Kiss Me, Chloe

by George, Linda

  “Cold?” Kyle asked.

  “No, just shivering with happiness to be with my two best friends in the world.”

  Kyle’s smile faded when they chattered about Houston and mutual friends. Was that all he was to Chloe? A friend?

  Chapter 17

  They got back to the Nest by seven. Kyle carried Fran’s luggage to her room, then left her to get settled, with Chloe’s help. Fran unpacked quickly so they could get back downstairs to sit by the fireplace—a real treat for a Texan in the summer.

  Kyle strummed his guitar, picking out a melody Chloe hadn’t heard before. He played the new song for them, a melancholy ballad about a man being separated from his lady love, knowing he’d never be able to love anyone else.

  Chloe felt the tears in time to stop most of them. Did Kyle fear losing her that much? Why else would he sing such a song?

  Fran complimented him on his playing and singing, then asked for a happier song. He obliged with “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog,” which had them singing along, laughing, in no time.

  By ten-thirty, they were yawning, lids heavy, relaxed and happy. Fran went to bed first, followed by Byrdie, then Chloe and Kyle. He insisted on stopping by the kitchen first to see if the cookie jar had anything to offer.

  With his mouth full of oatmeal crispies, holding three more in each hand, he escorted her to her room.

  “Don’t you ever get full?”

  “Nebber,” he said, offering her a cookie.

  “No thanks. No more snacks for me.”

  “I wouldn’t care if you put on twenty pounds. Or forty. Or—”

  “Enough!” She laughed, squeezing his middle, loving the way his breathing quickened at her touch.

  “You seem mighty happy, now that Fran’s here.”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  “I can see why. Just don’t forget about me, okay?” He brushed crumbs from his lips then kissed her lightly. “See you in the morning.”

  “Good night.” How could he possibly think she could ever forget about him?

  In her room, she undressed and put on a long, silky gown. Easing into bed, she shivered a little at the coolness of the sheets.

  She couldn’t stand the thought of Kyle being the person in the sad love song he’d sung for them this evening. He needed reassurance. And she needed reassurance from him, too.

  She got up, put on her robe and tied it securely, went next door and tapped lightly on the door. Kyle came almost immediately.

  “Chloe? I thought you’d gone to bed.”

  “There’s something I need to tell you.” She noticed a blue glow in the room behind him and glanced past him. The computer was on. “If you’re busy, I’ll come back later.”

  He whirled around, stared at the screen for a moment, then hurried to the keyboard. “No, not at all. Just let me zap this.”

  A chill shivered up her spine. He didn’t want her to know what he was doing. Just before the screen went dark, she saw the name of a well-known company at the top. A company he would’ve dealt with as a stockbroker.

  “Are you still playing the stock market?”

  “Uh, not exactly. I take care of Byrdie’s investments. And my own, of course.”

  “But that’s all?”

  He looked everywhere but at her.

  “Kyle, how many accounts do you still manage?”

  “Not that many.”

  “Are they all for relatives?”

  “Not exactly. What did you want to talk to me about?”

  “You’re changing the subject. Why don’t you want me to know about what you’re doing?”

  He sighed and sat down heavily in his computer chair, turned on the computer, and called up his own listing of investments.

  “I take care of investments for about a dozen people in Ouray, and a few others. Nothing big. Just on the side. For fun.”

  “More than a dozen people, for fun?”

  “Yeah. I love moving money around, seeing how big a return I can get. If I can help my friends while doing it—”

  “So you never really stopped being a stockbroker. And your business is growing, I’ll bet. Pretty soon, you’ll have twenty accounts, then thirty, if you don’t already. Before long—”

  “I know what you’re thinking, but it isn’t true. I’m not getting back into the rat race, where I was before.”

  “No, but you’ve talked about how you’d like to quit trucking and settle in one place. Looks like you have a growing business waiting right here in Ouray.”

  “Chloe—”

  “That’s fine, Kyle. Why didn’t you tell me?” Her heart pounded along with her head as everything she’d feared seemed to be coming true.

