I'll Take Forever Kobo

by Barbara McMahon

  'Blast you, Kyle Martin! If you're going to confront some criminals on your own, you can forget about calling me for help in the future,’ she said, knowing he couldn't hear her. Knowing she really didn't mean it.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Jenny watched in frustration as he disappeared down the drive, then she turned slowly back to the house. Shasta followed her, bone in mouth.

  'Not in the house, my boy. You eat that outside.' She held the door for him to go back outside. The phone rang and Jenny let the screen slam as she went to get it.

  It was her mother.

  'Did Kyle get home all right this morning? We tried calling earlier, but no one answered.'

  'Yes, Mom, he did. We went for a picnic lunch, just got back a little while ago. Thanks for putting him up for the night. I forgot to tell him about the broken gas gauge.'

  'He was no trouble. Though I don’t think your father liked getting up in the middle of the night.' Her mother's comment caused Jenny to smile.

  'I bet. Well, he knows about the gauge now. How's Dad?'

  'Cranky for lack of sleep. He'll say hello. George's party was fun, I thought. I’m glad you went.'

  'Me, too. I had a good time.'

  Though not the part where she saw Kyle kissing Naomi! The memory caused Jenny to frown. She wished she could compartmentalize things as Kyle obviously could. Kissing her one-minute and then Naomi.

  'Hello, sweetheart.' Her dad came on the line.

  'Hi, Dad. Kyle told me about last night. Sorry he had to wake you up.'

  'Couldn’t be helped. He doesn’t know anyone else in town. He doesn't look like Edith at all. You two come for dinner soon. Your mom was a great friend of Edith’s. I'm sorry they lost touch.'

  'Kyle’s out right now. I'll call later in the week and set something up.' If I can't get out of it first, Jenny thought. Just what they needed, her mother given enough time would find out Kyle didn't know Edith at all, much less was her son.

  ***

  George Carlisle called later that evening.

  'Thanks again for inviting me to the barbecue,' Jenny said when she answered. 'It was my first social outing since Johnny's death, and I'm glad it was at your place.'

  'My pleasure. The only problem with being host was my time was spread so thin. I wanted to spend more time with you, Jenny. Would you be free for dinner this week? Tomorrow night, maybe?'

  Jenny hesitated. She should be pleased someone asked her out, glad some male appeared to want to spend time in her company. Yet she was disappointed it wasn't Kyle.

  Remembering his abrupt departure helped make up her mind.

  'Yes, I love to.'

  'Good. I’ll pick you up around six-thirty. We'll go into Tahoe, if you like.'

  'That sounds like fun, I haven't been there in a while.' That would show Mr. Kyle Martin some people actually wanted to spend time with her–not use her for cover.

  Jenny watched TV that night, entertained by the movie, yet constantly attuned for the sound of the car. Where was Kyle? What was he doing? She hoped he was safe, wherever he was.

  He had not returned by the time she went to bed. It was after midnight before the headlights swept across her wall, and the sound of the SUV crunching the gravel heard. She held her breath when he came in the house, tensed and straining to hear him. He climbed the stairs, seemed to pause near her door, then proceeded to his room. The door closed with a soft click and Jenny sighed, turning over to finally go to sleep.

  ***

  Kyle was gone when she awoke the next morning. The car was in the garage, and she used it to drive into town and get the next batch of work. It was a pleasant morning, warm and still. She was finished visiting her clients by noon and went to see if April was free for lunch.

  She was and soon both were seated around the table at the small coffee shop. April was curious about Kyle and had a hundred questions. Jenny smiled and tried to answer all her questions as if Kyle was actually a professor.

  'Wasn't the party at George's super? I think most of the town was there. What did you think of Miss Naomi appropriating Kyle?' she asked unexpectedly.

  Jenny hadn’t expected others to notice. At least it minimized the possibility Nate had spread the tale of their picnic.

  'He’s free to see whomever he wants. Naomi’s very attractive and Kyle is used to the city. He teaches at San Francisco State. There’s a good chance they can hook up once both are back home.'

