Page 37 of Second Time Around
Kyra smothered a gasp. His mother had no idea how serious her relationship with Will was, and yet she was praising another woman in Kyra’s presence. Betsy was putting her on notice that she had other plans for Will.
Will took Kyra’s hand from his arm and lifted it to brush his lips over her knuckles. “I offer my mother’s sincerest regrets for her words,” he said, his eyes blazing with fury as he smiled down at her. The intensity of it made her shiver.
“It won’t happen again.” Twain spoke with authority and a hint of apology. “You’ve made your position clear and we should honor it.”
“Next, hell will freeze over,” Will said in an oddly conversational tone, given the fraught atmosphere. “But I appreciate your support, sir.” He returned Kyra’s hand to the crook of his elbow.
Betsy opened her mouth, but Kyra saw Twain’s fingers tighten on his wife’s shoulder in a warning. Will’s mother looked annoyed but she clamped her lips shut.
Kyra tried to think of an innocuous social phrase to extricate them all, but each one that came to mind—it was a pleasure, nice to meet you, thank you for your hospitality—rang with such irony she couldn’t bring herself to mouth any of them.
Will solved the problem. “I’ll try to get home for Christmas,” he said before he pivoted to march out the door.
Kyra heard Betsy’s strangled cry of dismay, and then Will was hurrying her to the Jaguar, handing her in, and closing her door with a snap.
He slipped into the driver’s seat, revved the engine, and peeled out over the cobblestones, tires squealing. His knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, his chin jutting with anger.
“Don’t worry about it,” she said, reaching over to touch his upper arm. “You warned me.” She tried to make her smile reassuring, but she could feel the tremor in her muscles.
“My mother went beyond the pale,” he said, his voice taut with rage. “You think she’s done her worst and then ...”
“You’re not responsible for what your parents do,” Kyra said. Although she’d learned the hard way that wasn’t always true.
He took his eyes off the road to glance at her. “I knew I was taking you into a pit of vipers. It was inexcusable on my part.”
“You’re being dramatic again. I’ve dealt with far worse, believe me.”
He swung the Jaguar off the road and bumped to a halt at the edge of the field where the helicopter stood waiting. “But I invited you to a party, not a soap opera.” He hit the button that closed the car’s ragtop over them again.
Kyra shrugged. “Things happen. Don’t sweat it.”
“Are you really that tough? Or do you just talk a good game?” He surveyed her with a piercing gaze.
“A little of both.” She heard the chopper’s engine whine to life. “Wait, didn’t Schuyler want a ride with us?”
“Oh, hell, you’re right.” He yanked his phone out of his pocket and typed a rapid message. “She has fifteen minutes.”
Wedging his wide shoulders against the driver’s-side window, he finally smiled at her. “I planned to spend the whole ride back to New York apologizing, but it looks like we’ll have an audience. When do you have another day off?”
Excitement burbled up inside her, even as she tried to tamp it down. He only wanted to see her again because he felt guilty. “Tomorrow night. I work at the center until six. After that I work every night until next Sunday.”
But his smile widened with what seemed to be genuine pleasure. “Tomorrow. Is seven too early to pick you up?”
“Depends on how dressed up I have to be.” Her blood was racing in her veins at the prospect of seeing him again so soon.
“Personally, I’d rather you weren’t dressed at all.” Wicked delight glinted in his eyes.
“There are laws about that.” Her insides were melting in the most delicious way.
“Only in public. In private, your state of undress is no one’s business but mine. And I consider it very serious business.” His voice had dropped to a seductive rumble, its vibration echoing in her belly.
“You haven’t answered my question,” she said on an exhale.
“I got distracted with picturing you naked and lying across the leather seats in the limo.”
“Will!” She shifted as heat and moisture pooled between her legs.
He reached across the console to lay his palm on the bare skin just above her knee. “If I go higher, will I find you wet?”
