Let It Be Me (Let It Be Me #1) (15 page)

Kayla giggled, though a bit embarrassed, then got distracted when she noticed the car turn into a gated development.

“Where are we?”

“My house,” he admitted almost embarrassed. “Well, at least my house here in the Hamptons.”

She looked around in shock as they approached a charming English-looking house. From the driveway she could spy that it had a view of the ocean.

“Holy crap, sometimes I forget how rich you are,” Kayla exclaimed. She wondered how many properties he had around the country.

Alex laughed at that. He got out to open the door for her, and he led her to the main door. They were greeted by an elderly couple who Alex introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Costelo, his housekeepers who stayed in the guest house. Mrs. Costelo cooked while Mr. Costelo did the gardening, Alex explained. 

Roy brought their bags in.

Alex took Kayla’s arm and led her into the house and Kayla was impressed by the interiors that had a wonderful view of the ocean. The interiors were well-designed to make it look homey. 

“How often do you come here?” Kayla inquired as Alex gave her a quick tour of the ground floor. It was just the right size for him, with probably just three bedrooms. She liked that he didn’t get a house that was too big and impractical.

“Depends how busy it is,” Alex replied. “Lately I’ve only been here around twice a month over weekends. But if I’m in between movies I would spend a week or so here.”

Kayla gazed out of the sliding doors to admire the water view.

“Come on, I’ll show you your room,” Alex said. “Let me know if you need anything. We keep stock of toiletries. Also, Mrs. Costelo has prepared our lunch. We can meet back down at the dining room in thirty minutes.”

Alex led her to a room with pale yellow walls and a four-poster bed. Kayla entered to look around, as Alex stayed by the doorway, with his hand on the doorknob. Kayla saw the room also had a wonderful view of the water. It was breathtaking. “This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your home this weekend,” she said, looking up at him. She suddenly felt tingly with the intimacy of him seeing where she was going to sleep that night. 

“It is my pleasure,” Alex said warmly, looking at her. He seemed oblivious to what she was feeling. “See you downstairs. Don’t sleep on me.”

Kayla just smiled as he closed the door behind him, trying to still the butterflies that seemed to have decided to dance around in her stomach. She needed to snap back to reality.

She just kept herself busy. She opened her luggage, which Roy must have brought up earlier. She also took her garment bag and hung it inside the closet. She was just going to repeat the dress she used in the party her office held earlier that year, where she met Alex. She didn’t really want to spend for a dress for her cousin’s wedding.

After unpacking and freshening up in the en suite bathroom, she made her way down to the dining room. The dining room was quaint and had a rectangular table for eight people. Alex was already there, helping Mrs. Costelo bring in the dishes.

“Mrs. Costelo prepared a banquet,” Alex broadcasted. “Looks like she missed me a lot.”

Kayla saw Mrs. Costelo blush and swat him with a dishtowel. Alex could just about charm everyone. 

But he was right. Kayla saw that indeed there was a feast of a summer salad, prawns, pot roast, and mashed potatoes. 

Alex brought out a bottle of white wine.

“Let’s eat,” he announced, pulling out a chair for Kayla then took a seat diagonal to hers. They feasted on the wonderful spread Mrs. Costelo prepared. Alex explained the greens were planted at the corner of their garden, making Kayla remember something. 

“Oh, so I was quite spot on with the vegetable garden proposal for Stone Homes,” Kayla beamed.

Alex nodded, smiling. “It was quite scary – no – remarkable that you were able to translate what were just in Ben’s and my heads.”

“I guess we both got lucky,” Kayla said. “I’ve been hoping for a project like this.”

 They continued eating in comfortable silence, until Alex advised, “Make room for dessert.”

“This girl always has room for dessert,” Kayla declared, making Alex laugh.

Mrs. Costelo brought out a tray with two ramekins of chocolate soufflé and mugs of tea. She placed one in front of Kayla. Kayla whiffed the aromatic scent of the chocolate. She dug into the fluffy chocolate cake sprinkled with powdered sugar. It practically melted in her mouth. It was so rich and creamy she couldn’t help but moan in delight.

“Oh my gosh, this is delicious!” she exclaimed. Alex watched her in amusement. “Who cooks for you at home? Are you as well fed as here?”