  'I so don’t see Naomi falling for some professor. You have to admit, however, that Kyle doesn’t look like a professor. I always thought they were kind of reserved. He’s too hot to be reserved.' April looked at her friend and grinned. ‘Maybe you and I have witnessed the beginning of a passionate love affair started right here!’

  Jenny didn't like the idea at all. She was being silly, of course. Kyle wasn't really a professor at the State University, it was only his front, his cover. Still, the thought of his seeing Naomi rankled. She didn't want to think about it. It was work, he'd said, but what did that really mean? Moonlight and kisses to lull her into confiding in him? Surely government agents had other ways to question people.

  Changing the subject, Jenny soon had April talking again about her upcoming vacation to Hawaii.

  Kyle had not returned when Jenny arrived home in the late afternoon. She hadn’t told him she was going out with George. Once showered and dressed, she wrote Kyle a note, just in case he came home and wondered where she was.

  It was the least she could do. Maybe spark him to show her the same courtesy–where was he and with whom?

  She felt vaguely guilty as she wrote the note. She really didn't want to go out with George, she wasn't excited about going out at all. A quiet evening at home would suit her better. But she’d never let George know that. She had accepted his invitation and should make the most of it. It wasn't his fault she felt as she did. He was being kind. The least she could do was make an effort to enjoy the evening.

  She wore a soft rose-colored silk dress and high heels, brushing her hair until the gold highlights showed in the late afternoon sun. A light application of make-up, a dab of Joy and she was ready. Taking a light shawl in case the evening turned cool, she left to wait for George downstairs.

  'Going out?' Kyle's voice stopped her at the top of the steps. She turned; he was standing in the doorway to his room, clad only in his jeans. She hadn't heard his return.

  She swallowed, nodded. 'Yes. George is taking me to dinner. I didn't fix you anything, I didn't know if you'd be home or not.' She held out the note. ‘I was going to leave you a note.’

  'Where are you going?'

  'Lake Tahoe, I think.'

  'That's a long drive.' Kyle moved to come up to Jenny, causing her to tilt her head back to see him. His eyes traveled over her body, coming back to rest on her eyes. Taking a deep breath, he smiled sardonically.

  'The whole bit, eh?'

  Jenny turned to go down the stairs, his hand shot out to grasp her arm and turn her back.

  'Don't go, Jenny. Tell him you can't make it tonight. Make it some other time.' Kyle's voice was low, hurried.

  'No, I can’t do that. I’m free to go out with whomever I wish. Please let me go.'

  'I don't want you to go with George Carlisle,' he said again.

  'Oh, come on, Kyle, you don't own me. I can see whomever I wish!'

  'Not George.' He moved his hand to her shoulder, the thumb gently caressing her collarbone. Jenny felt her resolution dissolving. His hand burned through her silk dress, moving seductively against her. She swayed towards him and glanced at him through her lashes. The triumphant gleam in his eyes jerked her back.

  'I won't be manipulated!' She shrugged off his hand and ran lightly down the stairs. 'I'll wait outside. Fix yourself something for dinner.'

  She slammed the door behind her and stood on the doorstep, breasts heaving as she tried to calm herself. The nerve of the man. Blast him, anyway! Just who did he think he was? To set himself up as the arbitrator of wh
om she could go out with, whom she could have dinner with. It was fine for him to declare he wanted her, then go off and spend who knew how much time with Naomi, but if she just tried to go out on a friendly date with someone, it was different. Stay home, Jenny, don't go out, as if he expected her to sit around awaiting his pleasure.

  She was not growing calm, she was getting angrier by the minute. This would never do. She owed it to George to be in a pleasant mood when he arrived. It wasn't his fault that Kyle was so infuriating. Taking a deep breath, she deliberately stopped thinking of Kyle Martin and his autocratic ideas.

  When George arrived, Jenny greeted him with a pleasant smile and settled back in his Mercedes to enjoy the drive. The trip to Lake Tahoe passed quickly as George kept the conversation general, his big car moving swiftly along the mountain roads.

  Dinner was at a restaurant overlooking the lake.

  'I wasn't sure you would join me tonight,' George said when they had ordered.

