What Lies Within Read online

  “Well”—he straightened, and Kyla tried not to let the sardonic twist to his lips bother her—“I’ll leave you to your conversation. See you at your place? Around six?”

  “You have the key I gave you?”

  “Indeed.”

  “Thanks again for the offer to fix me a celebratory dinner. I appreciate it, Mason.”

  “Yes, well, I like to think I treat you as you deserve to be treated.” His gaze drifted to the phone. “Though I’m sure there are some who don’t agree.”

  She should say something, but her mind was as void as her heart. So she just sat there, watching the man she was supposed to love walk away.

  Doing nothing to stop him.

  THREE

  “I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.”

  JOSEPH PRIESTLEY

  “If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.”

  1 CORINTHIANS 13:2

  Where was she?

  Rafe lifted a cup of steaming black coffee to his lips. A week. Seven days since Kyla had been here—eight if you counted today. Every day he watched for her, waited to see her smile as she came in, to catch that tantalizing perfume as she drew close. Something simple and elegant. A kind of vanilla, like the cookies his mom made him after school when he was young. Warm and subtle, but with enough impact to reach him through the scent of good, strong coffee.

  After three days with no sign of her, he began to worry. Had he done something wrong? Somehow made her uncomfortable? No, impossible. He’d done everything he could to accomplish just the opposite. To make this place a haven for her, a place she longed to be.

  Two more days went by. Then two more.

  Maybe she was ill. He plunked his coffee mug down on the counter. Why hadn’t he found out where she lived? Yes, he’d wanted to move with care. To make each advance in their budding acquaintance as cautious and strategic as possible. He wasn’t going to risk scaring her off.

  But what if something had happened to her? With her sister and brother so far away, who was around to help her if she needed it?

  You think a woman like that hasn’t got friends? Hasn’t got a man?

  A man. The thought pierced him, but only for a moment.

  No, not the way she’d smiled at him. The way her eyes warmed whenever she looked at him. Even if there was a man in her life, it wasn’t someone who owned her heart. Rafael was as certain of that as he was his own name.

  Worry stuck in his gut. He’d waited long enough. Time to do something. He could go to her company’s office, but that seemed too … intrusive. Then he remembered. She’d mentioned the mall her company was building. Perfect. He’d just drive past the construction site. Surely he’d see her there, and then his worries would be put to rest.

  He turned and went to find Olivia. His sister listened as he asked her to carry the shift on her own.

  “You crazy, Rafa? You know I stay in the background. You’re the front man, si? I don’t deal with those people. Six bucks for a cup of coffee? Those people are nuts.”

  “My coffee is worth it, sis.”

  She tossed her hair. “Nobody’s coffee is worth that much money. Not unless there’s gold dust in the grounds.”

  He waggled his brows at her. “Heeey, there’s an idea.”

  She waved him off and started to walk away, but he caught her. Curled his arms around her shoulders and put on his best puppy-dog face. “For me, Livita. Please.”

  Her heavy sigh signaled surrender—the childhood nickname had done the trick, as he’d known it would. But she didn’t give in without a price.

  “So, what you going to say to this chica if you find her?”

  “Say to her?”

  “Si, Rafa. You’ll have to speak to her one of these days. Maybe even tell her how you feel.” She pinched his arm. “That should be interesting. My little chato, too tough to express his emotions, telling a woman he loves her.”

  When he didn’t take the bait, she nudged him with her hip. “Come on, Rafa. Practice with me. Te amo, mi cielo.”

  “Liv …”

  “Mi amor.” She batted her eyelashes. “Mi corazon.”

  “¡Córtala!”

  Her laughter rang out as she complied. “All right, Rafa. No more teasing.”

  He handed her his barista apron and was out the door and behind the steering wheel in two heartbeats. He gunned the engine, racing through traffic and brushing aside the thought that he was acting just a bit crazy. If he saw Kyla at the construction site, fine. He’d know she was okay.

