An Unexpected Holiday Gift

by Martha Kennerson

  “Okay, I’ll drop it, but you’ll have to tell me where we are with the contract.”

  “Excuse me?” Mia’s brows snapped together.

  “You’re the one still reviewing the contract,” she noted, pointing at Mia’s computer.

  “Oh...” Mia glanced over her shoulder and looked at her computer. Is that what that is? “I guess I forgot.”

  “I bet you did.” Sandra smirked and drained the last of her drink. “I’ll wait.” She placed her empty cup on the edge of Mia’s desk and sat back with her arms folded.

  Mia turned to fully face her computer. She put her glasses on and quickly read through the paragraphs on the screen. “Looks good.” Mia hit a few keys before pushing the send button. “I just sent the electronically signed version back to you. Please send it out right away.”

  “I’m on it, boss lady.” Mia glared at her. “Sorry.” Sandra stood, picked up her cup and turned to leave.

  “Sandra, can you wait a minute?” Mia removed her glasses. She picked up her pen and started tapping it on the top of her desk.

  Sandra stood in front of Mia’s desk. “What’s up?”

  “Do you know how things are going?”

  Sandra frowned. “With what?”

  “You know what—Keylan and Coach Wanda’s class.”

  Sandra’s frown deepened. “KJ’s not with Coach Wanda’s class. He’s with Coach Hooper’s class in the small gym. He’s helping out with ball time.”

  “What!” Mia yelled, getting to her feet. She rounded her desk, heading out the door and down the hall.

  Chapter 3

  Mia stood just inside the doorway of the small gym, blinking to clear tears from her eyes. She wasn’t sure if what she was seeing and hearing was real. “What’s up?” Sandra asked, trying to catch her breath. “You ran out of the office so fast, I—”

  Mia held up her index finger to stop her friend from speaking. Sandra turned toward the sounds and sights that held Mia’s attention. “Are they playing some kind of basketball game?” she asked, her eyebrows standing at attention.

  “Looks that way,” Mia replied, slowly nodding. “Colby is actually talking to the other children.”

  “Talking? It looks like he’s cheering his team on. I thought Coach Hooper said these guys weren’t ready for organized sports yet.”

  “She did. I guess she was wrong...so was I, for that matter,” Mia admitted.

  “Yes!” both women screamed, jumping up and down as they watched the last child on Colby’s team finish the task before anyone else, winning the game. Everyone cheered with excitement, even those children who were not on the winning team. Mia and Sandra walked over to where the children had gathered around Keylan. Sandra started giving high-fives to all the children. “That was great, you guys,” Mia said, smiling at all the excited faces staring up at her.

  Colby ran over to Mia and threw his arms around her waist. “Mommy, I won.”

  Mia knelt down and gave Colby a big hug as she fought back a fresh batch of tears. “I see that.” She kissed him on the forehead. “I’m so proud of my little man.”

  Colby gave his mother another hug and a toothy grin before returning to his friends, who were now standing next to Coach Hooper and Sandra. “So Colby’s your son.”

  Mia rose, wiped at her tears and looked up at Keylan. “Yes, he is.”

  Keylan stood with his feet slightly apart, rolling a basketball between his hands. “What are you doing with these kids?”

  “Playing basketball.” Keylan looked over his shoulder at the kids, who were now dribbling balls all over the court, and smirked. “Our version of it, anyway. Colby...that’s a great kid you got there.”

  “Thank you.” Mia wrapped her arms around her waist. It was either a protective gesture or a nervous habit that she’d given up trying to break a long time ago. Keylan’s kind words and the excitement radiating from his body at playing with the kids had her heart doing flips. Not to mention the way the rest of her body was responding to his nearness. “You were supposed to be helping with the older kids.”

  “I know, but when I passed by this gym and saw these guys, something drew me in.”

  “They can have that effect on people,” she said, smiling.

  Keylan gave Mia a half smile. “Do you mind if I—?”

  “Key...lan,” Colby sang. “Key...lan.”

  “Looks like I’m being summoned. Can we pick this up later when I’m done?”

  “Key...lan,” Colby yelled, jumping up and down.

  Mia’s eyes widened. She had never seen her son respond to anything or anyone in such a way.

  “Demanding little dude. I guess he gets it from you,” he said with a sneer.

  “He’s usually shy around strangers. Loud noises, inanimate objects that move or too much commotion makes him nervous...freaks him out.” Mia wondered if she looked as confused as she felt.

  “Maybe it’s just me. Until later,” Keylan called over his shoulder, returning to Colby and the other children.

  “Looks like Colby’s made a big new friend,” Sandra said, coming to stand next to Mia.

  “Yeah, and that’s what I’m afraid of,” Mia replied, her forehead creased.

