Chapter 17
Kaiah hit Send on her email and then collapsed back on the sofa later that evening. After helping Reid with more festival
planning, she’d retreated to her apartment after supper to finish her third Coral Cove article. She wanted this one to give
more details about Coral Cove’s rich history, including the lighthouse, and highlight how the community was coming together
to make the festival a reality. She still couldn’t believe how many people were donating their time and resources. Talk about
the perfect hidden gem! Hopefully her article would encourage more visitors to check it out.
When her phone rang with a FaceTime call, she wasn’t surprised to find Kam’s name on the screen. Kaiah hadn’t responded to
her text Sunday night, which she was now calling “Mr. TDH-gate.” Her cheeks still burned hot whenever she thought about having
to explain it all to Reid.
“Hey, Kam.” Kaiah tried to make her voice as neutral as possible and wasn’t sure she succeeded.
Her sister eyed her with annoyance. “Um, where have you been? Why haven’t you called me or texted me?”
“I’ve been busy. It’s Tuesday, and the festival starts Friday night.”
“Riiiiight. Well, I’m glad I didn’t have to call the cops—I was getting worried. So have you been busy only with the festival?” her sister asked with a grin.
“Yes, only with the festival. We’ve had to coordinate with vendors, plan live shows, make plans to set up markets, and get permits for
events on the beach. It’s a ton of work. So yeah, I’ve been MIA.”
“Cool, cool, cool.” Kam’s expression dimmed, and she seemed . . . preoccupied?
“You’re being weird. What’s going on, Kam?”
“What do you mean?”
“You seem distracted. Do you have something on your mind?”
Kam hesitated for a moment. “I . . . have news.”
“Oh?”
Kamryn’s usual bright smile filled her pretty face. “You’re going to be an auntie again.”
“What?!” Kaiah exclaimed, and any thoughts she had about a stern talk flew out of her brain as excitement buzzed through her.
“When did you find out?”
“Today! I wanted to tell you first.” Kam sniffed. “Devon and I have been praying for this for so long, Ky. I can’t believe
it finally happened.”
Tears pressed against Kaiah’s eyes. “That’s amazing, Kam. I’m so happy for you.”
Kamryn started crying, and Kaiah did too.
“What’s wrong with us?” Kam swiped her fingers over her eyes, then laughed.
Kaiah dabbed her face with a tissue. “We’re just really, really happy. And you’re really, really hormonal.”
A knock sounded on the door, and Kaiah popped up from the sofa.
“Is that Mr. TDH?” Kam’s grin was back.
Kaiah shushed her. “You need to stop calling him that. You got me in trouble.”
“Oooh! Sorry, not sorry. I need to hear that story.”
Kaiah looked through the peephole and found Reid standing on the deck. “It’s Reid. Behave or I’m going to hang up on you.”
“I promise I’ll behave. I want to meet the babe who’s stolen my sister’s heart.”
Kaiah groaned. “You’re so dramatic. Now don’t embarrass me.” She unlocked and opened the door before sniffing and wiping her
eyes. “Hi.”
Reid’s forehead creased with concern. “Hey, have you’ve been crying? What’s wrong?”
Kaiah smiled. “Everything’s great. My sister just told me some good news.” She held up the phone.
“Oh, I’m sorry. You’re busy. I’ll come back later.” He started toward the stairs.
“Hold on. Wait.” Kaiah held the phone up toward him. “Kam, this is Reid.”
Reid grinned at the phone. “Hello, Kam. I’m also known as Mr. TDH.”
Kamryn burst out laughing. “And the name certainly fits,” she managed to say between cackles.
Kaiah’s face was hot again—Kam! But when Reid snickered, she couldn’t help but laugh along with them.
“It’s great to meet you, Reid,” Kam said. “I’m Kaiah’s favorite sister.”
Reid nodded. “That’s what I hear.”
“Kam just shared that she’s expecting,” Kaiah explained.
Reid’s smile was warm and genuine, and it sent a thrill through Kaiah. “Congratulations! That’s the best news.”
“Thank you,” Kam told him. “I’ll let you two go. Talk to you later, sis.”
“I’ll call you soon. You take care of yourself—I guess I should say ‘yourselves.’ Wow, that’s going to take some getting used
to.” Kaiah ended the call and turned to Reid. “Hey, you. What’s up?”
He rubbed the back of his head. “I was wondering if you wanted to see something.”
“Sure,” she said. “What is it?”
He started for the door. “Be downstairs in fifteen minutes. We’re going for a ride.”
“Okay . . .” She watched him descend the stairs, curiosity threading its way through her. What was that man up to?
She had no idea, but she couldn’t wait to find out.
Reid met Becca in the driveway as she parked her SUV. After tossing his daughter’s overnight bag in the truck, he helped Piper
get buckled into the booster seat. “Now, have fun with Astrid and listen to your auntie, okay?”
