Three Southern Beaches: A Summer Beach Read Box Set (8 page)

Trey smiled at her as he paid the bill. “That sounds perfect.”

Taylor wrapped her hand through the crook of his elbow and let him lead her home.

CHAPTER NINE

Trey and Taylor unlocked their door and froze. A beeping noise filled the living room. Looking around, Trey caught sight of his laptop sitting open. The beeping started again and Taylor looked around the room.

“It’s my computer. Someone is calling me.”

“Probably Morris wanting to gossip,” Taylor joked.

“I’m telling you, men don’t gossip,” Trey turned the laptop around and answered the call.

“Worse than the Rose…” Taylor started before being cut off.

“Hello? Are they there? Why can’t I see anything?”

“I don’t know, Lily Rae. If you'd move your big head, then I could see.”

“Don’t tell me what to do, Daisy Mae. It’s not like you’re fifty anymore. You don’t know about this anymore than I do.”

“Wait, what does this button do?” Suddenly the screen came alive and three white heads came into view. “Oh, I fixed it!”

“Good job, Violet Fae.” Miss Lily praised before leaning very close to the camera. “Can you see us, dears?”

Trey tried not to laugh. “Yes, Miss Lily, we can see you.”

“Oh, excellent. We heard our dear girl has had a rough day and we wanted to see how you’re doing,” Miss Lily said as the three white heads bobbed in and out of the camera.

“Doing better now that I see you three,” Taylor said with tears filling her eyes. This was family, not the woman clawing at her for money.

“Oh don’t cry, dear. We’ll take care of you,” Miss Violet cooed as she leaned forward filling the computer screen with her puffy bosom. A tear ran down Taylor’s cheek. It really was just like being at home.

“When we heard about your day, we got you something,” Miss Daisy said as she pushed her sisters out of the way of the camera. A knock at the door had Trey and Taylor looking at each other in confusion. “Ah, right on time. You two enjoy it and know we’re here for you if you need us.”

“That’s right!” Miss Lily and Miss Violet said as they battled for camera time.

“Okay, turn it off.”

“How do you turn it off?”

“Can’t you just hang it up?”

“How do you hang up a computer?”

“Maybe if we click…” The screen went blank and Taylor found herself crying for a completely different reason. She and Trey were laughing so hard they forgot about the knock at the door until it sounded again.

Trey shook his head in wonder and opened the door. “Nabi! What are you doing here?”

“I come bearing gifts from the Rose sisters.” Nabi held out a huge basket and set it on the coffee table.

Taylor gave him a quick hug and then opened the basket. She pulled out a pitcher of Rose Sister tea minus the ice, a container of chicken salad, and a chocolate chip pecan pie. “You flew all the way here just to give this to us? Thank you so much.”

“The pleasure is mine. The kids have decided to wage war on the security personnel. Zain and Gabe have decided they want to be spies and are constantly trying to take us out with water balloons while they lay siege to the cottage. Their goal being to overrun and take control of the cottage where we control all the farm's security. They told Abigail she couldn’t play with them because girls couldn’t be spies. Trouble is, little four-and-a-half-year-old Abby is much sneakier than both boys. She actually got into the cottage today and locked down the whole farm until Ahmed and Mo were able to break into the cottage. Abby was twirling on the chair and looked up at the two men and said, ‘Mommy was right. I am better than the boys.’”

Taylor laughed. She laughed so hard tears threatened again. Abby was beautiful with Ahmed’s tan skin, Bridget’s blue eyes, and the cutest little braid for her hair. “Oh, she’s going to be so much trouble.”

“Going to be? She already is. Dani was so furious at the boys for starting this that I thought it would be a good time to offer my assistance to the Roses while the kids get their punishment tonight.”

“How did the Rose sisters even find out? I guess it was on the news,” Taylor wondered.

“John found out an hour before it hit the news. The ladies were upset to say the least, but they feel they won the battle since they sent food.”

Taylor pulled out a knife and brought some plates and glasses into the room. She cut up the pie and poured everyone a glass of special tea. “Well, we appreciate this more than we can say. I’m just sorry we had to take you away from a young lady, perhaps?”

“Smooth, sweetheart,” Trey whispered as he tried not to laugh.

