Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Zane dressed for dinner, melancholy filling him.
His weekend with Kylie had exceeded every expectation.
They had snorkeled in the waters just off Tidewater.
Played tennis and then pickleball, a first for them both.
Lazed about the pool. Kylie had played her first round of golf.
Not surprisingly, she had done well driving the ball and even outputted him on the greens.
They’d had separate spa treatments, as well as a couples massage, and meals in various restaurants.
Drinks by the pool and in the club, where she had challenged him to a karaoke duel.
He had a terrible voice, croaking like a frog who had no range, but Kylie did justice to everything from Taylor Swift to rapping.
During all the hours in her company, he had never been bored.
Not once. Zane lost interest in both people and things quickly, his attention wandering.
Not with Kylie. They talked all day and far into the night after bouts of lovemaking, even awakening in the middle of the night to make love and talk, holding hands until they both fell asleep again.
The sex had been phenomenal. In bed. The shower. On the table. Even late at night in one of the hot tubs. He had never been as physically well matched with a woman as he was with Kylie. Zane couldn’t imagine what his life would be like once he left the Bay—and Kylie—behind.
She came out of the bathroom, wearing a white sundress that set off her tan. Her golden hair hung about her shoulders, gleaming and full. She sat in a chair and picked up a sandal, sliding her foot into it as he slipped into a jacket.
“Looking fancy, Mr. Wagner,” she said, her gaze admiring.
“Trying to keep up with you, Ms. Mayfield.” He pulled her to her feet. “You look ravishing.”
Zane kissed her, already tasting the bittersweetness in the kiss, knowing this weekend was coming to an end.
Releasing her, he said, “I hope you don’t mind the early dinner.”
Kylie laughed. “Five-thirty is not early in my book.”
“I just wanted us to eat and not have to rush before we take the boat back to the mainland. You still want to do the sightseeing cruise?”
“Yes. Mom and Dad are expecting us. Besides, it’ll be a fun way for you to see Driftwood Bay and beyond.”
He escorted her to dinner, and Tyler met them.
“I’ve dismissed the kitchen staff for the night, so I’ll handle everything personally for you. I hope all your meals and drinks have lived up to your expectations this weekend.”
“I feel like a princess being granted her every wish,” Kylie told her friend. “Every meal has been better than the last one. Tidewater was smart to hire you, Ty. Whatever they’re paying you, they got a bargain.”
The chef cocked an eyebrow and looked to Zane. “So, I suppose it’s too soon to request a raise?” he joked.
“I can already tell you that you’re in line for one. Where most hotels do yearly reviews, Wagner has always gone the six-month route. We like to reward staff when we see fit. You’ve already earned rave reviews for your cooking from the testers. I know it will be the same when paying guests arrive.”
“I have to thank you again for having my parents over for two days,” Tyler said. “It was a real treat to have them see me in action and taste my food. They also enjoyed staying on the property.”
“We were happy to have them,” Zane assured the chef. “What do you recommend for us this evening?”
“Let me handle everything. Don’t worry about ordering.”
They feasted on appetizers of scallops, entrées of Wagyu beef and summer squash, with dessert being limoncello tiramisu.
“I don’t want to go back to the real world,” Kylie said, taking the last bite of her dessert. “Dinner for me is usually something simple. Grilled cheese. A chef’s salad.” She smiled at him. “Thank you again for such a wonderful weekend. I don’t remember the last time I felt so carefree and happy.”
“Same,” he said, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. Zane pressed a kiss to her fingers. “This was really nice. I didn’t think of work at all, and that’s a first.”
He released her hand. “Time to head back to the mainland.”
They returned to the bungalow to retrieve her bag and walked hand-in-hand to the dock where the skiff awaited them.
She pulled her hair into a ponytail, and they took out across the water.
Zane could feel depression setting in and told himself he had another week with Kylie and then the first four days of July.
He told himself not to borrow trouble. To enjoy the moment and not worry about the tomorrows to come.
Living in the present had its advantages.
Once they reached the Bay, they placed the weekender in her car, still parked at the docks.
“We have time for a stroll before the sightseeing cruise leaves,” she said.
He threaded his fingers through hers, and they slowly walked along the streets near the harbor.
They passed Keaton’s art gallery. The restaurant and bar Tyler’s parents owned and operated.
A few boutiques and gift shops. Then they returned to where Rodfather was moored.
A handful of tourists were moving up the plank, and they joined them.
“Welcome aboard,” Pat said. “How was your weekend?”
“Fabulous,” Kylie replied. “I played golf—and I’m actually pretty good at it.”
“You always were a natural athlete, honey, so that doesn’t surprise me.”
Pat turned to Zane. “Thank you for all you’re doing for the Bay and my family. I remember your dad. I was in middle school and went to all the high school basketball games. He had a sweet spot on the court. Didn’t seem he could miss a shot from it.”
