NICK HAD PROMISED her one day of no worries, a date. Really the first one they’d had with just the two of them since she had moved to California several months before. Between the move, a deployment, Logan’s injury, taking care of his family, the threats from Janus, Nick’s training, and her internship they had very little quality time alone.
Nothing could ruin what lay ahead. Church had been sweet that morning, especially after their tough conversation at Titus and Liza’s. Despite Kaylan’s adamant declaration to stay together no matter what, she could feel his distance, the way his eyes shifted through the restaurant patrons as they sat down under an umbrella at their favorite café in Coronado.
“Have I told you lately how thankful I am that you’re a burger girl?” Nick grinned as he glanced through the short menu.
“Have I told you that it’s a product of growing up in a family of mostly guys? No ‘chick food,’ as Seth likes to call it.”
“There’s a definite difference in chick food and eating healthy. But every once in a while it is really nice to have a burger.”
A chair scraped the cement behind them as another couple sat down. She watched his attention revert slightly, his eyes subtly studying the woman. Kaylan knew she should be nervous, but she’d meant what she said. The Lord was in control. If she doubted that, then the earthquake, Sarah Beth’s death, and her relationship with Nick were all freak accidents of chance and not worth the pain or effort.
She reached across the table and entwined their fingers, bringing his attention back to her. His gray V-neck T-shirt only enhanced the gray blue of his eyes, and the sun made the golden strands in his hair pop today. His slow, lazy smile responded to her touch, warming her and bringing a blush. Not for the first time, she cursed the reaction. Why couldn’t she stay as cool as he did?
“Let’s play twenty questions again today,” Nick suggested. He paused to give their orders to the waitress and then focused on her again. Kaylan appreciated the effort.
“That game got a little heated last time.”
“Heated in a good way, babe.” He winked. “Besides, I like the fact that you have to answer.”
She shot him a look that drew a laugh. “Don’t press your luck, mister. I still reserve the right to pass.”
“That’s not in the rules, gorgeous.”
“Since when did we make rules?”
“Since I decided to.” Every once in a while that arrogance emerged, and right now it blossomed as he sat back and crossed his arms. “I’ll even let you ask the first question.”
She sat back in the patio chair and tapped her fingers on the glass table top. “All right. Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
“That’s not a question.”
“Pretend it is.”
“Fine.” He leaned forward, and his expression grew serious. “I have a sister.”
Kaylan didn’t quite know how to take that one. She’d expected him to tell her a new interest, hobby, secret about work, or an embarrassing story. Never did she expect that revelation. She rejected a stab of betrayal at the revelation of a secret so big.
“You have a what?”
He linked both of their hands again. “A sister. I know. It’s a big deal.”
“Just a little. Why didn’t I know this before? Where is she? Who is she?”
“Babe, I just found out. When I was in Georgia, Pap called. He was nearby and wanted to meet for dinner. He’s been looking into my family. I guess it gives him something to do right now.”
She squeezed his hands. “No, he does it because he loves you. Even if he were the busiest man in the world, he would still make time. You are family now. It’s what we do.”
He smiled. “It just takes some getting used to. It’s been a while since I had a real family. And now I have family I’ve never met. Blood, Kaylan. Pap gave me some info on her.” His voice dropped. “And a picture. She’s beautiful.”
The waitress came back with their orders, and both of them dug into their hamburgers and fries. Kaylan often forgot that Nick had never known his blood family. As long as she had known him, he’d had a desire to find his birth parents. And now he had a sister. She couldn’t imagine never knowing David, Micah, or Seth. They were her whole world and shaped so much of who she was today. As she watched Nick, she knew he grieved the years he’d lost with his sister.
“Well, I know I spent my turn, but I’m writing a rule that I get to ask more questions on this one.”
He chuckled. “I’ll allow it. Just this once.”
“What’s her name? Have you met her? Older or younger?”
“She goes by Natalie. She works at an Air Force base here in California.” He smirked. “I’ll forgive her that little oversight. She should’ve gone Navy. And apparently she’s my age.”
“A twin? You’ve got to be kidding.”
