by Karen Baney
Somehow he managed to gain a little of her respect—at least when it came to piloting helicopters. Ironically, it was the one area he felt he deserved the least respect. After all, it was his fault that Brad died—that his whole team died. It was because of his piloting.
He wondered if the people at Helitronics knew the whole story. All he told them was that he’d been badly injured when his helicopter went down. Of course, the official investigation absolved him of any responsibility. They said it was a mechanical defect, not pilot error. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder if that was really true. He didn’t believe it.
Either way, he was never going to fly a real helicopter again. The least he could do was make sure that the code Niki and her team wrote didn’t put anyone in danger. He was pushing them hard for perfection—not that he needed to. It seemed she was reaching for the same goal.
He opened his eyes then he moved until his feet touched the bottom of the pool. He glanced around and found Niki.
Yeah, he’d learned a lot about professional Niki in the past few weeks. Now it was time to learn about the woman she kept hidden behind that professionalism.
Slowly he waded towards her floating raft, staying as quiet as possible. Then he stood carefully and held the raft with one hand. With the other, he scooped up water and held it over her stomach.
Cold drops of water dripped on her stomach. She shot upright with a howl. Her eyes flew open, looking for her attacker. Not seeing anyone, Niki laid back down on the raft, amazed she hadn’t tipped it over.
“Hello, beautiful.” Kyle’s teasing smile appeared leaning over her head. He stood holding the raft steady above her head.
“Kyle. I should have known it was you.”
“Ready for lesson number two?”
She sighed. She was ready to hide in a corner all day wallowing in her self-pity. That’s what she was ready for.
A splash of water shot into her face. What was it with him and trouble and pools?
She leaned forward on the raft again, straddling it. She paddled it in a circle until she was face to face with him. Angling her hand, she sent large splash his way. He ducked, missing the fullest part of the splash. As he moved towards the deep end and she paddled behind him. He was not going to get away with this.
When she got close to where he stood, only his head above water this time, she shot another spray in his direction. He went under, headed her way. Then she felt the raft lift and flip just before her body made full contact with the water. Her last thought before sucking in enough air to go under was that she was going to kill him.
As Niki stood to her feet, she felt the weight of her water logged ponytail pulling. She removed the ponytail holder, twisting it around her finger. She dunked her head under water, trying to free up the tangled mess of hair. When she popped up again, Kyle was standing in front of her.
“I don’t think you’re getting the point of the lesson. Fun is supposed to make you smile, not frown,” he said with a roguish grin.
She harrumphed. This was not fun.
She charged him, hoping to knock him off balance. He stood firm, placing his hands on her waist to stop the forward momentum. Her mouth went dry and her breath grew shallow. A tingling sensation shot from where his hands rested.
“Really, Niki? What will our children think when I tell them stories of how their mother was always throwing herself at me?”
She put her hand on his chest, still confused by her strange reaction. As she started to push him away, her eyes went to where her hand touched him. The right side of his chest was covered with numerous little scars she hadn’t noticed until being this close. She studied him more closely. He had tattoos on both arms, from the top of his shoulder down his biceps—no more than what would be covered by a t-shirt. The tattoos on his right shoulder looked malformed, like he had been badly burned.
Some of the mystery surrounding his departure from the Air Force had to do with his marred flesh. She was sure of it.
He dropped his hold on her waist as he traced her gaze. A frown crossed his face. He turned and walked to the edge of the pool wordlessly.
“I take it our lesson is done, Professor Kyle?” she shouted to his retreating back.
He grunted, the only indication that he heard her. As he stepped from the pool, she failed to hide her shock at the long jagged scars running down his back.
Chapter 13
Kyle glanced over his shoulder at the sharp intake of her breath. She had seen the scars. All of them. The ones on his chest and arms. The surgical scars running up his back. Even he hadn’t been able to see the full extent of those. Judging from her reaction, they were as bad as he thought.
“Stop staring,” he growled as he opened the sliding glass door and stalked through.
“What’s got you in a bad mood?” Marcy asked, looking up from salad fixings she chopped.
He whirled around to face her. Raising his hands, he motioned across his chest. “These. And those.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder as he turned his back to face her.
Her mouth slacked open.
This is why he was careful to hide his torso at all times. He didn’t know what he had been thinking, trying to play in the pool without a shirt on. He hated his disfigured body. How could he expect any woman not to be repulsed by it. His perfect physique died in that helicopter crash. And it made him feel like less of a man.
“I think you’re overreacting.”
“Am I? Have you taken a good look?”
“Yes. That’s why I think you’re crazy. The scars aren’t that bad. You’re still an attractive man—with a few imperfections.”
“A few? Look at this!” Again he motioned his hand over his chest. Was his sister completely blind?
“Yes, a few. You’re obsessing.”
“Am I? How well do you think Niki reacted to them?”
“I don’t know.” Marcy stood on her tip toes to peer around him through the sliding glass door. “She doesn’t look horrified or anything.”
He watched as Niki waded to the edge of the pool dragging the raft behind her. She didn’t look the least bit bothered by anything. In fact, she looked perfect. Perfectly gorgeous.
