“Well, Kayla, I really appreciate it.” Sam smiles at me and I’m a goner. His teeth are perfect, he has dimples, and his eyes look like they’re smiling, too. Suddenly, I’m self-conscious of the fact that my hair is a mess and I’m wearing leggings and a hoodie I picked up in Alaska a year ago. It’s got the outline of a grizzly bear on it, and says “Caution, Wild Animal” on it.
“What brings you two to Westmount Island?” I ask, hoping that my voice sounds normal.
“We bought a house! But it isn’t built yet,” Toby says excitedly. “I might get to see a weal constwuction twuck.”
Sam chuckles at his son before turning to me. The intensity from his delicious blue eyes warms me from the inside out. Hot damn, this man is turning me to mush and we just met.
“He’s sort of right. We bought a place in the first wave of homes going in on the island, the Northgate Community. Our house won’t be finished until the spring, but Toby is starting kindergarten in the fall and we wanted to have a couple of months to settle in before he starts school.”
I smile at Toby, “My twin sister is the kindergarten teacher here. She looks just like me and she’s a really awesome teacher. I think you’ll have fun!”
Toby looks at me with wide eyes, “You have a twin? Cool!”
Sam is also looking at me, but there’s a different kind of interest in his gaze. I shiver involuntarily.
“So, you’re from the island?”
It’s an innocent question, but I am simultaneously filled with dread and excitement. I know the dread is because, for so many years, I tried to distance myself from my small-town identity. But where the heck is the excitement coming from?
“Ummm, yeah, I was born here. I haven’t lived on the island for a few years, though.” Sam must not sense the hesitant way I answer, he just nods. I hate how meek I sound. This isn’t me. I’m Kayla Michaels, award winning travel photographer. I’ve gone paragliding, I’ve snorkeled in cenotes, I’ve done things most people only dream of. But being trapped, not knowing how long it would take to be rescued, has turned me into a fearful, uncertain version of myself that I really don’t like. Here’s hoping I made the right call by coming home and I can somehow find myself again.
2
Sam
Toby wriggles out of my arms and I put him down on the deck. I’m held captive by Kayla’s mesmerizing eyes, but still remember to call out to him to stay close. Then I’m drawn back to the beautiful woman in front of me. Her hair reaches down to her ass, she looks strong but feminine with curves I could get lost in. She’s got clear blue eyes that seem to see me straight through to my soul, and a smile that promises mischief.
“I’m sorry again about Toby, he’s a good kid, but really curious. I’m not surprised, actually, that he came outside. I should’ve known he wouldn’t sit still when there’s so many cool things to see.” I shrug my shoulders sheepishly. It’s been just me and Toby since the beginning, but I still feel like I’m screwing up every day. I guess that’s just part of parenting.
Kayla laughs off my apology. “Don’t worry about it, my sisters and I used to run around the ferry boats all the time. They’re pretty safe and there’s plenty of crew about. If I hadn’t found him, someone else would have.”
I smile at that. She’s managed to reassure me without making me feel like a shit Dad for letting my kid run away. I glance over to him and am relieved to see he’s just standing there, holding on to the railing, looking at the water rushing by. We’re still too far from the island to see anything exciting, so I know the view won’t hold his attention for long. Which means I need to act fast, because there is no way I am leaving this boat without knowing more about Kayla.
I haven’t been a monk since Toby’s mom died giving birth to him five years ago, but I also haven’t been in a relationship. When Sarah was pregnant and we were finally writing our wills, we talked about how if something happened, we’d always want each other to find love again. I never expected to actually be in that position of finding someone again, and needless to say, love has been the last thing on my mind. There were a couple of women who were fine with casual flings when my parents would babysit, but no one has really captured my interest since Sarah. Which makes my attraction to Kayla all the more intriguing. All I know is that I can’t let her go just yet.
“So, Kayla from Westmount Island, are you going to be around for a while? I’d like to take you for lunch as a thank you for keeping an eye on Toby.”
As soon as I say the words, I realize how ridiculously cheesy they sound. It’s not like she saved his life or anything; all she did was stand with him until I found him. But it’s the best I can do in the moment. To my relief, she smiles.
“I’d like that, but it’s really not necessary to thank me,” she says softly.
“Well, good, because I lied. I don’t want to take you for lunch to thank you, Kayla, I want to take you for lunch so I can spend more time with you.”
The truth spills out of me like a waterfall of words, but I wouldn’t take them back even if I could. I’m always trying to teach Toby that honesty is the best policy, so why not practice it myself? I’m rewarded with a sweet chuckle from Kayla and an even bigger smile.
“Normally I wouldn’t like the fact that you lied, but I guess I’ll let it slide,” she teases.
“I guess I should be relieved you forgive easily,” I respond, enjoying the banter between us.
“Nah, it’s just because I’m a sucker for a free lunch.”
I can’t hold back my laughter as Kayla shrugs her shoulders and flashes me an impish grin.
“A woman with her priorities straight. I admire that.” I put my hands in my pockets, to stop myself from touching her. The desire to feel her skin against mine is fierce and unexpected. But since I don’t want her to think I’m a fucking creep, I won’t give in to it. Not yet, at least. “So, where do you suggest we go?”
“Seas the Day. It’s the local diner and they make some killer seafood sandwiches. If you’re going to be moving here, you better like fish,” she answers readily and I’m glad she seems fully on board with us continuing to spend the day together.
“We love seafood.” Then I turn toward my son. “Hey, Toby, you good with going to lunch with Miss Kayla?”
