Finding Peace (Finding Series Book 1) (14 page)

“I can’t stay here. I have to graduate. We don’t know each other enough for me to move here even if I had already graduated.” She laughs. “I’m really starting to question your sanity.”

I smile and shrug. “It’s you. You’re causing me to lose my mind. I can’t think of anything, but you and what I can do to make you happy.”

When she looks up at me, my heart unclenches and slowly starts to beat again. Leaning down I softly brush my lips against hers

Kayla smiles at me and buries her head into my neck. I hear her mumble.

“I know the feeling.”

I smile against her hair. “Can we go on our lunch date now?” She shakes her head yes.

“I have to get cleaned up first. I don’t want to go looking like this.”

“You look perfect. Besides, I’m hungry. You’ve made me wait long enough.”

She laughs and slaps my arm. “Blake. I look awful. You don’t want to be seen with me like this.”

She really has no idea. “I’d be proud to be seen with you.” I kiss her forehead. “Now get your cute butt over there and put your seat belt on. I can’t risk you getting hurt.” She giggles and moves over to her side of the truck.

“Yes, sir.”

She gives me a big smile and buckles up. I growl at her. She is going to be the death of me. I stick my head out the window and yell for Tessa, who has been sitting on the porch trying to ignore us, but wanting to be close enough that if Kayla needed her she could come running. You have to respect the girl, for that.

“I’m taking my girl to lunch now. Would you like to come with us?”

It’s the polite thing to do, so I invite her, but I’m hoping she will say no. She doesn’t disappoint me.

“No. Y’all need some time together. I’ll have her to myself when we get back home.”

I nod to her and start the truck.
You might have her to yourself for a while, but if I get my way she will be living here very soon.

Kayla

I wake up and smile to myself, in spite of the fact that I know what awaits me when I return home. I'm not going to stress about it though. I’m going to enjoy the time I have left with Blake.

Today, Blake's at work. Which means that I won't see him until later. His plan for tonight was to take me to play miniature golf. Laughing to myself, he was so shocked when I told him I've never played. According to him, it's a must, so I agreed to let him teach me how to play.

Yesterday was pretty amazing. We went to eat lunch at a burger joint and then went to sit by a beautiful lake and talk. We talked about nothing really and spent a lot of time just listening to the sounds of the water and wildlife.

He sat on the grass as I lay with my head in his lap. He lovingly stroked my hair as he spoke to me. It’s almost too good to be true, this thing that we share. It frightens me and I’m afraid of losing it. I’m afraid of when reality sets in and I have to go home that I’ll never see him again. I know he is telling me something totally different. It’s just that, with me, no one ever really stuck around and it’s hard for me to trust people.

“Hey, lazy bones, what are you doing?” Tessa walks into the room.

“I’m just sitting here wondering what to wear on my date with Blake to play miniature golf. Any thoughts on what I should wear?”

It probably doesn’t really matter what I wear. I’m certain I need to wear something comfortable; even so, I do want to look nice for him.

“Miniature golf, hmm. I’d just wear shorts and a tank. It’s still going to be hot and this humidity is horrible.”

She’s right the humidity in North Carolina will make you miserable. Combine the high temperatures with the humidity and that equates an unbearable heat index. A ninety degree day with very high humidity can give you a heat index of one hundred and six. Yeah, that's pretty hot.

“Okay, that sounds good to me.”

“Are you feeling better about things?”

I look at Tessa as I answer her question. “I’m better. I just know that things are not going to be easy and I’m trying to prepare myself for that. When I’m with Blake everything seems natural like we were meant to be. Then when I’m away from him, doubt begins to creep into my mind. If I could have him by my side all the time, my life would be so much easier. I’m just ready to break things off for good with David and graduate. I’m also worried what graduation means for me and Blake. I have to move out of your house, so that means I am going to need somewhere to live. Moving to Florida with my mom is sounding a lot less appealing now.”

“You’re really that into Blake?”

A grin spreads across my face; it happens spontaneously every time I think of him. “I really am Tessa. I think he's absolutely wonderful. He’s like two men wrapped in one and I love that. He can be all possessive and Alpha male, then turn around and be the most romantic man I’ve ever seen. He’s better than the ones I read about in my books.” Tessa laughs softly.

“Blake is no Romeo, Kayla. You’re simply blinded by your feelings.”

I look at her and shrug my shoulders. “Whether he is or not, is neither here nor there to me. I believe he is and that is all that’s important.”

“Like I said, you’re blind.”

She laughs harder this time. I’m becoming somewhat agitated at her. I want everyone to see the Blake that I do, at the same time, I love that I only get to see that side of him. It just makes it hard for everyone else to understand my feelings for him.

“We will just have to agree to disagree on this topic, Tessa since, I love you so much.” I smile at her. “I truly want you to give him a chance and try to see the man that I see.”

“I didn’t say I don’t like him. He is a one hundred percent improvement from pot head.”

I laugh this time. “You have such a way with words, my friend. I’m going to shower and get ready for my date.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Baby, you’re hitting the ball too hard. That’s the second time you’ve hit the ball onto the next hole.”

I swear he's laughing at me. “Don’t laugh at me. That’s not very nice.” I place my hand on my hip and point my putter at him. “You are not being a southern gentleman, Mr. McGinnis.”

“Baby, I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing with you.”

“I’m not laughing!” I pout. He holds out his arms and walks toward me.

“Aw, come here sweetheart. I seriously didn't mean to upset you. Allow me to show you how to do it.”