  If not … he’d be placing a call to his Force Recon buddy David Thales. Thales would find Kyla. In record time. Thales could find anyone. Anywhere. Anytime.

  He braked for a red light—and frowned. Thales would want to know who Kyla was. What she was to Rafe.

  And what, pray tell, is she? A customer at your coffee shop.

  He hit the gas, focusing just enough to maneuver around a snarl of traffic. Kyla was more than that. She’d been coming to Rafe’s coffee shop every day for the past four months. Every day. And she didn’t just buy coffee and walk out. She stayed to talk. Sometimes he even took a break and sat with her at one of the small round tables.

  That was more than just a customer, right?

  Yeah. He could just hear what Thales and the others from his Force Recon team would say.

  “Sure, Asadi. Whatever you say.”

  “You taking up stalking, Staff Sergeant, sir?”

  “You wiggin’ out, Asadi?”

  But Rafe would tell them what he kept telling himself: Kyla Justice was just a friend. Nothing more. He spotted the construction site ahead, and his heart rate picked up speed. He’d just drive past, nice and slow—but not too slow. Didn’t want to draw attention.

  His plans faded, though, as he pulled into the parking lot. There were cars everywhere. And from the looks of things, this job wasn’t in process. It was done. In fact, unless he missed his guess—which didn’t happen often—there was a grand opening in progress.

  Rafe peered into the milling crowd but saw no sign of Kyla. His concern flared to life, and he reined it in, turning the wheel to circle the parking lot—

  There! Her car. Sitting at the back of the lot. And perched on the driver’s seat, legs stretched out the open driver’s door, was Kyla. Talking on her cell phone.

  Relief so powerful it made him lightheaded swept through him. She was okay. And then, on the heels of relief, came the gnawing unease. He managed to ignore it as he steered his car out of the parking lot, back onto the road. Even held it off until he shifted the car into park back at his coffee shop. But it crawled through him as he pushed out of the vehicle and headed inside.

  Because if she wasn’t sick, something else was keeping her away.

  “Stop it this minute! Kylie? Are you daydreaming again? He-llo!”

  Issuing a heavy sigh, Kyla put the phone to her ear. “Annot, for heaven’s sake, must you be so belligerent to Mason?”

  “I’m not belligerent.”

  “All right then, rude.”

  “Not that either.”

  Kyla leaned forward, resting her forehead against the steering wheel, then straightened with a jerk. There it was. A mewing sound. She was sure of it!

  She slid from the car, the cell phone to her ear. “Fine. Then what would you call that idiotic remark you made to him about his still being around?”

  The silence drew out. “You heard that, huh?”

  “Yes, Annot, I heard it.” Kyla reached the back of her car and peered down at the bush.

  Nothing.

  The kitten was gone.

  Pain—sudden and blinding—shot through Kyla. Piercing her heart.

  “Kyla? Are you okay?”

  The alarm in her sist
er’s voice told her she’d somehow given herself away. “I’m fine. Just”—she pressed trembling fingers to weary eyes—“frustrated.”

  More silence. “Look, I’m sorry, Kylie. I guess I’m just ambivalent when it comes to Mason.”

  Why hadn’t she come back sooner? Why hadn’t she at least called the Humane Society? “He’s a fine man.”

  “But is he the right man? That’s what bothers me.”

  “What matters, my dear sister, is whether or not it bothers me.“ Kyla let the overwhelming emotions fill her tone, welcomed the outlet even as she knew Annot didn’t deserve her response.

  “I’ve seen you two together, and I’ve listened to your voice when you talk about him, and there’s just …”

  Kyla closed her eyes. “What? There’s just what?”

  “Nothing.”

  The word fell like a stone. How horribly appropriate. “Annot—”

  “No, that’s what there is. Nothing. No longing. No sense that you can’t wait to be with him. No passion. You need a man with passion.”

  “Our passion is doing just fine, thank you.”

