Page 35 of Second Time Around
“I’ll take care of it, Mum,” Will said, his voice so cold it made Kyra shiver.
“I know Schuyler went to the stables, but where did you wander off to?” Betsy asked, appearing oblivious to her son’s mood as she handed him a wineglass.
Kyra felt a blush creep up her cheeks, but Will’s composure shifted not a millimeter as he said, “Kyra had never been on a sailboat so I took her aboard theRoyal Wave.”
“Isn’t she a little beauty?” Betsy asked, her face lit with enthusiasm. “And she handles like a dream.”
“She’s gorgeous,” Kyra agreed. “I’m not a sailor so I wouldn’t know about handling.”
“Next time, let Kyra take the helm,” Betsy admonished Will. “That will be a treat for her.”
Kyra didn’t know how he managed it, but Will kept pouring scotch into the crystal tumbler without a waver or a drop spilled. “I’ll make sure to do that,” he said.
Only the volume of scotch he swallowed all at once betrayed any discomfort.
Betsy linked her arm through Kyra’s. “Let me introduce you to everyone.”
“I’ll handle it, Mum,” Will said, reaching for Kyra.
“It will be my pleasure.” Betsy smiled at her son but her arm was like a steel bar holding Kyra prisoner. Will lowered his hand, although his face was tight with anger.
Farr sauntered up at that moment. “I’ll keep you company, William.”
Kyra refused to let her dismay show, even to Will. Finding the strength to smile with enthusiasm at both men, she said, “I can’t wait to meet everyone.”
As Betsy drew her toward the other guests, Kyra heard Will mutter, “You don’t have to babysit me, Farr.”
“Oh, the ingratitude after what I did for you earlier,” his friend shot back.
Now Kyra had to focus on the lions she was being thrown to. Betsy swept her by Schuyler and Twain, saying she knew them already. Afterthat it was a mad blur of names and faces, but Kyra just put on her friendly bartender persona and made it through. Until Betsy stopped in front of two women sitting side by side on a plaid love seat.
“Kyra, I’d like you to meet Petra Bradenton-Crosby and Katie Phipps. Kyra’s an old college chum of Will’s,” she said to the ladies.
Kyra felt like she’d been socked in the stomach. Petra Bradenton-Crosby was stunningly beautiful but not in the way she’d expected. Kyra had pictured blonde hair, blue eyes, an English rose complexion, and the angular, athletic figure that so many of Will’s female acquaintances seemed to have.
Petra was darkly exotic with short-cropped nearly black hair, huge brown eyes, skin like cream, and a figure that would make Kyra’s customers at Stratus fall over themselves. She wore a beige linen sheath with tiny pleated details that screamed designer.
Even more startling, Petra smiled at her with what looked like genuine warmth and stood to shake hands. “Kyra, how lovely! Will so enjoyed his days at Brunell. It’s a pleasure to meet someone who was part of that.”
Kyra had been prepared to dislike Petra on sight but it was impossible. The woman radiated interest and attentiveness. “Glad to meet you, too,” Kyra managed to say, but it wasn’t easy when her jaw kept trying to drop.
Katie and Betsy strolled away together, so Kyra was left alone with the woman whose heart Will was reputed to have broken. Her friendly bartender persona deserted her.
“Let’s sit and be comfortable,” Petra said, sinking onto the love seat with perfect grace.
Kyra wished someone would rescue her, but she didn’t want to drag Will into conversation with Petra, so she kept her gaze resolutely away from his vicinity. “Are you from around here?” she asked Petra.
“Originally, but now I live in Manhattan. On the Upper West Side.”
Great, she was on the same small island with Will.
Petra continued, “But I travel a great deal, so my condo is almost a waste of money. However, having three major airports to choose from makes the travel easier.”
“What takes you away from New York so often?” Kyra asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
“My work. I’m a fund-raiser for Doctors Abroad.”
Of course she was. Kyra wanted to groan. “What a worthwhile organization to work for!” she said instead. “I admire what they do so much. How did you get started with them?” She didn’t want Petra to ask what Kyra did to make a living.
