10. Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Layne
Stunned, I watched Keaton march out of the courthouse. It almost looked like he was fleeing. Did he have second thoughts?
I caught the judge’s gaze resting on me. He looked at me with so much pity that I had to laugh. “He’s already married. To his work.”
The judge gave a grunt of understanding.
“Let’s go.” Tripp jerked his head at the massive wooden double doors. “You all right?” he asked, once we were back outside in the beautiful sunshine. If only I wasn’t sick and could explore the island. I yearned to hike to a waterfall, go snorkeling, or maybe window shop in Glam City. Instead, I had to go back to bed.
I looked up at Tripp. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Sorry about that, Layne.” Wentworth joined us in the parking lot. Skyscrapers towered around us with the occasional palm tree defying the concrete, traffic noise coming from the constant stream of passing vehicles beyond the courthouse’s manicured lawn. “What he did in there was a jerk move.”
I laughed. “I’m actually glad it was short, and I can rest again.” And plenty relieved I didn’t have to kiss Keaton. That would’ve been extremely awkward. Him whispering in my ear, his aftershave taunting me . . .
A shudder went through me. Apparently I wasn’t fully immune to his charm.
Wentworth shook his head. “I had no idea he’d treat you like that, or I wouldn’t have agreed to this. I thought you’d be good for him. That maybe he would change.” He raked a hand through his short hair. Let out a groan. “I should’ve—”
“It’s fine, Wentworth. Really.” I gave him a reassuring smile. “I didn’t go in blind. I prayed about it and felt it was the right thing to do.”
He muttered something under his breath. “Just reach out if you need something, okay?”
I nodded. “I will. Thanks.”
On the way to Keaton’s house, palm trees and homes lining the pristine beaches and glittering ocean flying by, Tripp’s dark mood clouded his Raptor like thick fog.
“What’s up?” I finally asked, not able to take it any longer.
He said nothing but was gripping the wheel like he wanted to choke it.
Knowing I wouldn’t get an answer, I pushed my gaze out the window again. Relief chugged through me when the GPS finally announced that we’d reached the destination. The wrought iron gate to Keaton’s property was open, and Tripp drove through and up the cobblestone drive.
Unable to tear my eyes away from my new home, I swallowed against the growing restlessness that was shoving up from my stomach into my esophagus. A black wrought iron fence with spear tops surrounded the two-story house nestled between trees. The stone facade gave it a rustic look, and a small gabled roof covered the entrance to the left of the double garage doors. What I didn’t appreciate were the big windows. Anyone could see inside. Which probably didn’t matter, because there was no one out here anyway. We were smack-dab in the middle of the jungle, no neighbors far and wide. Still. I didn’t like being on display.
Seriously, though. How much had Keaton paid for it? How many millions? A house like that, right at the beach . . .
Tripp let out a whistle as he leaned forward to get a better look and eyed the high-end gym equipment behind the windows to the left of the entrance. “The guy’s living in a freakin’ palace.”
“A massive ego like his needs a lot of space.”
My brother grunted. “Then he’d need the entire island.” He looked at me. “Don’t be too hard on him with your sarcasm, all right?”
I shrugged. “Can’t make any promises.”
“Listen.” He sounded all serious now, his eyes taking on that intensity I’m sure they did when he interrogated terrorists. “Should he ever lay hands on you—”
“He won’t.”
“—or threaten you in any way, you report it back to me. Understood?”
Oh, okay, now I got it. He felt responsible for setting me up with Keaton.
“Again,” I said. “He won’t hurt me. He protected me from David, remember?”
“Layne?” Tripp’s tone was low, almost threatening.
“Geez, yes, Captain Rhyner. Understood.” Shaking my head, I shoved open the door and climbed out of the Raptor. Why did he care all of a sudden? As soon as he’d turned eighteen, he’d moved to the States to enlist in the Army, not giving a second thought about how it would affect me. At only ten years old, I’d missed him terribly. It had been like losing Dad all over again. Now he pretended to care?
I opened the back door, but Tripp had come around the front and shoved me aside with his bulk to grab my suitcase. Grateful that I could preserve energy, I trailed him to the door, where I punched the number Keaton had texted me into the keypad. Several beeps followed by a buzz signaled that the door was open. I pushed it inside and found myself surrounded by a lot of dark wood. Surprising, considering the outside was all stone. It was breathtaking, though—rugged and elegant alike.
An arched opening at the far right led into a dining/living room, one at the far left into a kitchen. The gym was to the left, the garage to the right.
“Where’s your room?”
Tripp’s question snapped me out of my thoughts. “Not sure. You can leave the suitcase here.”
He set it down next to the door. Kept glowering at me.
“ Spucks us ,” I told him to spill it.
His jaw worked under his beard. “You could stay with us.”
“We talked about this, Tripp. Living in a house with three guys is too loud for me.”
“We’re gone three hundred days a year.”
“And if you get killed? Who provides for me then?”
He didn’t flinch, his expression remaining unchanged. We both knew this was the reality of his job. The chances that he wouldn’t come home one day were high enough to make me crumble if I dwelled on them for too long. Why had he chosen something so dangerous, especially after Dad’s death?
“I’m gonna tell you the same thing I told Wentworth,” I said. “I prayed about this, and I’m positive it’s what God wants. You read me, Top Dog?”
Tripp’s features relaxed for a split second, which was akin to a smile for him. Then they hardened again. “You know the deal. Call me when he steps out of line.”
“Yessir.”