“I will, Daddy.” Piper kissed his cheek. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” Reid waved at his niece. “Have fun.”
Piper immediately began telling Astrid a story about her cat, and Reid shut the door.
He spotted the lights glowing behind the shades in the apartment over the garage. Kaiah was probably getting ready for their
date.
Date.
He almost laughed out loud. As if he remembered how to go on a first date. How long had it been? Seventeen years? Did he even know how to do this anymore?
He met his sister’s curious expression. “Thanks for picking up Piper. I figured you guys would go out for supper.” He pulled
his wallet from his back pocket and opened it. “Here’s some cash to cover it.”
Becca held up her hand and rolled her eyes. “Keep your money, but I want all the deets later.” She rested her hands on her
hips “What are you guys up to?”
He shrugged. “I’m taking Kaiah out.”
Her brows shot up to the moon. “On a date?”
He sighed and then nodded.
“Reid! Finally! I knew you two liked each other.”
“I’m pretty sure we do. And tonight I’m going to make it pretty clear how I feel about her.”
“Good. You should. At least have a DTR talk with her.”
“DTR?”
“It means define the relationship. She’s leaving in a couple weeks, at most. If you want this thing to have a chance, you need to tell her exactly how you feel.”
“Exactly how I feel? That might be . . . a bit much.”
“Right . . .” She paused for a second. “Listen, we’re twins. I can tell you have some really intense feelings for her.”
That was true, but he wasn’t going to talk about them with her. There were some things he just wanted to keep to himself—no
twin ESP allowed.
“Uh-huh. Well, Becks, I appreciate you helping me out last minute.”
“You know we love having Piper stay over.” Becca’s dark eyes focused on something behind him, and her expression lit up. “Hey,
Kaiah. You look nice.”
Reid whirled around, and he could’ve sworn the air stood still.
Kaiah was captivating, clad in a dress the color of a ripe peach, with her hair pulled back and falling in soft curls past
her shoulders. Whatever makeup she’d done made her blue eyes sparkle. For a moment he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Kaiah’s eyes flittered to her dress and then back to him. “I thought I’d dress up. Too much, right?” She took a step back.
“I’ll change into a pair of jeans.”
She turned to head back upstairs, but he clasped her wrist before she could get too far.
“No,” he said. “You’re . . . you’re perfect.”
Her adorable cheeks turned the color of her dress almost instantly. He’d never get tired of seeing her blush.
“You two have fun!” Becca sang before winking at Reid and climbing into her SUV. A moment later, she backed out of the driveway.
Reid smiled at Kaiah. “You ready?”
She nodded, and he opened the passenger door for her.
Reid navigated the winding town roads, the setting sun casting a symphony of colors across the horizon.
“Where are we going?” Kaiah asked, her gaze fixed on the shifting hues outside her window.
“You’ll see.” Reid’s response was paired with a mischievous grin, his casual attire of khakis and a gray button-down lending
a boyish charm.
Her mind echoed with the memory of his appreciative once-over when they’d met in the driveway.
Butterflies took flight in her stomach as she remembered his eyes grazing her dress, then settling on her face.
Then she turned her attention back to the world racing past her window.
She had no idea where they were going. An intimate dinner, perhaps? A movie? Either way, why the mystery?
“How about Kamryn?” Reid asked.
A rush of joy swept over her at the memory of Kam’s news. “They’ve been trying for a while. I’m thrilled for them,” she confessed,
her hands smoothing the fabric of her dress in a nervous gesture. “And she wanted to tell me first. What an honor.”
“Definitely. She seems great,” Reid observed, his grin pulling at the corners of his lips. “She has a good sense of humor.”
“I think you two would really like each other.”
As Reid turned onto the familiar road leading to the cove, a newfound excitement surged within her. “Wait. Are we going to
the lighthouse?” she ventured.
His lips curved into a knowing smile, but he didn’t answer.
Pulling into the lighthouse parking lot, he climbed out and hurried to open her door. He extended his hand, and Kaiah took
it, brushing his strong, calloused palm as their fingers intertwined. They began to walk down the long boardwalk leading to
the lighthouse, passing the vibrant flowers dancing in the breeze.
“Are we having supper here?” she asked.
“Nope.” He released her hand while he unlocked the gate, which squealed in protest as he pushed it open. Then he took her
hand again and led her to the beach beside the lighthouse. “Wait here, okay?”
She nodded at him.
He started toward the lighthouse and then turned. “I’ll be right back. I promise.”
“I’ll be waiting.” She faced the beach and lifted her eyes toward the sky, where the sunset had begun to fade and stars were sparkling in the clear night. Tiny waves lapped onto the sand, and the silhouette of slow-moving ships glided across the horizon.