Beyond the Waves (Pacific Shores Book 1) (4 page)

It was the concern in his voice that finally snapped Taysia out of her stupor as she accepted his help and scrambled to her feet. “N-no. I-I’m f-fine. T-thanks.” She dusted off the seat of her shorts, but still couldn’t seem to break eye contact.

With a quizzical grunt, he rubbed the back of his neck, scrutinizing her as though he didn’t quite believe she had all her cards stacked right. He held out a hand again. “I’m Kylen Sumner.” With a nod of his head in the direction of the mansion, he added, “We just moved in next door.”

Taking his hand, Taysia managed to stammer, “A-Anastaysia L-Layne Green.” Her face bloomed with heat. Whenever in the world had she introduced herself to someone by her full name? She was an idiot!

He cocked his head, and a twinkle leapt into his gaze. For a moment she thought he was going to point out her idiocy, but then he shrugged and seemed content to move on to another topic. He glanced at her jogging shorts and Nike running shoes—the ones she had saved all year to buy—and asked, “Were you going somewhere?”

“Jogging.” She congratulated herself for not stammering.

“Okay. I should go help unpack my stuff, so I’ll catch you later…
Layne
.” The twinkle was back in full force, and this time it was accompanied by a grin. But to her surprise, there was no animosity in the teasing. Just simple friendship.

Friendship!
That was the problem. If he hadn’t been so kind to her that first summer; if he hadn’t so quickly become her best friend; if he hadn’t kissed her under her mother’s backyard grape arbor, life would have been just fine for Taysia, and her blithering-idiot alter ego would probably never have been seen again. But he had done all those things. And she had trusted him.

Taysia hissed in pain as she swabbed hydrogen peroxide on the scrape on her shin. “If I’d had a lick of sense, I’d have begged Mom and Dad to move to Siberia that very day.” Pressing the last Band-Aid on, she glanced at her watch. “Great! I’m five minutes late for class!”

Kylen slumped into his car and scrubbed his hands through his hair. Leaning his head back on the headrest, he closed his eyes. “Well”—he grinned and shifted forward—”that went well.”

He glanced in the rearview mirror. His hair stuck up in all directions. He smoothed it down, put the key in the ignition, and headed toward the station.

He wasn’t due in to work today. He was supposed to spend the weekend unpacking, but he needed the distraction of work right now. He’d just go into the station and organize his office. He fleetingly thought of the two hours of sleep he’d gotten last night, and considered a nap, but decided against it. He probably wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway, if last night was any indication. He’d tossed and turned all night knowing he would see Taysia this morning.

Turning right onto Fifth, he grinned, then laughed outright as he remembered the look on Taysia’s face when he’d jerked open the closet door. “She is something else.” He didn’t know whether to be flattered that he drove her crazy enough to make her hide in a cleaning closet, or insulted that she’d rather dance with a mop than face him.

I should have called to let her know I was home
.

Pulling into the station lot, he parked and headed inside.

“Sumner!” police chief Tom Hansen barked as soon as he walked through the door, “I’m glad you’re here. Get your uniform on! A woman was just found wandering the north end of Sunset Beach. She’s been beaten up pretty badly, and their office is currently short an officer. I’m going to need you on this one.”

Kylen’s heart sank even as he moved to grab the spare uniform he always kept in his office. So much for organizing his office.

He sighed as he did up the last button. Uniform in place, he headed toward the debriefing room to find out more.

Taysia stepped into her living room later that evening and dropped her gym bag by the door. Stretching her back, she glanced at the old grandfather clock. Nine fifteen. Good, she still had time for a jog on the beach.

After a long evening of paperwork, her muscles ached for some good, brisk exercise. Still in the workout clothes from her last class, she stepped back out the door just as Blaine pulled into the drive.

She leaned against the rail of her porch, enjoying the scent of salty sea air as she waited for him.

“Hey, gorgeous.” He bounded up the steps. “How’s the most beautiful girl in Oregon tonight?”

She grinned. “I don’t know. Have you seen her?”

“I’m looking at her right now.”

“Well, in that case, I’m fine. Sorry I had to cancel our dinner plans. I had a day you wouldn’t believe, and at the last minute I remembered my accountant is coming on Monday and I had to get everything ready for her.”

He shrugged. “I popped the salmon steaks into the freezer after you called me.” He grimaced. “Frozen lasagna was such a letdown, since my mouth was already watering for barbequed salmon.”

“I’m really sorry, Blaine.”

“Well, now I have something to look forward to, because you are definitely going to have to make this up to me.” He socked a friendly punch to her arm.

She smiled, trying to ignore the guilt marching through her chest. She could have made it to dinner if she’d really wanted to. But the truth was, after her fiasco of a morning, she just hadn’t been up for an emotional evening of trying to determine her feelings for Blaine. “I was just headed out for a jog. Care to join me?”

He glanced down at his dress shoes and slid his hands into his slacks. “I’m not dressed for it. Besides”—he winced good-naturedly—”you’d leave me in the dust.”

Her grin broadened. “Oh, come on! I was easy on you last time. We jogged nice and slow, remember?”

His eyes narrowed and he stepped closer, glowering down at her. “What I remember is gripping my knees and sucking air while you laughed about my red face.”

She giggled. “It was really red.”

“All right, woman!” He reached for her ribs.

She jumped back and grabbed his hands, laughing. “I keep telling you, you need to get into shape so you can join the youth group in the after-church basketball games. The kids would love to have the chance to beat their fearless leader in a game.”

