Page 89 of Second Time Around
You said to ask if I needed anything. The Carver Center needs a good lawyer. You know some. Please call me when you have a chance.
She stared at her message, trying to imagine what Will would think when he read it. After all, she was asking him to go to his father for a favor. But she’d seen how Twain Chase looked at his son at the party. She was sure his father would be happy to offer any assistance that Will requested, just for a chance to have a conversation with him.
She could even pretend this was a way to bring father and son together. But Will might not see it that way. It might make him angry to be obligated to his father.
However, she couldn’t back off now since she’d committed to Emily.
The worst that could happen was that Will would say no. And hate her for making him do so.
She hit send. And then pulled out ingredients for the most elaborate meal the kids had ever tasted.
Her phone lay silent on the counter for almost half an hour before a ping echoed off the stainless steel.
She yanked her hands out of the giant bowl of ground meat she was mixing and washed them at high speed, drying them on her apron as she approached the phone.
Her heart was thudding and she had to think about sucking in air as she swiped the text message open.
In a meeting. Will call in fifteen.
Greg was giving Will a beady-eyed stare. He must have caught Will checking his phone during the meeting. Will had waited until he thought everyone was looking in the other direction, but it was tough to fool his COO. About anything. Greg had already asked him what the hell was wrong with him today. Will had brushed him off but Greg wouldn’t give up until he had an answer.
Will preferred not to face the inquisition just yet. He needed some time to come up with answers himself.
Will realized he was bouncing his heel against the floor with impatience and forced himself to be still. Why the hell couldn’t they draw the obvious conclusions and wind this up? The prospect of hearing Kyra’s voice again was making it impossible for him to concentrate anyway.
Finally, he couldn’t wait any longer. “Caitlin, I’d like you to head up the market research on the pet food. See what locations we should start looking at. Should we stock it in existing restaurants or open separate storefronts? That kind of thing.” He looked down the conference table at Greg. “You know more about the rest of this than I do so I’ll let you finish up. Excuse me.”
That would earn him a virtual torture session with his COO, but he didn’t give a damn. Kyra needed his help. Why that took precedence over a high-level meeting about the new pet food project was something he didn’t want to examine just now.
Striding into his office, he closed the door and hit Kyra’s speed dial. It took two rings before she answered.
“Will, thanks for getting back to me so quickly.”
He listened as she described the situation with the girl, the dog, and the mother. When he heard the name Titus Allen, he grimaced. The man would splash the Carver Center all over the media in the worst possible light.
“I thought your father’s law firm might have someone who could stand up to Allen. Schuyler mentioned that they’re always looking for noncriminal pro bono work.” She sounded uncertain. “I’m sorry to ask you to go to your father for a favor.”
“Schuyler is also a partner at the firm. She’ll know the right person for the job.” He thought he heard Kyra sigh and briefly wondered if she thought this would somehow bring about a reconciliation with his father. “I’m glad you called. The Carver Center should be allowed to continue doing its impressive work.”
“I knew you’d feel that way.” But she sounded relieved.
“Kyra ...” He ran his hand over his hair as he stared out the window at the boats on the river. He wanted to say something personal, something about them, but ... “I’ll call you as soon as I’ve contacted Schuyler.”
“Great. Thanks.” She fell silent and he had the sense that she, too, was searching for some more intimate words, but she said, “I’ve got to finish cooking the snack. Talk with you soon.”
He stood in front of the window, tapping his phone against his palm as disappointment hollowed out his chest.
What did he expect?
He had no right but he wanted more.
Ever since Kyra had walked out Saturday morning, he’d felt like his skin didn’t fit him. He’d fought it by exhausting himself in his home gym, then running numbers on the pet food project until Greg had told him to get a life and refused to return his e-mails. That sent Will out on an informal tour of more Ceres locations, although he avoided the one where he and Kyra had met.
Greg’s retaliation was to organize a high-level executive meeting about the pet food project on Monday morning. Will had to give him points for an excellent payback.
But now he had something real to do for Kyra. He swiped Schuyler’s private cell number.
“Yo, bro,” his sister answered immediately, somewhat to his surprise. “To what do I owe this extreme honor?”
