FOREVER MINE(25)

Kyle smiled. “I will.”

Kimara took another sip of champagne. “And how are you coming along with the list I gave you?”

He smiled. “I’d like you to know that my part in your Valentine’s Day ball is completed. I’ve gotten a firm commitment or a decline from each and every person.”

She smiled brightly. “You did? Oh, Kyle, that’s wonderful.”

“The ones that can’t make it send their regrets. They will either be out of the country that night or there was a conflict with some other event they were attending. This week my secretary will be sending your committee the names of those who will be coming to the ball.”

“Thanks for all your help, Kyle. You accomplished in one week what I hadn’t been able to do in three months. Do you know if Sterling Hamilton will be coming?

Kyle shook his head. “No, he won’t be able to attend. He’ll be out of the country filming his latest movie. Why?”

“Of all the people on that list, he’s the one I was hoping would come. A survey taken among the students indicated he’s their favorite of all the celebrities, and the one person most of them wanted to meet.”

Kyle leaned back in his seat. “I see.”

“Oh, well, I guess nothing can ever really be perfect, can it?”

It was on the tip of Kyle’s tongue to tell her that he was beginning to think she was, but he stopped himself. “Would you like some more champagne?”

“Yes, thank you.”

He poured Kimara some more of the bubbly drink that had been a wedding gift from his flight crew. He wasn’t sure how he was going to pose his next question, but all during her narrative of what had been going on in her life, she hadn’t once mentioned an involvement with a man. A deep inner part of him wanted to ask her directly and not depend on the secondhand information he’d obtained.

“What about the guys who’ve been knocking the door down to get to you since I last saw you?”

To Kyle’s relief, she didn’t catch the underlying questions lurking behind his inquiry. She gave him a cute little giggle. “There weren’t many guys, and those who did come calling were screened thoroughly by Poppa Garwood, which made any serious relationship close to impossible. He frightened off any potential suitors. Too bad he wasn’t in New Orleans when I met Adam Coffer.”

His stomach lurched nervously. “Who’s Adam Coffer?”

Creases lined Kimara’s forehead as if giving his question considerable thought. It seamed like an eternity before she answered. “Adam lived in New Orleans and owned an engineering firm there. By the time our relationship ended, I learned three valuable lessons in life.”

Kyle shifted uneasily in his seat. “What were they?”

“First, a man who is skillful at conducting whirlwind courtships probably has had a lot of practice. Secondly, some relationships just aren’t meant to be. Thirdly, the words’ I love you’ don’t roll as easily or quickly off the tongue of a sincere man as they will an insincere one.”

Kyle looked down into the golden liquid swirling around in his glass. So she had been involved with someone. He felt a deep tightening in his chest. Why did the thought of her wrapped in some other man’s arms cause his heart to ache? He lifted his eyes to meet hers, and was about to tell her he was glad things hadn’t worked out for her and the other man, when the sound of his pilot’s voice came through the intercom system, instructing them to fasten their seatbelts for landing.

* * *



It was past midnight when the newlyweds arrived at Special K.

When Kyle’s jet landed at the airport, he discovered that due to miscommunication, the chopper was not there for them. It was an additional hour or so before they had gotten a rental car, and it took another hour to travel the dark, mountainous roads to the luxurious two-story cabin that was situated in the heart of the Carolina Mountains.

By the time Kyle drove through the gates of Special K, he notice his bride of six hours had passed out from a combination of exhaustion and champagne. She sat slumped down in her seat. He reached out to nudge her awake. “Kimara, we’re here.”

She opened one eye wearily and gazed up at him. “I want to sleep,” she said drowsily.

“I know, and you will just as soon as I can get you inside.” He got out of the car, went to the front door of the house, and unlocked it. Stepping over the threshold he flipped on the lights. Leaving the door ajar, he returned to the car and opened the passenger door. At the gentle touch he placed on her shoulder, Kimara turned trustingly and wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her cheek.

“Kimara?”

She opened both her sleep-filled eyes and peered up at him questioningly. “Hmm?”