  'Why not? You're pleasant company, and it's a delightful restaurant. I do like Lake Tahoe.'

  'I'm glad. Actually, heard a rumor that you and Kyle were–rather more than cousins, shall I say.'

  The color stole into her cheeks as she dropped her eyes. She didn't know what to say. How had he heard that? Nate and Bart obviously. But why would they have said anything? She looked up refusing to apologize for her actions–no matter how they appeared.

  'We don't really have a purely cousinly relationship. Kyle was Johnny's cousin.'

  'So more than just—umm—kissing kin?' George asked.

  'What do you mean?'

  'Well, Nate seemed to think you two have something going. As I said, I'm glad you don't, that you were available to join me tonight.'

  'I am, too.' She was puzzled. Jenny hadn't thought Nate and George were friends. Certainly not to the extent of talking about a couple found kissing on a blanket on a hillside such a short time ago.

  'Kyle staying long?' George asked.

  'He's convalescing from a motorcycle accident, as you know. I think he plans to stay the whole summer. Until school starts in the fall. I think he’s at loose ends. He had different plans for the summer.'

  'I remember he mentioned a trip to Europe he had to miss. Teaches history?'

  'That's right. Are you planning any trips soon? You know April’s going to Hawaii for vacation? She's been saving for ages.' Jenny was uncomfortable with George's questions about Kyle for some reason, which she found hard to define. She definitely wanted to change the subject.

  They talked about people they knew, what George’s brother was doing and how he liked Oregon. Which led into a discussion of different places they’d each visited. Jenny began to enjoy herself.

  The view from the restaurant was lovely. The lake was a deep blue, the sky gradually changing from light blue to pink to mauve, and finally the dark velvet black of the mountain night.

  After the waiter had left their coffee, George again began to question Jenny on Kyle. She tried to think carefully before each response, but was worried with the line of conversation. What George just making conversation or was there more? Good grief, she’d known the man most of her life. Yet until recently they’d spent very little time together. Did he think he had to vet anyone she saw?

  'Why is he staying with you? You didn't know each other before, did you? When Johnny was alive?' he asked.

  'Well, we had met before, of course.' That, at least, was true.

  'But he and Johnny weren't close. Nate said he never saw him before.'

  'Nate?' It must have been a lengthy conversation.

  'Well, Nate knew a lot of Johnny's cousins. They were always running around together with Nick as kids. What do you know about this Kyle Martin?'

  'Really, George, you sound as if you don't like Kyle,' she stalled.

  'It's not that, Jenny.' He covered her hand with his, giving a light squeeze. 'I'm just worried about you, that's all. I feel sort of responsible for you.'

  'I'm flattered, but I'm fine. Kyle is quite–quite nice.' What an inadequate word and inaccurate. She had never thought of him as nice. Exciting, perhaps, exasperating, infuriating, hard to understand. But not nice.

  'He's not taking advantage, then.' George withdrew a little.

  'No, of course not. Really, George, he's a perfect guest.'

  'Out hiking a lot?'

  'Not really. He's only starting to get about. We went for his first walk Sunday.' There was no point in trying to deny that, as George had obviously heard about it from Nate. Jenny continued to be puzzled: she really hadn't thought of Nate and George as friends. Her suspicion grew, but Jenny thrust it away. She would not let Kyle’s investigation have her suspecting people she’d known forever.

  'Kyle was tired when we got home. I think we went too far for a first-time hike.' That would lend credence to the storyline they were following about his recovery.

  Taking a deep breath, Jenny looked directly at George. 'I didn't realize you and Nate were such friends.' There, let him answer that!

  'We've known each other for years. I saw him this morning when I took the car in. Just idle talk, you know. Care for anything else?'

  Jenny was glad when they started for home. She usually enjoyed her evenings with George Carlisle, but tonight she was disturbed. She wanted to talk to Kyle about the odd atmosphere at dinner. She sure felt George had questioned her more about Kyle than just normal curiosity would warrant. As they drove along, she tried to envision George engaging in idle chatter while someone repaired a car. It didn't seem like him, somehow.