“I have someone who comes in twice a week to prepare my meals. Then I just pop them in the microwave if needed. Most of the time I’m in meetings or filming so I already eat there.”

Kayla nodded, then wondered, “Why are you based in New York and not in L.A.?”

“I like it here better. Grew up in the East Coast,” he explained. “I only fly to L.A. when the film is being shot there and for premieres.”

Kayla nodded. 

“What happened to your birth parents?” Kayla asked after a while.

“My birth dad left my mom when she gave birth to me. But we found out later on that he died shortly. He was an alcoholic. But he didn’t die because of the alcohol. Okay, maybe he did. He left the bar one evening, drunk as shit, then was held up at gun point. He fought back and got shot.” He paused to drink some tea. He was talking about it so straightforwardly that Kayla sensed that he has dealt with it long ago already and was no longer bothered by his past anymore.

“My birth mom has been depressed ever since my birth dad left us. I was just a kid, but I ended up being the one taking care of her. She died after a year. I was put in an orphanage when I was nine and I got lucky just a year after when my parents found and chose me. My parents, they weren’t rich, but raised me really well. I managed to go to school through scholarships.” He took another sip of tea and looked at Kayla. He smiled at her warmly. 

Alex was amazing her more and more. He wasn’t perfect – she knew that – but he managed to be as decent a person as he could, given everything he has gone through. And he always readily talked about his life, unlike her.

“You’ve done a good job in reversing my original impression of you, Mr. Stone,” Kayla commented, laying her hand on his forearm. “But don’t get too big-headed. You can still work on your arrogance and overbearingness.”

They laughed and Alex gave her an exaggerated wink. 

Kayla then stood up. “Thank you for the wonderful meal and the good conversation, but may I be excused. I have a date with my curling iron.”

Alex stood up. “Okay, shall we leave at quarter past two? Would take us half an hour. I don’t think you’d want to be there too early.”

Kayla nodded and offered him a weak smile as silent thanks for his understanding.

When she was walking away, she thought she heard him mutter, “Lucky curling iron.”

She looked back but he was helping Mrs. Costelo gather the dishes – he was such a selfless man. 

He did say she won’t regret this weekend. And Kayla had this feeling that it was Alex who was making the weekend a whole lot better.

Chapter 19

By two o’ clock she was done, and was proud of herself for making use of her time.

She took a luxurious bath in the gorgeous Italian free-standing bathtub. She only gave herself half an hour for her bath so there would be enough time to dry her hair with the blow dryer, curl it, do her makeup and dress up. For those two hours she managed to hardly think about the wedding they were about to attend. Instead, she pondered over her conversation with Alex and was thankful that he was there for her. She has accepted the fact that he wanted to be a friend to her, and she appreciated that. 

She spritzed some perfume behind her ears and at her pulses before going down to look for Alex. She found him at the living room, reading the newspaper. He quickly stood up when she entered and smiled. She almost caught her breath to see how gorgeous he was all suited up. 

“I remember this dress,” he said. “This was what you were wearing the first time I met you.”

“Good memory,” Kayla praised. She didn’t bother getting embarrassed that he noticed that she repeated a dress.

“How could I forget?” he asked. “You were as beautiful the as you are right now. Good thing you didn’t file harassment charges towards me.”

Kayla laughed, but was blushing. She didn’t tell him that in hindsight, she actually enjoyed the kiss in the elevator, even if it was quite presumptuous of him. The kiss made her feel like an attractive woman again – her self-esteem took a toll when Deirdre and Barry betrayed her.

“That slap was one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done in my life,” Kayla declared teasingly. “Your ego needed the blow.”

“Ah yes, that’s what I like about you, Kayla,” he said dramatically. “You keep me grounded.”

“So my life mission has been discovered,” she declared, playing along.

Alex was watching her for a few seconds before he asked rhetorically, “And you ask me why you fascinate me?”

Kayla looked down, flushed. She still wasn’t used to those types of lines he would drop once in a while. She didn’t want to find meaning in them.

Even if she couldn’t her heart from racing.

“Shall we go?” Alex asked, breaking into her thoughts. 

Kayla nodded, then followed as Alex led them to the car at the driveway. Alex directed Roy to the Hedges Inn. It was when they were on their way that Kayla suddenly got nervous. She fidgeted with her purse on her lap. What was she thinking? How could she think she can face both Barry’s and her families in one venue?

