Page 75 of Second Time Around
Will shook his head with a glint of humor in his eyes. “Jason would never allow me to drive it. He believes only a trained professional like himself can handle it.”
“Gotta be tough to park,” Gloria observed before fixing her gaze on him. “I hear you’re taking a look at the Carver Center. Maybe I’m a littlebiased as a board member, but there’s no place your Thalia Foundation’s money would be put to better use.”
“It’s an impressive place. The K-9 Angelz program is truly innovative,” Will said.
“But dog food costs money,” Gloria said.
“Especially if it’s made with limited, fresh ingredients.” Will’s voice held an undertone of amusement.
“Whoever heard of a pit bull who can’t eat regular old dog food?” Gloria shook her head. “But leave it to Kyra to figure out how to keep him happy. Not to mention the meals she gives the kids, food they eat with pleasure but that’s healthy for them and doesn’t break the budget. Not so easy to find that balance.”
Kyra felt a flush of gratification. “The kids make it fun.”
Will surprised her by putting his hand on the small of her back in an almost possessive gesture. “I saw her in action today, so I understand what an asset she is to the center.”
He sounded almost as though he was proud of her. A weird thrill ran through her at the thought.
Gloria gave Kyra a sly look. “I need to get back to my dusting, so you two go on along now.”
Kyra grinned before she leaned in to give Gloria a peck on the cheek. “You dusted that plant the last time Will came here,” she whispered by her landlady’s ear.
“With all the pollution in this city, you can’t dust too often,” Gloria said, unabashed. “Now take your young man and scoot.”
Kyra nearly burst out laughing at the idea of the tall, patrician CEO in his custom-tailored clothes being called her young man. Although his shirt still had a damp spot on it from washing the dishes.
“I hope to see you again soon,” Will said to Gloria, his tone warm and sincere.
“You bring him by for the Sunday monthly,” Gloria said to Kyra as they started toward the stairs.
“The Sunday monthly?” Will asked when they reached the second-floor landing.
The landing’s stained glass window threw brilliant blues, greens, and reds across his hair and shirt. The effect made Kyra think of a Picasso painting.
“She fixes a massive and delicious Sunday dinner once a month and invites a select group of guests to join her,” Kyra said. “You have been given the Gloria Woods seal of approval with that invitation.”
“Happy to know that I passed muster.” Will’s lips quirked in a crooked smile. “I can’t remember the last time I was called someone’s young man.”
“Gloria’s old-school in some ways and really modern in others.”
“I like her,” Will said. He put his finger under Kyra’s chin to tilt it up as he smiled. “And I like being your young man.” He dipped his head to drop a quick kiss on her lips.
The kiss unleashed all the pent-up desire she’d tamped down for the meeting with Gloria. But his words lit a softer glow somewhere in her chest. She’d been afraid that he’d find Gloria’s reference absurd or overreaching. “I’m glad.” Emotion made it impossible to say more, so she continued up the stairs.
From behind her, Will said, “It’s good that you have Gloria looking out for you.”
“She’s kind of like a cool aunt,” Kyra said, touched that he understood what Gloria meant to her. The Carver Center community had given her a family in the city.
When she reached the third-floor landing, Kyra unlocked her apartment door and pushed it open. “Welcome to my humble abode.” Luckily, she kept the place pretty tidy on most days.
Will’s gaze swept her living room and she saw admiration in it. Like him, she’d opted for modern furniture but hers was in the context of a late 1800s structure. And her pieces were cheap knockoffs of the kind of stuff he had in his house. Gloria had loaned her the maroon-and-blueOriental rug, which Kyra felt built a bridge between the old and new elements. Her sectional sofa had clean, squared-off lines in a blue imitation-suede fabric that picked up the rug’s tone. She’d cut up some fake Oriental rugs and made pillows out of them. The two front windows were hung with simple pleated cream shades to allow in the maximum amount of sunshine. The working fireplace with its white marble mantel was filled with an array of pillar candles that she lit in the summer for coziness without heat.
He walked over to the bookcases built in between the windows, reading the titles and pulling out a volume. “Chaucer’s World. That’s from Lit 302 with Professor Fleming, one of my favorite classes.”
“Mine, too. That’s why I kept it.”
He ran his fingers over the cover before replacing it.
Earlier she had wanted him in her bedroom as quickly as possible, but now she felt hesitant about inviting him into the most private part of her world. He looked too comfortable, too right in her living room, just as he had at the Carver Center and with Gloria. She wanted him to seem awkward or out of place, but Will Chase could fit in wherever he went with an effortless grace that was dangerous to her peace of mind.