  “Because I thought— I didn’t want you to think—”

  “I understand. Don’t worry. Your life is your own. I shouldn’t expect you to share everything with me. I’m sorry. I never should have—” She turned abruptly and went back to her room. Closing the door, she took off the robe and got back into bed just as Kyle knocked on the door.

  “Chloe, we need to talk about this!”

  She didn’t answer.

  <><><>

  They were all still in the kitchen at eight-thirty the next morning. The four remaining guests had eaten early and left. Fran and Chloe sat together at the kitchen table, finishing thick-sliced honey cured bacon, and French toast sprinkled with powdered sugar and talking non-stop. An assortment of jellies and syrups for the toast clustered in the center of the table. Byrdie stood at the sink, rinsing dishes, placing them in the dishwasher. Kyle sat across from Chloe, eating slowly, saying little.

  The telephone rang.

  Byrdie asked, “Kyle, could you get that, please?”

  He picked up in the living room so Chloe and Fran could keep talking without interruption. How could women have that many words in them without bursting? He would’ve appreciated some of those words being directed at him, but didn’t have to guess why Chloe had been rather distant this morning. He berated himself—again—for not telling her before about his “sideline.”

  “Byrd’s Nest.”

  “Hey, Kyle. How was the Fourth in Ouray?”

  His boss. “Grand as always. I’m glad you called. I’ve been meaning to call you. I’ve decided—”

  “I need you to pick up a load of auto parts in Santa Fe, deliver part of them to Boulder, some to Estes Park, then take the rest to Cheyenne. Shouldn’t take you more than a couple of days.”

  “I’m ready to quit trucking. I was going to ask you to buy my rig.”

  “You can’t be serious! You’re one of my best drivers.”

  “Thanks, but I’ve put in enough miles to last the rest of my life. I’m ready to settle in Ouray and help Byrdie run the Nest. As she gets older, the work gets harder. Whata ya say?”

  “I say okay—if you’ll make this last run for me. All our drivers are on the road, and this is a rush order. Besides, you’re practically next door. After the run, come back to Denver and we’ll talk about the rig. How ‘bout it?”

  “Deal. E-mail the particulars.”

  “Thanks, Kyle. It’s been a pleasure working with you. I wish I could change your mind.”

  “I’ve enjoyed it too, but I’ve already been too many miles. When’s this haul have to be made?”

  “Tomorrow. You can leave this afternoon if you want to get a jump on it. I’ll get the details to you within the hour.”

  Maybe this time away would be good for him, and for Chloe, too. He just wished the fish salesman wasn’t still in town.

  <><><>

  When Kyle went back into the kitchen, he could tell they hadn’t missed him. Words flew back and forth across the room like a swarm of honeybees. Byrdie had finished loading the dishwasher and was ginning around in the dining room. He felt rather left out.

  Fran directed her smile to Kyle. “Chloe’s been telling me about Yankee Boy Basin. When can we go?”

  “The two of you can go whenever you like. I have to get back to work.”
/>
  Chloe’s smile faded when she turned to face him.

  “That was my boss. He needs me to make a run into New Mexico, up to Boulder and Estes Park, on to Cheyenne, Wyoming, then back to Denver. It’s a two-day run. You probably won’t even miss me.” He hoped for a reaction from Chloe, but it didn’t happen. “You ladies will probably pine away without me.” He didn’t smile when he said it, though. He gazed at Chloe, trying to tell her with his eyes that two days without her would seem like two years.

  “We’ll miss you every minute you’re gone.” Chloe tried to say it playfully, so she wouldn’t reveal what she was feeling—her heart contracting with emptiness at the thought of him being hundreds of miles away.

  “You promise it’s true? Cross your heart and hope to die?”

  “I’ll cross my heart, but I plan to live forever. When are you leaving?” It sounded so final.

  “Early in the morning. Paul is e-mailing the details.” He couldn’t decipher the expression in her eyes. Time to change the subject. “Byrdie, have you introduced Chloe to Hank?”

  “Haven’t had a chance. Why don’t we all go down there this afternoon? Hank said something last week about needing some part-time help. I know you said you weren’t ready for another job, Chloe, but it wouldn’t hurt to talk to him. He owns the camera shop.”

  Excitement overshadowed her melancholy mood for a moment. “I’d love to! I have lots of photos I’d love to print. I brought my laptop, but not my printer.”

