Mike stopped her at the door. “Wait a second, Miss Speedy. We got to get together while you’re in town. How about dinner on Friday? There’s a new wine and tapas place downtown called Rico’s.”
“It sounds nice, Mike, but I’ve got a lot of work to do around the house.”
“Promise it won’t take but an hour. I want to catch up. See what you’ve been up to.” He gave her a strange combination of smile and smirk that left her uneasy.
Kyra didn’t want to keep standing there and miss her appointment so she agreed. “Okay, I’ll meet you for dinner at Rico’s. Let’s shoot for seven on Friday.”
Mike did a fist pump. “Great. I’ve got stories to tell. You want me to pick you up?”
“Thanks for the offer, but I have my own ride. Might as well get my miles out of the rental fee, right? Goodbye, guys.” She waved to Cole and Mike and left the office.
A negative exchange definitely took place between the two men. She never saw Cole wear a sour face about anything. Then Mike came into the office and he looked like he swallowed a bucket of lemons. Kyra didn’t know why Cole wasn’t happy to see Mike, but Mike’s presence left a sour taste in her mouth, too. Before she even got to her car, she already regretted setting up a dinner date with him.
***
Cole was pleased to see that Kyra kept her promise. For the next four days, she visited the center in the mid-morning or afternoon to gather information to complete the accreditation paperwork. He showed her more of the center and invited her to sit in on a few of the children’s instructional arts and crafts classes. Cole enjoyed her being there. He contemplated inviting her out to one of the center’s morning horseback rides, but it rained for the remainder of the week.
It continued to rain on Friday, starting with a soggy drizzle in the morning that progressed to a miserable downpour in the afternoon. Cole’s truck tires got stuck in the mud outside of the center. Once the rain slowed and he was able to get the vehicle out of the wet muck, he drove to Kyra’s house.
She answered the doorbell in a gray tank top and light blue shorts. Her hair was in a ponytail. She tied a scarf around her head to keep the shorter strands from falling into her eyes. “Hey.” Her smooth black eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise at seeing him.
“I promised you I’d fix the porch swing. I also noticed the faucet was dripping a little in the kitchen sink.” Cole lifted the toolbox he got out of his truck locker.
“You’re very sweet. Please come in and look at the faucet first. You shouldn’t stand outside when it’s still raining.”
Cole was used to working in many types of weather conditions, but he wouldn’t say no to Kyra’s invitation to step into the dry air conditioned house. He entered and viewed the clean living room, complete with plush, freshly-cleaned carpeting. “I can tell you’ve been working hard. The house has improved since I last saw it.”
“Glad you notice a difference.” She wiped the back of her hand across the faint sheen of perspiration on her forehead. “I’ve been scrubbing the walls this afternoon. I discovered a child made crayon marks in the closet of the master bedroom and the tenants didn’t report it. Can you believe it?”
“They were likely scared they’d have to pay to get it cleaned.”
“I should locate their new address and send them a bill for my labor.” When Kyra frowned, her lips made just a bit of a pout. Cole found the expression tempting enough to try to taste, but he came here to make a few household repairs, not see how irresistible his former girlfriend’s expressions could look. He already knew about them, anyway.
Cole laughed at her previous comment. “That sounds like a lawyer talking. How bad are the crayon marks?”
“Not too bad. I don’t think I’ll need to paint over the walls.” She folded her arms and shifted stance. In doing so, she caused her tank top to ride an inch or two over the waistband of her shorts, revealing a sliver of her brown abdomen as it curved and widened into her hip area. He didn’t even need to get started on the expanse of shapely legs extending from those short shorts.
Cole was grateful for the AC being on inside the house. “I’ll get started on the sink. I shouldn’t take too long.”
“Okay, I’ll get back to what I was doing.” Kyra removed her cell phone from the pocket of her shorts. Her almond-shaped eyes widened. “It’s almost six. I still need to finish cleaning before I get ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“Dinner at Rico’s with Mike. I told him I’d meet him tonight at seven.”
