Just a Kiss in the Moonlight: Georgia Moon Romance Book 2 (8 page)

T
aylin held
her hands out in front of her, feeling the heat from the flickering flames of the campfire Luke and Dave started right after they’d eaten a late supper. She licked her lips, tasting remnants of the gooey graham cracker, chocolate and roasted marshmallow treat she’d eaten a few minutes ago.

Her eyes drifted across the circle and settled on Luke. He sat in between Courtney and Felicia, determined to teach the girls how to roast a marshmallow without setting it on fire. If she’d known he took his marshmallow roasting so seriously, she would’ve set hers on fire a few times.

This man was a mystery to her. Usually, she knew when a guy was interested. There were several times when she knew he was interested, but then he’d go and ignore her and she wasn’t sure if she’d read him right in the first place. Since returning from their fishing trip he hadn’t spoken a word to her, let alone looked at her.

Maybe when she’d told him he was cute for an old guy it had offended him. Of course, she didn’t really think he was old. According to Rachel, he’d just celebrated his thirty-first birthday before moving to Mitchel Creek.

Pulling her eyes away from Luke, she continued her perusal of the small gathering. When she got to Rachel, her friend mouthed, “Go and sit by him.”

Taylin discreetly shook her head. What did Rachel want her to do? Go and kick either Courtney or Felicia out of their chair?

Rachel mouthed it again and this time Taylin mouthed the word “no”. A look of frustration crossed Rachel’s features. Then she popped up out of her seat.

“Who wants to hear Miss Taylin sing for us?” Rachel said.

Several hands went up, along with most everyone shouting out yes. Taylin enjoyed singing, but somehow having Luke in the audience made her nervous. She chanced a look at him and found him watching her.

“I didn’t bring my guitar,” she said, moving her gaze back to Rachel.

“You can use mine,” Rachel said. She turned toward her husband. “Sweetie, can you go get it?”

Dave stood up. “Sure.”

Rachel had a nice voice too, so Taylin suggested she sing as well.

“I wish I could.” Rachel coughed into her hand. It was obviously a fake cough. “But I’ve got this tickle in my throat.”

Holding back an eye roll, Taylin reached for her bottle of water and took a long drink. Her nerves already taut, she avoided looking at Luke. A few of the kids threw out some requests of songs she’d done before. One of them was an original her brother had written, and that seemed to be the general consensus.

Dave returned with the guitar. While Taylin tuned the guitar using an app on her phone, the kids all made one last gooey marshmallow treat. Once everyone settled down, Taylin’s fingers found the opening chords.

Although she was nervous with Luke watching, it didn’t take long for the music to take over. As she got lost in the beautiful words and melody, her nerves vanished, as did her audience.

Taylin’s fingers strummed the final chord, and her surroundings came back into focus as those around the campfire whistled and clapped. She lifted her face, and her gaze connected with Luke’s. Invisible sparks ignited between them, almost as if the firelight reflected in his eyes had actually started this flame of undeniable attraction.

The slightest grin tipped the corners of his lips. “Beautiful,” he mouthed.

She bit at her bottom lip and lowered her lashes. Taylin didn’t have a shy bone in her body, but for some reason, compliments from this man made her feel timid.

“Sing another one, Miss Taylin,” Felicia said.

With several more requests for an encore, Taylin picked at the strings to start another song written by her brother. Her fingers trembled, but she pushed through her nerves and let the music take over.

A few times her gaze drifted to Luke and she found him watching her with rapt attention. It both thrilled and terrified her. He’d said he didn’t date co-workers, and she’d said he wasn’t her type, but maybe they could forget their earlier edicts.

When the song ended, Dave requested she do a cover of a popular Christian tune before they called it a night. The kids grumbled about the bedtime announcement, but it didn’t last long and they quieted as Taylin began playing the beginning notes. Before she started the song, she glanced at Rachel. “How about a duet?”

Rachel smiled, and with a little encouragement from her husband, walked around the fire to stand next to Taylin. The two of them had sung many times before and their voices blended beautifully. Rachel joined in on the second stanza, harmonizing perfectly. When they sang the final note, nobody clapped. There didn’t seem to be a need.