He doubted she would want anything to do with a disfigured man.
As she stepped out of the pool, Niki tossed the raft on the far side after retrieving her water bottle. Pool water dripped down her legs as she made her way to where she put her towel and flip-flops. She wrapped the towel around her waist. Leaning to one side, she twisted her hair to remove the excess water as she slipped on her flip-flops.
She opened the door to the sound of a curse word and Kyle’s voice. “She was staring.”
“So,” Marcy’s voice retorted. “It’s not like you can make the scars magically go away.”
He grunted.
“Come on. Don’t ruin the party.”
“Party?” Both Niki and Kyle said at the same time.
Marcy and Kyle looked her direction from the kitchen where they had been arguing. He looked away as he reached for his bag on the counter. He donned a plain white t-shirt. While it hid the scars, she could still see the definition of his toned chest.
“Yes, party. Chad should be here any minute with the food. Then we have a house full of guests coming for our Memorial Day BBQ.”
Kyle snidely replied, “I seem to have misplaced my invitation.”
Still frowning at him, Niki said, “Me, too.”
Marcy looked from one to the other. “Oh, for Pete’s sake, will the two of you just kiss and make up already?”
The doorbell rang and Marcy ran to get it. Chad was here. Hopefully they still had some time before the others, whoever they were, arrived.
Niki seized the opportunity while Marcy and Chad were distracted with each other. “Kyle—”
“Save it. If it’s pity, I don’t want it. If it’s curiosity, it’s none of your business.”
She pursed her lips together. Fine with her. She should still be mad at
him for dunking her anyway. Turning, she sped down the hall to her room, slamming her door shut.
Marcy and Kyle’s muffled voices filtered through her door as she stripped off her bikini. She pulled on her blue one-piece suit and a pair of jean shorts, opting for the more conservative attire for Marcy’s secretive party. She combed out her hair then braided it, hoping to keep it from becoming a tangled mess in the pool if she got in again.
Now, if she could only forget the feeling of Kyle’s hands on her waist.
Hearing her name being shouted down the hall, she rejoined the others in the kitchen. Kyle still looked peeved. Marcy and Chad were happily chatting away.
“There’s more stuff in the car,” Marcy pointed to the front of the house as she looked at Niki and Kyle.
Niki started in that direction as Kyle followed behind her. When she bent down to grab a few bags from the back seat, he spoke, his voice so close it made her jump. “Let me get that.”
“I’m good,” she replied tersely. It’s not like there were only two bags or anything. The whole back seat was filled.
“Fine,” he snapped. As she started to walk away, he reached out for her arm. His voice softened, “I’m sorry.”
Niki flashed him a somewhat strained smile before darting back inside. Depositing the bags on the counter, she waited for Kyle to enter the house before running back out for another load. With a house full of people, she should be able to avoid him the rest of the day. She dropped the second load on the counter.
“Why don’t you guys go get the grill going?” Marcy suggested to the two men. “Niki and I will take care of this.”
Once Kyle and Chad were outside, Marcy said, “I’m sorry about Kyle. He’s still real touchy about the accident and the scars. He’s letting it mess with his head when he just needs to get over it.”
Get over it. That’s what they said about her this morning, Niki thought as she emptied the grocery bags onto the counter. “I wouldn’t know anything about that,” she said under her breath.
The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of the first round of guests. Marcy greeted a group of four guys that rode over together. She led them to the kitchen and introduced them as guys from her church group before she directed them out back. Another group arrived—two girls also from Marcy’s church group. Next were Doug and his girlfriend Shelly. Then Jake. Last to arrive was Brian and his wife Heather.
Niki lifted up a tray of seasoned steaks and headed for the sliding glass door. As she went to open it, one of Marcy’s church friends opened the door for her.
“Here, let me take that,” he said.
“Thanks, uh…”
“Trevor.”
“Thanks, Trevor.” She glanced at his muscled tan chest and his gorgeous hazel eyes. Marcy forgot to tell her there were hot guys at her church. Heat rose to her cheeks at the thought.
Once he set the platter on the table next to the grill, Trevor quickly returned to sit next to Niki.
“Marcy tells us you are a software engineer,” Trevor said.
She smiled. “Does that surprise you?”
“What, that you’re an engineer or that you’re hot?”
Was he flirting with her? She smiled, the heat returning to her cheeks again. “What do you do for a living?”
He grinned, his hazel eyes glinting. “I’m a software engineer.”
“That explains why I like you. Us geeks, we gotta stick together.”
Everyone sitting nearby listening laughed at that. Except Kyle. He stood leaning against the pillar that supported the covered patio. Was he glaring at Trevor? No, she must be imagining things.
The conversation buzzed for several minutes before Marcy suggested a game of water volleyball. As everyone stripped down to swim suits, Marcy and Chad set up the net. Niki jumped in the pool, quickly followed by Trevor, who suggested a game of geeks versus preppies. She laughed at the idea, loving it. She looked over to the edge of the pool where Kyle stood, t-shirt still hugging his chest. He said something to Chad before taking over the grilling duties, leaving her to wonder if he was purposely avoiding the fun because of his scars.
