Diamond Lake Series: Complete Series (Bks 1-7) Boxset

by T. K. Chapin

  I laughed. “We’re just friends.”

  Emily nodded slowly as she went over to the fridge. “Okay, Mom.”

  “What?”

  “Tristan told me she caught you two holding hands last night.”

  “Pshh . . .” I replied as I turned red.

  “He’s a good guy. We all like him.”

  “I’m not dating him, Emily.”

  “Just sayin’.” She took a soda from the fridge and headed out of the kitchen.

  The half-pot of coffee was soon done, and I went back out to Dylan. As I came outside, Dylan struck a match and started the fire. He stood and joined me as I took a seat. As I handed him his cup of coffee, I said, “Thanks for starting the fire.”

  He smiled. “Thanks for the coffee.” Taking a sip, he let out a long sigh and then set the cup down on the patio table. “You ever wonder if you had done something differently, what your life would have turned out to be like?”

  After taking a sip of my tea, I set it down on the patio table between us and nodded. “All the time. What did you do wrong?”

  He leaned forward in the chair as the reflection of the fire danced across his face. Bringing his hands together between his knees, he rubbed them together and shook his head and kept his eyes fixed on the growing flames. “I already told you I lost my wife, but I didn’t tell you my daughter was in the car.”

  His words were weighted with such grief and turmoil that I couldn’t keep myself from feeling a part of his pain. As if a knife sliced through my chest and buried itself in my heart, I felt for him. “Wow. I’m so sorry, Dylan. I lost my father eight years ago and it was hard. Loss is difficult.”

  He rubbed his chin and lowered his head as his palm cupped the back of his neck, but he didn’t speak a word.

  “I’m sorry.” My voice quieted. “I wasn’t trying to say I understood that pain. I couldn’t imagine losing a child or a spouse.”

  He sat back in his chair and shook his head. Glancing over at me, he said, “It’s okay. My head’s been in the clouds all day. The reason I say any of this is because it’s the anniversary of the wreck today.” His eyes went back over to the fire as it let out a pop in the wood. “Three years ago.”

  Joining his gaze at the fire, I said, “When Bradley left me and the girls, I thought I was going to die. How much worse it’s got to be for you . . . I can’t even fathom it.”

  He raised a hand as he looked over at me. “That’s where you’re wrong, Charlotte. My wife and daughter didn’t choose to leave. Yeah, what happened sucked, but that’s nothing compared to a spouse wanting to leave.” He shook his head and looked back at the flames dancing in the fireplace.

  “True, but parents should never outlive their children.”

  He nodded. “That part—” He choked up on his words and shook his head as he bit his trembling lip.

  A silence filled the air for a few moments. It was neither awkward nor comfortable. It was just silent. Then, suddenly, Dylan’s hand found its way across the patio table and over to mine that sat on the armrest of the chair I was in. He smoothed his thumb over the top of my hand and looked at me. “You’re doing a great job with those girls.”

  I hadn’t heard that statement in a long time, if ever. It felt nice. “Thank you.”

  “Sometimes, I wonder how Jenny would be now. She’d be close to Bailey’s age, and it’s hard to imagine her that old, honestly. She was always just my little girl.”

  “They stay little forever in your eyes. Even now, when I look at Emily . . . I see that sweet little four-year-old who couldn’t stop trying on different princess dress up clothing every day.” I turned my hand to hold his. Squeezing, I said, “You’re a great guy, Dylan. I’m sure you were a great dad too.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Can I ask you something, Dylan? Honestly.”

  “Go for it.”

  I let out a nervous laugh. “Why do you like me? I have all these kids . . . I was a jerk to you . . . I’m perplexed.”

  A grin peeked out from the corner of his lips as he looked over at me and shook his head. “That right there. You don’t even know how beautiful of a woman you are. If you knew, it’d take away part of the beauty about you. You see, I’ve seen you load those kids up and go to church every Sunday with nobody making you. I see you going to work and living life the way you do with your girls. You’re a beautiful human being, and I know you might be a little rough around the edges, but I don’t care. You were shaped, you were made, you were created by God, and I see Him when I look at you and your life.”