Cole forgot about the little rendezvous Mike talked Kyra into attending. His mood soured and curdled like a bucket of milk left in a barn for three days. “I guess I came at a bad time.”
“No, you’re perfectly fine. I’m the one who has to get it in gear.” Kyra jogged out of the living room. Seconds later, he heard the door to a room open and shut.
He sighed. Might as well get to work.
Cole went to the kitchen sink and took a look at the pipes underneath. He discovered an additional source of leakage. The job was going to take a little longer than he anticipated, but it was a pretty simple repair. He set his toolbox on the linoleum floor, rolled up his sleeves, and went to work.
Busy disconnecting and reconnecting the pipes, he lost track of time. Once he had the last pipe attached again, he heard a pair of high heels clicking on the kitchen floor. “How’s it coming?” Kyra’s voice was a little muffled to his ears since half his body was under the sink.
“It should be good as new.” Cole came out from underneath the sink with his flashlight and wrench. He stopped instantly at the sight of Kyra dressed in a formfitting dress of dark nude. The color was one shade lighter than her skin tone, fooling the eye into thinking the dress was actually a part of her body rather than an article of clothing to be taken on or off. No, he told himself. He certainly didn’t need to be thinking about how clothing could be put on or removed at a time like this. “You look…amazing.”
She looked down at herself as though she were surprised by his compliment. “Thank you. I didn’t really know what I should wear tonight. It’s just a little get-together, but the pictures on the restaurant’s website indicate it has a somewhat dressy vibe.”
Cole got up from the floor and washed his hands in the sink. “You look like you’re going out on a hot date.” He dried his hands on a paper towel.
“No, definitely not.” She gave a tiny laugh, pushing a strand of hair that came loose from her updo behind her ear. “I’m only catching up with an old friend. You want something to drink? I’m thirsty.” She turned to open the fridge. Cole got a glimpse of the long metal zipper of her dress. It snaked down her back in a sensual line, skimming over the swell of her curves once it passed the small of her waist. The line stopped at the walking vent a few inches above the backs of her knees. There was no mistaking the pleasing shape of her body.
“Seeing how you look tonight, Mike might have a different impression.”
“What do you mean? I wear this dress all the time for work. It’s very conservative.”
The dress may have had short sleeves, a high collar, and stopped at her knees, but conservative was not the word any red-blooded man would use to describe it. Kyra turned to him again, offering him a can of cola. She opened a can for herself.
“I’m just saying Mike might think the two of you are out on an actual date. I saw the way he looked at you when you were both standing in my office. Don’t pretend you didn’t notice.”
The annoyed look in her eyes told him she did. “So what? He might have liked how I looked that day. It doesn’t mean anything. If he didn’t get the hint the first time about me only meeting him as a friend, I’ll let him know again tonight. I’m not interested in more.”
Cole set his drink on the counter. “Maybe your method works for men in the big city, but in Misty Mesa, things are simpler. If you’re not clear with Mike, he’ll go by what he sees.”
Kyra plunked her can of cola down next to his. The bu
bbles inside fizzed and hissed angrily from the force. She looked like she wanted to bubble over, too. “And what do you think Mike will see, since you seem so willing to speak for him?”
“I’m not going to talk about Mike anymore. I’m going to speak for myself. I see a drop-dead gorgeous woman standing before me, and the last thing I want her to do is leave this house to go have dinner with another man.”
Before Cole could talk himself out of it, he reached for Kyra and pulled her to him in a crushing kiss.
***
Kyra was pressed hard against Cole’s chest. His lips pressed even harder on her mouth in a heated gesture of desire and demand. The stubble along his jaw gently scraped her face. She made a single noise, something between a gasp and a moan, as he parted her lips and tasted her. The linoleum was slippery beneath her feet. She would have tripped in her heels if his arms hadn’t encircled her in a tight, claiming embrace.
She regained her footing and pulled away from him. He stared at her, eyes darkening with a need that went unfulfilled. She felt the same need. She’d been experiencing it since she first saw him after a decade of being apart. For days, she denied her feelings to herself. Now they were perfectly clear.
