Page 15 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
Piper continued to discuss Kaiah for the remainder of her bath. After Reid read his daughter a story and settled her in bed for the night, he returned to the den, found his laptop, and searched the internet for Kaiah Ross. He quickly found articles Kaiah had written detailing vacation destinations throughout the United States, along with a few articles about the best cruise lines and Caribbean resorts. He was swept away by her talent. The pictures she painted with her words were so vivid, he could see the destinations as if he were already there.
After reading her articles, he was even more curious about Kaiah. He found her Instagram profile and clicked on a few photos of Kaiah with a golden retriever wearing a happy expression. If dogs could smile, this one had the brightest smile Reid had ever seen. Surely that had to be George. A few other photos included a good-looking guy with light brown hair.
Could he be the guy who took George? But she didn’t say the culprit was a dude.
The guy could be someone else—perhaps her boyfriend or herhusband. But Reid had noticed there weren’t any rings on her left hand. So maybe she wasn’t married. Maybe she was single.
Or maybe it was none of Reid’s business.
Bro, seriously. She’ll be gone in a few days, and you’ll never see her again. Just let it go.
Kaiah drew in a long breath and then released it as she eased into the warm bubble bath. She was grateful she’d remembered to pack her favorite bubbles. For her, a bath was the best way to relax after a long and stressful day, whether the words refused to flow as she tried to write, or while grief surged through her veins as she thought of her golden retriever, George. She missed her best buddy so much. He’d been her constant companion, going out on stories with her, taking daily walks, watching television with her, and sleeping at her feet at night. In fact, she’d had to sleep with a pillow at the bottom of the bed ever since her ex had taken George. And that was on topof shattering her heart and her trust.
Now she was stuck in Nowheresville, but at least she had a warm bubble bath and some entertaining neighbors. She was still smiling after her supper with Reid and his precocious daughter. Piper had her in stitches with her nonstop questions and her funny anecdotes. It pained Kaiah to know that sweet little girl had lost her mother when she was only two. She knew what it was like to walk around with a permanent hole in her heart without her mother. Piper and Reid had been through so much. Yet she could see that Piper and Reid had persevered. She was struck by the love in Reid’s eyes when he looked at his daughter. He seemed like a good man and a doting father.
She focused on the white ceiling and relaxed. She would somehow enjoy this unexpected detour until she hit the road again.
Once the bathwater cooled, Kaiah dried off and pulled on a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt. She settled on the sofa and flipped through channels before settling on a Hallmark movie. Her phone rang, and she smiled at her sister’s name on the screen.
“Hey, Kam,” Kaiah sang.
“Last I heard, Mr. TDH was your Uber driver. Did you drive off into the sunset or what?”
Kaiah grinned. “Well, I’m staying in his apartment.”
“What?” Kam exclaimed. “You’re at hisplace? Kaiah, did you actually go home with him? What are you thinking? I mean, talk about dangerous—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Kaiah held her hand up while interrupting her. “Calm down, Kammie. I’m staying in an apartment on his property. I’m not stayinginhis house.” Then she shared how he offered the empty apartment and planned to settle up after her car was ready. “For some reason I trust him. I met his six-year-old, and she’s adorable. Kam, you’d love her.”
“Oh!” Kam sounded relieved. “It’s not exactly the hotel arrangement I would’ve expected, but I trust your judgment, Ky. So he’s married.”
“Actually, he’s a widower.”
Her sister clucked her tongue. “Oh no. I’m sorry to hear that. That little girl is younger than we were when we lost Mom.”
“I know.” Glancing around the apartment, Kaiah cleared her throat. She needed to change the subject. “Anyway, this apartment is perfect. It’s bigger than my place back in New York.”
“For real?”
“And guess what? Mr. TDH is a firefighter too.”
“Woo! A man in a uniform?” Kam exclaimed. “Ky, you’ve got to send me photos of this guy.”
Kaiah laughed and then cupped her hand to her mouth to cover a yawn. “It’s been a long day, so I’ll let you go.”
“Okay, but I want photos of Reid in his firefighter uniform. Promise me you’ll send some.” A voice sounded in the background, and then Kam laughed. “Uh-oh, Devon’s getting jealous. Honey, you have nothing to worry about. You’re the handsomest accountant I know,” she told him before laughing again. Then all Kaiah could hear were muffled voices that sounded as if Kamryn had covered the phone with her hand.
She shook her head. She could envision her sister and her husband joking around and pretending to bicker. Those two had the best relationship. There was a time she’d hoped to find a love like that. But she’d given up on those dreams six months ago when her last relationship fell apart. That was when she’d accepted that she was better off alone so she could concentrate on her career without any distractions.
“Okay, I’m back. I told him he has nothing to worry about.” Kaiah could hear the smile in her sister’s voice. “Since I’ll never get to see my handsome husband in a uniform, you’ll have to get me a photo of Mr. TDH.”
Kaiah rolled her eyes. “I’ll do my best, but I doubt I’ll get to see him in his uniform before I get back on the road.”
“Such a shame,” Kam sang with a dramatic sigh. “Get some rest, Ky. And I want a full report on your fireman after you’re back on the road.”
“I’m sure there will be nothing to report, Kamryn,” Kaiah told her. “Tell your husband good night for me.”
“Will do. Bye!”
