"Kayla, I'm not going to do anything," Isaac said with frustration filling his voice.
"I, uh, didn't think you were," she quickly stated, but she backed further away from him.
"What do I have to do to prove that you can trust me?" He asked with a furrowed brow. "You know what, don't worry about it; I'll just take you home."
He started gathering up the discarded rafts and towels, making Kayla feel increasingly guilty. He had been so nice to her today and last night. Even when they walked past all his friends at the normal swimming hole, he had only waved and kept walking.
"Do you..." She cleared her throat, determined to get the words out. "Do you want to swim for a bit longer?" He turned to her with a puzzled hopefulness that made him so much more adorable.
"That would be great."
He grabbed the raft they had been using earlier, before divesting of his shirt. She stared at his half nakedness feeling like swooning. That was when she doubted he appeal to him once more. Why would someone as buff and handsome as him, want someone strange and quirky like her?
"This was your idea, remember." He encouraged, as he tugged on the towel wrapped around her.
"I'll be in soon." She said hoping to have him turn away.
He ran back down to the water, and she quickly pulled her towel off and followed him. She let out a squeal as the chill of the water hit her. He looked at her and grinned, as he offered her the raft. She felt her heart flutter at such a simple, but nice gesture.
"Thanks." She says shyly, while she kept treading water.
She finally leaned her arms up on the top of the raft on one side. She kicked under water until the opposite side of the raft faced Isaac. He took the hint and hooked his arms over the raft to face her. For a moment, she pondered whether she had made the smartest move, until their eyes met across the pontoon.
"You look different without your glasses," he said reaching across, and stroking her cheek lightly.
"Really?" She said breathlessly.
"Yes, really. It's nice to see your face. You are really beautiful." He said it simply, and she couldn't contain her blush or her disbelief.
"I'm not beautiful," she protested, dropping her eyes from his.
"You are, but you know something? Even with your glasses on you are darn cute."
He sent her what she labelled his mind-blowing smile, and her insides completely melted. She was speechless and felt like she was fumbling after his wholehearted compliment. She blinked and dared to look at his earnest face.
"Thank you." She finally managed to blurt out.
"Why do you need your glasses when you have contacts?" He asked curiously.
"Contacts make my eyes feel scratchy, so I only wear them when needed."
"Or forced. Don't think I didn't see Hayley make you change them. Why do you carry them if you don't like wearing them?" He asked, not understanding why she always wanted to cover her face.
"In case I need them." She said with a shrug.
"Fair enough. So when are you going to let me take you on that date?" He sent her another devastating smile, but she ignored his question.
"We should probably head back home. My mum should be awake now." Kayla changed the subject, as she let go of the rubber raft.
"That must be really hard with your Dad gone, and your Mum working shifts." He kept talking, as though to keep her there.
"It's always been that way, so I don't really know any different.” Kayla told him, as she turned back to face him.
"Does your Dad go away often?"
"He's in the army, so he's away on deployment a lot. He's coming back in three weeks’ time." She replied, as she placed her arms back on the raft.
"Don't army families normally live near a base?" He sent her a puzzled look when she nodded.
"Yeah, but Dad didn't want to live on base anymore, so he bought our house here." She shrugged, as a shiver went through her.
"Are you getting cold?" He asked leaning over the raft to touch her arm where goose bumps appeared.
"Just a little."
"I guess you're right, and we should be heading back in." He sighed, immensely disappointed, as he began kicking his way to shore.
She wrung out her long wet hair as much as she could with her already damp towel. She sighed and wished that she had remembered a second towel for her hair. Not for the first time did she think about cutting it all off, and starting with a shorter more manageable haircut.
"Here use mine." Isaac tossed her his towel, which she caught clumsily.
"Thanks," she said, as she quickly wiped herself dry. "What are you going to use?" She asked, as she handed back his saturated towel.
"I'll dry off soon enough." He said, as she pulled her jeans on, and he watched with keen interest. "Here have this; your cardigan will be too hot for today." He tossed his shirt to her, and she felt her mouth go dry.