Nabi didn’t bother to look embarrassed. He was single and lived in Keeneston. He would be asked about it everyday. Heck, there were active bets being placed on it at the café already.

“No one yet. But, I am only thirty. There is plenty of time for me to settle down. Besides, I don’t have much time to date. I’m, how do you say it . . . married to my work. Speaking of which, I must be going. I am flying to Rahmi to pick up Princess Ameera and her son. They are visiting Keeneston for a couple weeks.”

Trey and Taylor stood along with Nabi and walked him to the door. “We can’t thank you enough. We’ll see you in Keeneston soon. I don’t think I can stay away until Thanksgiving.”

“As always, it will be a pleasure.” Nabi walked down the path and slid into his car.

“Let’s see what else is in there,” Taylor said excitedly as she rushed back to the basket.

Trey sat down next to Taylor on the couch as they pulled out some issues of the
Keeneston Journal
from Gemma, a stun gun from Cy, crayon drawings from Riley and Reagan, and a binder full of new plays and workout routines from Cade and Will.

Curling up in Trey’s arms, Taylor took a sip of Rose Sister ice tea and read the gossip while Trey flipped through the new plays. It was the perfect end to a horrible day. All thanks to their adopted family.

*     *     *

Trey wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans as he and Taylor moved forward in line. Finally, everything was perfect. Taylor was eating cotton candy, he’d won a pink unicorn for her, and the lights from the carnival were casting a warm glow on them as they stepped up to the Ferris wheel.

Taylor laid her head against his shoulder and took a pinch of her cotton candy before they stepped closer to the ride. Trey handed over their tickets and reached his hand into his pocket as they took a seat. The bar was locked in place and the time was finally right.

“Isn’t that the weirdest thing?” Taylor said with a bit of a shiver.

“What?” Trey asked as they rose into the night sky.

“That clown.”

“What clown?”

“The one with the rainbow hair and big red nose,” Taylor pointed over the side of the Ferris wheel and Trey looked over.

Sure enough there stood a clown with big oversized hands on hips and one big red shoe tapping the ground as it stared up at them. “It’s watching us.”

“I know. It’s giving me the creeps. I hate clowns.”

“I’ve never minded them, but this one is bothering me. Why won’t he look away?”

Taylor looked down at the clown and locked eyes with it. “It won’t stop staring,” she said in wonder.

Trey slipped his hand over the ring, but the damn clown wouldn’t look away. There was no way he was proposing when Taylor was creeped out by this clown tapping his foot and staring at them. Then to hammer the last nail into the proposal coffin, Taylor’s phone started beeping.

“Oh! The set has been cleared and we’re filming in an hour. I’m sorry. Tonight has been so much fun, but we’ve already fallen behind in filming.”

“It’s okay. I understand.” Trey pushed the ring back in his pocket and put his arm around Taylor for the last part of the ride. The clown was nowhere to be seen when they got off the Ferris wheel.

Trey drove Taylor home in silence. His mind was thinking of the past. Taylor had come to every single one of his games—even when she was in the middle of studying. She’d hide out in the crowd, wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, and cheer for him. And now, when she deserved to be in the spotlight, he can’t seem to find the moment. He was a failure at proposing.

*     *     *

Taylor smiled at the cameras as she left the resort. Grant was still in front of the tired reporters giving them a reenactment of his heroics from the other night. She was exhausted. Filming had gone well and Melanie had finally done what she was told. But that had only come when she saw Cyndi Lu in the bushes. Thinking it was a photographer, Melanie amped up her acting skills.

“Taylor? Are you okay?” The soft words spooked her and she spun around so fast she almost lost her balance. Cyndi Lu stood behind a trashcan, one large red shoe poking out the side.

“Yes. But you have to stop scaring me, Cyndi. Popping up like this,” Taylor looked pointedly at her shoes, “Following me to the carnival with Trey. You’re a great fan, and I appreciate the support, but…”

Cyndi Lu sighed. “But you don’t want me around either.”

“I didn’t say that. I just ask that you pick your moments better. You’re a sweet girl, but you should be in college somewhere driving the boys crazy and hanging out with your friends. Not following me around. As you’ve noticed, I’m kinda boring,” Taylor smiled kindly.

