them. How did she get my number? “Is everything okay?”

  “Oh, yeah! Everything is fine. Sorry.” Her voice sounded strained, and he heard her mutter something under her breath.

  He suppressed a smile. Is she flustered? “So…did you need something?”

  “Sorry. Right. Uh, I was in the farmhouse today and happened to see an important piece of mail for the Flockharts. A notice of default. Like a pre-foreclosure warning. Have you heard anything about it?”

  “No, I haven’t. I was under the impression that they were doing well, actually.”

  “Josie said something about Lilac Ranch not lasting forever, like she was mentally preparing herself to move on. But it just breaks my heart—they can’t lose the ranch.”

  Gabri
el laid back on the bed and ran a hand through his hair at the thought. “I’m wondering if it’s because of the medical debt. I lived with them for a little over a year while I was in college, tending to the ranch while Walt was sick with cancer. It was really hard on them, not even considering the medical expenses.” He sighed. “Things seemed to be going well business-wise, but they’re getting older, slowing down. It doesn’t help that Josie is so sweet—she gives half of what she makes away to her loyal customers. It’s going to beggar them.” A thought occurred to him. “Wait—what does this mean for your internship?”

  “Oh, I didn’t think of that. Since it’s a grant, I’m sure they’d find another place for me. But I don’t want to go anywhere else. I feel like now that I know about this, I have to do something.”

  He nodded as if she could see him. “It really is a special place. And they are the kindest people I know—Josie was like a mother to me after our parents got a divorce. I’m with you, there’s gotta be something we can do for them. Let me think about it…”

  A hush fell between them. Suddenly, Kailani cleared her throat. “So, what are you up to on your one day off?”

  He imagined her sitting on the couch in the cottage, her finger twirling a strand of her thick, silky hair as she spoke. We shouldn’t be talking like this. But he couldn’t help himself. It was as if the moment where he decided to leap off the cliff after her had cracked the armor that both protected him and held him prisoner. And each time those grey eyes met his, he felt a new fracture form, exposing himself piece by piece.

  He glanced at the closed book on his lap. “Studying, mostly. Or rather, trying to. I signed up for those classes yesterday, thanks to you. I remember a lot of it from last year, but I have a victim extraction and navigation test coming up soon that I need to brush up on. I’m a little rusty.”

  “That sounds intense. What does the test involve?”

  “There’s a written portion later this week, then an open-water practice run on Saturday, then the final in a few weeks will be a surprise scenario.”

  “Are you nervous?”

  All the air left his body. “Definitely.”

  “I’m sure you’ll do great. Especially since you’ve brushed up on your skills lately.” Her voice was teasing, and he felt his pulse quicken at the memory of her in his arms, wet shirt clinging to her smooth, toned curves. Was that only a few days ago? So much has changed since then. Shoving those feelings aside, he cleared his throat as guilt crept in. “Kai…we shouldn’t be talking like this.” He closed his eyes as the words left his mouth. A brief beat of silence dropped between them.

  “Oh. Of course, sorry. I just wanted to let you know about Josie, I didn’t mean to pry or anything.” Her voice sounded constricted, hurried.

  His heart lurched. Say you didn’t mean it, say anything to keep her talking.

  “Bye coach.” The line cut out.

  Gabe chucked the phone across the bed.

  He stood up, digging in his pocket for his keys. Maybe I can go pay Josie a visit. He faltered. No. If I go there, I’ll end up at Kailani’s door. He sank back down onto the bed and raked his hand through his hair. Well, at least I can apologize. Any coach would do that, right?

  Sighing, he reached for his phone and tapped the number she had called from. A few rings later, a deep voice answered. “Hello?”

  “Hi, uh—is Kailani there?” It was Gabriel’s turn to stutter. Is that Cristiano? He cracked his knuckles absentmindedly.

  “No, she just left.”

  “Do you know where she went?”

  “She had running shoes on and seemed to be in a big hurry to get out of here.” His voice sounded smug.

  “Oh. Okay, thanks.” There was a cutting click. He glared at the words on the screen: call ended.

  “Asshole,” he muttered.

  “Who, me?” Eli slipped out the back door, tugging on a sweatshirt and shielding his eyes against the sun.

  “Very funny. Do you work tonight?”

  Eli shook his head and fell onto the mattress next to Gabriel, causing it to swing. “No, thank God. I finally get two days off. Can’t wait to relax.” He eyed Gabriel suspiciously. “Or do whatever you’re about to suggest?”

  “Wanna go for a ride?”

  Eli groaned and pushed himself back off the bed and gave a weary grin. “You bet.”

  Josie looked surprised as she pulled open the door to the farmhouse. “My favorite boys! To what do I owe the pleasure of all these visits?”

  Eli threw Gabriel a wicked grin. “Oh, no reason at all. It’s just random timing. How’s Kai doing, by the way?”

