“I hate to bring this up right now, but when are you going back to your mom’s?”
“Trying to get rid of me already?”
“Hell, no. Not with these awesome cooking skills.”
Kai’s grin is so wide and genuine; I can’t help but chuckle.
“Tomorrow. I’ll go back tomorrow.” I place my fork down and heave a sigh. “Who knows how many good days I have left with her? And when my semester begins…”
I don’t finish that thought because I don’t want to think about how busy I’ll be. Or how the lesser amount of time I’ll get to spend with her. I’d defer my last semester, but I know Mom. She’d never let me do anything of the sort. Besides, she’ll want to see me graduate if she makes it that long.
After a beat of silence, Kai says, “So, no supper tomorrow then?”
His shit-eating grin tells me he’s kidding. And it works. I laugh.
“Seriously, though,” he says in a softer tone. “I can take you back in the morning before work. I don’t have to be there until nine.”
“Are you sure? It’d be a two-hour commute for you.”
His gaze softens, but there’s another layer of emotion present. One, I can’t quite read.
“Of course. You’re totally worth it.”
“All right then.” I pop the last bite of my roast beef into my mouth and chew. As much as I want to be with Mom, I’m a little sad to leave Kai’s house. I’ve only been on the island for eleven days. That’s not enough time to know anyone, but it still doesn’t erase the fact that I’m as comfortable here as in my dorm.
“We also need to talk about your dad.”
A small moan escapes as I close my eyes momentarily. “I know, but I seriously don’t know how I feel about him. He’s a total stranger.”
“John’s your father. If you try to get to know him before heading back home, you’ll feel better.”
“I don’t know.” I shake my head. “It’s so hard wrapping my head around having a dad.”
Kai’s face softens. “I understand, babe. But he keeps asking me about you. And it’s only been one day.”
“I’ll call him tomorrow.” My gaze rises to meet Kai’s. “If you say he’s a nice guy, then I trust your word. But I don’t promise to be the stand-up daughter.”
“Nobody’s expecting you to. Just take it one step at a time.”
I nod and stand to clear the table.
“You don’t have to do the dishes. I’ll get them done.”
Kai swiftly stands to help, but I smack his hands away, the mood shifting to a lighter, playful tone. I stack the dishes next to the sink and then turn the water on before picking up the dish towel.
“I’ll get them. You, get your shower.”
Kai nestles behind me, and his hands run down my sides, landing on my waist. He draws me to him and leans next to my ear. In a deep sexy voice, he murmurs, “Are you going to join me?”
I turn to face him as my lower muscles spasms at the thought of his naked, wet body. But as tempting as his wicked grin is, I stand my ground.
“No.” I flick the towel at him. “Get ready. You promised me a walk.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Kayla~
I release a slow breath as Kai lifts my suitcase out of his trunk. Enough time has passed, and I’m ready to handle Mom. I’m looking forward to being there for her now. It’s Wednesday morning. One week and one whole day left before Mom and I leave the island. It’s time to make the most of our last vacation together.
“Thanks again for bringing me back.” I reach to take the suitcase once Kai places it on the ground.
“Hey, I’ll get that.” Kai slams the trunk lid shut and turns to grab the handles. As he reaches down, he nuzzles my ear, and in a low deep voice, he growls, “And don’t start with the thank you’s again. Or I’ll have to dole out the proper punishment.”
My gaze flits to his while my mind reverts to the first morning we spent together. Holy cow, did I enjoy his form of punishment. Heat surges along each nerve path as my body yearns for an encore presentation.
The corner of Kai’s mouth lifts into a panty-soaking grin. “Thinking about our first morning together?” He breaks away and struts to the stairs.
“Damn, my stupid flushed cheeks,” I mumble under my breath. They give me away every time. And it’s way too early to be this turned on.
“Has anyone told you how much of an ass you are?” I yell, half-irritated, half-joking.
“Every day, babe. Every day.”