  When they reached her house, Jenny thanked him for the evening. 'I enjoyed myself.' She smiled at him. 'Want to come in for coffee?'

  He glanced to the house, one light shining in the ground-floor window. 'Not tonight, thanks. Let's do it again soon, Jenny.'

  He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the mouth. Jenny sat still, assessing the kiss. She was shocked to discover nothing. It was as if she was kissing her grandfather or Johnny's brother. George's lips were firm, slightly cool. She kissed him back just a little and then smiled.

  'Goodnight.'

  She watched as the car drove off, wondering what was wrong with her. If Kyle had kissed her, she would have gone up in smoke. But he was not available, while George was. Yet George was not able to make her senses stir, her heartbeat increase. It might be so simple if he could.

  Kyle was stretched out on the sofa, watching TV. He looked up when she walked in, a scowl on his face.

  'Hi,' Jenny said brightly.

  'You're home early. Have a nice dinner?' He raised a sardonic eyebrow.

  She flushed a little and moved to sit near on the chair flanking the sofa.

  'I had a lovely time,' she replied defiantly. 'Did you get some dinner?'

  'Yes.' He turned back to the TV.

  Jenny bit her lip, watching Kyle. She had wanted to confide in him, tell him about the awkward conversation with George. Would Kyle listen to her? Would he think it odd, or that she was just being fanciful?

  'Kyle?'

  'What?' His dark eyes looked at her under lowered brows. It was not an auspicious start.

  'I—er—just wanted to talk. Are you watching the show?'

  'Obviously I am, Jenny. If you want to talk, though, I'll turn it off.'

  'Well, you don't have to, just listen. George questioned me a lot tonight, mostly about you.'

  Kyle looked at her, a puzzled expression on his face. 'So? Probably doesn't like some man staying with you. I wouldn't.'

  'Don't be silly, you're supposed to be Johnny's cousin.'

  Kyle sat up and shook his head. 'Don't you be silly! We wouldn't be closely related, even if I were Johnny's cousin. You're a beautiful woman, what man who had any interest in you would want another man living with you?'

  Jenny's eyes widened a little. No one, not even her mother, had ever called her beautiful before. Did Kyle really think so? Then she frowned as the rest of what he'd said sank in.

 
'Well, you aren't really living with me.'

  'Not my fault!' His mood lightened and the amusement she so often saw on his face became evident.

  'Kyle, I want to talk about George.'

  'Fine. Come sit here.' He patted the sofa beside him.

  'I'm fine here.'

  'I can hear better from here.'

  Jenny paused for a moment, then hesitantly rose and sat beside him on the sofa.

  'What did George ask that got you so worried?'

  'First, lots of questions about you like why you came here, if I'd met you before, things like that. Then he talked about Nate. Remember I told you I didn't think they were friends? Well, tonight he was repeating things Nate had told him.'

  'You said they knew each other. Maybe they just met in town and talked.'

  'Nate told him about meeting us the other day on the mountain. You don't just bring up things like that to casual acquaintances, do you?'

  Kyle was silent a moment, then shook his head.

  'So, what are you suggesting?' he asked.

  'I don't know,' she said. 'Just an interesting connection, don't you think?'

  'Yeah.' Kyle reached for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers and raising their hands to his lips, lightly touching each of her fingertips. 'Not as interesting as you, though.'

  Jenny's hand tingled. The touch of his mouth on her fingers caused more feeling in her whole body than George's kiss had. The feel of Kyle's hard palm against hers was distracting, so that she couldn't concentrate.

  'I think I'll try a new tactic,' he murmured, looking directly at her.

  'A new tactic?' Jenny said softly, conscious of his thumb gently rubbing the back of her hand. She opened her mouth a little to draw in air; she had trouble breathing, her stomach was filled with butterflies. Her eyes moved to his mouth, drawn there irresistibly.

  Would Kyle kiss her again? The touch of his hand alone evoked emotions and feelings within her that being with George had never approached. She longed to feel his mouth on hers again.

  'Where did you go for dinner?' Kyle asked, putting his feet up on the coffee table, resting their linked hands on his muscular thigh as he leaned back, his thumb still gently rubbing her soft skin.