Kyle gave Mason a hard, cold glare. “Don’t look so smug. I still have no intention of marrying Kimara Stafford. Since she’s as opposed to the idea of the marriage as I am, hopefully, together the two of us can come up with something. And I can guarantee you, it won’t be a baby.”
He turned and walked out of the office.
Two
Kyle spotted the street sign indicating Mackenzie Lane. It was located just off
Broderick Road in an upscale neighborhood on the outskirts of Atlanta. It didn’t take long for him to find the house sitting back off the road on a meticulously well-tended lawn. Oak and magnolia trees, whose tops swayed with the whisper of a warm breeze, flanked the stylish brick structure.
He parked his Lexus in the driveway, hesitating briefly before walking up the winding path to the front door. After ringing the doorbell several times with no response, he listened over the back drop of various noises for a sign that someone was home. He was just about to turn to leave, when his ears picked up an upbeat tune playing from a distance in the backyard. He followed brick steps leading around the back of the house.
The pungent smell of chlorine teased his nostrils and led him to an area surrounded by a privacy fence. The gate was slightly ajar, and without hesitating he opened it and went into the backyard. What he saw left him thunderstruck.
A woman dressed in skimpy shorts and an even skimpier bandeau top was on the patio, moving her body furiously to the rock music blaring out of a nearby CD player.
Kyle stood hidden from her view in total awe at the sight of the curvaceous body whose chestnut-brown hair was piled atop her head in a ragged knot with wayward strands catching the midday breeze.
His gaze took her in from head to toe. She had a long, graceful neck that connected to a sleek back. That back merged with the gentle curve of a sexy behind. Her bare hips flared into long, straight thighs which were joined to a gorgeous pair of legs.
Kyle couldn’t stop the rapid sensations of sexual hunger tearing through him as he watched her body bend, stretch, and strain to the music. He was suddenly at a loss at the intensity of his attraction to her.
In a daze he continued watching her, trying desperately not to make a sound and dismissing the thought that at the moment, he was no better than a peeping Tom. The back of her head was to him, but he had a hunch he wouldn’t be disappointed with the face he couldn’t see.
He was suddenly jolted senseless when she dropped her body forward to the ground, and with palms flat on the floor began walking on her hands, coming up on her toes.
He almost swallowed his tongue when he got a peek at her cocoa-colored face.
He had been absolutely correct about her looks; she was gorgeous. She had a delectable mouth, full and inviting; high cheekbones; a delicate feminine chin; and thick, well-shaped brows.
His entire body burst into flames of desire. The more he watched her, the more he wanted to touch her to see if she was real or a figment of his imagination. Without realizing he was doing so, he began moving toward her, coming to a stop directly behind her.
The woman whose rump was in the air as she began her cool down caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. A scream tore from her throat and she jumped to her feet, reacting in fear. Her sudden move made Kyle lose his balance and tumble over into the pool.
Kimara Stafford’s eyes widened in shock at the sight of the drenched man in her pool. She was about to race off and barricade herself in the house, when she recognized him. She would know Kyle Garwood anywhere.
The years had been kind to him. Way too kind. He was still as handsome as sin.
Even saturated with pool water he looked gorgeous. There was an inherent strength in his classically dark, handsome good looks, and she detested the fact that his features held a certain sensuality that was downright disturbing.
“How dare you sneak up on me!” she stormed. “Just who do you think you are, coming up behind me like that?”
Kyle pulled himself up over the edge of the pool and stood soaked to the bone in front of the seemingly hysterical woman. Her eyes, he mused, under normal circumstances, would be a dark brown. However, at the moment they were blazing with sparks of fire in them. “For Pete’s sake, calm down! I can explain.”
His eyes squeeze shut momentarily against the sting from the chlorine water.
“I’m Kyle Garwood, and I was looking for your roommate, Kimara Stafford.”
Kimara’s lashes fluttered and rose in surprise. He thought she was Nicky? Did he not recognize her? Probably not. Her appearance had definitely changed over the years. “You’re looking for Kimara? Do you make it a habit to sneak up on people?” she snapped.