I shake my head as I follow him up the steps. Of course, the way his cargo shorts snug his round, firm butt wipes away any irritability. I certainly don’t mind the view.
When we reach the top, Kai leans down and plants a tender kiss on my mouth.
“Sorry, but I have to go. I don’t want to be late to work.” He backs away and steps to the side. “Laters, baby.”
“Oh God, don’t say that.”
“Why?” He scrunches his nose and looks confused.
“Because, it’s a reference from…well, never mind. Just don’t say that phrase.” I wasn’t about to admit I read smut.
“I’ll call you later.” He steps down a few stairs and looks back at me with a sly grin. “Oh, don’t worry. I don’t have a secret sex room or anything.”
Son-of-a…my mouth falls open as I stand there, listening to Kai’s fading chuckles.
After digging out my fob key, I open the door in search of Mom. I remove my shoes and abandon my suitcase in the entryway. Mom isn’t hard to find—she’s out on the lanai, drinking her morning coffee.
“Hey,” Mom says, giving me a weak smile. “You just get back?”
“Yeah, Kai dropped me off.” I pull out a patio chair and sit.
“I’m so sorry, honey. I know I screwed up. Bad.”
The look of remorse on Mom’s face twists my stomach. And I knew from this point forward, I would no longer be mad.
“No, Mom. We’re done with apologies. We move forward from this point.”
A genuine smile breaks across her face, and the glistening in her eyes tells me she’s going to be okay. For now, anyway.
“How’d I end up with such a perfect daughter?”
Perfect? Not even close. I puff out a breath and think about the way I’ve handled everything. No, definitely not perfect.
“My actions suggest otherwise.”
“You’re perfect in my eyes.” The conviction in Mom’s tone is endearing.
“Thanks, Mom.”
A beat of silence passes, and then Mom lets out a sigh. “Your dad called. He’s concerned about you. Plus he wants to get to know you better. I think he’d like to spend time with you before we head back home.”
I groan. “I know. Kai mentioned it last night. I’ll call John today. But it’s awkward.”
“It’s only awkward because of me…”
Mom’s voice trails off, but I won’t have it. “Nope. No more regrets.”
“No regrets.” She nods, and studies me for a moment. A slow smile develops, and then she asks, “So, you gonna tell me about this relationship with Kai?”
Crap.
***
An emotional tug-of-war erupts inside my brain as I stare at Brian and my conversation. Guilt along with the reinforcing fact that I’m not doing anything wrong plays havoc with my internal thoughts.
Brian: Haven’t heard from you in a while. Must be having too much fun to think about me. :(
Me: Sorry, but you know I couldn’t forget you if I tried. A lot has happened, though.
Brian: Call me if you need to. I’m always here for you.
I don’t think our banter could be construed as flirtatious. Our earlier convos have been worse. But even though Kai and I aren’t in an actual relationship, talking to Brian with the slightest suggestion still feels wrong. Should it, though? Brian and I are good friends. I huff out a breath and type back a response. I’ll deal with Brian when I get home.
Me
: I’ll explain when I get back. Getting ready to leave for dinner.
What I fail to add is “with my dad.” And, now, guilt bubbles inside from not sharing information with Brian. There’s no winning with my emotions.
Brian: I’ll be waiting.
At those parting words, I slip my phone into my purse and join Mom in the living room. She smiles at me from the couch, but I respond with a frown once I take in her attire. Jean shorts and a loose T-shirt doesn’t quite match my sundress.
“Why aren’t you dressed?”
Her gaze drops to view her clothes, and she shrugs.
“I thought it’d be best if it were just the two of you.”
“Mom, I need you there with me.”
“How can you get to know your father if I’m in the way?”
I open my mouth to speak, but the banging on the door interrupts me.
“I’ll get that. But this discussion isn’t through.”
