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After her walk the next morning, Kami drove to the parking lot closest to The Lucky. Rayce’s words yesterday had made her feel like a coward hiding behind her cane. That’s exactly what she was.
Time to take another step forward and actually interact with the people of the town she’d chosen for her camp. Be friendly. Pleasant.
None of that should sound terrifying.
She’d built up a sweat by the time she’d walked from the lot to the coffee shop. But she’d made it. And tomorrow she’d do it again.
A few people waited in line, giving her time to check out the menu and enjoy the delicious scents filling the shop. Megs Carter at her best.
Kami had put in her order for coffee and an apple muffin when Jaz walked through the swinging door that led to the kitchen. He let out a whoop when he saw her and raced around the counter to gather her up into a hug. Like Gage, he whirled her around, laughing. Then he stood back, looked her over, and hugged her again.
“Finally. So good to see you, kiddo. My heart broke when Rayce told me about Carolina. I’m so sorry.” He continued to hold her tightly as he spoke for her ears only. “She’d be so proud of you, so happy you’re back here.”
Unable to speak, she squeezed him tightly and waited for the tears to fade out of her eyes. He pulled back again and kissed her cheek. Although he and Rayce were practically identical, there’d never been a zip with Jaz. He ran his hands up and down her arms, grinning. “Come on, have a seat. Let’s catch up.”
He grabbed her cane, which she’d dropped when he’d grabbed her, and led her to a relatively secluded table. Then he returned for her tray and a coffee for himself.
It was so easy with the other LaChance men, but not with Rayce. He’d said he wanted to be friends. Could they? Was there too much history? Too much pain?
Jaz turned around the chair and straddled it. “You know Megs is going to kill me because I got to talk with you first, right?”
And as simple as that, they dropped into a familiar routine of conversation. He told her stories about the town. She talked about some of the silly moments from the tour.
“You and Rayce doing okay? He was a mess when you left.”
Him? A mess? Not likely. He’d been the one to dump her. Instead of answering, Kami reached over to squeeze Jaz’s hand. “It’s been great catching up but I’ve got to head out.”
She rose and tried to grab the tray, but he waved her hands away and picked it up himself. “You two need to talk, you know.”
She shook her head, unable to answer. With a sigh, Jaz pulled her in for another hug. “I’ve screwed up my own life badly enough. I don’t want to see you two do the same. Talk to him, Kami. And listen. Really listen.” Then he kissed the top of her head and walked with her to the door. “See you tomorrow?”
As she’d already told him her plan to strengthen her leg by adding the coffee shop to her routine, she was stuck so she nodded as she walked out.
Men, LaChance men in particular, were driving her crazy. What did Jaz mean? It didn’t make any sense, didn’t match the reality.
With her refilled coffee mug in hand, she walked to her car and sat to think. Her penchant for routine was getting her into heaps of trouble. Now on top of seeing Gage at the Lodge, she’d see either Jaz or Megs every day. And she’d see Rayce at the lot. If she avoided any of them, she’d be a wimp or a coward.
She’d had enough of being both. She’d backed herself into too many corners and would have to be smarter. Another sip of the coffee fortified her and she headed out to the lot.
As promised, a drive had been built over the ditch at the site and she eased her car along, following the waved directions of the workers, who didn’t seem surprised to see her at all.
The area she parked in was dirt but had been bulldozed flat and sat in the middle of the activity. She’d barely got herself out of the car when she spotted Rayce approaching from where a group of machines was digging.
Work. She could talk about the job. Nothing else. Certainly not about the way her body reacted. She’d talk as if there was no emotional history between them. As if he wasn’t the embodiment of all of her fantasies come to life. As if he wasn’t the man who’d dismissed her so easily.
As an athlete, she always relied on her body, trusted it to accomplish things her head said she didn’t have a chance at doing. Her body’s abilities had given her a career, given her a chance to make her mom’s life so much better.
Now her body betrayed her every time Rayce was in the vicinity. She found herself leaning toward him, reaching for him, yearning for him, when she knew better. Much better. He hadn’t wanted her. Didn’t want her.
He was trying to be friendly because that’s the kind of man he was. Friendly. Kind. Nothing more and she needed to have her body catch up to her head’s realizations.
Friendly. She could handle that. Maybe.