Kyle willed his temper to stay in check. The woman was getting downright testy, and for no reason at all. “Look, lady, I didn’t actually sneak up on you. I was about to make my presence known before you attacked me. As far as I‘m concerned, you should be thankful I’m not a criminal with you bouncing around dressed like that with your gate unlocked.”
“This is my backyard and it’s private property. And I wasn’t bouncing around. I was doing my aerobics. And furthermore, there’s nothing wrong with the way I’m dressed.”
Kyle frowned, wondering what was happening to him. Beautiful women were not uncommon to him. However, this one had him spellbound. His anger ignited at the thought that she hadn’t had enough sense to be more cautious. What if another man had come upon her the way he had? Suddenly his anger became a shadow beneath the passion he felt snaking through his body.
He could not remember ever having been so affected by a woman. The intensity of it pulled at his insides. Her body was all feminine, all enticing, and all womanly. It was a body that belonged to a woman ripe for love of the most fulfilling kind. In that instance he knew two things; making love to her would be all-consuming, all-fiery, and hot; and he wanted her like he had never wanted another woman before in his life. The thought that any woman could get under his skin like she was doing didn’t sit well with him at all. In defiance of these strange feelings, he lashed out at her.
“If anything, I hope I scared some sense into you. Maybe next time you’ll be more careful.”
Kimara’s anger escalated. She wanted him gone and off her property. “What do you want with Kimara?” she snapped.
Kyle glared at her. “It’s personal.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Too bad. She’s not up to seeing anyone, so please leave.”
“And who made you her spokeswoman? I came here to see Kimara, and I don’t plan on leaving here until I do. Do you hear me?” Kyle said, raising his voice a little too loud for Kimara’s taste.
“Yes, I can hear you, Mr. Garwood. So can everyone else in this neighborhood,” she yelled back.
“Hey! What’s going on? What’s all the screaming about, and whose gorgeous car is that in the driveway?”
The two people turned around at the sound of the feminine voice. Kyle stared at the unusually tall, attractive woman who came from inside the house to join them. “I forgot my proposal for the Joyners’ daughter’s wedding and came back for it. It’s a good thing I did. Sounds like World War Three out here,” she said. “Is anything wrong, Kim?”
“Kim?” The name escaped Kyle’s lips with a mixture of astonishment, disbelief, and surprise. He stood with his mouth gaped open in utter shock. A few seconds later he groaned and sucked in his breath as his eyes raked over the woman standing in front of him. There had to be some mistake. She looked nothing like the Kimara Stafford he remembered. “Chubs?”
“Don’t call me that!” Kimara flared. “You’ve done enough damage for one day, so I suggest you leave. And do me a favor and don’t come back, because we have nothing to say to each other.” With those icy words, a fuming Kimara stormed into the house slamming the door behind her.
The other woman cleared her throat as she approached the wet man. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Nicole Britt, Kimara’s roommate. But I prefer to be called Nicky. I already know who you are, Mr. Garwood. I’ve seen your picture several times in magazines and newspapers.”
Kyle took the hand being offered to him in friendship as he gazed into tawny brown eyes that highlighted her almond-colored features. The woman who wore flat shoes stood equal to his six-foot-two-inch frame. “It’s nice meeting you, Nicky, and please call me Kyle.”
A smile touched Nicky’s lips. “If you’ll excuse me for saying so, Kyle, it seems like you’ve made quite a splash around here.”
Three
Kyle took his gaze off the view outside the window and focused it on Mason Long. There was a purposeful intent in his eyes. “Are you sure she’s going to show up?”
Mason’s brows drew together in a frown. “My secretary contacted Miss Stafford earlier today and she agreed to meet with me.” He leaned back in his chair. “Would you mind telling me what this is about, Kyle?”
Kyle rose from his seat and leaned casually against the closed door. He shrugged dismissively. “There’s nothing to tell other than I’ve decided marriage may not be such a bad idea after all.”
Mason sat there, blank-faced, amazed and very confused. “Just a couple of days ago you were totally against the idea. In fact you said that you had no intention of marrying Kimara Stafford. What made you change your mind?”