Marching over to answer the door, I take a deep breath. You can get through this, I tell myself when I place my hand on the door handle. With enough courage, I open the door, and the surprised gasp lodges in my throat. A neatly dressed man with tamed hair and honest-to-goodness shoes stands in front of me. He’s still sporting the classic Hawaiian shirt, but pants replace the casual shorts.
“Hi, John. Come on in. I was just trying to convince Mom to go with us.” Telling John may be a low-blow, but if it takes reinforcements to make Mom go with us, so be it. I do not want to spend an entire evening alone with John Cox.
John follows me around the corner and greets Mom with a warm smile. If he’s harboring any anger issues with her, he’s doing a fine job hiding them.
“Good evening, Cara. Now, what’s this nonsense about you not joining us?”
“John, this is your time together. I have no right to join.” The look of guilt crosses her face.
“Baloney. Of course, you have every right to be with us. And besides, I already made reservations for three.” He gestures to Mom’s clothes. “So, hurry up and change.”
“I swear,” Mom says as she rises. “I’ll just be a minute.”
John is in mid-sentence when Mom waltzes into the room wearing a V-cut sundress. He glances at Mom and doubles back as his voice trails off. Sucking in a breath at the sight of her, he says, “Wow, I have the best-looking girls on the island. Shall we go?”
We pile into John’s black Land Rover, with Mom riding shotgun. After the way John eyed Mom, I wasn’t about to get in their way.
***
If the Polynesian vibe wasn’t impressive enough, the landscaping from the garden view would further entice. Somehow, I pictured John taking us to an open bar. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
After ordering a sampling of Island grilled seafood and Lobster Bisque, I notice John’s gaze wandering to Mom. His eyes soften as he watches her scan the menu. I hold back a smile. Mom always takes forever to choose her food.
When Mom finally places her order, John turns to me. “So, Cara tells me you’re about to graduate with your Nursing degree.”
“Yes, this May.”
I proceed to tell John my plans, and he seems thoroughly interested. The small talk continues until the waiter brings our starters.
John leans toward Mom and reaches across to touch her arm. “Did you tell Kayla how you won the National Photo Award?”
My gaze snaps to Mom. A warm blush invades her cheeks as she shakes her head jerkily.
“What award?” I ask.
John’s expression clouds to confusion. “You didn’t tell her?”
“Uh, no. I um, I didn’t want…” Mom tilts her chin to John. “How’d you even know?”
“You said you were going to win the award, so I kept tabs on it.” He shrugs.
The planes of Mom’s face slacken as she stares at John momentarily. “Hmm,” she murmurs, before blinking her eyes a few times and glancing down at her bisque. “To get the right shot, I had to lean over a bit—”
“A bit?” John interrupts. He turns to me and shakes his head. “I take your mother on a trail. It was supposed to be a nice leisurely walk. Well, you know your mom. She couldn’t leave her camera behind.”
That brings a smile to my lips. Mom never goes anywhere without her equipment. “You never know when you’ll be presented with an opportunity,” she’d always say.
Mom chuckles, but John keeps talking. “To get the right angle, she leans over the edge of the cliff and loses her balance, sliding all the way down. Scared the bejeezus out of me. I mean, that’s how people die. I thought for sure I had lost her or something would be broken.”
“Besides my pride, the only thing broken was my lens.” Mom chuckles. “That photo cost me a pretty penny.”
“But you won the award.”
“I did and with it, recognition. I suppose, in the long run, that shot made me money.”
“So what happened?” I ask.
“I had to scale down the ledge and rescue her.”
As Dad laughs, I sip my soup as they recall their memories. I’m having fun. Tonight has turned out much differently than I thought. What would be stuffy and awkward with me answering tons of questions has been intriguing instead. It turns out John’s a lot of fun. I can’t wait to tell Kai that he was right.
**~~**~~**
Kai~
The smell of fried Spam alerts me to Mom’s whereabouts as I let myself in through the front door.
“Hi, Mom,” I say, pulling out a kitchen chair to sit.
“So nice of you to stop by and see me.”
