FOREVER MINE(32)
Kimara smiled. “You’re right, everything looks good on the Golden Flame’s end. I have a meeting with the ball committee at Stafford Publishing this afternoon to see how things with them are going.”
She tapped her pen on her desk. “Have we heard anything from Sterling Hamilton? I know Kyle mentioned he’d be out of the country and wouldn’t be attending, but I keep hoping there’s a slim chance his plans might change.”
“No, sorry. It looks like Mr. Hamilton won’t be making it. His personal secretary sent a letter expressing his regrets, along with a very generous contribution.”
Kimara nodded.
“What about Kyle, Kim? Is he coming? Garwood Industries have always supported this event, and now with Mr. Garwood’s death and Kyle taking his place, I think it will be even more important for members of the community to see that Garwood Industries will continue to be a strong supporter and leader in various causes. We need more and more of our black businesses getting involved in worthwhile organizations like the UNCF.”
“I agree, Nicky, and I believe under Kyle’s leadership Garwood Industries will continue to do so. However, I don’t know if he’ll be coming to the ball or not.”
“Why wouldn’t he? I’d think he would come as your escort.”
“I doubt that Kyle would come even if I were to ask him to. So I won’t even bother. Valentine’s Day doesn’t hold a lot of meaning for him. He was to be married on Valentine’s Day nine years ago.”
“I didn’t know that. What happened?”
“He found out the day before the wedding that his fiancée was sleeping around.
He actually caught her in the act.”
“Gosh.” Nicky shook her head. She couldn’t imagine anyone sleeping around on Kyle Garwood. “That’s awful. But that was nine years ago. Surely he’s gotten over it by now?”
Kimara rose from her chair and moved toward the window. “Some people never get over a broken heart, Nicky.” At sixteen she’d thought her whole world had fallen apart when Kyle had gotten engaged. She could just imagine the hurt he must have felt at the age of twenty-four and very much in love. She would never forget how happy he looked when he’d brought his fiancée home to meet his family. The wedding was to have been the social event of the season, and was to take place on Valentine’s Day, a day that symbolized love and forever-afters. For Kyle it had turned into a day of humiliation when the newspapers and television had gotten wind of why the wedding was called off. The National Tattler, the country’s leading tabloid, had been at its worst and Kyle had been made into a laughingstock. Kimara had been seventeen at the time and had known only bits and pieces of what was going on. She’d gotten the full details of what had happened a number of years later from Poppa Garwood.
She turned away from the window and forced a smile as she faced her friend and business partner. “Enough about Kyle and the Valentine’s Day ball. How are things coming along for the Joyners’ daughter’s wedding?”
* * *
Kimara put her key into the lock and opened the door, stepping inside the huge house. She immediately felt a feeling of loneliness. When she’d lived there for a while with Poppa Garwood, the house was seldom completely empty. Poppa Garwood believed in having company, even at odd hours. It wasn’t unusual for him to hold as many business meetings in his home as he did at the office.
Feeling the need to relax, Kimara went to the bedroom, kicked off her shoes, and began undressing. Moments later, dressed comfortably in a pair of jeans, sweatshirt, and sneakers, she went to the kitchen to fix herself something to eat.
After quietly dining alone on a pasta salad, she went into the study. She hadn’t yet unpacked a box of items Poppa Garwood had instructed Mason to give her upon his death. Keeping busy would help prevent her from missing Kyle.
She was just about to open the box when the phone rang. Immediately picking it up, she recognized the voice on the other end. “Kyle! I’m so glad you called. I miss you. How are things going?” She was so glad to hear from him. He had phoned her twice at the office, and both times she’d been out and had missed his calls.
Kimara laughed ruefully when he began teasing her about being such a hard lady to catch up with. “My first day back was kind of hectic. Yes,” she laughed. “I’m still delegating some of my duties for the ball.” She pushed her hair away from her face.
“Kyle, I was wondering if you’ll be available to take me to the ball?” she asked quickly.
