Page 19 of Second Time Around
It was the sort of thing he would do: attend the funeral of someone he thought hadn’t liked him because she had worked for his family and he owed her that sign of respect.
The helicopter came to a hover and slowly lost altitude. Kyra practically smashed her face against the window to watch the aircraft ease down in the middle of a well-mowed field. She was also relieved to be back on solid ground.
The rotors slowed to a halt and Will unlocked the door, pushing it upward, while the steps dropped down. He exited before turning to hold out his hand.
It was an angle she hadn’t often seen him from, so she enjoyed the view of his face tilted up. She could examine the way his hair swept back in waves from his forehead, the tiny lines at the corners of his eyes, andthe dark lashes that outlined his brilliant eyes. For a long moment, she crouched in the doorway, mesmerized by his beauty.
“What did you think of the ride?” Roxy’s voice sliced through the spell.
As Kyra put her hand in Will’s, she grinned at the pilot and said, “Next time let’s do the Rambo run.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Roxy said, giving her a thumbs-up.
Kyra indulged herself in leaning on Will’s strength as she came down the helicopter’s steps. His grip was firm and his arm was steady as a rock. A rush of longing coursed through her as she thought of how wonderful it would be to occasionally have someone to lean on. It was exhausting to fend for herself all the time.
He dropped her hand but put his palm against the small of her back to guide her toward what looked like a miniature sports car parked on the grass. It was bright red and “Will” was painted on the hood in swirling gold script.
“Honey, I shrunk the Ferrari,” Kyra said.
Will gave her a pained look. “It’s a golf cart. My parents gave it to me when I was a kid. Schuyler has one that looks like a classic Mustang Shelby.”
“You really did grow up in Disney World,” she said as he helped her into the passenger seat.
“Is that what you think?” He released her hand but didn’t move.
She met his gaze. “Disney World also has rides that make people scream.”
He laughed, but the sound held no joy. “No one would dare raise their voice in my family.”
He walked around the cart, settled into the driver’s seat, and turned the key. “It doesn’t have the same pickup as a real Ferrari, but I loved it as a kid.”
She grabbed the side as they bounced across the meadow before turning onto a paved lane. As the stone turrets of the house came intoview, the sound of big band music wafted over the hum of the golf cart’s electric motor. The muscles in her throat tensed as she faced the prospect of meeting Will’s parents and a few hundred of their closest high-society friends.
She fiddled with the bracelet Emily had loaned her. It was eighteen-karat gold, set with Peruvian opals that glowed a soft, translucent aqua. She wore matching teardrop earrings as well. At least her jewelry would pass muster.
“No reason to go in the front door,” Will said, swinging the cart off the lane and across the grass. He steered through an arched trellis and pulled up in the crook of a stone wall. Now the murmur of voices mingled with the music.
Kyra took a deep breath.
“You look worried.” Her head snapped around to find Will leaning on the steering wheel as he watched her. “No need for it,” he said. “My parents will be scrupulously polite to you.”
“What are their names?” Kyra swallowed to clear the tightness in her throat.
“Twain and Betsy. My father got the nickname because he’s William the second.”
She would have a hard time calling them anything other than Mr.and Mrs.Chase.
He sprang out of the cart and came around just as her feet touched the ground. Her taupe patent leather sandals had wedge heels, which would prevent her from sinking into the grass. She’d gotten the idea from studying photos of Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, at garden parties. She’d figured that the stylish young duchess would have practical experience with such events.
“Anyone else I should know about?” she asked.
“Schuyler might have a date, but I’ll be meeting him for the first time, too.”
Will rested his hand on the small of her back again. She was getting to like that little gesture that claimed her.
They walked around the wall and through a formal garden, where a cascading fountain glittered in the sunlight. The party sounds grew louder just before they rounded a corner of the house.
Kyra stopped to take in the swirl of brightly colored dresses and the charm of natty bow ties, the dance of white-jacketed waiters balancing silver trays filled with drinks in various hues, and the flutter of pastel tablecloths, all highlighted against the brilliant emerald of closely mowed grass.