There’s a playfulness to her tone, but I know Mom. She’s a little peeved.
“Uh, sorry. I’ve been busy.”
“What’s been keeping you so busy that you can’t find time to visit?”
“Not much,” I say, clearing my throat to keep the threatening smile from forming. “Just work.”
“Work, huh?”
I press my lips together and study her. The twinkle in her eye suggests she knows a little more than she’s letting on. I proceed carefully, not knowing how much information she knows.
“I take it you’ve talked to John?” I ask.
“He’s a mess.”
“That he is. I’ve never seen him like this.”
“I have. One other time, a long time ago.” Her eyes sadden.
“When Cara left?” I guess.
Mom nods, but remains silent for a beat. “It’s a shame that he didn’t get to know his daughter as she grew up, but at least he can get to know her, now.”
“But she doesn’t live here. How do you suppose their relationship could work?” I ask and then avert her stare, suddenly finding the stove interesting.
“Who exactly are you asking for, Kai?”
My gaze flicks back to hers. Working my jaw, I try to formulate an answer. How much has John disclosed?
“Uh-huh. I know all about you two.” Mom chuckles. “I never thought I’d see the day when you’d fall head over heels in love.”
“I’m not in love.”
“Aren’t ya?”
Her challenging look makes me squirm. And I’m faced with the reality of the situation. One I can no longer deny.
“Yeah, I guess I am.”
“Now, what are you going to do about it?”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Kai~
The twinkling lights tacked along the window frames shine brightly against the black siding. Rick’s has outdone themselves with the decorating. Not. I glance at Kayla ready to make a smart comment, but frown instead.
“You look nervous.” I reach across the console and grab her hand. On impulse, I bring her knuckles to my lips and plant a soft kiss. Now that I’ve admitted my feelings about Kayla to Mom, I have to keep from saying those three words out loud. Our relationship is complicated enough without my confession adding more confusion. But damn, not telling her is tearing me up inside.
Kayla drags her gaze to me and smiles timidly.
“
Hey, no worries. We’ll have fun.”
“Says the guy who knows everyone.”
“Nah, you’ll be fine. They’re a bunch of good guys.” I shrug. “Maybe a little crazy.”
That brings a wider grin.
“I’m not worried about meeting them. Not really.”
“Something’s going on in that cute little mind of yours.”
She sighs and shakes her head.
“I’m just feeling guilty for leaving Mom. This will be the last New Year’s Eve with her, and I don’t know”—she takes her free hand and twist a lock of her hair— “part of me thinks I should spend it with her.”
“Shit. I never thought about that.” And I didn’t. Guilt courses through my body at my selfishness. My grip tightens on her hand. “I’m sorry. We can head back and spend the evening with her if you’d like.”
“I appreciate the offer, but Mom would be mad if we canceled our plans. I tried to tell her that you’d be good with staying at the condo, but she was persistent that we have fun tonight.” Kayla glances at her lap. “Today wasn’t a good day for her. But John’s coming over to stay.”
I raise an eyebrow. “John, huh?”
“Yeah.” Kayla tilts her face toward me. “You think that’s a good idea? Them hanging with each other, I mean.”
“It may be the much-needed closure they’re both seeking.”
“Yeah.”
Silence falls between us again, and the thought of us being separated trickles its way into my mind. I try to shake away the uncertainty, but my chest tightens despite my efforts. With a slight squeeze of her hand, I glance over at her.
“Let’s go meet my crazy friends.”
“Gladly.”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she looks relieved. There has been zero discussion of where our relationship is going after she leaves. I mean, it’s pretty obvious we can’t continue, but I don’t think either one of us is at the point of admitting the inevitable.
“Hey,” I say to Kayla before stepping through the entrance.
She turns those big violet-blue eyes toward me, and I pull her closer, reaching down to claim her mouth. We part, and one corner of my mouth rises. God, she’s cute when she’s a little dazed.
Impossible Love: An Unforeseen Destiny Novel Book One Page 17