“Want to take a tour of the indoor courts?”
Her heart bumped against her ribs, and she wanted to melt into his smile. Down, girl. Listen to the head. Forcing a smile, she nodded. “Seems a bit premature, but sure.”
Rayce stepped up beside her and grinned. Taking her arm, Rayce helped her angle around slowly. As usual, his touch warmed her, but she held herself steady. Friends. No leaning.
“This way is smooth enough to head down a few steps. The trucks have been back and forth for the last couple of days helping it level out.” His hand moved from her arm to the small of her back and Kami clamped down on her lip to stop the sigh at the intimacy. Talking her body into listening to logic wasn’t easy.
They neared a group of trucks pouring thick grey sludge into forms dug into the ground. Rayce leaned close to talk over the noise of the machines and she leaned in to hear, then leaned back as she realized what she was doing. Rayce’s hand reached around her waist to hold her steady. He’d probably thought she’d stumbled again.
His words floated in and out of her brain as she tried to focus on what he said instead of how he—and she—felt.
Talk about a mission impossible.
She nodded as he spoke and was finally able to tune in to what he was describing. Her courts would stand right in front of her. The dome would reach to the sky, protecting the players from the weather while letting in the light. While he talked about the locker rooms, offices, and other areas, she let her imagination play.
Kids. Four per court. Learning to play. Laughing, smiling. Gaining confidence. Gaining strength. Loving the game.
Balls would fly across the court. Machines would volley them at the kids. Lots would hit the nets, then more and more would clear it.
Her hands itched to pick up a racket, her feet wanted to sprint up to the net to get the drop shot. Reach up high to send a serve screaming up the T-line.
“It’s still in your blood, isn’t it?”
His soft words penetrated, and she nodded. “Always will be.”
“You’re doing a good thing here, Kami. It’s going to be an amazing facility.”
Another nod. “It’s Carolina’s dream as much as mine. Hard to believe it’s actually happening.”
Trucks clanked and banged around them, carbon monoxide from their engines filled the air, along with the shouts of the workers. “It’s happening, Kami. Because of you.”
The pride in his voice was unmistakable, and it filled up an empty place inside of her. Other than her mom, no one else had been close enough to be proud of her. She knew she was grinning like a fool, but she couldn’t stop. Kami’s Kamp was growing in front of her eyes, becoming a reality. “We could have had some good games on these courts.”
Rayce laughed. “You mean you could have kicked my ass on these ones as well as the outdoor ones.” This time, his hand on her back didn’t feel like a threat to her self-control. They’d been friends before it had fallen apart. Maybe Rayce was right and they could be again. For the first time, she believed it might be possible.
“Let’s move back out of the way. Your leg had enough for the day?”
No censure or judgment in his voice. Concern, not condescension, so she nodded, and they walked back to her car, chatting about the buildings. They’d reached her SUV when her phone rang. Pulling it out of her pocket, she checked the caller ID. Not many people had her number, but telemarketers could find everyone. Except this was no telemarketer. Sylvie.
More bad news?
“Thanks for the tour, I have to take this.” Moving as quickly as she could, she pushed away Rayce’s hands, got into the car, closed the door, and started the engine. “Bonjour, Sylvie. Give me a minute.” Then she tossed the phone on the passenger seat and drove out of the lot and down the highway until she rounded a corner. At an isolated stretch, she pulled the car to a stop, made sure the doors were locked, and picked up the phone again. “Sorry, Sylvie. How are you?”
“Are you all right?”
Her laugh was shaky. “Probably not after I hear the reason for your call.” She tried another laugh. “Sorry, that was uncalled for. I’m feeling a little ragged, but I’m fine. What’s up?”
The pause was so long, she wondered if Sylvie had hung up the phone for a moment. “You are strong Kami, so very strong. Things will be fine.” Another pause. “I did want to let you know that Freaky Fan has been in contact again.”
Kami thunked back onto the headrest. “So soon?”
“It is very unusual, that is why I called but I wonder if I should have left it.”
“Of course not. I need to know. What did he say this time?”
Another pause told her she’d let too many of her emotions show through her voice. “The same kind of things.”
“Read it for me, Sylvie.”
“I don’t think that is necessary.”
That bad? “Please, Sylvie. My imagination will make it worse. I’d rather hear the real letter.”