“Kyra.” He said her name quietly, but she heard the beckoning tone in his voice. He wanted her to go into his arms again. Her body wanted her to return there as well, to stay there for a long while, but her will was more powerful than her physical yearnings. At least, she intended to prove it to him and to herself.
She gripped the door handle of the refrigerator until she was able to stand without support. Then she took two steps to get off the linoleum and onto the carpet. “What was that?”
His chest moved up and down as he breathed audibly. “You know exactly what it was.”
“Yes, your attempt to keep me from leaving the house. It doesn’t work like the movies, Cole. I won’t change my mind about going out because you think you can overpower me with a kiss.”
“If you think that was my intention for kissing you, you’re dead wrong.”
“What was it, then, gratitude for helping you with the center’s paperwork? If so, it sure wasn’t a very professional way to thank me. You knew what you were doing.” She remained still as Cole regarded her with a shrewd gaze.
“You look the same, Kyra, but you’ve turned into a new person, one who puts business ahead of everything. Can’t you see how I still feel about you?”
Kyra saw the pain and passion in his face. She heard it in his voice. It surprised her more than the kiss, and left her a little intimidated. “Things are different, Cole,” she reminded him softly. “They have been for a while.” She took a deep breath. “I believe you could’ve also kissed me because you remembered something from the past and thought it was still there.”
“Things are different, but I’m not living in the past. What we did was right in the moment. You can’t tell me you didn’t feel it.”
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t, but I’m not a teenager anymore. I can’t always go by what I feel. I have to take care of myself. I learned that lesson the hard way a long time ago.” Kyra heard her phone beep in her purse, reminding her to meet Mike in fifteen minutes. She was going to be late. “Listen, Cole, I have to leave. Let’s not make this messy, okay? Thanks for fixing the kitchen faucet.”
He picked up his toolbox and left the house without a word. The door shut quietly but firmly behind him.
Kyra exhaled. She put her hand to her forehead and gripped her temples. No matter the distance or years apart, it seemed like time did nothing to repair her old wounds. She thought she was a new woman, but one kiss from Cole and the scars she thought were healed opened up again.
She heard his truck start. She went to the window to see him drive away. The rain had stopped, leaving the outside world gloomy and dim. Kyra caught her reflection in the glass. She looked about as miserable as the outdoors. Her eyes were tired, but her lips were pink and swollen from Cole’s kiss. The wounds were still raw. This time, she wondered if they would ever mend.
Chapter 6
Rico’s Tapas &Wine Bar brought a modern Latin edge to the usual Tex-Mex joints on downtown Main Street. Once Kyra entered the restaurant, she was greeted by the sounds of a live band performing salsa music and patrons giving each other a turn on the dance floor. She hoped Mike wouldn’t ask her to dance. After her encounter with Cole, the hot brand of his kiss on her lips remained. Dancing with another man was the last thing she was in the mood for. At least she could use the excuse that she injured her ankle and it was in the process of healing.
The restaurant host showed her to the table Mike reserved for them. He was already seated with two empty wine glasses and a half-eaten tray of tapas. He pressed a cell phone to his ear and talked loudly over the music. Kyra gave him a nod after the host departed for the front of the restaurant.
He waved to her with his free hand. “Hey, John, I gotta call you later.” He put the phone on the table. “Hey, girl. Glad you made it.” He got up and gave her a one-arm hug. It was subtle this time. Whether it was because they were in a crowded restaurant or Cole wasn’t there to frown on him, Kyra couldn’t tell why.
She returned his hug with a friendly pat on the shoulder. “I’m not too late, am I? I see you already ordered.”
“No, I was just hungry. I didn’t eat a big lunch. So what are you having?” He flagged down a server. “My treat.”
“You don’t have to do that, Mike.” She ordered a glass of red wine and informed the server to put her order on a separate tab.
“It’s not a problem, Kyra. Waiter, you can put it all on my tab.”