After one last firm look, he stalked out the door and closed it behind him. A beat passed, then the engine of his Raptor revved, sharper than necessary.
I heaved a sigh as I spun and headed for the living room. No idea where my brother stood with God, but my answer obviously hadn’t been what he’d wanted to hear.
The arched opening lead into a spacious, medieval-style room with a high, gabled ceiling and weathered beams. Two black leather couches were positioned in front of a fireplace, a baseball collection on the mantel and several framed jerseys decorating the walls. Stairs led to the upper floor.
I ran my fingers over the contours of the wooden dining table to my left, staring out at the lanai and Olympic-size swimming pool beyond the large windows. “Such a beautiful house, and no one to share it with.”
Well, me. Technically, this was my home now, too. Even if it didn’t feel like it.
I turned, spotting a closed door at the far end behind the stairs leading to the upper floor. This had to be Keaton’s bedroom. At least he’d mentioned that it was downstairs.
Time to find mine. I conquered the wooden steps. A sticky note stuck to the first door to the right. Yours.
Nerves buzzing, I stepped inside. My chin dropped to my chest. Holy cow, this was my room?
More dark wood, a king-size bed with silk duvets and pillows, a TV mounted on the wall, and handcrafted wooden furniture. The floor-to-ceiling window stretching the entire length boasted a view of the lush garden. I could look right down at the swimming pool and even glimpse the ocean through the trees. And I had my very own bathroom.
Mind reeling, I sank onto the bed. This place is unreal, Lord. Good thing Keaton had never seen the dump I’d lived in before.
I stretched out on the silk sheets, indulging in the softness of the fabric against my skin. Now that I wasn’t distracted anymore, symptoms bombarded me. Time to rest.
An hour later, I answered a few messages in the chronic fatigue and pain chat I had with fellow warriors, then dialed Blake.
“How was it?” she blurted into the line with her thick Aussie accent.
“Hello to you, too.” I had to grin. Typical Blake.
Seven years ago, I’d partaken in a friendly speed climbing competition in Australia and decided to extend my stay. That’s when I met Blake in a church, wearing a beautiful summer dress she’d tailored, and her straight, blonde hair cut past her shoulders. We’d hit it off immediately, thanks to our shared faith. Ever since, we chatted once a week.
“Yes, hello, now tell me! Please.”
As I recounted how things had gone down, I headed into the hallway to check out the rest of the rooms on the upper floor. I found three guest bedrooms, and a locked door. Keaton had mentioned it during our last phone call, but he hadn’t disclosed what he was hiding in there. Just that it was off limits.
It would’ve been a lie to say I wasn’t intrigued.
“Sounds like an absolute dream wedding,” Blake concluded, her voice oozing sarcasm.
Chuckling, I distanced myself from the mystery room and headed downstairs. “It was. Totally romantic, I’m telling ya.”
“Good thing you’re not one for fairy tale weddings. That would’ve been crushing.”
“For real. I’m glad things went down the way they did, and I didn’t have to organize anything.” Not once in life had I wasted thoughts on my wedding, not even when I’d been engaged to Sebastian. Pompous parties and being the center of attention weren’t my thing.
“And how do you feel about it all?”
“I feel like a leech.” In the entrance hall, I opened the garage door.
Blake snorted. “Are you even listening to yourself? The guy is a millionaire. I bet you barely affect his financial standing. Meanwhile you give him the little energy you have. That’s so much more valuable than his money.”
The words didn’t penetrate as I was too busy staring at the vehicles parked in the garage. Keaton’s ice-gray Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, and a Ram 1500 TRX. Add to that the Aston Martin he’d showed up in at the courthouse.
“Layne? Are you still there?”
I closed the door and crossed the entrance hall to the gym. “Did you say something?”
“That verse God gave you makes it pretty clear to me that you’re where you’re meant to be. I’m convinced He’ll use you as a tool to reach Keaton’s heart.”
“We both know I’m not the kind of Christian who’s worthy of being a role model.”
“God has used people who aren’t perfect since the beginning of time, and He’ll continue to do so. Look at the Bible. Every person He gave a special task had their shortcomings. That’s exactly what lets His strength shine.”
I let those words sink in, and the longer I thought about them, the more I realized that I had no counterargument. “You have an answer for everything, don’t you?” I finally grumbled, smiling to myself.
The well-equipped gym had me longing for my old, healthy body, and I had to shut the door before I got sucked into a vortex of unwanted emotions.
A deep sigh came through the line. “I wish. I don’t even know what to wear tomorrow.”
I laughed. “Do what I do and just take whatever’s on top.”
“Then I might as well put on a clown costume.”
“Are you seeing Rolli tomorrow, or why is your outfit so important?”
Crickets.
I burst out laughing. “You’re totally seeing him, aren’t you?”
“Maybe.” Blake let out a giggle that only a woman in the early stages of dating could emit. “He wants to teach me how to surf.”
“No way! You have to take videos and send them to me.”
“We’ll see.” She clicked her tongue. “You’re tired, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” I admitted, once again grateful for her sensitivity. The office and kitchen weren’t of much interest, so I made my way back upstairs. “I should go.”
“Well then—get some rest, Bean.”
“Will do. Love you, hon.”
“Me too.”
As soon as I ended the call, I crashed into bed and closed my eyes. My ears were ringing—I’d overdone it. Again. Would I ever learn to respect my boundaries?
I had been lying there for quite a while when a door opened downstairs. The sun was long gone, darkness pressing in. My heart rate increased instantly. Keaton was home.