The sigh told Kami she’d won, which meant Sylvie had planned to read it to her all along. “Fine. My dearest Kami, I want to assure you I am thinking about you. Always. You need my help. It’s almost our time, our time to start our lives together. We’ll be so happy. Forever. Soon—so soon, Kami. With love and adulation forever and always, Your Heart.”
Silence traversed the ocean as Kami breathed slowly and tried to stop the chills racing over her skin. “That creepy bastard.” Her voice shook, so Kami stopped and swallowed. She needed to breathe.
“I’m sorry, Kami. I’ve contacted the police and they are contacting your FBI. They advise you to speak with the police in your town. Is your town big enough to have the police?”
A strangled laugh escaped her throat. “Yes, Bloo Moose has its very own police department.” She swallowed hard. “I’ll head in and speak with them.”
“And you’ll keep yourself safe.”
Was it even possible?
Rayce walked through his meeting with Claude and the engineers in a fog. He listened with half an ear and hoped he answered all the questions correctly.
Kami had been afraid. He hadn’t been able to see the caller id, but when she’d looked at it, she’d gone completely ashen, eyes wide and hands shaking. Not annoyed over a call, not even nervous. Scared.
She’d shoved him out of the way, slammed into the car, and hit the gas hard enough to have mud splattering all over his jeans. If she hadn’t moved so quickly, he’d have grabbed the phone to see who’d called. Who she feared.
As soon as the meeting wrapped up, Rayce left the site and drove by her cabin at the lodge. No car. The motel. No car. He cruised down Boardwalk Avenue but didn’t spot her anywhere along there either. Had she left town? She wasn’t up to long walks yet, so she’d be near her car if he could find it.
Another tour along the boardwalk came up empty, so Rayce drove up and down the side streets. He finally spotted her coming out of the police station. She stopped to pat the statue of Officer Mooris, took a moment to lean against it before gathering herself and walking to her car parked a few spots down the street.
Rayce pulled over to watch. Wearing her workout clothes and sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, Kami was probably unrecognizable to most. He’d have known her anywhere. Keeping her head down, she leaned heavily on the cane as she walked to her car. Once inside, she rested her forehead on the steering wheel for a long minute before she put on her seatbelt and started the car.
He followed her without getting too close and when she turned into the Lodge, he breathed a sigh of relief. Rayce idled the truck at the entrance of the drive leading to her cabin for three minutes before he followed her in. When he saw her on the deck but not in the door, he grinned. Good timing. Finally.
When she heard his truck, she turned to watch, and even from a distance, he could tell her body tightened in response. Not exactly a welcome, but it wasn’t an entirely unexpected reaction either.
Instead of waiting for him, Kami put her key in the lock and opened the door, forcing him to bound out of the truck before she got inside. He was grinning by the time he stuck his foot in the space just as she tried to close the door on him. “Safe.”
Her returning smile was the most genuine he’d seen since she’d returned to town. “I take it you’d like to come in?”
Rayce moved forward, and she stepped back to avoid sharing his personal space. “Thanks.” Kami rolled her eyes, but the smile remained on her face. Whatever had scared her, she’d put it away.
And he was about to yank it out in the open.
Kami walked to the dining table and sat in the same chair she’d occupied yesterday, facing the door. Safest chair? Was she worried about something or was that the easiest choice? Or simply the farthest from him?
He turned the chair and straddled it. “What’s got you scared, Kami?”
As he’d hoped, the quick question didn’t give her time to prepare. Surprise widened her eyes, then fear had her checking out the door, the windows, then back to him. Hell.
Then the shutters slammed down over those eyes, and she swallowed hard. “What’s there to be afraid of in Bloo Moose?”
A non-answer if he’d ever heard one. Rayce leaned forward and rested his arms on the table, bringing him closer to her. “I saw your face at the job site, Kami. That phone call scared the shit out of you.”
She shook her head, but her body remained stiff. She’d never told lies well.
“Who called you?”
“My manager Sylvie called. We’ve worked together for years and she’s one of my closest friends. She doesn’t scare me. You’re imagining things.”
Not a chance of that. He knew her too well, not that she’d admit it. “I’m not. That phone call scared you. If it was this Sylvie on the phone, she was calling about something bad. I want to know what she said.”
“Even if there was a problem, I don’t have to share.”