  His words strummed the strings of my heart as they fell from his lips. They invigorated my soul and made me feel beautiful. “You don’t realize how much I loved hearing you say those words! But we have to take it slow for now. Be friends. You know? To a degree . . . hope that makes sense?”

  He nodded. “I get it. Could I take you and the girls out boating Saturday? There’s a great little spot not many people know about where I’d love to take you all.”

  “I’m sure the girls would love that, and I would too.” His ability to respect my boundaries filled me with a deep sense of love. I knew it wasn’t actual love, but it sure felt a lot like it. The idea of truly being in a relationship with him began to swirl my thoughts and tug at my heart, but with it came a bit of anxiety. I had been hurt so badly by Bradley, and giving my heart away to another man who could do the same scared me. After all, Bradley had been a great guy when I first met him. I knew I had praying to do, because a relationship didn’t just mean me and him. My girls would be involved too, and I didn’t want them to get attached to someone just to see him fade away like their father did.

  Chapter 11

  Saturday, the girls and I ventured over to Dylan’s house after breakfast. As we came up to the dock at Dylan’s, we could see him loading a cooler into the back of his boat. My girls, Bailey and Tristan, both had life vests on, and Emily had her backpack full of the needed supplies for the trip, and under one of my arms I carried an armful of towels.

  Dylan stood up in the boat as he heard us step onto the dock. With no shirt on and his muscles bulging, I couldn’t help but drink him in with my eyes like an ice cold glass of water. Cupping his hand over his eyes, he smiled. “You girls ready for a fun day out on the water?”

  Bailey began to skip as we made our way down to the boat. “I want to see where mermaids live!” she exclaimed.

  “Mermaids aren’t real,” Emily added.

  Dylan laughed. “You don’t know that, Emily.” Looking over at Bailey, he continued. “They could be real. You don’t know unless you look.”

  “Mako Island mermaids live in a cave,” Bailey informed Dylan, lifting her chin as she climbed into the boat.

  “That’s a TV show, not real life,” Emily added.

  “Well, we aren’t going to a cave, but maybe we’ll see one,” Dylan said, causing Bailey’s eyes to go wide with excitement. I loved the fact that Dylan was playing along with Bailey about the mermaids.

  Tristan chimed in. “The Mako Island mermaids just visit the cave. They don’t live there.”

  Climbing into the boat after the girls, Dylan grabbed my hand to help me in, and I smiled as he led me over to the seat next to his. I grabbed for Emily’s backpack she had set down behind me. As I pulled it to me, the boat rocked a little from the waves and it suddenly took my mind back to my younger days and being on the water. My friends and I were like fish during the summer—always swimming. Pulling out a water bottle, I took a long drink to relieve my thirst and try to push my attention away from Dylan’s gorgeous body. It might have only been ten in the morning, but it was already quite warm.

  Soon, we were full-speed ahead and cruising across the lake like a rock being skipped across the water. The wind tossed my hair back behind me and made me feel free as we bumped along the wavy water. Glancing over my shoulder as I saw our houses get smaller, I felt free from the chaos and demands of my life.

  Rounding the corner further
up the lake, the houses disappeared entirely and I turned my head to look at Dylan. He was standing tall and kept a straight eye ahead on the water, swerving when needed to dodge random pieces of wood in the water. His shades on and the moisture of the water spray glistening against his body made me feel like I was in some kind of heaven. He turned to me and shouted over the sound of the boat. “You look gorgeous today, Charlotte.”

  I smiled as the compliment warmed me. He knew just what to say to make a woman feel good about herself. He grinned and then continued paying attention to the waters ahead.

  We slowed down as we came up to a small sandy shore that had no houses or walking access and sat at the base of a steep hill. Dylan shifted the boat to idle and Bailey glanced back from the front seat where she and Tristan were sitting. Emily was in the back of the boat behind me. Bailey’s eyes were wide in wonderment as she said, “Mommy . . . the mermaids are here?”

  I smiled at her.