“Left side,” he said. “That’s still his preferred place to shoot a basket. Dad’ll be coming to the Bay in early July.”
“If he’s interested in a charter, we can try and squeeze him in,” she said. “Go sit and enjoy.”
The boat left the dock five minutes later, with Kylie’s dad telling stories about the history of the Texas coast, as well as ones spotlighting Driftwood Bay.
Dave was very entertaining, using various accents as he talked like a pirate and other historical figures.
Pat brought around small canapés, but they passed, still too full from their final dinner at Tidewater.
They did each snag a glass of wine and sipped on it as they cruised the Texas waters.
After an hour of entertaining stories, their captain said he would let them enjoy the sunset as they sailed along the coast. Zane had his arm about Kylie’s shoulder, and she snuggled against him.
The round, glowing orb touched the water, the skies shades of amber, orange, and pink as the sun set.
The boat returned them to the Driftwood Bay harbor as night fell, the moon set in a sky of scattered stars.
They waited while others disembarked, and Zane said to the Mayfields, “That was very enjoyable. You held everyone’s attention, from school kids to an elderly gentleman. I’m glad Kylie suggested I take your family’s sightseeing cruise.”
Pat smiled. “Dave is a storyteller from way back. It’s one of the reasons I married him. I knew I would never be bored with a man like Dave Mayfield.”
Grinning, Dave slipped an arm about his wife’s waist. “And I got the prettiest and smartest girl in the Bay. Pat had a long line of fellows at her door, but somehow she chose me.”
He kissed his wife, and a flash of jealousy ran through Zane. He wanted a woman he would love through the years. Glancing to Kylie, he saw her blinking away tears, witnessing the deep love between her parents.
“I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning, Dad,” she said. “Hope Karl did a good job filling in for me.”
“Your brother was fine,” Dave assured. “But I’m glad to be getting my first mate back.” He looked to Zane. “I’ll see you and Neville soon.”
“Yes, Gramps is really looking forward to going out on Rodfather.”
Zane took Kylie’s hand and led her down the plank. They returned to her car and drove back to her apartment in silence.
When she cut the engine, he said, “I know we’ve spent the entire weekend together, so if you need some alone time, I understand.”
She looked at him, desire flickering in her eyes. “You’ll be gone soon enough. If you’re not tired of being around me, I’d be happy for you to come in and stay as long as you want. I’ll have plenty of time to myself after you’re gone.”
Kylie said the last bit with no trace of bitterness in her voice. If she could celebrate the time they had left together, so could he.
“I would love to come in,” he told her.
They went inside, kicking off their shoes and taking a seat on the sofa.
“Tell me what it’s like to work for Wagner Enterprises,” she encouraged. “Do you work closely with your dad? Or Sullivan’s? How often do you travel to company properties?”
Zane talked for over an hour, with Kylie chiming in every now and then with a question. No one had ever asked him about his work—especially Amanda—and he found himself enjoying sharing all that he did with her.
“You’re a big picture guy,” she said. “You’ve got your thumb in a lot of pies. You really shouldn’t feel any guilt about the whole ferry situation, though. That wasn’t an area you dealt with, much less supervised.”
He shrugged. “I still feel I let down a lot of people by not catching it.”
“You yourself told me no properties have guest tendering to reach them. Let it go, Zane,” she implored.
“Okay. But only because you’re giving me permission to do so. Plus, you kinda saved the day on that one.”
“But you acted on my advice quickly. Everything is really coming together at Tidewater. I’m so grateful I got to be a guest there. It’s not the kind of place I’ll ever go again.”
He wanted to ask her to meet him at another Wagner property in the future.
Chicago. Denver. Paris. Hong Kong. He wanted to spend more time with her, time beyond his visit to the Bay.
Yet they had agreed their relationship would be one confined to the time he would be in Texas.
Zane feared if he asked that, Kylie would feel pressured to go along.
He decided he couldn’t do that to her. That this magical time together would be something they both looked back on fondly.
“I’ve got to be up early tomorrow,” she said, rising. “And you need to get up early to get your run in. We should go to bed.”
He stood and unzipped her sundress, slipping his hands inside the dress, his fingers gliding along her satin skin. Bending, he brushed a kiss against her shoulder.
“Sounds good.”
They readied themselves for bed, and Zane wrapped his arms about Kylie.
“Go to sleep,” he whispered next to her ear. “We’re both tired. Let’s just sleep.”
Zane fought off sleep for as long as he could, wanting to enjoy the feel of Kylie against his body for as long as he could, knowing there would be long nights in the future when he would miss her companionship.
When he heard her even breathing and knew she had fallen asleep, he spoke the words he would never be able to say aloud to her when she was awake.
“I love you, Kylie. I always will.”