  “Oh?” Long pause. “Anything I should know about?”

  “Don’t be absurd, Annot. You know me better than that.”

  “Exactly. Which is why I know Mason is fine as a friend, but he’s just not the one. Not for you, Kylie.”

  Kyla didn’t cry. Hadn’t done so in years. And yet as she stood there, listening to her sister’s voice, her eyes burned and filled.

  Think of something else. Tell Annot your name isn’t Kylie …

  She didn’t have the energy to try to stop her sister’s use of the childhood nickname. What was the point? Annot gave everyone nicknames. Annie rather than Annot, Dan in place of Avidan. Even her dog was everything from Kodi, the animal’s actual name, to Beast, Monster, and—Kyla’s personal favorite—Kodi-o-dio. And that was fine. For Annot.

  Kyla chose to hold to the true names they’d been given. Out of respect.

  Not, no matter what Annot said, out of rigidity.

  “So how’s life down south?” Annot lived in Medford, which was three hundred miles south. A nice area, though a bit too arid for Kyla. She much preferred the lush green of the Portland area.

  Unfortunately, her sister didn’t take the distraction bait. “Don’t you ever get tired of it, Kylie?”

  “Of what?”

  “Being so sedate.”

  At least that made Kyla laugh. A little. “Are you calling me dull?”

  “Well. Yeah. I mean, think about it. You and Mason are both so unaffected by life. So controlled.”

  You should see me now. She pressed two fingers to the bridge of her nose. This conversation was going nowhere. Just like her life. And that had to change. “Was there a reason you called?”

  Another pause. Then a sigh. Her sister could communicate volumes with one sigh. “Two reasons. First, I wanted to know how the opening went.”

  “Fine.”

  “You don’t sound very excited.”

  Kyla stared at the clouds studding the sky. “It’s a mall, Annot. It’s not like I built something that will change anyone’s life.” Her own words struck her, and she straightened her back, brows furrowing, realization nudging at her.

  “Anyway, the second reason I called is to let you know that Jed and I are getting married.” Delight lilted across the phone waves.

  “Yes, I know. You’ve been engaged for almost seven months now.”

  By all rights, the two should already be husband and wife. They’d planned to marry back in December.

  It surprised everyone when they, hand in hand, had gathered the family in Annot’s living room and Jediah explained. “Annie and I love each other, but God has made it clear we should take our time.” He looked at Annot, and the love in his features was undeniable. “This is going to last all our lives. We need to do it right.”

  Kyla’s mouth had fallen open. Something she seldom allowed but couldn’t stop this time. “You’re taking time to think about something?”

  Annot laughed. “Yes, Kylie, as out of character as that may seem. But hey, isn’t it about time I was sensible about something in my life?”

  “Yes, it is.” Kyla had smiled at their brother, Avidan, and he winked his agreement.

  Kyla drew her focus back to the phone call. “So, you’re getting married is supposed to be news because …?”

  “Because we’ve set a date.”

  “Oh, Annot! Really? When?”

  Her sister’s laughter trilled. “Now that’s more like it. You need to get excited more often, sister mine.”

  “Just tell me the date, brat.”

  “December 21.”

  Kyla grabbed her purse and tugged her day planner free. “That’s barely three months away!”

  “It’s a good deal more than we’d have had with our original plan.”

  True enough. That would have given them a week. “Okay, then, December 21 it is.” She set her day planner on the seat beside her. Her sister’s wedding. Now this was something that mattered. “You’ll tell me what you want me to do and when?”

  “You mean other than be my maid of honor?”

  Kyla bit her lip against the sting at the backs of her eyes. How did Annot do that? Know exactly what to say to tug Kyla’s heart to life? “I’d love to. Thank you.”

  “Yeah, like I’d ask anyone else, goofball.”

  “You’d better not. Anyway, let me know when you want to get together to talk about things or try on dresses, or whatever.”

  “Will do. And Kyla?”

