After the Rain (The Callahans) (7 page)

A full-fledged splashing war began and before long, they were both laughing. They climbed from the water a few minutes later, and unlike Trey, who lay down flat on his back to let the sun dry him, briefs and all, Kylie pulled her cut-offs back on before sitting down. She rang out her hair and stretched herself out on the ground.

“My wife cheated on me.”

His words surprised her and she turned to look at him. “I’m sorry.”

He shrugged, shading his eyes from the sun with his arm. “We shouldn’t have been married in the first place. We met in high school. It was a young love thing. Immature.”

“But you must have loved her if you asked her to marry you.”

“I didn’t ask her. She asked me. I was getting ready to leave for the police academy and I guess she figured we should either break up or get married.” He let out a tired sigh. “I wasn’t real smart back then. I’ve done a lot of growing up over the last thirteen years.”

“What happened to her?” She knew she was prying but he’d brought the subject up.

“She’s in California somewhere. She hooked up with some creep she met at the bar she worked at. I heard they married and have a couple of kids now.”

“That’s got to hurt.”

“Not really.” He glanced at her. “So what’s the story with you and your ex?”

It was natural that he’d ask, but all the same, she wasn’t too keen on talking about Paul. “There’s not really a story.” She could feel his eyes on her and she grew uncomfortable again. “We work at the same school,” she finally said, for lack of anything better. “He’s a teacher there too.”

“So how long did you date?”

“Two years.”

“Long time.”

She shrugged, supposing that by dating terms, it was.

“So did you dump him?” His voice held some amusement and that put her more at ease.

She shook her head. “He did the dumping. But it was a long time coming. We probably made better friends.”

“I think that’s where Shayna and I went wrong. We
didn’t
make good friends.” He sat up. “We should probably start heading back. There are a couple of cool spots I want to show you along the way. I have to be at the res by seven on Sundays for dinner with my mom and grandmother.”

Kylie stiffened, inwardly. Whenever the reservation was mentioned she felt that familiar sense of terror. It wasn’t like it was the same place she’d been attacked all those years ago. She wished she could just let go of it.

They rode back toward the house, stopping near a small stream on the way. She saw a few prairie dogs bustling around and unfortunately, a snake, which he informed her were all too common in these parts. Eventually, they reached the house and he headed off to have dinner with his family.

Kylie went inside and found Faye going over samples of wedding reception napkins.

“What do you think of Teal?”

“Everyone uses it,” Kylie reasoned, sitting down at the kitchen table and studying the blue-green color. “Try something less popular like green
or
blue.”

Faye frowned, apparently thinking that over. She sighed and tossed the samples down. “Decisions. I never knew how much planning went into a wedding until now.” She met Kylie’s gaze and smiled knowingly. “So how was your ride?”

“Fun,” Kylie said, keeping her answer simple.

“He’s nice, isn’t he?”

“Trey? Yeah, he’s nice.”

“Good looking, too.”

Kylie avoided Faye’s gaze.

“You two seem to get along well.”

“Like you said, he’s a nice guy.”

“Is this your way of telling me to butt out?” Faye asked. “Because I’m not trying to tick you off. I think the idea of the two of you is great.”

“There is no
two of us
, Faye. He’s just being nice to me because I’m your friend—and he probably feels sorry for me. I don’t want another relationship based on pity.”

“He might understand, if you talk to him, Kyle. He is a cop, remember?”

“So?”

“So maybe he’d understand better.”

“Understand what?” Kylie finally asked. “That I can’t have a normal relationship with the opposite sex? That I can’t stand the thought of men touching me, or of me touching them? God, Faye, it’s been years and I still haven’t managed to forget every feeling, sound and fear of that night. I remember smells, textures—everything. No man wants to deal with something like that.”

“If he loves you, he will.”

Kylie laughed at that. “You forget the string of men I’ve left behind me, Faye. No man is that patient.”

“Paul is an ass, Kylie. Trey isn’t that way.”

“Trey isn’t interested in me anyway. Why are you pushing this?”

“Because I think you’re comfortable around him and I haven’t seen you like that around a man in a long, long time.”