Nick shook his head. “I wish I were. We were adopted separately. Two different homes, two different lives. We’ve lived in the same state and have never met.”
“Well, I think it’s time to fix that.”
“Kaylan, I think the last thing we need to do is add that to our life. I don’t want to disrupt her until we catch Janus.” He lowered his voice and leaned forward, his gaze raking the people nearby. “I think it’s better if we don’t put her in the line of fire. For some reason this chick has a fascination with the women in my life. Let’s not give her ammo.”
“Then catch her and let’s meet your sister.”
Nick studied her, and Kaylan let him see every part of her heart, her eagerness for him to have a family, her willingness to support him, even that she would lead the charge with this new information.
“You’re pretty amazing, you know that?”
Kaylan put her hand over her heart. “Was that your question? I’m shocked it took you this long to notice.”
“Sometimes I can be a little slow.”
“Sometimes?”
He dropped money on the table and stood up, stealing a kiss in the process. His smile spelled danger. “Watch it, gorgeous. You may get more than you bargained for. Or I may decide to take back my surprise.”
She stood up and slipped her hand in his. “You planned a surprise?”
“I’m a man of many secrets.”
She elbowed him in the ribs. “Better not be too many.”
He met her eyes and held them, all joking aside. “Only when I have to, Kaylan. But never something that could hurt our relationship.”
“I understand. And you still won’t tell me who this mysterious letter writer is?”
He laughed as they walked down a row of shops and restaurants. “It’s my turn for the questions. Speaking of, you up for ice cream?”
She rolled her eyes. “Now that was a dumb question.”
“How can I ever make it up to you?”
“Spring for two scoops.”
The ice cream store smelled of sugar and happiness to Kaylan. She could remember many trips to get ice cream with her parents and Seth in particular after school.
Kaylan loved sampling the flavors. She chose a waffle cone and requested two scoops of cheesecake while Nick chose two scoops of double chocolate chip with what looked like marshmallows in it.
He swung his arm over her shoulder as they left the shop and wandered down to the beach. “Why do you get cheesecake flavor? We could just go get cheesecake instead.”
“First of all, no one makes cheesecake as good as Gran. Second, this way I get two desserts in one. Don’t knock it ’til you try it.”
He kissed her hair as they walked, her feet sinking into the sand. “You’re missing your family today, aren’t you?”
“I always miss them. What was your first clue?”
“I know you. But you’ve mentioned them a lot. You tend to get this distant look in those gorgeous green eyes.”
“I guess I’m feeling a little nostalgic today.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s our first day to really put aside the busyness of life and just be together. I guess with that comes a break from routine and a chance to feel everything I’ve pushed away. I miss Alabama, the trees, the weather, the people. With the holidays creeping up, I miss Sarah Beth. It’s almost been a year since we graduated. I miss being able to watch Seth’s games and be around Dave on the weekends to fish or watch a movie with him. I miss decorating with Mom, cooking with Gran, playing games with Pap, helping Dad build those model ships in his office. I miss mornings on the lake. I miss college. I guess things were simpler last year.” She gazed up at him. “Who would have thought what the past year would bring?”
He stopped walking and faced her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers stroked her cheek. “Do you regret coming here?”
“Never.” She stood on her tip toes and kissed him, tasting the lingering chocolate from his ice cream. She could feel his smile.
“You’re right. That cheesecake doesn’t taste half bad.”
She giggled and pulled back. “Nick, I wouldn’t trade this time with you. As much as I miss them, this is my life now. When I finish this internship, I can take that awful test, get licensed, and hopefully add a voice for improvement when natural disasters strike. I think you told me once that Sarah Beth will always be part of me. I can’t erase that living here. But this, Nick”—she gestured to the ocean and people milling around on the beach, enjoying the last day of their weekend—“this fits, too. You are my world now.”
His face lit up, and her heart warmed that she was the reason. Never could she have prayed for a man like Nick Carmichael. His past was his past. She couldn’t change it any more than she could change her own. But they could build a beautiful future on the rubble of past mistakes, and she couldn’t wait to make that happen.
“It’s time for your surprise.” He grabbed her hand, tugging her back to the car. Already she loved this day of escape.