Kyle laughed. “Sterling and I are the very best of friends. In fact, I promised him he would be our first child’s godparent. That is, if it’s all right with you.”
Kimara grinned. “Yes, that’s fine with me, but how did you do it? I thought he was out of the country, filming.”
“He was, but I went and got him. My jet will be flying him back tomorrow. I knew how much you wanted him here.”
Kimara lifted her hand and placed her fingers against Kyle’s jaw. “Thanks, Kyle.”
“The pleasure of making you happy is all mine. Besides, Sterling’s dying to meet the woman who has captured my heart.”
“I think I’ll leave the two of you alone again,” Nicky said. “Just don’t forget there’s a party in full swing on the other side of the building. Come join us.”
“We’ll be there in a minute,” Kyle said, turning back to the woman in his arms. “On second thought, Nicky, make that five minutes,” he said, moments before taking Kimara’s mouth again.
* * *
Later that night Kimara lay in Kyle’s arms in front of the fireplace. The ball had been a huge success and everyone, including herself, had thoroughly enjoyed Sterling Hamilton’s presence. She thought he was a real nice guy.
She stirred in her husband’s arms, moving closer to his warmth and thinking that he was an even neater guy. When she’d arrived home with him from the ball, she had discovered her foyer lined with dozens of red and white roses. The sight of them had been beautiful and breathtaking. He had explained that he’d called the florist himself and made arrangements to have the flowers delivered after she had left for the ball. Mrs. Glass had assured him that she would be there to receive them.
Kyle gave her a gift, a beautiful gold charm bracelet. The charm was a golden cupid with his bow. After placing the bracelet on her wrist, he whispered, “The arrow from Cupid’s bow has hit its mark. It struck a permanent place in my heart.” His words almost brought tears to her eyes. “And I promise to add another charm on Valentine’s Day each year. Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetheart,” he said.
“And Happy Valentine’s Day to you, Kyle. I have something for you too. I have two things to give you.”
He watched as she padded across the carpeted floor in her bare feet to get something out of his grandfather’s desk. She returned to him and dropped down by his side, handing an envelope to him.
“I bought this for you ten years ago.”
Kyle frowned. “Ten years ago? I don’t understand.”
Kimara smiled. “When I was sixteen, I loved you even then.”
Kyle sat up, remembering the story she’d told him about falling in love at sixteen and how the guy had broken her heart. “You mean I’m that guy you told me about- the one you loved secretly? The one who broke your heart?”
Kimara nodded.
He shook his head. “Now I understand why tonight you said I broke your heart twice.” He pulled her to him. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. We’re together now, and that’s all that matters to me.”
Kyle removed the card from the envelope and silently read it. He smiled at her when he finished. “My love is yours too, sweetheart, and you’re right. Together as one is where we were meant to be. Thanks for being the love of my life and the keeper of my heart. I love you.”
“And I love you. Now for the other thing I have for you.” She took his hand and placed it on her stomach. At his bemused expression she smiled and said, “Your baby is growing inside of me.”
A huge smiled covered Kyle’s face. He swept Kimara into his embrace, tightening his arms around her. He kissed her temple as mistiness clouded his eyes.
“You have made me so very happy, and I love you so much.”
He whispered the words just moments before lowering his lips to her, sealing their lives together.
Epilogue
“Daddy! Daddy! It’s snowing outside. Can we go out and play?”
Kyle smiled and put down the book he’d been reading when two-and-a-half year old Kyle Garwood VI raced across the room to him. He picked up his son in his arms.
As always, a feeling of fierce pride and joy touched him whenever he held the child who had been conceived when he and Kimara had spent their honeymoon at Special K.
“Can we go outside, Daddy?”
Kyle’s smile widened. “What about Kareem and Keshia? Do you think they’ll want to come with us?”
Little Kyle shook his head. “They’re too little, Daddy. They might get buried in the snow.”
Kyle laughed. He had glanced out the window earlier and there wasn’t that much snow on the ground. The twins were almost a year old and were just beginning to walk.
