Chapter Twenty-Four

Chloe’s gaze rested on anywhere but Kara. The hedges. The fountain. The vibrant flowers in full bloom. She’d avoided being alone with Kara since their family had arrived the previous day. Chloe wondered if Kara knew or suspected what had gone on between her and Davis.

“I hope my son didn’t give you too much trouble,” Kara said as they walked through the resort’s garden. “I know Davis can be particular about things, but he has a good heart.”

And there it was. Chloe had hoped she could avoid the topic of Davis, at least for a few minutes. There were so many other topics of conversation. Like how the bus ride had been. The weather. All sorts of exciting stuff.

“Yes, he does,” Chloe said, trying to make it sound as natural as possible. Like she hadn’t felt the beating of that heart as he’d held her close late into the night. “And it was no trouble at all. Travis actually got Davis hooked on roti and tuk-tuks, so he’s practically Thai already.”

“That’s impressive.” A pause. “So, Travis is here?” Kara said it casually enough, but Chloe could have sworn that there was a layer of disappointment hidden in there. Like Kara had hoped it had just been Chloe and Davis the whole time. Alone.

Maybe Davis hadn’t been wrong about his parents trying to set them up.

“He left this morning for Bangkok. But he took Davis on a tour of the city a few days ago. Helped him get a lay of the land.” More like traumatized him.

“That’s nice.” Another pause. “Were you and Davis able to spend much time together?”

Okay, now Kara wasn’t even trying to be subtle. Her gaze was piercing. And Chloe wanted to shrink under it.

“We took a boat out to an elephant sanctuary a couple days ago, so that was pretty cool.”

Kara looked like she wanted to press for more details but was interrupted by the twins, who came running around the bend.

“Finally,” Will said, bending over and panting.

Randy called over his shoulder, “Found her!” Though who he was calling to, Chloe couldn’t see. Probably Rick.

Will’s breathing slowed, and he straightened. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“I told your dad that I was going on a walk,” Kara said with a small laugh. It held exasperation, like this wasn’t the first time they’d done this.

Randy nodded. “Oh, we know. We weren’t talking about you.” He turned to face Chloe. “There’s this guy at the river who needs to talk to you.”

Kara raised an eyebrow. “You having a fling with a river guide?”

“No,” Chloe said slowly, warning bells immediately going off. “But there was a man named Somsak who took us out in his boat. Nice guy. I hope nothing’s wrong.” She began to walk quickly toward the river before realizing she’d just abandoned Kara. “Sorry. Can I meet up with you for lunch?”

Kara waved her off, like no apology was necessary. “Of course.” A pause. “On second thought, maybe I should come with you—just in case. The boys too.”

“No,” the twins yelled in unison, causing both Chloe and Kara to jump.

“He was very specific,” Randy said. “He needs Chloe.”

Will added, “And only her. Now.”

Despite it beginning to sound like the plot of a terrible horror movie, Chloe didn’t ask any more questions, which showed how much trust she placed in Will and Randy. She spun away and hurried around the hedges. As she suspected, Somsak’s boat was tied to the dock at the river.

There was something different about it, though. As she drew closer, she realized it was much nicer than the boat they’d gone in two days earlier. No holes. The covering on top was new, not bleached by the sun.

Chloe glanced around but didn’t see Somsak. Was this the boat of a competitor? She hoped not. What little business Somsak had would disappear overnight.

It wasn’t until Chloe had reached the dock that Somsak emerged from inside the vessel. He grinned when he saw her and immediately launched into rapid Thai, leaving Chloe struggling to keep up. The boat had been sanded and polished, and Somsak ran a hand over the smooth wood as he pointed out all of the new features of his refurbished boat. He was most excited about the new seats that had replaced the wooden plank.

Somsak said that with a boat so nice, he’d be able to triple the number of customers he had. That meant he’d be able to visit his family more often, and not just when the tourists wanted to visit the sanctuary.