"Um, I have my own... what are you go to wear?" She asked as she licked her lips. He just laughed and gestured to himself.
"I'm all good."
The fabric of his shirt was soft and smelt of him, as she pulled it over her head. Secretly, she admitted to herself that she liked having his shirt on for more reasons than she could name. She hid her own shirt in her bag, so he wouldn't be tempted in wanting his back.
When the shirt fell to her knees, a laugh escaped her. She felt as covered as what she would wearing her cardigan, but somehow it felt more intimate than that. The shirt that had been covering him was now all hers and she felt as if she had a piece of Isaac now.
"You might want this too." Isaac said, as he fingered her hat.
She swiftly grabbed her hat, surprised that she hadn't reached for it when she went to get back in the water. That was Isaac's effect on her. He seemed to be able to take her insecurities away without any effort at all.
"That is a mighty fine look for you, Miss Kayla.” Isaac looked her up and down, as he said the words.
"You were rather insistent." She plucked at the front of the shirt that she now considered hers.
"And I'm glad I was." He teased with a sparkle in the depths of his blue eyes.
"Let's get this stuff packed away.” She ordered, making his grin widen.
"So damn bossy." He said with a shake off his head, as he set to work.
With backpacks, rafts and a picnic basket that had once carried lunch, they trundled back towards the car. Isaac was chatting animatedly when they first came upon the normal swimming hole. Her awkward, uncomfortable level increased, as she noticed all eyes turn towards them.
"You should have seen Hayley’s face..." Isaac trailed off with a chortle, which ended abruptly. "What's the big attraction?" He asked the crowd of onlookers.
No answer was forthcoming, as he glanced around at the many staring eyes. With an elegant shrug of his very naked shoulder, he gestured Kayla to keep walking. They made it most of the way up the hill to his car, before they heard an out of breath voice from behind them.
"Isaac, wait," they both turned to see Melissa standing rather fiercely with hands on her hips.
"What is it?" Isaac asked impatiently. Melissa simply stood there fiddling with the edge of her bikini top for a long moment.
"Can I talk to you on your own, over there?" She gestured back to where the kids from school were sitting.
"No, just say whatever it is you want to say," Isaac replied, as he dropped the raft that he was carrying.
"Fine! This is some kind of bet isn't it?" Melissa rudely pointed to Kayla, who flinched.
"What are you talking about?" Isaac's voice went cold, as he reached for Kayla's hand so she couldn't run off.
"You made a bet with someone about dating Hat Girl." Melissa said smugly.
"We're not dating!" Kayla burst out, which surprised both Melissa and Isaac.
"No, but we will be soon," Isaac sent her that beautiful smile again, before turning back to Melissa. "Kayla and I actually started with a dare Melissa, just in case you were wondering. My si
ster dared her to kiss me, so if you want anyone to accuse, then talk to Hayley." Isaac's smugness had Kayla wanting to smack him for such arrogance, and for telling this girl anything about her.
"Your sister? Hat Girl? I'm confused."
“Awesome, because I'm happy, and we are done here." Isaac gathered up the raft again, before heading to the car once more.
"You just made out that we are a couple," Kayla's words from next to him made him grin.
"I sure did." He replied cheekily.
"Isaac, we are not dating." Kayla turned to face him, before prodding him in the arm.
"Like I said, we will be soon." He told her as he leaned over and dropped a soft kiss against her mouth.
Kayla stood there stunned, as Isaac began to pack the car. She wasn't sure what shocked her more, the kiss or his declaration. If she were dating him, did this mean that she only had one week with him like every other girl that he had ever dated? She considered that, before angrily telling herself to forget about it. She hadn't agreed to date him. She had in fact told him repeatedly to wait another week before they went on a date.
"Kayla?" She heard her name called out, and she glanced over to Isaac.
