Page 71 of Second Time Around
Chapter 13
Last night Will had been true to his word. He had filled the Jacuzzi tub in his enormous master bathroom, helped her into it, and then perched beside her as she floated among the swirling, fragrant bubbles, sipping a glass of Le Montrachet. He’d even stripped to his waist so he could wash her hair, his long, clever fingers massaging her scalp in a way that made her moan with pleasure. Then he’d wrapped her in a thick, fluffy towel before tucking her into his bed. Naked, but untouched.
The feel of the soft linen sheets against her clean, bare skin had been close to orgasmic. When he had finished undressing and slid under the bedclothes beside her, she rolled into him, wanting more. He gathered her against his chest, kissed her gently, and said, “Sleep, sweetheart. I can tell you need it.”
How could that be even sexier than having sex with him? Yet it was. Last night, at any rate. Today, she was hungry for him again.
Now she fussed around the Carver Center’s kitchen. The children’s snack was prepared, the big casserole dishes ready to pop into the ovens to be baked. She rearranged a few of the hanging pots, put out a fresh dish towel, and wiped an errant fingerprint off the stainless steel counter. Because Will was coming to visit in ten minutes.
Her worlds were about to collide.
Emily arrived and saved her from more nervous fidgeting. “Everything’s ready upstairs,” the director said before she glancedaround the kitchen. “Wow! This place looks like one of those television kitchens.”
Kyra laughed. “Maybe if we had a granite countertop and a couple of Viking ranges. But I gave everything an extra polish this morning.” She smoothed down the top she had changed into after cooking and cleaning. It was a soft, silky robin’s-egg–blue fabric, sleeveless with a draped neckline. She’d also added dangly silver earrings.
“And you came in early, I noticed.” She gave Kyra’s shoulder a squeeze. “Thank you for helping to put our best foot forward, even though I think you’ve already given us a leg up.”
“Nice body part metaphors,” Kyra said.
“I thought so.” Emily winked before checking her reflection in the countertop and adjusting her ponytail.
“I guess we shouldn’t have a swig of the cooking sherry before we’re about to entertain possible donors,” Kyra said with a wry smile.
Emily’s eyes were warm with concern. “What worries you about the visit?”
“That’s a good question.” Kyra shrugged. “I guess that Will is coming intomyworld for a change, and I’m not sure what will happen.”
Would he fit in or disrupt it? Would his opinion of her change? His arrival at Stratus hadn’t thrown her into a tizzy, but that was because the high-end bar was really his world. She just worked there.
“He will admire you even more for the wonderful work you do here,” Emily said. “How could he not?”
“Thanks.” Kyra tried to draw confidence from Emily’s words but her nerves were still taut with tension.
She heard the front door open and the deep voice of Powell, the guard at the front desk. She and Emily exchanged a glance and stepped out into the entrance hallway.
Farr walked toward them, wearing a power suit and an expression of cordial interest. Although Kyra introduced Emily to Farr, her gaze strayed to the man behind him.
Will was leaning slightly over the desk as he exchanged pleasantries with Powell. The sun slanting through the front window turned his hair brilliant gold, and his profile displayed his aristocratic breeding in the high forehead, straight nose, and strong chin. His pale gray suit outlined the expanse of his shoulders and the length of his legs in a way that made Kyra’s mouth go dry.
He turned his head, and his eyes met hers. It was like being hit by a thousand volts of electricity. Her nerve endings sizzled with awareness. His charming smile turned into something intimate and intense. “Hello, Kyra,” was all he said, and yet his voice sent tremors shimmering through her.
“Will. So glad that you could come.” She did her best to keep her voice normal as he drew nearer. However, a slight quaver snuck in as she went through the initial courtesies again.
Emily went into her director-sweet-talking-donors mode and asked them if they’d like any beverages before she gave them the tour.
But all Kyra could do was watch Will, his bespoke suit and elegant presence contrasting with the worn brown linoleum floor and the cream-painted walls smudged by carelessly worn backpacks and grubby hands. He looked at ease but out of place. She wanted to kiss him in the worst way.
As Emily and Farr started up the stairs, Will moved to Kyra’s side and skimmed a quick kiss over her cheek. “I just needed to touch you,” he murmured beside her ear.
His lips had barely brushed her skin, but her knees went shaky and she wanted to collapse against the heat and strength of his body.
This was bad.
She allowed herself a quick graze of her fingertips over the back of his hand. “Pay attention. There will be a quiz later,” she murmured back.
He had the nerve to pat her on the behind ... and she couldn’t even get mad because she enjoyed it.
In his role as the Thalia Foundation’s founder, Will had toured many facilities that helped others but he’d never been so impressed. The Carver Center offered computers, homework help, basic medical care, and nutritious food, but the K-9 Angelz program added a whole new dimension of both responsibility and love. He noted that the space was now packed to the gills with kids and dogs. Kyra explained in a murmur that Emily couldn’t turn away a child in need. Will found that admirable but it also strained their resources. They needed to expand.