“Yes, sir.” The server nodded efficiently, not wanting to wait around while they fought over who was taking care of the check. “Anything else for the lady to start with?”
Mike interjected before Kyra could answer. “Bring her out some of those ahi tuna tostadas. Those are really good.”
“Right away.” The server hurried off to fill Kyra’s drink order and bring the tapas.
“So what do you think?” Mike asked Kyra’s opinion as she settled into her surroundings.
“I don’t know. I haven’t tried anything yet.”
“I know that.” He laughed loud enough for people at the next table to turn around and glance at him. “I meant, what do you think of the restaurant? Really hip and modern, right?”
“It is pretty nice. I love the music.”
“Latin fusion food is big in Dallas, but what am I saying? You know all about city life.”
The server brought her wine and a refill for Mike. Kyra took a sip of the smooth cabernet. “Chicago has its perks, but I’m enjoying the slower pace of Misty Mesa. I think it’s what draws the tourists here, too.”
Mike tilted his head in thought. His upper lip curled a little with disdain. “Maybe, but the people who come here are nature lovers and artsy-fartsy types. What this town needs to do is build big and pass itself off as a prime getaway spot for mainstream tourists.”
“I disagree. The small arts scene, cowboy culture, and rugged landscape are what make Misty Mesa unique. It’ll always appeal to a smaller segment of visitors than, say, Fort Worth or Austin. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Mike took a swig from his glass. “Not if Misty Mesa wants to remain an eclectic little town off the beaten trail.”
“I think you’ve found next year’s slogan for the travel brochure.”
Kyra discovered fast that Mike didn’t share her humor. His eyes hooded slightly. “But it’s boring. It’s been boring since we were kids. I’m a land developer and property investor now. When I see all this untapped opportunity, I see dollar signs. Instead of building chain stores and hotels, money’s being wasted on boutique shops and art programs.”
Kyra saw franchises and strip malls all the time around the Chicago suburbs. She much preferred to support local businesses when she could. They retained their individuality in a world of big-box chain stores and bland eateries
serving dinky burger patties and overpriced chicken fingers. “I guess the residents want their money to go back into the community. Cole’s doing a good job with the youth center.”
“I wanted to talk to you about the center.” Mike downed the rest of his drink. “It’s practically sitting on a goldmine. It has access to a scenic pond, horse trails, and it’s not far from town. I could see the land being used for a modern spa resort with a country western nightclub. Now that would draw people.”
Kyra frowned. “Have you spoken to Cole about this?”
The server came with her ahi tostadas. Without asking first, Mike picked up one and crunched it between his lips. “A couple times, but you know him. Country to the core. He won’t sell a portion of the land on his beloved ranch.”
Kyra picked at one of the tostadas with a fork. Mike’s insensitive words began to get irritating. “Cole loves those kids. He built the center to educate them and honor his late parents.”
“I understand all the tearjerker reasons for why Cole did it, but what he doesn’t realize is he could bring in more money if he sold the land for commercial use. He’s got a business degree from Georgia Tech, for heaven’s sake. He knows he could rake in the dough not only for himself, but for the whole town.”
Kyra lost her appetite. The smell of the tuna wasn’t nearly as nauseating as Mike’s words about Cole. “Not everyone’s goal is to strike it rich.”
“I know, but come on, Kyra. Maybe you can talk some sense into Cole. You’re a lawyer. You lived in the city where people had business savvy. This would be a win-win.”
“Not if you have to throw people under the bus to get your win-win.” She considered what happened to her at her previous place of employment. Her superiors treated her worse than if they had been adversaries in court. Now that she experienced what it was like to be the underdog of a powerful corporation, she couldn’t imagine treating anyone else in a cutthroat manner. “Don’t forget we’re talking about children here, too, Mike. They need a place to go to create things out of their imaginations and experience nature before life makes them jaded.”
My Heart Lingers (A Hearts of Misty Mesa Story): BWWM Interracial Romance Page 5