“Thank you, ladies,” Dave said. “That is the perfect way to end our day.”

“Amen,” June said.

The silence broke as June and Becca rounded up all the girls to go into Luke’s house to use the restroom and brush their teeth. Taylin was a little disappointed when Luke left the fire to lead the group inside.

She stood up and handed Rachel her guitar. “Thanks for singing with me.”

“You’re welcome.” Rachel winked at her. “I think you have a new fan.”

“Oh really?” She tried to act ignorant. “Who?”

“You know exactly who I’m talking about.”

Both of them turned toward Luke’s house. Through the large windows, Taylin could see Luke leaning against a countertop, talking with June and Becca.

“I can’t really get a good read on him,” Taylin said, glancing back at Rachel.

“Well I can, and the guy is smitten.”

The possibility that could be true made Taylin light up inside, as if a dozen fireflies danced in her stomach. “Even if you’re right, I don’t think he’s willing to break his rule about workplace dating.”

“I can always find out,” Rachel teased.

“No ma’am, you will not.” Taylin gave her a pointed look. “He knows I’m interested and that I think he’s cute.”

“You told him that?” Rachel asked with a laugh. “When?”

Taylin told her all about Felicia’s comments, making Rachel giggle.

“What are y’all laughing about?” Dave asked, coming up beside his wife.

“Out of the mouth of babes,” Rachel said.

Dave lifted a questioning brow and Rachel handed him the guitar. “Let’s go put this away, and I’ll tell you all about it.”

The couple left and Taylin could hear Dave laughing all the way to their car.

Phil, Becca’s husband, had arrived after dinner and was busy helping the boys clean up around the campfire. While they worked, he simultaneously told them about his military training, which made him exceptionally good at hearing things at night, like boys trying to sneak off.

Taylin shivered as the fire was doused. The temp had dropped down into the low sixties, but here on the water it felt cooler. She went to the tent she’d be sharing with the girls and traded her hoodie for a Neoprene jacket the hospital had given out during National Hospital Week. She also grabbed her toothbrush and paste, intent on joining the girls in Luke’s house.

As she exited the tent, she heard an owl hoot overhead. She turned toward the sound and searched the trees. Plantation Lake shimmered beneath the moonlight, the water so calm it almost appeared to be glass. She heard the owl again, but was still unable to see it.

Turning away, she started toward Luke’s house. She couldn’t see him through the windows anymore and he wasn’t back outside. Now that Phil had arrived, maybe he’d changed his mind about sleeping in a tent and he’d already gone to bed.

The house was warm and very beautiful. The scent of new carpet and paint permeated the air. Taylin removed the slip-on shoes she’d replaced her boots with earlier and treaded across the wood floor toward the sound of the girls’ laughter.

She found June and Becca waiting for the girls in Luke’s kitchen. They sat at the bar and Taylin admired the beautiful dark granite countertops that glittered under the lights. Both women smiled when they saw her.

“You have such a beautiful voice, Taylin,” June said. “I declare, you could do that for a livin’ if you wanted.”

“Ah, thank you.” After everything her brother had been through trying to make it in the music industry, Taylin was happy with her nursing career. She slid onto a black saddle seat barstool next to Becca. “Wow, this kitchen is amazing.”

“I know.” Becca sighed loudly. “I’d love to have a kitchen like this to cook in.”

Taylin noticed the sleek black appliances and coveted the six-burner gas stove. She’d inherited her mama’s love for cooking and knew she could create some incredible meals with such an elite piece of equipment. She wondered if Luke would make good use of the kitchen now that he’d moved in.

A few of the girls filed out of the bathroom and June stood up. “Y’all ready to get your sleeping bags rolled out?”

The girls nodded and June ushered them outside. Felicia and Courtney came out a minute later, allowing Becca a turn in the bathroom.

“Are you sleepin’ in the tent with us, Miss Taylin?” Courtney asked.

“I sure am.” She hoped she actually did get some sleep. Even though she hadn’t worked a full twelve-hour shift, she’d been up since five this morning to get ready for work, and she was tired.

“Awesome,” Felicia said. “Maybe you can teach us how to French braid our hair.”

Becca came out of the bathroom, and Taylin stood up to take her turn. “Sure, I’ll be out in a minute.”

