Chapter Four

Kylie

 

Kylie turned around in front of the full-length mirror, catching a glimpse of her outfit from every angle. The bright yellow cotton poplin dress hugged her torso and flared out at the waist to show off her calves under a full skirt. With a wistful smile, she reminisced about the muscle tone she’d lost in her legs since she stopped dancing. Now at age thirty, she was too old to dance but still young enough to chase after kids.

Being a nanny, however, wasn’t so much of a physical workout as it was a mental and emotional one. The girls in her care needed constant attention, and their mother demanded perfection. Kylie often wondered how long she’d last in this job. A good layer of makeup hid the dark circles under her eyes, concealing how tired she really was. How tired she’d been the last decade trying to make ends meet. It wasn’t just herself she was supporting; she paid for her mother’s rent and food as well. Ever since her father had squandered their life savings away, she’d become the breadwinner. Working as a nanny for one of the wealthiest families in the Bay Area was a grueling job, but it did pay the bills.

“You look so good, girl!” Tabitha squealed behind her. “I bet you’ll have Devon eating out of your hand by the end of the night.”

Kylie rolled her eyes at her friend who sat on one of the beds in the guest house where the two of them were staying. The family Tabitha nannied for had also come along on this trip as the children were all classmates at the same school. Kylie was thankful for Tabitha’s company and for lending her a dress for this evening. “It’s all thanks to you. I didn’t bring anything suitable for an evening out. I didn’t think I’d be going on a date—not that this is a date,” she quickly corrected herself.

“It is so a date! With a handsome and rich man, no less.” Sighing, Tabitha shot Kylie a longing glance. “Say you’ll remember me when you marry up. You’ll still come and visit me in the poorhouse, won’t you?”

“You’re too much, Tabs. I think you missed your calling as an actress.” Kylie slid her feet into a pair of Tabitha’s heels and grabbed her purse off the bed. “I’m not marrying anyone, much less Devon Brooks. We’re totally different people now. I’m sure he wouldn’t give me the time of day in the real world.” She made air quotes with her fingers. “He’s just lonely here in Hawaii. There’s something about this place that makes you want to do romantic things.”

“Whatever the reason is, you’re the one going out tonight, not me. I’m both jealous and happy for you.” Tabitha stepped forward to give Kylie a quick hug. “This is just the break you need before going back to work tomorrow. I have a feeling we’re going to have our hands full with the kiddos during the charity golf event. Those things go on forev … er.” She drawled out the last two syllables a few extra beats. “You’d think they were playing 88 holes, not 18!”

Kylie laughed at Tabitha’s cross-eyed expression. The tension in her shoulders and back fell away for a moment. She didn’t realize how much stress her body had been taking lately. Her mom’s recent health problems were taking a toll on her, too. She should be back home seeing to her care, not a time zone away. But the only reason she was here in Hawaii was to make money to pay for rent. Just a few more days and she would be able to go home to the Bay Area.

But first, she had an evening to get through with her ex-boyfriend.

Thinking of Devon made goosebumps rise along her arms. He hadn’t changed much at all since they were teenagers. If anything, he was more mature and charming—not to mention, well off—which put him way out of her league. Honestly, a part of her had only agreed to see him tonight out of guilt. She’d treated him so badly as a kid that she wanted more than anything to make him happy. And if saying yes to an evening out made him smile, she’d go along with his plan.

There was also a big part of her that longed to see him again. What woman wouldn’t jump at the chance to spend time with a man who looked at her the way Devon did? If only for one night, she’d pretend to be someone she wasn’t. She just had to make it back in time to get a good night’s sleep and be up bright and early tomorrow morning for real life.

“I wish I could bring you with me, Tabby. You deserve a night out, too.”

“Hey, don’t worry about me. I’m going to catch up on some TV and run a hot bath for myself—one without bubbles and squeaky toys.” Tabitha paused to chuckle. “Actually, I’m going to keep the bubbles. I love popping them. But you should run along now and enjoy yourself.”

“Thanks, Tabs. I’ll have enough fun for the both of us.”

“You do that. Sneak a little champagne for me, too!” she added with a mischievous grin.

Kylie balked. “You know that’s against our contract.”

“It’s your day off. The alcohol will be out of your system by morning.”

She shook her head in chagrin. The last thing Kylie wanted to do was jeopardize her job. There was to be no drinking, even on their day off. That’s why she hadn’t taken a sip of the champagne Devon had offered her earlier today, as much as she wanted to. She hoped she’d be able to stick to her guns this evening as well.

“Live a little,” Tabitha piped up as if she could read Kylie’s thoughts. She gave her a gentle push out the door, propelling her toward whatever the evening entailed. “Text me if you’re going to be late, so I know not to wait up for you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be home well before midnight.” Kylie waved goodbye and set down the driveway toward her rental car.

With butterflies in her stomach, she drove the minivan onto Ehukai Street heading north. When she had insisted on driving herself to their rendezvous location, Devon had texted her with directions to a nearby harbor. They had exchanged messages back and forth like two teenagers, complete with fun little emojis. She had looked forward to his texts, reading each one multiple times as if they were from a boy she had a crush on. That wasn’t too far from the truth. Devon evoked emotions in her that she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Hope and happiness seemed within reach again. She finally felt like she was living, not just surviving.

For once, Kylie had something to look forward to. She assumed Devon was planning to take her on a sunset cruise. She hardly cared what they would be doing though. An evening out was just what she needed to relax and unwind. And who better to spend it with than an old friend? Because that’s exactly who Devon was to her—nothing more. If she had to repeat that to herself all night to convince her heart, she would.