She was mesmerised by his golden skin that she had been deliberately looking away from since earlier in the day. He was just so darn gorgeous from his eyes to his smile down to his mouth-watering chest. She was surprised she was standing let alone staring.
"Kayla, are you listening?" Isaac asked, with his voice full of amusement.
"Huh? What? Of course I am."
“Nope, I think you were perving." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, and she felt her face heat dramatically.
"I was doing no such thing!" She huffed defensively, as she watched him pull on a shirt that he must have had in the back of his car.
"You so were." He teased, to her embarrassment.
"Let’s just get going." She swished her hands at him.
"Back to the 'B' word." He shook his head again, his lips spreading with an amused grin.
"'B' word?"
"Bossy, but in a sexy way remember." He let out a laugh absolutely adoring the annoyed glint that filled her eyes, and the redness of her cheeks.
He slammed the boot of the car, before heading to the car door to open it for her. She frowned at the motion, feeling that the special treatment he was giving her could never last. He had never opened a door for anyone in her dance class, not even his sister, so his behaviour seemed odd.
"Don't, I can open my own door, thank you."
“I know I just like doing it for you." He said before closing the door.
"Did you open doors for girls like Melissa?" Kayla gestured back down to the river, as he got into the car.
"Um, no, actually." He said quickly, and to her surprise, his cheeks turned a slight pink hue.
"Why are you doing it for me?" Kayla demanded.
"I guess I want to." He shrugged, before starting the car and driving off.
Silence welled deep between them after that one simple answer. Kayla had no idea what to say in response. His attention continued to flatter her, but she felt uncertain of what to do with it.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Isaac asked, scattering Kayla's thoughts to the wind.
“Study." She replied simply.
"Wanna study together?" He asked excitedly.
"I can't."
“Why not?" He sent her a small frown.
"Because I didn't get anything done today." She replied, before looking out of the window and biting her lip.
"I won't get to see you until Monday?" He asked sadly, and Kayla quickly glanced his way, surprised by the sincerity he kept showing her.
"I'll be at school on Monday," She assured him, as he pulled up outside her house. "Thanks for today, I had fun.”
"And I got an assignment done." He reminded her, and she smiled.
"True. See you later." She said feeling awkward quite suddenly.
"Kayla, wait!" He jumped out of the car, and raced around to find her already opening her door. He quickly grabbed her bag to lift it out for her. "I had fun too.”
He offered her a hand, and helped her from the car. He took her breath, as he pulled off her hat and kissed her. His soft kiss filled her with a delicious warmth that she would have killed to feel every day. It captured her heart and left it pounding, as he backed her up against the car.
As much as his kiss enveloped her, she could feel eyes on her. She abruptly pulled away, and took stock of the fact she was in front of her house. Her mum, Kylie was standing at the front door watching them with a firm expression. Kayla groaned, having no idea how to explain to her mum what was going on. Still she let go of Isaac, stepped fully away from him, and turned to face her doom.
Chapter 10 - Mum, Dad and ice cream.
"I've got to go, Isaac." Kayla said quite frantically, as she pulled from his grasp.
"Look, I'm sorry; I know I shouldn't have..." He trailed off, as he saw what he assumed to be Kayla's Mum looking at them sternly.
He could see the similarities between them, from the dark hair to the shape of their faces. Kayla was the spitting image of her mother. The only difference was their height. Kayla was much shorter than her taller, much more imposing mother was.
"Kayla, honey, is there something you haven't told me?" Kylie's brows arched.
Isaac went hot and then cold, as he itched to get in his car and drive away, as fast as he was able. As he had told Kayla, he had never done a meet the parent’s moment, and he sure didn't want to start now. He went completely still, as Kayla stiffened next to him.
"Hey, Mum, did you get the note I left?" Kayla gulped as she replied.
"I sure did. I'm fairly certain that you said that you were going to the creek with Hayley," Kylie's seriousness intensified when she crossed her arms.