“Okay. I’ll give you space. But he doesn’t deserve you. No one does, including me.” Cyndi Lu hung her head and disappeared into the shadows.

Taylor’s shoulders slumped. She was such a sweet girl who had so much more potential than following her around and diving in dumpsters. Taylor got in her car and was thankful it was just a couple minutes to her house. She turned on the music and opened the windows as she pulled onto Hangman’s Highway.

The salt air washed over her face as Taylor sang a Maroon 5 song playing on the radio. The moon was almost full and reflected off the ocean so brightly she almost missed the headlights filling her rearview mirror.

Taylor stopped singing when the car behind blinded her. She tried to wave them around, but the large truck just ignored her and closed in even more. Fighting the urge to speed up, Taylor started to slow down as she entered a curve on the road. The truck’s large engine revved and the horrific sound of metal and fiberglass crunching was the only thing she heard before being shot off the road.

Taylor screamed, her hands reflexively coming up to protect her face as her car left the road and flew over the embankment. With a jarring impact that caused the airbags to deploy, Taylor slammed head first into darkness.

Blinking her eyes, Taylor came to. She didn’t know how long she had been out, but it couldn’t have been long. Maroon 5 was still singing on her radio. It was then she felt the water. She had come to a stop in the ocean. Waves were lapping at the car as the tide tried to pull her further into the ocean.

Taylor felt panic clawing at her, but knew she didn’t have time for it. She shoved at the airbag and unbuckled her seatbelt. Taylor grabbed her things from the car before climbing out the open window. The water was only at her calves and treasure hunters were running toward her. She was safe for now.

CHAPTER TEN

Trey was dreaming of fighting a clown when the phone woke him up. He reached out and answered without opening his eyes. Taylor’s scared voice had him shooting out of bed and running out the door before he realized he was naked.

“I’ll be right there, honey. Are the police there? Are you safe?” Trey asked as he rushed back inside and stepped into some athletic clothes.

“I’m fine. Just scared. Hurry, Trey.”

In all his years by her side and on the football field, Trey had never felt so useless as he did now. He wasn’t there and she needed him.

“I’m just minutes away, sweetheart. I’m coming, I’m coming,” Trey spoke as calmly as he could as he started the car and peeled out of the driveway.

His heart pounded as he sped down the highway. He saw the flashing lights reflecting off the ocean first. Then he saw the tow truck as it hauled Taylor’s car from the ocean. He frantically slammed on his brakes and searched wildly for her. It was only when he’d raced onto the beach that he saw her looking so small in the back of the ambulance with an icepack on her face.

“Taylor!” Trey had her wrapped in his arms protecting her from the flashing cameras before he even knew it.

“I’m okay. Just bruised,” she mumbled against his chest.

Trey leaned back and looked down at her face. A bruise was forming around her eye from the airbag and one was starting to form on her sternum from her seatbelt. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you. Taylor, I love you. My life just isn’t worth it without you in it.”

Trey clutched Taylor to her chest as he held on to her for dear life.

She watched from behind the news van as pain contorted Trey’s face. He held Taylor so close to him. She got the feeling he would fight dragons to protect her. At that moment she believed he would. And Taylor. She didn’t look like a woman settling. She looked like a woman completely in love. The way Taylor clung to Trey and looked at him–she didn’t like to admit it, but she’d been wrong. She had thought to separate them. She thought he didn’t deserve her. But in this moment, she realized she was wrong.

Cyndi Lu put one big red shoe in front of the other and left the beach.

*     *     *

Trey refused to let Taylor walk. He carried her from the car and into the house. They hadn’t said much over the past hour. Instead they just kept constant contact with each other. The only way he knew she was safe was to feel her in his arms.

“I can’t believe there are no leads. Do you think it was your stalker? You should have told the sheriff’s deputy about her.”

“Tell Junior? If you didn’t notice, he was too busy checking out my legs to pay attention.”

“He was?”

“He’s a sweet guy, but a bit of a horn dog. And there isn’t anything to tell him. Cyndi Lu is harmless. She would never hurt me.”

“I find it so strange that you’re on a first-name basis with your stalker.” Trey shook his head in disbelief. “But if you don’t think it’s her, then who would do this?” Trey asked as she set her down on the couch.

He walked into the kitchen to pour her a glass of Rose Sister ice tea and then hurried back to her side. “Here, this will make you feel better.”