She‘d just done the very thing she’d told Nicky she wouldn’t do, and that was to ask him to the ball.
“No, that’s okay. I understand that you’ll probably have a lot of paperwork to do that night. That’s all right.” She tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
“Okay, I’ll see you on Friday. Good-bye.”
After hanging up the phone, Kimara tried to will her disappointment away. How long would he allow himself to suffer from a broken heart? Even she had recovered from hers and was willing to give love another try-- with the same man, if that wasn’t being a glutton for punishment. She wondered if Kyle would ever be able to love again. Would he ever be able to give his heart totally and completely?
Kimara didn’t have a clue as to how to proceed with her relationship with him. Of the many things he’d talked with her about at Special K, his broken engagement hadn’t been one of them.
Deciding to get started on the task she’d been about to do before Kyle called, she dropped to her knees in front of the box sitting on the floor. Opening it, she discovered a number of items Poppa Garwood had wanted her to have, like his wife’s collection of autographed books of poetry from James Weldon Johnson, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Langston Hughes. He’d also left the Garwood family Bible to her.
Kimara’s breath caught when she came to an envelope that had turned slightly yellow with age. She knew without looking what was inside. It was the card she’d bought for Kyle ten years before. How had Poppa Garwood gotten it? She distinctly remembered throwing it away that night. Evidently he’d gotten it out of the trash and had kept it all these years. Why?
She opened the envelope, pulled out the card, and read aloud the verses inside. It was the card she’d thought perfect for Kyle ten years earlier, and she knew it was still perfect for him today.
My Love Is Yours
My love for you grows stronger daily
And blossoms in so many ways,
It gives me hope for all my tomorrows
And a reason to cherish today.
My love for you gives me the strength
To endure loneliness whenever we are apart.
It burns just like a glowing flame
Down deep inside my heart.
And for as long as I live
My love for you will last through all eternity,
For together as one in heart, body, and soul
You and I were truly meant to be.
Kimara replaced the card in the envelope as tears clouded her eyes. Although it was ten years late in coming, she would give the card to Kyle on Valentine’s Day and tell him how much she loved him.
* * *
It was late Friday night when Kyle arrived home. The house was dark when he stepped inside the foyer.
He had missed Kimara. This unexpected trip had seemed to drag on forever. The only thing he’d wanted was to return to Atlanta and to his wife.
His wife . . .
Just thinking that she would be there when he got home brought a feeling of anticipation to him that he’d never felt before. While away, he had caught himself thinking of her at some of the oddest times, like in the middle of an important board meeting or while attending a conference with his financial advisor and good friend, Jake Madaris, who had flown in from Texas.
He had caught himself recounting memories of things they had done together at Special K. It didn’t take much to remember making love to her, their long talks, their morning walks, and their quiet dinners alone.
Kyle placed his briefcase on the floor by a chair. Then he saw her.
Kimara lay curled up on the sofa asleep. He was deeply touched that she had tried waiting up for him. And to top things off she was wearing the blue silk jump suit.
Bending, he gently lifted her into his arms to carry her to the bedroom. She snuggled closer to him, murmuring his name against his chest. Pulling back the covers, he placed her in the bed. A low growl of need rose in his throat. Would he ever stop wanting her? Aching with a fierce desire, he quickly removed all his clothes. Leaning down, he began waking her by lightly kissing her jaw and mouth while undressing her.
“Kyle,” she murmured, reaching out and placing her arms around his neck, coming awake. “You’re home. I missed you.”
He slid in bed beside her, drawing her into his arms. “And I missed you too, baby. I missed you so much.” He captured her mouth in a long, penetrating kiss, glorying in her response. He wanted the feel of her soft body beneath him, her silky legs and arms wrapped around him. He wanted to bury himself in her.
And he wanted her now.
Kyle took her immediately, joining his body with hers, the need to become a part of her fierce, elemental. He wanted her a moaning, writhing woman in his arms, wanting him. Only him.
And all through the night, Kyle got everything he wanted.
* * *