  “I’m betting he’ll be able to help you with that. I’m going to rest a while before lunch. After I get the lunch crowd taken care of, we’ll go to town.” She disappeared into her bedroom and closed the door.

  Chloe watched her go. “Is she all right, Kyle?”

  “Just getting older. Why don’t we buy some brisket and fixings left over from the Festival so Byrdie won’t have to fix lunch.”

  Fran brightened at the suggestion. “I’ll vote for that. Shouldn’t we tell her?”

  “I will. You ladies get ready and I’ll be in the living room when you’re ready to go to town.”

  They went upstairs. Kyle checked his e-mail, printed the post from Roger, then went to Byrdie’s door and knocked lightly. She called to him to come in.

  “What is it? Did I forget something?” She started to get up but Kyle motioned for her to stay on the bed.

  “Just wanted to tell you not to worry about lunch. We’re going to buy some of the leftovers from last night’s barbecue.”

  She sighed and smiled. “That sounds fine. After all those pies—”

  “Byrdie, I’m going to sell my rig and quit trucking.”

  Her eyes widened with expectation. “What will you do then? Do you have enough accounts for full time?”

  “No, and I may get rid of some of the ones I’ve been handling.” He rubbed his eyes tiredly.

  “Something’s happened between you and Chloe, hasn’t it? I saw it in your eyes—and hers—at breakfast, but I didn’t want to ask.”

  “That’s why I want to talk to you.”

  <><><>

  Fran and Chloe came back downstairs and found Kyle and Byrdie sitting in the porch swing.

  “We thought you were going to take a nap.” Chloe pulled up a chair for Fran, and another for herself.

  “Don’t need one since my sweet nephew is going to buy lunch for everyone. Are you sure you want to spend all that money?”

  “I’m sure. I haven’t had a lot to spend it on the past two years. I think I’ve saved enough to buy barbecue for us and four guests.”

  “Have that many of your guests left?”

  Byrdie nodded. “I’m surprised there are still that many, to tell you the truth. All the families with children are gone. The only ones left are two retired couples.” She looked away, as though she didn’t want to talk more about it.

  Kyle got up from the swing. “Let’s go. Hank will want to talk to Chloe about that part-time job.”

  They went in the Firebird. Kyle drove with Byrdie in the front, Chloe and Fran in the back. Their first stop was to buy the brisket, beans, potato salad, and Coleslaw, just in case they were close to being out, but there was plenty left over.

  Cindy was there, also buying a sizeable amount. “Where’s Houston? Has he gone home already? I haven’t seen him all day.”

  Chloe gathered several loaves of bread into a sack. “He left this morning. Didn’t he tell you good-bye?”

  “More or less, after the dance. I didn’t expect him to stay long. Nice guy, but really tense. Needs to get rid of his tie for a while, if you ask me.”

  “I couldn’t have said it better myself. Cindy, this is Fran Keiser, my friend from Houston.”

  “Welcome to Shangri-La.”

  Kyle nodded toward Cindy’s packages. “Looks like you’re buying for a crowd.”

  “Just Darrin. He’ll be in this afternoon to stay a week. I want plenty of food on hand so I won’t have to cook a lot.”

  Byrdie told her Kyle was buying lunch for the Nest for that very reason.

  Cindy pinched his cheek and hugged him in a sisterly way. “That’s our sweet Kyle. Always thinking about his Aunt Byrdie. Are you going to be here the rest of the week? Darrin will want to see you. He’s curious to see how that annuity is faring.”

  “It’s doing better than expected, now that the Stock Market is doing so well.” He didn’t dare glance at Chloe for fear there’d be anger or disappointment in her eyes—the last thing he wanted to see. “I have to make a run to Cheyenne, but then I’ll be back. Tell that old squirrel hello for me until I can do it in person. And tell him not to leave until I get back.”

  Fran sighed. “It’s going to be hard to go back to Houston after being in Shangri-La.”

  “Don’t go,” Chloe told her. “Spend the rest of the summer with me.”