Alex must have felt her nervousness because he rested his hand on hers for reassurance. She looked up at him and smiled. 

The car approached the bed and breakfast and Kayla saw some people entering the venue. She recognized some of them as people she grew up with. She also saw some of Barry’s friends and relatives that she had met before.

Roy slowed the car until he parked it along the curb in front of the inn. 

“Roy, can you excuse us for a minute,” Alex instructed. Roy nodded then quickly turned off the engine and stepped out. 

As soon Roy shut the door behind him, Alex turned to Kayla. Kayla instinctively turned towards him, and found some comfort looking at him. He raised his hand to rest it on her cheek. “Kayla. I know it’s going to be tough out there. But you’re going to do great. And I’m here for you okay? When you want to leave, we leave.”

Kayla nodded, thankful for him and how thoughtful he was being. 

“The good news is Henry will also be here since Barry invited him,” Alex said with a comforting smile. “So at least another friendly face for you.”

“That’s great,” Kayla said. Henry wasn’t the most amicable person she knew, but she needed all the familiar faces she could – people who weren’t associated with what Barry and Deirdre did to her.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

Kayla nodded again.

Alex put on his sunglasses and a fedora before stepping out the car. He went around to open the door for her. He offered her his arm for her to hold on to; she gladly did. They walked down the pathway and up the few steps. Everyone was walking towards the back where the garden was set up for the ceremony. Alex was still unidentified due to his hat and glasses. 

Kayla still had some butterflies in her stomach, but Alex’s presence helped ease the nerves.

Kayla looked around to look for her aunt and uncle. She spotted Uncle Joe first and thankfully he was in an area where it was mostly wedding vendors and staff going in and out of the inn and out of the view of the other guests. 

“Come on, I see my uncle,” Kayla said. She blocked out everything else that was going on around them as they made their way to where her uncle was standing.

Uncle Joe saw them approach. 

“Kayla, dear, it’s good to see you,” he greeted enthusiastically. Kayla dropped her hold on Alex’s arm and skipped the last few steps to her uncle as he enfolded her in a big hug. Uncle Joe was stocky and had the presence of a teddy bear.

“I missed you, Uncle Joe,” Kayla declared. She felt tears well up in her eyes, but managed to keep them at bay.

“How are you doing, kid?” he asked. “I’m so glad you’re here. I know my little girl wronged you and your Aunt Heidi and I will always be sorry about that. But I’m glad you are here. You are one of us.”

Her uncle has always talked direct to the point. “Thank you, Uncle Joe. I’m doing okay. Really.”

“That’s good,” Uncle said, and Kayla saw he noticed Alex. Alex stepped forward to stand next to Kayla. He put his hand lightly at the back of her waist.

“Oh Uncle Joe, this is Alex. Alex, this is my Uncle Joe,” she introduced. Alex took off his fedora, and offered Uncle Joe his hand for a handshake.

“I thought Deirdre was making things up when she said you might be here,” Uncle Joe told Alex, then he turned to Kayla. “You know how Deirdre is; she sometimes embellishes what she says. I thought the forms she had everyone sign was a bit over-the-top, but now I realize she was actually serious about Alexander coming.”

Kayla laughed but knew that Uncle Joe and Aunt Heidi loved Deirdre deeply. She was their princess.

“Have you seen your aunt?” he asked.

Kayla shook her head. 

“She must be on her way down,” Uncle Joe guessed. “She’s just helping Deirdre with some last minute preparations. Hey, there’s Nick.”

Kayla turned to see Nick, Deirdre’s only sibling. 

“Kayla!” he greeted, approaching them. He wrapped her in a hug. “How’s my favorite cousin?”

Nick was Kayla’s age, and she was really close to him while growing up, especially when her mom has passed away. Nick got more of the Latino genes with his darker wavy hair and olive skin. 

“I’m good,” she assured. “How are the kids?” Nick was married and had a five-year-old girl and three-year-old boy.

“Brats,” he said but Kayla saw the adoration he had for his children. Who knew her playboy cousin was going to become a great dad? “They’re around somewhere, probably running around the garden and soiling their clothes.”