  Josie looked at Eli sharply, pointing at him with her oven mitt. “Eli McEwen. I already spoke to your father about this. You better not be toying with her heart. She is a sweet girl and deserves more than your wicked games!” She smacked him with the mitt and turned back to the oven.

  Eli’s phone began to ring, and he dug in his pocket before giving the screen a cursory look. Silencing his phone, he tucked it back into his jeans with a dark expression.

  “Who was that?

  Eli shrugged. “Mom.”

  Gabriel crossed his arms and shook his head at his brother. “Why can’t you just talk to her?”

  “If she wanted to talk that badly, she shouldn’t have left.”

  Gabriel clenched his fist and opened his mouth to retort, but the tension in the room was shattered as the front door flew open.

  “Josie! Look what I found.” Kailani bounded in the room holding her backpack in front of her. Her hair was pulled back into a long braid, and her short running tank top revealed a midriff glistening with sweat.

  Her smile faded and her grey eyes widened, flicking between where Gabriel and Eli faced each other with balled fists. She automatically took a few steps backwards to the door. “Uh, I can come back later. Sorry.”

  Josie threw a glare at the men. “No, dear! You just saved us all from a brother’s squabble. Once these two get into it, they’re like bulls in a china shop. Come, Kailani, let me see what you have there.”

  Kailani shot another tentative glance at Gabriel and Eli before stepping up to the butcher block island. She tipped her backpack upside down, giving the canvas a vigorous shake. Heaps of lavender stalks fell out, its fresh, sweet scent cutting through the air.

  “Whenever I run, I like to look for flowers. But today I hit the jackpot. There were hundreds of wild lavender bushes when I cut through a meadow today. I figured we could make some soap.” Kailani twirled a small, purple flower between her fingers and tucked it into her braid.

  Gabriel smiled. So that’s why she smelled like lavender when we kissed. The thought of Kai searching for and picking flowers as she ran made his heart swell. But his grin faded as he met her gaze, and he remembered how their phone call ended. He frowned apologetically and pleaded with his eyes. I’m sorry. The corner of her mouth twitched, and she gave him a small shrug as if to say everything was okay.

  Eli snapped his fingers between the two of them, jerking Gabriel back to reality. His brow was raised, and Josie was watching the two of them with interest.

  “Did you hear me?” Josie asked. “I was saying we should go to the stockroom and see if Walt has some spare beeswax to make soap.”

  “Oh, sure. Sounds good.” Gabriel said.

  They followed Josie towards the back of the farmhouse after Kailani gathered the lavender once more. Her enthusiasm was contagious; the mood of the group lightened with the wave of energy she brought when she breezed through the door.

  As they all shuffled into the workroom in the rear of the house and greeted Walt, Gabriel was brimming with excitement. “Ah, I missed this place. Walt, remember that one summer where we came and worked for you? Remember The Incident?”

  “Dude, no!” Eli protested, glancing at Kailani. “We really don’t need to bring that up.”

  As Josie and Walt chuckled at Eli’s expense, Gabriel turned to Kailani with a grin. “Eli thought it would be a g
ood idea to make a mold of his…uh…manhood, or rather, boyhood, and sneak it in the holiday patch of soap that Josie sells at the Fall Festival as a prank.”

  “Stop!” Eli groaned, grappling with Gabriel as he tried to cover his mouth.

  “But—here’s the best part,” Gabriel choked through his laughter, “One sweet old lady called up Josie and said, ‘I love that new bumblebee pattern you’re using, it’s just the cutest little thing’! Because it was so small, it looked like a tiny —”

  “Yeah, I think she got the joke,” Eli interjected dryly. “But can I just add that I was what, fourteen? And the wax was so hot that I pulled away before it set.” He glanced at Kailani. “Just so you know, it’s not—”

  “Agh! No more!” Josie plugged her ears with her fingers, her eyes crinkled as she shook her head.

  Walt crossed his arms and looked at Eli seriously, “We’ve gotta give you credit, those bumblebees sold better than any of our other themed soaps that year.” Everyone laughed.

  As they wiped away tears of laughter, Josie said, “Gabriel, why don’t you show Kailani how to melt down the soap base, and we’ll prep the lavender for mixing?”

  Gabriel switched spots with Josie, standing shoulder to shoulder with Kailani. He was acutely aware of her closeness, and her bare stomach seemed to pull his eyes downward. He cleared his throat as he reached over the workbench, gathering the heating tray and an assortment of oils and solidified butters. “Alright, here’s what you do…”

  Over an hour had passed as they worked, but for Gabriel, it was not enough. He wished that he could pause and pocket each moment, capturing how her face lit up as she mixed the oils and poured them into the mold, the determined set of her lips as she focused.

  When Kailani poured the last of the soap mixture into the flower-shaped mold, Josie surveyed their progress with pride. “Nearly fifty bars of soap, great work.”

  Kailani picked up one of the bars and inspected it with a nod. “You could probably sell these for what, ten, fifteen dollars apiece at the Fall Festival?”