“We can wait for you,” Becca said.

“No, I’m okay. Go ahead and get the girls settled.”

Alone in the bathroom, Taylin washed her face and then brushed her teeth. Using a paper towel from the roll Luke must have left out on the countertop, she patted her face dry. Then she took another paper towel and dried off the granite surface.

Just like the kitchen, the bathroom fixtures were shiny and new. She loved the oversized garden tub and wished she could fill it up with hot water and soak in it. Her clothing and hair had to smell like campfire.

Taking one more look in the mirror, she opened the door and turned off the light. The house was quiet, except for the muted laughter of the boys. Apparently they were using the bathroom next to the garage.

Wishing she could take a tour of the house, Taylin walked back toward the French doors. She caught the scent of the cologne Luke used just as she spotted him looking out the large windows. His hair was damp, and she guessed he’d taken a shower.

The floor creaked, and he turned toward her. “Oh, hey,” he said, his eyes widening. “I thought all the girls were outside.”

“Sorry, I’m the lone straggler.”

A loud thump, followed by raucous laughter, sounded from down the hall. She hoped the boys weren’t making a huge mess.

“I hope they’re not misbehaving.”

He smiled. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

“It’s very generous of you to open up your new home.” Taylin glanced around the area. “Which is very beautiful, by the way.”

“Thanks. And I’m happy to do it. The kids worked hard today and saved me a lot of time.”

Another round of loud laughter sounded, making Taylin grimace. “Maybe I should go check on them.”

“They’re fine, I promise.” He shoved his hands in his front pockets. “Besides, they can’t hurt anything in that bathroom. It’s nothing more than a toilet, sink and shower.”

The door slammed and the laughter faded. They looked out the window and saw the boys running toward their tent.

“You’re really goin’ beyond the call of duty to sleep in the tent when you could be in your own bed tonight.”

He grinned. “Dave and Rachel are newlyweds and I don’t think they’ve been apart since their wedding. I volunteered to help monitor the boys so they can have their own tent.”

“That’s really sweet.”

“It’s the least I can do.” His smile faltered before he looked back out the window. “They’ve been really good friends to me since I moved here.”

Taylin studied his handsome profile. She wanted to ask him about his reason for moving to Georgia. She wanted him to confide in her.

He turned, and she averted her gaze before he caught her staring at him. “Hey,” he said. “I wanted to tell you what a beautiful voice you have. The music was incredible.”

“Thank you.”

Their eyes met and held for a few seconds. She thought he might say something more, but he took a step backward. “I guess we better get out there to help get the kids settled.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She found her shoes and slipped them on.

Luke held open the door for her. As she passed by him, she caught the scent of his cologne again. He followed her out, and she almost turned to tell him goodnight, but he walked directly over to the tent without looking at her again. Dave was trying to herd the boys in and threatening them with menial work if they didn’t settle down.

The girls were already settled in their tent with Becca on one side. Taylin would sleep on the other. June didn’t do sleepovers and would be back in the morning. Becca graciously offered to stay in the girl’s tent with Taylin. Apparently, she didn’t mind a night away from her husband and his snoring.

After a lot of giggling, the girls and Becca finally fell asleep around eleven. Taylin lay on her sleeping bag, trying to sleep, but her mattress pad had deflated slightly and she could feel the hard ground beneath her.

It was just after midnight when her cell phone buzzed an incoming call. She glanced at the screen and saw it was Jared. Why would he be calling her so late?

Sneaking out of the tent, she made her way up on Luke’s deck so she didn’t awaken anyone.

“Hello,” she whispered.

Jared’s voice was loud and slightly slurred. He’d obviously been drinking. “Hey, babe, I miss you.”

“Do you know what time it is?” she said tersely.

“Hey, what time is it?” he yelled in the phone and subsequently in Taylin’s ear.

She held the phone out, rolling her eyes as his friends tried to come up with the correct time.

“I know what time it is,” Taylin finally said. “It’s after midnight.”

“Then why did you ask me?” Jared asked.

If Jared knew how stupid alcohol made him, he probably wouldn’t drink. “What do you want, Jared? I’m tired, and I want to go to sleep.”