Chad climbed into the pool next to Marcy and in front of Heather. Two of the guys from her church also lined the back row. On Niki’s side, it was her and Trevor in the front. Doug, Jake, and Brian in the back. The others sat out. Doug was first to serve. He batted the ball over the net towards Marcy. Marcy set and Chad spiked. Niki dove for the ball, hitting it in the air just before it hit the water. Trevor came up beside her and spiked it hard. The geeks shouted as the ball smacked the water uncontested. Laughing, she put her hand up to Trevor for a high five.
The game continued with the score shifting from geeks to preppies and back again. Niki and Trevor made a great team. Whenever they were in front the points piled up. Just when the geeks were ahead again, Kyle announced that the food was ready. Everyone broke from the pool and headed inside to fix up their plates.
Niki ended up in line behind Trevor and in front of Doug.
“What’s with you and Kyle?” Doug asked.
“What are you talking about?” Her eyes scanned the line, searching for Kyle. He was three people ahead of them in line.
“That.”
“What?”
“The two of you keep looking at each other. You missed that ball out there ‘cause you were staring at him. What’s up with that? I thought you hated him.”
Niki lowered her voice, “I don’t hate him.”
“Are you two dating?”
“You have a wild imagination. Now stop.”
“Whatever you say, Nik.”
“Stop calling me that.”
She spooned up some potato salad, grabbed some steak, and loaded the rest of her plate with salad covered in balsamic vinaigrette. She looked around for a seat, opting to sit by the pool dangling her feet in the water.
“Is this seat taken?” Trevor asked.
She shook her head as she chewed a bite of salad. She scooted over so he could share the towel she was sitting on. It provided some relief from the baking concrete.
“So, are you seeing anyone?”
Niki just about choked on the piece of steak she was chewing. “You’re funny. I’m guessing Marcy didn’t give you the complete run down on my miserable life?”
He shook his head. “Is it that bad?”
“No, not really. I just work a lot. Never seem to have time to date,” she lied, not wanting to admit to this nice guy her real reasons. “You know how it is—unpredictable and long hours prior to launching any new software.”
“I hear ya. It does make it hard finding someone who gets it.”
“What about you?”
“Same boat, I guess,” Trevor said. “Not much time. No one at work—I’m sure you know how few women there are in this industry. And the girls at church… Well, most of them seem to be looking to snag a husband. I’m just not into girls that already see me waiting at the altar. I’d kinda like to just hang out and see where things go, you know. No pressure.”
She nodded. She liked this guy. He was down to earth, not stuck up like so many of the Christian guys Marcy tried to set her up with. He knew he wasn’t ready for something serious and she admired that. Goodness knows she wasn’t even sure if she was ready for dating in general.
“I was wondering…” Trevor said, playing with the edge of his now empty plate. “Would you like to go for a coffee on Saturday?”
Niki’s heart picked up pace. He was a nice guy. And coffee was so much better than dinner. If it turned out to be lame, she wouldn’t have to sit there forever waiting for it to end. It might not be so bad. She already enjoyed Trevor’s company today.
“Sure. Where can I meet you?” she asked.
They finalized the date before he stood. “Well, I gotta go. The guys look like they’re ready and I rode with them. It was nice getting to know you, Niki.”
“See ya Saturday.”
“What was that all about?” Kyle asked as
he took the seat next to her seconds after Trevor left.
“Come to make my life miserable?” She was still annoyed with him for this morning.
“No. Just wondering what Trevor wanted.”
“A date.”
Kyle frowned. “Be careful. He’s got a bit of a reputation.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sure. I suppose the first guy that I accept a date from is bound to have some defect.”
“I’m serious. He’s a bit of a player.”
“Really?” she asked, her ire getting the better of her. “Seems to me like he’s a nice guy. And he actually fits within my rules—no clients and no coworkers. I would think you’d be happy.”
“I’m not the one trying to shove you into the arms of a man.”
“You have a problem with me dating?”
“No. Just dating him.”
Niki snorted in disgust. “Whatever. I’m sure I’ll have fun. That’s what you’ve been trying to get through my thick skull all morning anyway.”
She stood and went inside to help clean up. When she told Marcy the news, her friend seemed genuinely happy for her. So what was Kyle’s deal anyway?
Kyle moved away from Niki towards the grill. He grabbed the wire brush and attacked the cool grill with vigor.
He hoped she wouldn’t get involved with Trevor. From what Chad told him, Trevor didn’t exactly behave like a Christian. He didn’t want to see Niki get hurt.
Like a Christian. Kyle was in no position to judge. He only became a Christian after the accident.
Before, he was a typical twenty-something male. In college, he went out with as many women as he could. He had the looks and he had the charm. He never seemed to be in want for the company of a pretty girl.
There was only one that got him into to trouble. It wasn’t her fault. Not really. He tried to keep it from changing his life, and had been very successful at it…
Until he became a Christian. Then he had to face his past with one very sobering reality. He had been a horrible father to Alana. It wasn’t her fault that her parents got drunk. One thing led to another—to her birth.