Page 64 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
Reid froze, and his eyes snapped over to Piper as she skipped toward him. “See that grave over there?” She pointed out in the distance. “It has Elizabeth on it, just like Mommy’s.”
“Oh wow.” Reid wiped his eyes and smiled. He hoped his daughter didn’t notice the tremble in his voice. “No kidding.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he was almost certain Kaiah was working to catch her breath.
“Why don’t we go pick up something for lunch?” Reid offered.
“Pizza!” Piper announced while racing toward the car.
Reid held his hand out to Kaiah. “Care for more pizza?”
“Why not?” Kaiah took his hand, allowing him to lift her to her feet.
Later that evening, Kaiah walked down the hallway from Piper’s bedroom toward the den. She’d read the girl a few bedtime storiesand tucked her into bed. She stopped in the doorway and found Reid watching the evening news.
It had been quite a day for the three of them. Kaiah couldn’t imagine the stew of feelings that must have been bubbling up in Reid earlier that day. Grief. Guilt. Anger. He’d opened his heart to her at the cemetery, and even now her chest squeezed as she remembered the raw emotions that clouded his eyes.
But she’d also found something else in his gaze.
Longing. For her. She saw it in his eyes as he leaned in to kiss her—at least she was pretty sure he was going to. How many times would she have to wait for his kiss, to feel his mouth claim hers?
He glanced over at her and muted the television. “How’s Piper? I appreciate you doing bedtime with her. I know she was pretty insistent.”
“That’s okay, I was happy to do it. She’s fine. We just read a few bedtime stories. Who knew there were so many kids’ books about mermaids?” She read the clock on the wall. “Oh, wow, it’s after eight. I need to work on my story.”
“Go get ’em, tiger. Thanks for spending the day with us. You sure you don’t mind staying with Piper again tonight?”
“Of course not.” She jammed her thumb toward the doorway. “I need to get my bags, and then I’ll shower and repack before I come back down.” She jogged to the guest room, retrieved her bags, then returned to the den.
When her phone chimed with a text, she glanced around before spotting it on the coffee table in front of Reid. His brow puckered as he glanced at the screen.
Hmm, that’s weird.
When Kaiah made her way to the phone, she found a text from Kam on the display, and her stomach dropped.
Kam: Sooooooo how are things with Mr. TDH?
Kaiah gritted her teeth as her cheeks burned.Really, Kam?She peeked over at Reid.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Uh-huh.” She stood and smoothed her hands down her jeans. “I’m going to run up to the apartment. I’ll be back soon.”
“Hold on.”
She froze in place, then turned to face him. His handsome, chiseled face was looking at her with something that looked like confusion or possibly concern. Her hands began to shake.
“Kaiah,” he began, “who... is Mr. TDH?”
Oh no, no, no.She wished she could just melt into a puddle right there.
Reid tucked his hands into his pockets, appearing sheepish. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have read your text. It’s none of my business, but it was on the screen and—”
“You!” she blurted.
He paused, and then his brow puckered. “What?”
“Reid, it’syou.” She pointed a trembling finger at him.