  Glancing over, I saw Dylan take off his shades and toss them below the windshield. I couldn’t help but steal a glance of his perfect physique once more. Suddenly, a chuckle came from behind me. Jerking my head back, I saw Emily laughing. I knew she had caught my wandering eye, and I went red in embarrassment.

  “I’m going to check for large rocks in the water so we can dock it without ruining my boat,” Dylan said.

  I gave him a confirming nod, and before I could say anything, he dove right over the side and swam away from the boat. As I watched him and each muscular arm lift out of the water, I felt a deepening desire for those arms to wrap themselves around me. Then a hand suddenly found my shoulder.

  “Mom,” Emily said, grinning as she sat down in the driver seat.

  “What?”

  “You totally dig Dylan. Don’t you?”

  Flush with embarrassment, I shook my head. “Absolutely not! And if I did, I wouldn’t tell you. You’re my daughter and I’m your mother. We don’t talk about these kinds of things.”

  She raised an eyebrow of skepticism.

  “Stop it!”

  Emily smiled and let out a laugh so electric that I could hardly believe it. I hadn’t seen her have this much fun in a long time. I couldn’t help but join in with the laugh as she started singing, ‘Dylan and Mom sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.’

  After the laughter stopped, I looked at her and framed her face in my palm. “You really shouldn’t worry yourself about these kinds of things, Emily. I’m a grown woman and you’re my daughter.” I put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m serious, Emily.”

  “I’m not a kid anymore, Mom. I get you and Dylan.” Emily’s eyes went over to the water. “He’s cute. You two would make a cute couple, and it’s been nice seeing you so happy lately.”

  Shaking my head, I said, “I have enough to worry about with you girls. I don’t think things will really go anywhere with this guy.”

  “You have to take care of yourself too, Mom!” Emily retorted. I felt our conversation quickly growing inappropriate.

  “I know. Thank you for the concern, Emily.” Standing up, I took the backpack up to the front with me and gave Tristan and Bailey animal crackers for a quick treat and an easy diversion from the conversation with Emily. Glancing back at her, I saw she was still smiling and looking at me. I returned the smile and then doled out more cookies to the younger girls.

  A few moments later, Dylan swam back to the boat.

  “Charlotte!” he called out.

  Coming over to the edge of the boat, I raised my eyebrows, “What?”

  “Bring the boat over here.” He pointed over to further down the shore. “And Emily, toss the flag up so people know we’re in the water. Also, toss the buoys over the left side.”

  “Got it!” Emily replied, heading over to the left side of the boat as I headed to the driver’s seat.

  With one hand on the wheel and one on the throttle, I put it into a low speed and began to come in closer to the shore. Dylan swam up to the side and climbed over into the boat. Water poured off him and onto the floor of the boat. Coming up to me, he placed his dripping hands on both my arms and gently moved me to the side. The strength in his hands was there, but the gentleness he used as he touched me warmed the fire that was already burning inside me. There was just something about a man with strength using gentleness that made me swoon. Stepping out of the way, I watched as the water slid down his spine.

  Glancing back at me, he said, “Tie the rope onto that rock right there.” He pointed over to an oddly shaped rock that stuck out from the water.

  Once I finished tying the rope to the rock he suggested, he stood up. “All right. We’re good!” Dylan clapped and shut off the boat. Jumping over the boat, we all followed him into the water and over to the shore.

  “This place is cool,” Emily said as we all walked out onto the shore. She went over to a giant piece of drift wood and sat down. Wringing her ponytail out, she looked over at me. “Have you ever been here?”

  I shook my head as I turned to see Bailey and Tristan scurry down the shoreline. “Been to some neat places around here like the Jackson’s Bayou but never this place.”

  Dylan nodded. “Jackson’s is cool. We used to boat down there for lunch a bunch when I was a kid.” His eyes ran along the shore down where Bailey and Tristan were. They turned and started back our direction. “This place has been one of my favorites forever. I recall many summers coming to visit my family in Newport and coming right here to this spot.” Dylan and I sat down on a log as Bailey and Tristan came back over and sat down in the sand.