“I was comfortable enough around Paul.”

“Until he touched you.”

Kylie felt her skin grow hot. She knew Faye was right; that had been the crux of her breakup with Paul—and of all the other boyfriends she’d had, though none had stuck around as long as the two years Paul tolerated her. Of course, he had been cheating, so she couldn’t really count him as loyal.

“I’m not trying to hurt you, Kylie. I know what you’ve been through. I’ve been there every step of the way, even though we’ve lived states apart. I just want to see you happy. I want to see you find someone caring and kind, like you are. And I want nothing but the best for Trey either.”

“Then find him someone normal,” Kylie said, standing up and turning away from her. “He’s already had one screwed up woman in his life, Faye. He doesn’t need another one.” She left Faye staring behind her, and headed for her room.

8

Trey cursed as he heard a knock on the door of the guesthouse for the eighth time. He had been hoping the person would turn around and go away, but apparently, they were persistent. He shoved out from under the sink in the kitchen, where he was attempting to fix a leak, and walked through the small hallway to the front room. Faye stood outside the door and he grimaced. Now what? It had been almost a week since he and Kylie had gone riding. He hadn’t seen Faye and he’d been avoiding her. She would want more details than he was prepared to give. All the same, what could he do? She knew he was home and Faye wasn’t the type to give up. He opened the door so she could enter.

“Took you long enough. What’s your problem?” she groused, coming in without an invitation. “This place is a disaster. Why don’t you clean it up and throw some pictures on the walls?” She went to work picking up garbage from the coffee table and floor, tossing it into a trash can across the room.

“Did you stop by for a reason or are you the maid service this week?”

“I stopped by for a reason, of course. What are you doing? You’re soaking wet.”

“I’m trying to fix a leak under the sink. At least I was until you starting pounding on the door with a vengeance.” He headed back into the kitchen and slid under the sink, wrench in hand.

“Don’t let me hold you up,” Faye said dryly, following him.

“I don’t plan to. I have to get out and do rounds soon and I can’t leave this the way it is. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Why do you ask?”

“Because you have an intent look on your face and I know that look.”

She smiled halfway. “That’s what I like about you. You don’t beat around the bush.”

He shot an irritated look at her. “Could you just get on with this?”

“I’m throwing a party for Kylie tonight at the bar.”

He waited for her to say more. When she didn’t, he met her gaze. “And?”

“And, what do you think?”

“Of what?”

“Of her meeting some people. I think it might make her more comfortable here. She’s been holed up in that room of hers all week. Either that or swinging on the swing out back. She’s by herself too much.”

He hadn’t realized Kylie had been hanging out on the swing out back. He hadn’t seen her at all. Of course, he’d been avoiding her. Too many complications, he reminded himself.

“Would you say something?”

He sighed. “What do you want me to say?”

“I know you like her, Trey. Don’t deny it. I’m good at sensing these things.”

“Are you good at sensing when people
don’t
like you?” He twisted the wrench tighter than necessary, irritated that she was here badgering him when he’d been doing his best to stay out of Kylie’s situation.

“She likes you too.”

He didn’t want to hear this. It didn’t matter. “Stop.”

“Trey, she let you touch her.”

He stared up at the leaky pipe above his head, not wanting to think about touching Kylie. Thoughts like those couldn’t go anywhere. Not where she was concerned.

“Look, I didn’t come over here to nag you about your feelings for Kylie—although I really think you need to reevaluate them. I need a favor. It’s about the party tonight.”

“I have to work.”

“No, you don’t. You and I both know you can always be reached by phone, even if you are on duty.”

“I don’t have time to party all night, Faye. I’m busy, as you can see.”

“You don’t need to party all night. I just need you to get Kylie
to
the party. It’s a surprise so I don’t want to outright tell her. I have to set up during the day and Dusty will be helping me. Joe’s on shift. That leaves you.”

Trey inwardly groaned. “Give me a break, Faye. Have Elle do it.”

“She can’t. She has the baby.”

He swore under his breath and then met her gaze, annoyed. “I know what you’re trying to do here and it’s not going to work. She’s a nice kid, okay? But she’s not my type.”