“Welcome to Special K as my wife, and it’s my honor to carry you over the threshold as Mrs. Kyle Harrison Garwood the Fifth.” The phrase was a tradition that all Garwood men said to their wives the first time they brought them to Special K.

Somehow Kyle felt sincere in saying it to Kimara.

“Thanks, Kyle,” she mumbled, tightening her arms around his neck and closing her eyes once more.

With tenderness and long strides, he carried the sleeping woman inside the house, trying to remember the layout of the huge mountain cabin. He recalled two separate master bedrooms, one on the main floor, the Stafford suite, and one upstairs, the Garwood suite.

Making a quick decision, he made his way to the bedroom up the stairs. With great effort he tried ignoring the warm breath on his cheek from Kimara’s breathing. By the time he reached the Garwood suite, his body had become alive with want and desire.

Walking over to the king-size bed, he gently placed her down on the printed comforter. He glanced around the room. Dozens and dozens of red roses were everywhere, and filled the room with a sweet fragrance. He also noticed an ice bucket containing a bottle of champagne.

Remembering that he’d left the front door open, Kyle quickly left the room and went downstairs. When he returned minutes later, he stood in the doorway and watched Kimara asleep in the bed. Rubbing the back of his neck, he couldn’t help but take a close look at her outfit.

Before leaving the reception, she had changed into a short split skirt and jacket.

The outfit exposed her long, beautiful legs and wreaked havoc on his senses. He strode into the room, moving closer to the bed. Reluctantly, he bent over to begin the job of undressing his wife. With expert hands, it took no time at all to remove the top layer of clothing, leaving her body clothed in white satin and lace. Somehow he managed to move the bed covering aside, place her beneath the top sheet, and flip the comforter over her. Stifling a groan, he took his eyes off the totally desirable woman and left the room to bring in their luggage. It was close to an hour later before Kyle began removing his clothing and joined Kimara in bed. Knowing consummating their marriage tonight was out of the question, he pulled her into his arms, loving the feel of her hips and legs close to his. Her hand, soft and warm, absently came to rest on the soft, hairy cushion of his chest.

“Kyle?” Kimara said drowsily.

“Hmm?”

“Are we going to make a baby now?”

So exhausted, so sleepy, was Kimara, she didn’t notice Kyle’s hesitation before answering, nor did she fully comprehend the words spoken soft and tender from his lips.

“You’re too tired and sleepy tonight, sweetheart. The first time our bodies join, I want you to be wide awake to enjoy every minute.”

Kyle cradled her closer to him. He looked down and studied her features-- the long, sweeping lashes covering her eyes, her high cheekbones, her straight nose, high forehead, silky chestnut hair, and cocoa-colored complexion. He wondered what of her features their child would inherit. What of his?

Kimara shifted in sleep and her eyes opened. She stared at him for a moment, disoriented. A deep pulse leapt in Kyle’s throat, and he struggled desperately for control and sanity. During that short moment while she looked at him through dark lashes half-lowered over drowsy eyes, it seemed like some kind of ethereal glow surrounded them, bonding them together. She closed her eyes again, breaking the spell, and Kyle slowly released his breath. A slightly confused frown creased his face as he pulled Kimara closer into his arms. He shook his head to clear it, wondering if he was somehow losing his mind. There seemed to be something magical about this place and the two of them together here. That thought was still on his mind when sleep finally overtook him.





Seven




The warmth of the morning sun glided its radiant beam into the bedroom, touching the bodies of the two people wrapped in each other’s arms in the huge bed.

Consciousness slowly infiltrated Kimara’s mind, and she gradually opened her eyes. She was snuggled next to Kyle, who was still asleep. His hand was resting on the curve of her hip, and her head was cradled against his shoulder and chin. She lay perfectly still for a moment as yesterday’s memories came sailing through her mind.

Swallowing nervously, she fixed her eyes on the man lying next to her, who was holding her tight in a warm embrace. She couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t known Kyle. A smile touched her lips when she remembered how at the age of six she had pledge her undying love for him. It was right after he had saved her puppy from drowning in the Staffords’ swimming pool. From that day forward, he’d become her hero.