"I did... I was, but Hayley went home early, and this is... well, this is Isaac, her brother, and he said he'd give me a lift," she babbled, feeling rather lightheaded and excruciatingly awkward.
"I see, and kissing him was what?" The fierce questioning from her mum, made Kayla blush deeply and flounder for words.
"Hello, Mrs McCrae. My name is Isaac Thornton, and I really want to date your daughter," Isaac couldn't believe the words that he heard from his own mouth. As shocked as he was, it was nothing compared to a spluttering Kayla.
"We are not dating!" Kayla exclaimed through clenched teeth.
"And as you can see Kayla is a bit against the idea." Isaac continued, even at the daggers Kayla's eyes were sending him.
"Not dating, Isaac." Kayla bit off each word, as she prodded him hard.
"At any given opportunity, I like to kiss her to remind her of how much I want us to go on a date." Isaac concluded, looking directly at Kylie with a winning smile.
"I cannot believe that you... that you told my Mum that!" Kayla's blush was as bright as her anger was fiery.
Isaac dared a glance at her mother to find the woman fighting a smile. He let out a breath, pleased that his crazy words had some positive affect. He hadn't been sure for a moment there what was going to happen, but it seemed that he had won her over.
"It's nice to meet you, Isaac. Thank you for your honesty, and for driving Kayla home. If you give her a chance, I'm sure she will agree to a date soon enough.”
At her mother’s words, Kayla stormed into the house without even a goodbye. She rushed up to her room with her hands clasped around her burning cheeks. That had to be the most mortifying moment of her life! She dropped onto her bed with a groan, and tried to think of anything but what had just happened.
"That was rather unexpected," Kylie came into her room with a look of utter amusement on her face.
"Please tell me he's gone," Kayla sounded muffled, as she squashed her face into her pillow
"I guess I don't have to do the old birds and bee’s speech just yet." Kylie brushed the hair back from Kayla's face.
"Ugh, Mum!" Kayla cried out to Kylie's
soft laugh.
"He seemed like a nice boy. It wouldn't hurt for you to go out with him, now would it?"
“I told him that he has to wait another week, and then I might consider, maybe, going out with him," Kayla huffed, before a distressing thought occurred to her. "You're not going to tell Dad are you?" Kayla's words came out in a horrified shriek.
"Oh no, Honey, that's your responsibility." Kylie patted her back soothingly.
"What do I even say? How do I tell him about a boy?" Kayla rolled into a ball on her bed.
"You need to think about it, because you can tell him this afternoon when he rings for his video chat."
"Stupid Isaac and putting me in this position! This is a nothing but his fault."
"C'mon, Kayla, I could tell that you were just as keen on that kiss as he was. Your Dad is ringing at four, so I'll call you down then." Kylie mentioned, before leaving her daughter's room.
Dread filled her at having to tell her Dad something like this. She glanced around the room, hoping to find some distraction. She spied the bag that she had brought back from the library, and found her answer.
She had a quick shower to wash off the residue of the creek, and hung up her swimmers to dry. She stared hard at his shirt on her bed when she went to change. She couldn't resist pulling it back on, and revelling in that nice, delicious smell of his.
She decided to throw herself into homework, and determinedly push all thoughts of Isaac away. She tried, but she would find herself often stopping to smile dreamily at something Isaac related during her study, which only made her frustrations grow. It was as if Isaac had a piece of her mind under his control.
"Honey, your Dad wants to talk with you." Her mum's voice reignited the earlier dread that she had been trying so hard to contain.
She raced down the stairs to the study where the computer was set up. She looked at her Mum's glowing face, before glancing at the computer screen. There was her father, still in his fatigues, appearing somehow older than the last time she had seen him. She ached with missing him, as tears filled her eyes.
"Hey, Dad," she smiled at him, immensely happy to see him.
"Hey there, Muffin. Your Mum told me that you have something to tell me," her Dad smiled with such love in his eyes that the tears threatened again. To keep her composure, she sent a quick glare to her mother, who deflected it with a grin.
How We Began Page 10