  “Yes?”

  “Get some rest. You don’t sound right.”

  “Annot—”

  “I won’t say another word. I promise.”

  Kyla couldn’t hold back the wry smile as she bid her sister good-bye. Annot not say another word?

  Now that would be a miracle.

  FOUR

  “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”

  GEORGE WASHINGTON

  “Yes, I will punish those who … fill their masters’ houses with violence and deceit.”

  ZEPHANIAH 1:9

  It was a miracle nothing had happened so far.

  He stood back, concealed by the concrete building, and watched what was happening across the street. Frustration warred with apprehension in his gut.

  That ladder rung should have given way by now. He’d been here the last two days, waiting. It shouldn’t have taken this long. He’d chosen the old extension ladder because it was tall enough to do the trick, but not so tall the accident could kill. He chose a middle rung, about five feet up, and made a perfect cut. Just enough to weaken the rung but not so obvious anyone would notice. Lucky for him the construction crew was using the ladders owned by the church as well as their own aluminum equipment.

  Wood ladders were far easier to sabotage.

  Another construction worker climbed the ladder in question, and he held his breath. But the worker made it to the top of the ladder without event.

  Foul thoughts flew through his mind, curses against whatever guardian angels hovered nearby. Sure, it was a church. But that shouldn’t matter. Accidents happened everywhere, even on so-called holy groun—

  A loud snap and a man’s alarmed cry jerked him from his dark reverie. Anticipation wrapped around his heart, making it pound as he leaned for a better view. Ah, success!

  The worker lay on the ground, writhing in what clearly was agony. Chaos erupted as his fellow workers ran to his side.

  “Call 911! Now!”

  Music to his ears.

  He slipped behind the building, leaning against the cold concrete, and smiled.

  “I’m done.”

  Fredrik Tischler looked up from the ledger he was studying to peer at the tall man standing in the doorway of the church office. He hadn’t known James Lawton long, but he liked what he knew of him. He’d worked hard these la
st few months, keeping his construction crew past sunset more often than not.

  Speaking of which … Fredrik glanced past the contractor at the still-sunny day outside. He frowned and almost questioned James, but reason seeped in. The crew deserved to get off a little early once in a while. He waved a hand. “Fine. We’ll see you first thing tomorrow.”

  “No.” The contractor’s tone hardened. “Not done for today. Done.”

  Sudden understanding brought Fredrik to his feet. How such a man, a professional, could be saying this was more than he could take in. “You’re quitting?”

  Lawton buried his large hands in his pants pockets. “I’m sorry—”

  “But we only have two more months to finish the project!”

  “Mr. Tischler, I’m sorry. But we can’t keep working with these conditions.”

  “Please—”

  Words spilled forth, frustration evident in the clipped tone. “No. I just sent another man to the hospital.”

  “Oh no.” Fredrik pressed his hands against the desktop, steadying himself. “I heard the sirens but didn’t know they were coming here.”

  “This man has worked for me for five years. Never been injured on the job, not once. And now he’s the fourth man injured on this job.” He shook his head. “If that weren’t enough, every order for supplies has come back wrong, no matter how careful we are with the measurements. It’s not my guys. I know it’s not.”

  “I know, but—”

  “Tools have gone missing. Permits have been delayed or lost. Vehicles have been broken into. And these accidents …” Lawton clamped his jaws on the tirade.

  “Mr. Lawton, please—”

  “No, I’m sorry. I know you’re trying to do a good thing here. I respect that. I wanted to be a part of it. Really. But I won’t put my guys at risk any longer.” He held out a folder Fredrik hadn’t noticed before. “Here’s everything you need to give the new contractor.”

  Fredrik took the folder, then did the only thing he could. He held out his hand.

  Lawton hesitated for a second, then accepted Fredrik’s hand. “I’m sorry, sir. I really am.”

  Fredrik believed him. “You do what you must, sir. With such there is no arguing.”