Chapter Twenty-Three:
April 6, 2002
Kay is the most wonderful woman in the world. She's sweet, loving, and, of course, sexy. I still can't believe that she loves me the way that I love her.

But she does.

After we broke up in January, I never imagined that I would find a love as powerful as the one that I had had for her.

Luckily, I didn't even have to try. These past few months, Kay and I grew closer before finally confessing our feelings for each other. Now, our relationship is better than I could have ever imagined. It's filled with a love that is deep and pure. A love that is sure to last forever.

I know that the past few months have been rather hellish for Kay. Both Miguel and Jordan have hurt her time and time again, and she is just now beginning to heal the wounds that they inflicted.

In order to give her a temporary respite from, well, everything, I have planned something for today that will hopefully lift her spirits. It's not very extravagant or anything of that sort, but I believe that she will love it all the same…

Towels?

Check.

Suntan Lotion?

Check.

Sunglasses?

Check.

Swimsuit?


Check.

Yeah, it looked like Reese had everything that he needed for his surprise. Kay knew that they were heading to the beach, but she didn't know much more than that.

And that's how it would stay—for now.

"Good morning, Chief," Reese greeted Kay's father as he headed up to her bedroom.

"Hello, Reese. Kay should be almost ready."

"I'll say," Jessica grumbled. "She's been up since dawn getting ready. It's Saturday, for crying out loud!!"

Reese stifled a chuckle and, instead, nodded as he continued up to Kay's room. He knew that it probably wouldn't matter too much what they did—all that matter was that they were together. But after everything that had happened, Reese wanted to try his best to help Kay relieve all of that pent-up stress.

Softly, he knocked on the door. "Kay? You almost ready?"

The door swung open to reveal his beautiful girlfriend standing before him, looking gorgeous as always. But that day… that day, he actually appreciated the wonders of global warming—or whatever the explanation was for the unseasonably warm weather that they had. Kay was standing before him, her beautiful body clothed in simply a daisy-patterned bikini top and a matching sarong.

"What do you think?" she asked, twirling around for him with a twinkle in her eye.

Reese chuckled softly. This spark, this animation, this life that she had about her that morning was something that he hadn't seen for a long time. Finally, it appeared that Kay was slowly becoming the woman she had once been.

Quickly, he grabbed her arm and began to pull her out the door. "C'mon, let's go!"

Kay slid out of his grasp with a smirk. "You never did answer my question," she informed him teasingly, as she pulled on a white linen shirt.

Reese laughed heartily. God, he had missed seeing her like this. "I think," he began as he pulled her towards him, "that you make my life heaven on earth. And, I think that nothing will ever change my mind about that."

Slowly, he leaned in for a soft kiss, their lips brushing sensually in anticipation. Or, at least, he was anticipating what would be happening next. Kay, on the other hand, quickly broke out of his embrace and bounced out of her room towards the staircase.

"C'mon, Reese! Let's go swimming!"

Reese groaned. That woman was going to be the death of him. But, he had to admit, it wasn't such a bad way to go.

~*~

"You ready for a swim?" Kay asked as soon as she sighted the rolling waves of the ocean. Immediately, she dropped her towel and shirt on the sand, slipped out of her sandals, and broke into a run.

"I'll race you there!" she shouted back to him as she neared the water.

Now, Reese knew that he couldn't just sit back and let her win. He knew that he'd never hear the end of it. So he quickly discarded the items that he was carrying and flew across the sand.

He was gaining on her. He knew it! Slowly, he was closing the distance between them, and he knew that he could beat her.

As he closed within a few feet of the surf, she was still a step ahead of him, but he dived into the waves while shouting, "I win!"

The water was frigid, and Reese quickly got out just as quickly as he had dived in. As he looked around for Kay, he noticed that she was simply standing on the shore, dry as a bone, laughing so hard that tears were streaming down her face.

That little sneak. She had never had any intention of getting wet. Rather, she'd wanted him to freeze his ass off in the water for her entertainment!

"What's so funny, Kay?" Reese asked as combed his hair out of his eyes with his fingers.

"N—nothing," she gasped.

"Kay, you're looking a little warm. Here, let me help you cool off," Reese offered with a twinkle in his eye as he approached her.

"N—no!" Kay cried out between chuckles, as she backed away from him.

But she couldn't get away quick enough. In mere moments, Reese had her in his arms as he was quickly striding back into the raging surf. With a smirk, he lost his grip on her as she fell beneath the waves.

Grinning, Reese headed back to the shore. Kay had tricked him into soaking himself, so it was only fair that he returned the favor.

He knew that she would be mad when she got out of the water and want her revenge. But that was okay with him—a fiery Kay was always sure to be entertaining.

Speaking of Kay, where was she? She should have surfaced by now, right? Had she hit her head on something when he had unloaded her into the waves?? If he had hurt her, he would never be able to forgive himself.

Quickly, Reese ran back into the ocean, looking for Kay. He crouched over the water, looking for her form underneath the water.

Splash!

Suddenly, Reese had been hit on his back, which was causing him to be breathing water. Quickly, he pulled his head out of the waves, spitting the liquid from his mouth.

"Score one for Kay!" he heard a familiar voice gloat.

She had tricked him. He had been worrying that she was unconscious under the water, but the whole time she had been plotting her revenge.

With a war-like cry, Reese pulled himself from the water and ran towards the woman who was taunting him on the beach. Caught off guard, Kay soon found herself on the ground, pinned beneath Reese's strong body.

"Who's got the upper hand now?" he asked smugly.

Quickly, Kay wrenched her arm free and placed it on his back. "Me," she replied with a smirk.

Reese grinned. Yeah, Kay was certainly her old self again.

Slowly, he lowered his mouth to hers, the proximity of their lips causing Kay's eyes to flutter shut. At that exact moment, Reese stood up and slung Kay over his shoulder.

"Reese Durkee, what do you think you are doing???" Kay cried out as she beat her fists on his back.

Reese ignored her gripes, but, instead, picked up the supplies that they had discarded earlier when they began the race that wasn't.

"Relax, Kay. It's a surprise. Just be patient, and you'll find out in a moment."

"Durkee, you know damn well that I am not a patient person," Kay replied. Reese knew that if he could see her face she would be glowering at him.

"Yeah, I know… but this time, you'll have no choice but to just wait it out."