“Come on, let’s go find Mommy to see what she thinks about going outside.”
He found Kimara in the nursery, on the floor, playing with the twins. His heart swelled with love each time he saw her. Nine months after their honeymoon she had given him a son. Then eighteen months later, she had given him twins, another son and a daughter. As he watched her at play with them, he noticed the gold charm bracelet on her wrist. It had been a gift from him on Valentine’s Day three years before. Since then he’d kept his promised and had added another gold charm every Valentine’s Day since then. Each charm represented a year of their life together and their pledge of undying love.
Kimara sensed his presence and looked up. She smiled. “Hi.”
“Hi yourself. I see Kareem and Keshia have you busy,” he said, walking toward her.
She stood, leaving the twins playing with their building blocks. “And as usual, I see you have your hands full with him,” she said, smiling up at her oldest son, who was sitting high on Kyle’s shoulders. He was the spitting image of his father.
Kyle grinned. “He wants to go outside and play in the snow. What do you think?”
Kimara’s smile widened. “I think that’s not a bad idea if all of us can come with you guys.” She reached up and ran her hand softly against his jaw. “I also think you’re a wonderful father and I love you.”
“And I love you.” Kyle placed little Kyle down and watched him race off to join his sister and brother on the floor. He pulled Kimara in his arms. “Thanks.”
She looked up into his eyes. “For what?”
“For everything. For giving more meaning to my life; for being my friend and lover, as well as my wife; for loving me.” He leaned down and kissed her lips. “And thanks for them,” he said, indicating their children. He pulled Kimara back in his arms.
“We now have three Special Ks of our very own.”
Kimara put her arms around Kyle’s neck. “Speaking of Special K, I have an idea.”
“What?”
“How about if we take some time off and go there for a couple of weeks. The kids will love it.”
Kyle laughed. “You know what happens whenever we spend a long time at Special K, honey. You always come back pregnant.”
A teasing smile covered Kimara’s face. “I wonder why?”
He smiled down at her. Must be the water there.”
“Oh, I don’t think it’s anything that bizarre. There’s a very simple explanation why I always get pregnant at Special K.”
Kyle leaned down and kissed her. “Really what is it?”
Kimara looked into his eyes. She saw the same love shining in his gaze that she knew was in hers. “It’s magical,” she told him in a voice filled with reverence. “And your grandfather intended for it to be that way. It’s a very special place and it’s ours.”
“Yes, ours,” Kyle agreed, kissing his wife thoroughly.
“Does that mean we’re going Kyle?” She mouthed the words against his moist lips.
He moved his hand to the center of her back, drawing her closer to him. “Yes, I suppose so,” he said, his voice deep and husky.
Kimara smiled. “Does that also mean you’re ready for another baby?”
“Yes,” he said, smiling, while pressing a series of kisses around her mouth and nose.
“Good,” she said, bringing his mouth to hers again. “I love a man who enjoys being creative.”
PERFECT MOMENTS
To my readers, who after reading PERFECT FIT, wanted Parnell and Rose’s story. This one is for you.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Proverbs 3:13
One
Parnell Cabot turned around from his kitchen sink and glanced over at the woman sitting at the table. For the last three weeks Rose Woods had been his daughters’ babysitter.
He could still remember the day she had first approached him about the job. She had shown up at the job site where he and his men had been hard at work, trying to meet the completion deadline for his employer’s, The Regency Corporation, latest business venture, a ski resort here in Anchorage, Alaska.
Curvy and attractive, she’d nearly caused havoc that day when she had shown up looking too sexy to be on a job site surrounded by over forty of his men, many who were single. Even the married ones had stopped work to stare. He’d figured then the woman was going to be trouble.
Surprisingly that day she had been a godsend, at least to him. After explaining that she was in Anchorage to spend time with her good friend, Sage Dunbar, and that she had heard about his plight. He needed someone dependable to take care of his four-year-old twin daughters while he worked. His live-in babysitter/housekeeper, Mrs. Summers had left town after a few weeks on the job when her sister had taken ill.