He hugs me to him and I smile. I wasn’t angry really, on the other hand, I’ll pretend to be any time if it causes him to embrace me, like this. “You’ll show me how to putt?”

“Honey, I’m a pro at this. Let’s start this hole over.”

“Awfully full of yourself, aren’t you?” I follow him back to the last hole. His backside is a work of art. I giggle to myself at that thought.

"Are you ogling my butt?" He asks without turning around and looking at me.

"What? No! Why on Earth would you think that?"

"To be sure you can appreciate the male form and my frame should be appreciated."

Pleased, with his comeback, he laughs at himself. I just shake my head

“Now I see why everyone talks about you like they do. You really do believe you’re God’s gift to women.”

He stops and turns around to smirk at me. “Baby, people talk about me, because I am that good.”

“Bah, just show me how to putt Mr. Full of Himself.” I’m trying not to laugh since I know that he is just messing with me. I just don’t want him to know, I know that.

“You sure do have a lot of nicknames for me and they all seem to start with Mr., I must confess, some of the other things you have come up with to go along with Mr., I’m not such a fan of.” He fake pouts at me.

“Oh, shut up! Your ego is not easily wounded I’m sure.” I walk past him and put my ball down to hit it.

“I’ll have you know that my ego can be injured easily by you. Possibly not so much by others, but it can most definitely be irreversibly damaged by you.” He gives me that look that makes me melt.

“I’m sorry if I wounded you with my words. Now, will you please instruct me on how to properly hit this little ball into that little hole? That way I can surpass your expertise and beat your butt.”

He walks up behind me as I line up the putter with the ball. He starts to tickle my sides and I squeal. I’m laughing so hard I almost don’t hear him speak.

“Your skills will never surpass mine on the miniature course, or an actual golf course. There are a lot of things I’m good at, some things I’m okay at, and some that I excel in. I excel in this.”

He quits tickling me and I am finally able to breathe. “Ugh, you are so conceited.”

“I’m not conceited. I’m just convinced.” He laughs. “Now bend over and let me show you how to do this.”

“Really, Blake!?”

He has a shocked look on his face and then he realizes what he said. His face transforms as he bends over laughing. I slap him on the shoulder.

“Stop, there are people waiting to play.”

“I did not mean that the way it sounded. Honestly.” He speaks through his bout of laughter.

There is just a hint of red on his cheeks. He looks adorable, yet he is still laughing. We’ve agreed that we will not give into our desires anymore this week and it’s not easy for either one of us. He agreed only because he was afraid I would over think everything again. We’ve decided it’s better to spend this time just getting to know each other more.

“Mm-hmm. I bet you didn’t mean for it to sound that way.”

He puts his arms around me and shows me how to properly place my hands on the club and guides my arms back and forth in a few practice swings.

My body is on fire with need. I want to turn around and kiss him until neither one of us can breathe.

“Just like that, don’t hit it too hard, but hit it hard enough to get it to the hole.”

I just roll my eyes. “I’m so glad you explained that. I never would have guessed that’s what I had to do.” He steps back and pops me on the butt.

“Don’t get smart with me, woman.”

I scream and rub my backside. “Did you actually just pop me on the rear end?”

“I sure did and what a cute rear it is. Now, hit the ball.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

He stands back and crosses his arms over his chest. He’s wearing some khaki shorts and a red shirt that is showing off his bronzed skin. The shirt hugs his broad chest and his biceps are bulging underneath his sleeves making them appear as if they are going to burst at any second. He's absolutely gorgeous!

I take in a deep breath and let it out. He raises his eyebrows at me and smirks. The jerk knows what he’s doing. This is going to be so hard denying these urges I have. He nods his head toward the ball.

“As much as I’m enjoying you devouring me with your eyes, we are never going to finish if you don’t hit the ball.”

I purse my lips at him and lower my eyebrows. “You wish.”

He covers his mouth, trying to hold back the laughter that is straining to escape him.

“Oh, I know.” He eventually states.

I concentrate on the putt and hit the ball. It goes into the cup. I jump up and down, squealing with delight. “I made it! I actually made it!” I go and hurl myself at him. He catches me in midair. I look up into his eyes and simply state. “I like this game.”

“I’m beginning to develop a new fondness for it myself.”

I can sense his new fondness for it, or me rather. I give him a kiss on the cheek. “Down, boy.”

I hear his laughter behind me as I run to the next hole. Then his words make me stop.

“Boy! Did you just call me a boy?”

I giggle and try to avoid him as he walks closer.

“I’m no boy, sweetheart.”

“All right. Down man, is that better?”

“Much. If you keep this up our little agreement is going to go out the window along with my will power.”

I say, while smiling at him, “Oh, we can’t have that now, can we? Yet, I must point out that I haven’t done anything improper. I’m just playing the game here.”

I turn away from him as he says, “You’re playing a game alright, but it’s not miniature golf. You’re trying to torment me.”

He is just too cute and funny. I'm having way too much fun. He puts me at ease and I’m so happy to spend time with him. I also genuinely enjoy our banter.

Blake walks me to the front door a few hours later. I gaze into those hypnotizing hazel eyes that make me melt. “Thank you for this evening. I can’t remember the last time I had so much fun.”

“You are more than welcome. Thank you for agreeing to go with me. I really love spending time with you. It was nice to see you relax and have some fun.”

Blake runs the back of his fingers down my cheek. I take a step closer to him. He leans his head low and places those soft, plump lips of his against mine. My whole body feels limp. Blake wraps his arms around my back to support me.