“This will make me so drunk I won’t feel anything . . . which is just perfect.” Taylor took a drink and leaned back against him and shivered. “Do you think it could be my parents? I mentioned them to Junior. If I married, then they would have no right to any of my money. You would. Do you think this is because I’m not letting them back in my life? They may think it's easier to kill me and claim my estate than to get me to work with them again.”

“I know your parents hurt you, but do you really think they’d kill you?”

“Sadly, I don’t know. I hope not. I’ve always held out some small chance that they’d come back into my life as good people, but I think I can get rid of that fantasy. Mom was high on something last time I saw her,” she said, frustrated.

“Whoever it is won’t get to you so easily again. You need security.”

“If you hand me the phone, then I’ll give my old crew a call and see if they can fly out to help me.” Trey reached for her purse and dug around it until he felt her phone.

Taylor dialed her old security firm in Los Angeles. The emergency operator picked up and patched her through to the owner in less than five minutes. Taylor told him what was happening on Hung Island and asked if he had a full protection team available. She hated it—the feeling of being constantly surrounded. But even tonight was enough to freak her out.

“I’m sorry, Miss Jefferies. I can’t get a team out there, but I know someone in Georgia who would be perfect for you. I’ll call them and they will have a team sent to you by the morning.”

“Are they good?” Taylor asked. She was wary of having people around her she didn’t know.

“The best. I’d use them.”

Taylor hung up the phone and smiled softly at Trey. “A team will be here tomorrow. There’s someone in Georgia they’re contracting to protect me.”

“Are they any good? I want the best and only the best.”

“Supposedly they are. They’ll be here in the morning so you can feel secure in going to practice.”

“Go to practice? How can I…”

“Trey, it’s why we got the security. They’ll be with me and you can focus on your job. I need to focus on mine without you hovering,” Taylor said as she reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand.

She could tell Trey wasn’t happy about it, but he realized it was a losing argument. “Fine, but I’m going to tuck you into bed.” Trey scooped her up and carried her into the back of the house as she laughed.

“Thank you. That short hallway was so dangerous, my handsome knight.” Taylor kissed his cheek and after being put down she walked into the bathroom to take out her contacts. Knowing she was safe and knowing she had a man who loved her made her feel so much better.

What didn’t make her feel better was the pounding headache or her aching chest. Trey had her in a death grip as he slept. Taylor managed to pry herself out and get some medicine. She opened the door and stepped out into the night air. It always calmed her and helped chase the headache away.

She looked up to the full moon and out at the sparkling ocean as she walked into the coffee table on their porch. So, she’d walked out without her glasses. Oh well, she could still enjoy the warm breeze regardless if everything was fuzzy around her.

Taylor saw the vague outline of the porch swing and sat slowly down on it. She closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. The rhythmic crashing of the waves calmed her headache as she finally felt her body start to relax. It didn’t last long, though. Clicking noises and then a low rumble had her eyes shooting open. Taylor squinted and then saw the source of the noise.

“Oh, aren’t you a cute puppy?” Taylor cooed as she held out her hand for the dog to sniff. The large dog’s tail started to thump on the wood porch as he nuzzled her hand. Taylor stroked his massive head and scratched behind his ears.

The dog shoved his head between her legs and tried to goose her. “Whoa. That’s not for you,” Taylor laughed as she pushed the dog back. His big pink tongue licked her hand happily as his tail continued to wag.

Then with a quick hook of his paw, the overly excited dog grabbed a hold of her leg and starting humping.

“No! Bad dog!” Taylor tried to push the dog off, but his green eyes just glowed happily as his tongue hung out. Finally with a big push, she dislodged the dog. “Where are your manners?”

The dog gave a little whine in response and then rolled onto his back at her feet. “Much better.” Taylor leaned over and scratched his tummy as she thought about what would happen tomorrow.

Tomorrow her old life would come back. Her parents, the bodyguards, the cameras—she just hoped she could handle it all. Taylor drifted to sleep on the porch with the dog at her feet. Maybe she should get a dog. Discounting the crotch sniffing and humping, she felt safe with the big hairy boy. But as the sun began to rise, the dog got up and loped away. It was time to go back inside and prepare to face her fears.