Read Online Beyond the Waves (Pacific Shores Book 1) by Lynnette Bonner - Free Book Online Page B

turned serious again, and he watched the grains of sand in his hand cascade back to the beach. Why did he have to be so easy on the eyes? He returned his gaze to her face, and she licked her lips. “Please, Ky. Let’s just clean up the lunch stuff.” She didn’t think she would have the strength to resist if he was tempted to kiss her again.
    Kylen hopped up and reached a hand down. “I’ll come help you.” As he dusted sand from himself, he called over to Brice and Marie, “We’re going to go clean up the lunch things. We’ll be ready to go in a bit.”
    Taysia hurried toward the picnic site, adrenaline making her legs tremble. She wouldn’t kid herself. There was no way she was attractive enough to keep the handsome Kylen Sumner’s attention for any length of time. Sure, he was home and claiming interest in her, but beautiful girls like Sophia Clinesmith were really more his type. And it was best she remember that. She’d forgotten it one too many times already.
    Quickly she scooped all the leftovers into the cooler and headed for the car. Kylen followed carrying the small grill and popped the trunk for her. She stuffed the cooler inside. As she pulled back, her hand got caught in one strap of her bag and her Bible fell out, spilling bulletins and notes everywhere.
    “Oh, bother!” She began to gather the papers together, placing today’s bulletin on the top. Her hands stilled as notes from Pastor’s sermon arrested her attention. Pastor had quoted Samuel Taylor Coleridge. “And the devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.” This morning’s sermon had been all about pride, and she had brushed it aside because she knew she didn’t have a problem with thinking more highly of herself than she ought; in fact, she was quite the opposite. But was her “humility” actually pride in disguise? Was it actually pride refusing to allow Kylen back into her heart? Fear of humiliation if he decided, once again, that he’d be better off with someone else? Wanting to protect herself?
    Kylen stood behind her waiting so he could put the grill into the trunk. “Layne, you okay?” he asked.
    She quickly shuffled the papers together. “I’m fine.” She brushed past him as verses from Philippians 3 marched through her head. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus .
    She clenched her fists and sank down onto a driftwood log. She didn’t want to forget what he had done to her. She didn’t ever want herself to be vulnerable to him again. She had forgiven him and was pressing on; wasn’t that enough? She was serving God, doing her best to love and help others. Isn’t that enough, God? I just don’t want to be hurt again .
    Kylen eased down on the log beside her. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees and cupping her chin in one hand. The waves pulsed a soothing rhythm, and she let her eyes fall closed. Lord, I don’t know if I’m being prideful or not. I do have a hard time believing Kylen could really be attracted to me. And I know I don’t want to get hurt again. And I’m so attracted to him that it makes it really hard. What if we start dating and he dumps me again? She sighed . Just help me to find Your way through all of this. And if there is sin in my heart, show me, Lord. And help me to be willing to let go of it .
    Kylen reached over with one hand and began to massage the muscles along her back and at the base of her neck. He cleared his throat. “Layne, I need to ask you something.” He paused, and she reached for a shell in the sand between her feet. “Do you think there is any chance at all that you will ever care for me again? Trust me?”
    She tensed and looked out across the ocean to the horizon, her pulse skittering like a colt in the cool morning. Yes, that’s what I’m afraid of . She swallowed and looked back down at