“I never said she was.” Faye folded her arms over her chest, determination in her brown eyes. “I’m not asking you to date her. I’m asking you to bring her to her surprise party, so she can meet some people and make some friends. It’s pretty pathetic that you can’t help your future sister-in-law—who’s three months pregnant, planning a wedding and working full time in your family’s restaurant—by giving her best friend a ride to a party.”

The guilt trip worked and Trey winced. She made him sound like a jerk. He sat up straight, resigned. “She’s going to leave eventually. You know that, right? No matter how many friends she makes or how attached to this town she gets, she’s a runner. Terror can do that to a person.” He could see by the look in Faye’s eyes, that she knew he was right. All the same, she shrugged her shoulders.

“Okay,” he finally relented. “Just how do you expect me to get her to come with me?”

“Invite her to dinner or something, I don’t know. You’ll think of something.” She smiled at him. “I knew there was a reason you’re my favorite brother-in-law to be.”

“As long as I cooperate with your schemes, I am.”

She didn’t deny the fact. He grimaced and went back to the pipe he was attempting to fix.

In the days that followed their horseback ride, Kylie didn’t see much of Trey. Apparently, he was either very busy or he was avoiding her.

Part of her was relieved. Spending so much time with him had been a bad idea from the get-go. She had thought she’d felt something serious for Paul during the time they’d dated. Her feelings hadn’t been nearly as intense for him, as they were becoming for Trey. She trusted him more in a week, than she’d trusted Paul in two years. This was only going to cause her a world of hurt—she knew that. Yet she still couldn’t stop thinking about him.

Over the past few days, she’d spent her time taking leisurely walks around the Callahan property. She’d enjoyed several swims with Faye and played in the backyard with Elle’s daughter, Amy. With each day that went by, she grew more and more comfortable here. She wasn’t sure that was such a good thing either. After all, inevitably, she had to go home.

She’d talked to her mother the night before and listened to half an hour of lecture on why she should come home now and give Paul another chance. He’d only been frustrated because of Kylie’s lack of interest in the relationship. He was willing to give things another try.

Kylie wasn’t. She’d been firm with her answer to her mother. They had argued and disconnected in anger. Nothing had been accomplished in the conversation.

Walking through the backyard, Kylie sauntered over to the swings behind Trey’s house and sat down on one. She’d hung out there several times over the past week, liking the serenity of staring up at the stars and collecting her thoughts.

“You wanna go up on the hill and see the sun set for a change?”

The voice startled her. She knew it was Trey, so she didn’t turn around. She waited until he stood in front of her, blocking her view, before she looked at him. He was dressed casually, like always, in jeans and a T-shirt. He had his badge and gun on, so she assumed he was on duty. Sunglasses covered those blue eyes she’d become accustomed to looking into. Nerves ate at her, instantly. Every time she looked at him, she became more uncertain of where her feelings for him were going.

“Well?” he prodded, lowering his sunglasses to get a better look at her. “I want to take my bike out and I know you haven’t seen the sunset yet.”

“Bike?”

“I have a Harley.” He gestured over his shoulder. “In the garage. Beau has one too. We ride together occasionally, when he’s in town.”

“I’ve never been on a motorcycle,” she heard herself say.

“You did okay on the horse, didn’t you?” He shoved his sunglasses back into place. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

She looked at his gun again. “Aren’t you working?”

“I have a cell phone. They’ll call if they need me.”

She hesitated.

“Trust me, you’ll love this,” he insisted, indicating that she follow him.

Reluctantly, she got up and trailed him to the garage beside the guesthouse. Inside was a black motorcycle, complete with the ever-popular Harley Davidson logo. The bike looked rather intimidating until he straddled it and wheeled it out of the garage. She watched with interest, as he climbed off the bike and reached for a helmet, offering it to her.

“I don’t know about this.”

“Trust me.” He stepped closer and she stiffened slightly when he reached forward and placed the helmet on her head. He watched her eyes as his fingers messed with the straps, pulling them tight under chin. “How’s that?”