He sighed and turned to lean his forearms against the rail. “Yeah, I know. You’re right. Sports are just not my thing, Taysia.” He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “I’d much rather do math than jog any day.”

Taysia gave a mock shudder. “To each his own. How is your mom?”

He sighed. “She’s a little better. I talked to Dad today. He said she had her last chemo treatment this morning. So she should really start feeling better as far as the nausea goes in a couple of days.”

“I’m glad. I’ve been praying for her.”

He turned toward her, his face suddenly serious. “That means a lot to me, Taysia.” He kept his eyes on her face, his expression changing subtly.

An uneasiness began in her stomach.

His gaze dropped to her mouth.

She stepped back quickly. “Well”—she purposely leaned down and began to stretch out her legs—”I better get going if I’m to get to bed at a decent hour tonight. We have the youth group bake sale tomorrow, don’t forget.”

“Yeah. I didn’t forget.” There was disappointment in his voice. “I need to get home, too. I have a Sunday school lesson to finish preparing for.”

“Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”

As they moved down her steps, Kylen pulled in next door. He drove his squad car into the garage and then stepped out, eyeing them quietly.

Blaine draped an arm around her shoulders, and her irritation sparked.

“Kylen, right?” Blaine asked.

Kylen nodded. “Blaine, good to see you again. It’s been a while.” He transferred his gaze to Taysia.

Blaine tightened his arm around her. She would have stepped away from his embrace, but didn’t want to embarrass him in front of Kylen.

She looked up. “Good night, Blaine. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Blaine placed a kiss on her temple.

Full-blown anger threatened to burst forth in a blaze of glorious harangue, but Taysia merely folded her arms and looked at her tapping toe.

“G’night, Taysia.” With a final squeeze and a meaningful glance in Kylen’s direction, Blaine climbed into his car and backed out of the drive. Thick, awkward silence filtered across the night.

Kylen stepped over the narrow flower bed that separated her drive from his and walked toward her. Even in the moonlight, she saw his dark gaze take her in from head to toe and felt her cheeks flame. She hoped the darkness hid it. She hadn’t bothered to shower after finishing her last class. She ran a hand over her hair, sure it must be escaping from her ponytail by now and wishing she’d at least taken time to run a comb through it
. Stop it, Taysia, you’re here to jog, not win a beauty pageant
.

“You’re not going jogging alone, are you?”

Was that anger she saw in his eyes? She nodded. “I’ll only be a few minutes. Thirty at the most.”

“Do you know how dangerous it is for a woman to jog alone at night?”

Taysia sighed. “Kylen, this is
Marinville
!”

He stepped toward her, his black eyes glittering fire, and Taysia swallowed. Yes. It was definitely anger she saw.

“Yes. Marinville.” He turned his burning gaze on the road where Blaine had just disappeared before transferring it back to her. “Pittman was just going to let you go by yourself? What kind of an idiot is he?”

Taysia’s anger flared as hot as his own. “Maybe he just doesn’t overreact like you do!”

He opened his mouth to respond, then snapped it shut. Swallowing, he rubbed one hand over the top of his head and down his neck. His voice was husky when he finally spoke. “I need you to promise me you won’t go jogging by yourself. Especially at night.”

Taysia resisted rolling her eyes. “Kylen, the most dangerous thing in town is Mrs. Murton’s Pomeranian!”

“I know. Just…” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I just got home from working a case where a woman was badly beaten. I see things in my line of work, Layne, that probably make me a little more cautious than normal, sure. But everyone thinks, ‘It will never happen to me.’” He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Please, just wait for me? I’ll come with you.”

She swallowed, unable to pull her eyes from his. When he looked at her like that, she could almost agree to anything.

He took another step closer. “It’s so good to see you again, Layne. Why did I wait so long to come home?”

Reality seeped into her senses, and she took a slow step back. “Kylen, nothing can come from this. I…” She glanced down. Suddenly she couldn’t look him in the eye or go on. Much as she knew she should tell him to take a hike, her double-crossing heart wouldn’t let her form the words. She needed to clear her head. She could never think straight when he was around! She took another step away. “I’ll just go for a quick run. I’ll be home in less than thirty minutes, I promise.” She hoped he couldn’t hear the desperation in her tone.

“Did
anything
I just said spark even a hint of caution in you!? Use some common sense, for heaven’s sake!” In one swift stride he grabbed her wrist, then turned, gently but firmly pulling her toward his house.

Taysia stumbled after him. She tripped over the flower bed, almost losing her footing. “Kylen! What in the world has gotten into you?” Her heart pounded in her throat. She had no intention of going into his house with him. She clearly remembered what had happened the last time she’d allowed him to draw her into his house. “Kylen, stop!” She tried to pull her wrist from his grip, but he just kept walking. “Ky, please.” Nervousness edged her voice with a tremor.

He stopped and spun toward her so quickly her momentum pitched her against the solid strength of his chest before she could stop. She let out a surprised squeak and looked up into his face.

Hands on her upper arms, he set her aright, but didn’t let her go. His thumbs stroked hot traces across the goose bumps on her skin, and his voice was hoarse when he spoke. “I can’t stand the thought…” He cleared his throat, looked away, blinked, then glanced back down at her. “I can’t stand the thought of something happening to you, Layne. And frankly, I’m too tired to argue with you. I’m running on about two hours’ sleep from last night, and if you’re not careful”—his eyes darted to her lips and back—”I might do something we’d both probably regret later.” He paused, then with a small grin amended, “Well, my only regret would be that you wouldn’t kiss me willingly. Not yet.”