Page 77 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
“I appreciate your confidence in me, but I’m not sure I’m cut out for that.”
The light turned green, and he finished the short journey to his driveway, where he parked in his usual spot in front of the garage. He killed the engine, and the soothing sound of rain drummed on the roof and sent small streams rolling down the windshield.
Kaiah angled her body toward him and crossed her ankles. “Becca and I are going to firm up last-minute tasks while you’re at work tomorrow.”
He unbuckled his seat belt. “The lighthouse still doesn’t have an actual lamp that works. Mr. Johnson called me earlier, and he hasn’t had any luck with the wiring kits he’s tried.” His head fell backward and thumped against the headrest on the driver’s seat. “I told the entire town that everything would be okay. But truthfully?I’m not so sure. The weather forecast is dismal. Who wants to walk around a festival in the rain?”
Kaiah’s warm hand held his. “You said it’s all going to be okay, and I believe you. The whole town believes you. You gave them all a gift tonight, Reid. You gave them hope.”
His eyes lingered on their enmeshed hands as a heavy sigh escaped his lips. “Maybe. But I’m afraid we may have done all of this work for nothing. I may have roped you into promoting an event that’s going to be a total bust.” The familiar churn of guilt began lashing through his stomach. “It’ll be my fault if your journalistic credibility suffers because of me.”
For a moment all he could hear were the beads of rain hitting the roof.
“Look at me, Reid.”
When he met her gaze, her lips were softly curled up into a bow, and his heart thumped against his rib cage. “The lighthouse is going to illuminate tomorrow night, whether it’s lit by the Christmas lights or Mr. Johnson gets the lamp to glow again. Either way, tomorrow night the lighthouse is going to glow. And then the fireworks are going to explode in the sky, and the festival is going to start with a bang, and we’re going to raise enough money not only to rebuild the damaged wing of the school but also to buy all new desks, computers, and books for the kids. We’re even going to fix up the lighthouse and make it look brand-new.”
“You think so?”
“Iknowso.”
He searched her kind blue eyes. “How did I get so lucky to meet you, Ky?”
Her mouth opened and closed as her cheeks blushed the color of a spring rose. “I-I don’t know,” she whispered. “But I do know I’ve been wondering the same thing about you.”
He gently rested his hand on the side of her face, and she leaned into his touch. He cupped his other hand to her shoulder, and as her eyes met his, a tendril of her golden hair floated in front of her forehead. He reached out and brushed it away.
She traced a finger along his jaw before pulling him closer and planting her satin lips on his. He groaned as she slid her fingertips down his back, every nerve ending catching fire at her touch. Right then and there he knew: He was crazy about this woman. As she parted her lips and pressed herself firmly against him, he knew there was nowhere else he’d rather be. He’d never grow tired of tasting her.
When he pulled away, he felt an overwhelming urge to tell her he wanted her to stay forever. He opened his mouth and tried to form the words, but just as he was going to speak, his phone rang. He and Kaiah both jumped before she pointed to his phone sitting in the cup holder.
“It’s Piper,” she said.
With his heart still pounding, he answered the FaceTime call, trying desperately to look unrattled. “Hey, pumpkin.” His words sounded as if he’d just swam from the Coral Cove oceanfront to the Outer Banks. “What’s up?”
“Nana said I could call you and say good night,” Piper told him. She immediately launched into a story detailing everything she’d done since arriving at his parents’ house earlier that day. That gave his heartbeat enough time to slow down and the tremble to exit his voice.
“Sounds like you’re having fun,” he told her.
“Uh-huh,” Piper said. “Nana is going to take me and Astrid to school tomorrow and pick us up.” She moved her head as if trying to see behind him. “Are you in the car?”
“Yes,” he told her.
“Is Miss Kaiah there?”
Kaiah leaned on his shoulder and waved at his daughter. “Hi, Piper. What are you up to?”
Reid sighed as Kaiah rested against his shoulder. The woman grinned and listened patiently as his daughter once again summarized her evening, as if Kaiah hadn’t already heard her.
“Wow, that sounds like a blast!” Kaiah told his daughter after she’d finished her stories. “I’m so glad you’re having fun. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, kiddo.”
“Me too. Good night, Miss Kaiah. And good night, Daddy,” Piper sang before blowing each of them a kiss.
Reid waved to her. “Good night, sweetheart.” He clicked his phone off and then turned to Kaiah. “Are you ready to run through the rain?”
She picked up an umbrella from the floor. “As I’ll ever be.”
He pushed open the door, and they met at the front of the SUV.