  “You forget, I’m not independently wealthy. Besides, Joe has asked me to have dinner with him after we get back. How can I pass up a chance to fly to New Orleans for dinner? It’s one of the perks of dating a pilot.”

  They poured out of the car at The Shutter Bug. Kyle felt more like a chauffeur than part of the group. Chloe hadn’t said two words to him all morning.

  Byrdie made the introductions. Hank, his bald head shining, rimmed with neatly trimmed white hair, greeted Chloe and Fran like old friends, shook Kyle’s hand, then hugged Byrdie a little more vigorously than Kyle had noticed before. When he planted a quick kiss on Byrdie’s mouth, Kyle grinned. So, Byrdie had a boyfriend.

  Hank invited Chloe and Fran to see the darkroom in the back. Kyle stayed out front with Byrdie.

  “So, Miss Ophelia Byrd has a beau. You didn’t tell me.”

  “You didn’t ask,” she replied primly, then burst out laughing. She elbowed him in the ribs. “We may have another surprise for you when you get back from Cheyenne.”

  “I’d better leave this evening if I’m to be back before the weekend.”

  “I’m so happy you’ve made this choice, Kyle. It’ll make a world of difference to Chloe, too, knowing you’re going to be settled in one place, instead of roaming all over the country twenty-five days out of thirty. And as for the accounts, I’ll talk to her if you’d like, tell her I made you take on my stuff and Hank’s and sent you the others, too. She’ll understand, I’m sure.”

  “Only if I can’t work things out by myself. Chloe’s gun-shy about getting into the same mess she had before. I have to convince her that isn’t going to happen.”

  “Try not to worry about it too much.”

  Hank and Chloe worked out a schedule. She’d start next week, so she could devote full time to Fran while she was visiting, but she could come down anytime to print her photos. Then, she’d work the front, to learn the cash register and the bookwork. Even though she felt a bit overwhelmed, Chloe loved the excitement of learning new skills and being able to pursue her dream at last. And working part time would give her time to help Byrdie, too.

  They got back to the Nest just in
time to put out the brisket and fixin’s, and to heat the red beans. After guests and “family” had finished lunch, the guests disappeared again. Byrdie insisted on doing the dishes, since she hadn’t had to cook, and shooed everyone to the living room.

  Kyle settled on the couch next to Chloe, letting his mind wander while she talked to Fran. The mantle clock continued to tick, whittling away the time until he had to head for New Mexico.

  He realized suddenly that Chloe and Fran had fallen strangely silent, after filling the world with words since the minute Fran stepped off the plane.

  “Are you two mad at each other?”

  “Goodness no. Why do you ask?”

  “You aren’t talking any more. I figured you must be mad. Or sick.” He feigned checking Chloe’s temperature with a hand on her forehead.

  “We got caught up, that’s all.” She gave him a thin smile.

  “How long will you stay caught up?”

  Fran pursed her lips in a thoughtful pose. “At least an hour.”

  Kyle took Chloe’s hand. “I wondered if you and I might take a walk. I’ll be leaving in an hour.”

  Chloe’s smile disappeared. “So soon? I thought you said you’d leave in the morning.”

  “The haul involves three stops. The sooner I leave, the quicker I’ll be back.”

  Fran stretched and stood. “I think I’ll rest a while. You two have a nice walk.”

  Kyle suggested walking along the river. When he reached for Chloe’s hand, he noticed how tense she was, but didn’t let go. Standing on the banks, engulfed by the roar of the Uncompahgre racing through the valley, Chloe felt her heart breaking. She wanted to hold him, to tell him how hurt she’d been when she learned he’d been hiding his work from her. Then she realized it didn’t matter. Slipping her arms around him, clasping her hands to hold him closer, she felt him shudder when he took a deep breath.

  “I miss you already,” she whispered.

  “I’m getting rid of the accounts. Except for Byrdie’s and Cindy’s and Darrin’s. They’d thrash me if I tried to pass them along to someone else. I’m through with brokering, even as a hobby, Chloe. You have to believe that.”

  She hardly knew what to say. It was as though she’d delivered an ultimatum and he’d accepted her terms without protest, even though he’d said keeping the accounts were enjoyable for him. Now, he’d offered to give it up for her—just as she’d given up photography for Greg.