Chloe smiled and congratulated him but couldn’t help but wonder how it had all come about. “You’ve done an amazing job,” she told him in Thai.

“It wasn’t me. It was your friends. That is why I sent for you. So I could show you the good they did for me.” His gaze landed on something over Chloe’s shoulder, and he switched to English. “Come, come. Tell her what you told me.”

She turned and saw that Davis stood behind her. He was wet with sweat, remnants of the old boat scattered on the ground around him. He froze, his toolbelt hanging from one hand.

“I thought I’d have time to clean up before you discovered what we’ve been doing down here,” he said, looking like he wanted to hide.

“But tell her what you told me,” Somsak pressed.

It took another moment for Davis to register Somsak’s words. “I just told him the truth. That he needs a better boat, especially if we’re going to hire him to haul all of the supplies we need for the orphanage. Can’t have the boat springing a leak.” He gave a small shrug. “I might have helped him fix a few things.”

“No, you do not fix a few things,” Somsak told Davis. “You fix everything. And your brothers. So strong. And kind. You worked all day yesterday. All night. And then again today. For me.” He turned to Chloe and switched back to Thai as he told her that Davis wouldn’t accept money for any of it. His eyes shone, like he was trying not to cry.

“I…don’t understand,” Chloe said, turning to Davis. “You said you can’t stay. That this isn’t your life. Why go to the trouble…”

Davis took a few steps toward her, his gaze intense. “Because I was wrong. I realized that I have been playing make-believe, but not here.” He took another step toward her. “I hadn’t truly lived until I came to Thailand. This is what is real. The kindness I’ve seen in every face, the connection I’ve felt… Maybe it’s selfish. Maybe it’s wrong to be this happy. To love this deeply. But I’m willing to take that risk.” One more step. “I know you might not want me working with your organization. I don’t blame you. But know that, regardless, I’m going to be here. And whatever you need, I’ll—”

Chloe closed the gap and stopped his words with a kiss. She pulled away, cupping his face with her hands, wanting him to see what she’d been trying to show him all along. “I want you. And I need you. I have since the day you stumbled into my life.”

“I know you mean that in the most literal sense,” Davis said, laughing. “But my stumbling days are over, and I’m happy to be of service. Wherever you need me.” He hesitated. “What about Travis?”

Oh, no, not this again. Was he still worried that something was going on between them? “What about him?”

“It’s just that…well…will this be awkward for him? Will there be problems with me working for you…and more than working for you?”

Chloe leaned back, taking in Davis’s dusty hair and laughing eyes. It was hard to believe that this was the same man who had puked on her shoes his first day in the country. But it went to show how much he’d needed Thailand…and how much it needed him.

“Actually, Travis quit, and as it turns out, I have a job opening. You interested in being more than a volunteer? I can offer you crappy hours, worse pay, and you rarely get a day off.”

Davis pursed his lips, as if thinking it over. “What are the rules about fraternizing with your boss?”

“Highly recommended.”

He gave a curt nod. “Then I’m in.”

That was when they heard a squeal from the hedges.

“It worked, honey! Didn’t I tell you it would?”

Davis groaned, and Chloe laughed.

“Looks like we were played,” she said. “Just like you suspected.”

He wrapped an arm around Chloe’s waist, and they walked toward the garden where his family still hid, undoubtedly congratulating themselves on a job well done. “I won’t tell you that I told you so.”

As they drew closer, she heard one of the twins ask, “So, if Davis stays here, who’s going to run the store in Starlight Ridge?”

Chloe glanced to Davis, knowing he’d no doubt thought about it. But even he didn’t seem to have an answer to that one. And knowing that he was still taking the plunge, even without having all the details worked out, meant everything to Chloe.

Davis was finally home. And he was hers.

And then the answer hit her. “I think I know who can manage the store,” she said. She couldn’t believe it hadn’t occurred to her before. The man had been going on about wanting a family and friends and a community. Backpacking through Europe wasn’t going to give that to him. “I need to make a phone call.”