  Dylan began to tell a story to the girls about three sisters who were mermaids. I was captivated as I watched my sweet Bailey hang from every word he uttered. Tristan was right there with her, and I even caught a glimpse of Emily smiling. My girls were having a good time with a man who wasn’t their father. It was a first for them, and it warmed my soul.

  As I looked at Dylan, I could sense his sincerity. He wasn’t doing it to impress me. He was genuinely enjoying himself. Maybe all my baggage wasn’t really ‘baggage’ to the right guy.

  After swimming and a few more stories, we took the boat back to Dylan’s dock and he fired up the barbecue while I ran over to my house to grab burgers and buns. As I opened up the fridge and searched for the condiments, I heard my phone buzz on the counter, but I ignored it. I didn’t care who it was. I was where I wanted to be and with whom I wanted to be. Whoever it was could wait.

  Returning back over to Dylan’s, the girls weren’t out on the back porch. I knew Emily had already left to go over to her friend’s house, but Bailey and Tristan should have been there. “Where are the girls?” I asked as I came over and handed him the burgers and set down the rest of the supplies on the picnic table.

  “They went inside to play with some of the toys I pulled out that were Jenny’s.”

  I nodded. “Oh . . .”

  He turned to me as he finished putting the patties on the grill. “What? Jenny’s toys? Don’t worry about it. I’m okay.”

  “But the other night, you—”

  He interrupted. “I know. It was just the anniversary—always a hard day. I’m fine with the girls playing with the toys. Don’t worry about it.” He shut the grill hood and stepped over to me. Brushing my hair behind my ear, his eyes lingered on my face and then directly into my eyes. I could feel his soul touch mine as he smoothed his thumb against my cheek. Leaning in, he looked deeper into my eyes.

  He pulled back.

  “What? What’s wrong?” I asked, touching his arm.

  He shook his head. “You wanted to go slow. I’m sorry.” He went over to the picnic table and grabbed the cheese and seasoning.

  As he walked back to the grill, I grabbed his arm and pulled him to me. Framing his face with my hands, I pressed up on my tiptoes and kissed him. He dropped the cheese and seasoning, then grabbed onto my waist as he kissed me with a passion that consumed me like a wildfire. My insides melted, and as our kiss deepened, he paused and nibbled on my l
ip, causing my knees to give way.

  A whisper in my mind told me to stop, but I ignored it. Dylan must have had the same whisper as he slowly and grudgingly unlocked his lips from mine and set me back arm-length distance. Taking a deep breath and letting it out, he said, “I need to be careful. We need to be careful.” Slowly, he leaned down to pick up the cheese and seasoning.

  Pressing my hand against my forehead as I nodded, I replied, “I know.”

  He continued over to the grill and set the stuff down. Pausing, he glanced back at me and gave me a look like he just wanted to scoop me up in his arms and kiss me. I stepped toward him as he pulled me into his arms and began to kiss me again. Pausing as his lips were less than an inch away from mine, he said, “You’re intoxicating. I can’t get enough of you.” We continued to kiss.

  Slowly realizing how quickly things were escalating, I pulled back. “Mmm.” Grudgingly, I said, “We must behave, Dylan.” Taking a step back, I had the control this time. “Those burgers are going to burn.”

  He nodded and returned back to the barbecue. Watching as he finished up the burgers, I saw a man who was more than anything I could have prayed for. He was passionate, strong, emotional, and a man who respected my boundaries.

  Chapter 12

  As I was walking downstairs from tucking Bailey and Tristan into bed, I smiled. The cavern, the swimming, the barbeque . . . it was all so perfect. Dylan was perfect. Walking through the living room, I could see him through the open doorway. He began to build a fire out in the fireplace. Going over to the stove, I pulled the kettle off the burner and filled it with water for tea. I set it on the burner and began to make some coffee for him when suddenly, my phone began to buzz over on the counter.

  Recalling it had gone off earlier, I decided to see who it was.

  It was Edith.

  I answered. “Hello?”

  “Good! You finally answered! I’ve been trying to reach you all day, Charlotte!”