Bull. “You don’t remember much about this town if you think privacy’s an actual thing. I’d like to help.”
Kami shook her head and leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed in front of her.
“Come on, Kami. If it was bad enough to talk to our police chief, you’re going to need some help.”
Kami’s eyes narrowed. “What makes you think I’ve been talking to the police chief.”
Oops. Hadn’t meant to let that slip out. “I was passing by when you came out. I put two and two together and figured out you’ve got a problem.”
The sound that broke free of her lips was an attempt at a laugh, but it landed closer to a cry of pain. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t bother to stop the snort of disbelief. “Right. Other people might believe that, Kami, but not me. Your Ice-Queen-of-the-Courts act doesn’t fool me. Never did. What’s wrong?”
Kami shoved to her feet and leaned her hands on the table, glared at him. “Nothing. I’d like you to leave, now.”
“No.”
That had her blinking and leaning back. “No? What do you mean, no?”
Rayce stood up and moved around the table until he was close enough to force her to look up at him. As expected, she didn’t back up, didn’t back down. “I mean, no. I’m not letting you pretend nothing is wrong when I know damn well it is.”
“You don’t get a choice.”
“Screw that. If you’re in some kind of danger, you’ve got to tell me. I can help.”
“I don’t need your help, Rayce. I’m fine.”
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“No.”
Rayce tried to reign in his temper, he really did, but she was completely pissing him off. No matter what he tried, she countered it and refused to let him help.
“This is bullshit, Kami. You need to talk to me, tell me what’s going on.”
Kami’s eyes shot fire at him, and she poked him in the chest. “I don’t need to tell you anything.”
He opened his mouth to yell at her some more but instead found his mouth covering hers, trapping her words and her breath with his. She tasted like home, like she always had, and he hauled her up against his chest so he could dive in.
They fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, curves and angles melding together like they’d never been apart. It all clicked. Perfectly.
Until she used the hand she’d poked him with to push him away.
Shit, he’d never kissed a woman against her will. Ever. What the hell was wrong with him? Breathing hard, he kept his hands on her shoulders but eased back so they weren’t glued together. For a few moments, her hands stayed on his chest, rubbing softly. He could feel them trembling through his shirt.
Her eyes were clouded with passion and desire, making him feel slightly less like a creep, but not by much.
“I’m sorry, Kami. I shouldn’t have done that.”
She nodded but didn’t move back further.
Both of them were breathing heavily, and he let his fingers loosen their hold and massage her gently. He wanted to kiss her again, get a real taste. Maybe devour her completely.
Not now. Not yet. They hadn’t even had an entire conversation. She didn’t trust him at all. Wouldn’t even tell him what was going on in her life.
And he’d got so caught up in the kiss, he’d forgotten about her fear. Some protector.
The consolation prize was finding out she wasn’t unaffected by him. Her shaky breathing and thready pulse added to the glossy eyes told him that.
He wanted more than satisfying a bit of lust. A lot more. He wanted her trust.
Wanted to prove he wasn’t that kid anymore.
“Tell me what’s wrong, Kami. What has you so scared?”
As quick as a lightning strike, Kami changed. Without taking a step, she moved miles away from him. A million miles.
Everything about her body steadied and strengthened. Complete control, like he’d seen so often on the television.
“A kiss isn’t enough to get me to do your bidding, Rayce. I think it’s time you left.”
Damn. He could stay. Kiss her again. Get her to relax and listen.
But it would cost him. And her.
No, he’d go.
Try again.
He wanted answers. Needed them to keep her safe.
He wasn’t going to get them. Not today. Time to regroup and make new plans.
Instead of walking straight out, he leaned forward and kissed her forehead, then stepped in to hug her lightly. “You can’t stop me caring about you, Kami. I want to help. Think about that.”
He stepped back again and bent his knees so he could look directly into her eyes. “Think about me.” He risked another soft kiss on her lips, not lingering long enough to let her protest.
Then he walked away. At the door, he turned to find her eyes pinned on him. “Lock this behind me.”
On the deck, he waited. When the lock didn’t turn, he called through it again. “Lock the door, Kami.”
He didn’t have to see her to know she was glowering at him but in only a few seconds the bolt turned.
Rayce rested his fingers against the wood. “Stay safe, Kami.”