  * * *

  Keylan had showered, changed into his street clothes and was sitting on the bench in front of his locker, flipping through his phone messages, but found his ability to concentrate fleeting. He was still flying high from all the fun he’d had hanging with all those kids today, especially Colby. The way Colby seemed to come alive around him made his heart swell. His brilliant and very beautiful mother was making him crazy in ways no other woman had and that scared the hell out of him. All he could think about was Mia’s short but athletic legs, her small waist and ample breasts. Keylan had been so deep in thought that he didn’t hear his name being called. “KJ,” a raised baritone voice said before a quick punch landed on Keylan’s right shoulder. He looked up to find his cousin Travis smiling down at him.

  Travis Kingsley looked like a fairer-skinned version of Keylan. A wildly successful cattle rancher, he was the only son of Keylan’s aunt Elizabeth. Travis served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the family’s foundation.

  “You don’t want none of this, son,” Keylan replied, laughing, placing his phone down on the bench before the two men bumped fists.

  “What are you doing here and what has you so engrossed in thought that you didn’t hear me coming? You know what Aunt Victoria always says,” Travis prompted.

  “Always be aware of your surroundings,” they said in unison.

  Keylan nodded. “How can I forget? She only drilled it in our heads for years.” The two men were more like brothers than cousins. After all, they’d all been raised together.

  “So what’s going on? I hear you were working with our Down’s kids,” Travis asked. “I know how special that group is to you.”

  “Yeah, they’re a really great bunch of kids. I had no idea we’d doubled our initial admission numbers.”

  “I know, and while I appreciate you finally making time to stop by, I can’t help but wonder what prompted this visit, especially while you’re in the middle of your rehab.” Travis leaned against the locker, crossed his arms at his chest and his feet at the ankles.

  “I can’t believe the story hasn’t been picked up by the media yet.” Keylan grabbed his phone and searched his name online. “Yep, it’s there.”

  “What’s there?”

  Keylan handed Travis his phone. He preferred for his cousin to read the articles for himself. “Man, that’s BS. Z’s reaction to that play was a flop. Everyone knows he made that fall look worse than it really was. Now you get suspended for three games, along with having to pay a fine and perform community service because of his punk-ass move.”

 
“I really don’t mind doing the service or paying the fine. Hell, I’ll even accept the three-game suspension, although I do find it excessive, especially since it won’t be imposed until next season. It’s being labeled a selfish bully on the court. I may be aggressive when I play, but I’m no selfish bully.”

  “Since when do you give a damn about what people think?”

  “Since now,” Keylan said, accepting his phone back from Travis.

  “Now I see why you were so deep in thought when I came up. But there’s no better place to get your hours completed than in a place you help build and financially support.”

  “Tell that to our activities director.” Keylan sat his phone on the bench next to his keys.

  “Mia?” Travis’s eyes widened and he stood straight.

  “She thinks I’m a rich and overprivileged playboy.”

  Travis grimaced. “Well...”

  “Okay, but she also thinks I’m only here going through the motions.”

  “That’s because she doesn’t know your history here or the fact that you paid for that massive gym with your NBA money. I guess you failed to mention those facts.” Travis smiled. “She’s good people. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

  Keylan rose from the bench and placed his hands in his pockets. “Why the defense...she yours or something?”

  A smile crawled across Travis’s face as he stood in silence for a moment. “Why? You interested or something?”

  Keylan and his cousin had always been competitive when it came to sports and sometimes business, but never when it came to women. Blood was blood. As much as it bothered Keylan to lie to his cousin, if Travis had a thing for Mia, he would never know how much Keylan was attracted to her, too.

  “You know she’s not my type...too short. Plus, she has a kid. I don’t date women with kids, although Colby really is cute and could use some KJs or at least some Jordans in his life. Those Velcro things she’s got on his feet are ridiculous.”

  Travis gave Keylan a lopsided grin. “What?”

  “You do like her.” Travis burst out laughing, slowly clapping his hands.

  Keylan reached down and picked up his phone and keys. “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t have to.”

  “Well...” Keylan said, trying but failing to look disinterested.

  “Well, what?” Travis teased. Keylan glared at him. “No man, Mia is great, but she’s my friend and our employee. That’s all.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. But heed my warning—Mia’s not one to be toyed with,” Travis warned.

  “I’m not looking to toy with anyone. Besides, she’s not—”

  “Your type, so you’ve said. I’m not buying it.”

  “If she’s so great, why didn’t you asked her out? Or have you? What, she turn you down?” Keylan laughed.

  “She’s our employee, so no, I haven’t asked her out. If you’re not interested, why all the questions?”

  Good question.

  While Mia wasn’t the type of woman Keylan usually went for—tall, agreeable and strictly fun—the idea of Mia and Travis together annoyed the hell out of him. Keylan’s phone beeped and he was relieved by the interruption. He read his text. “What’s up with my mom? She’s texted me like ten times within the last thirty minutes.”

  “She’s trying to confirm that you’ll be at the dinner meeting she scheduled tonight.”

  “Why, what’s going on?”

  “I don’t know, but it must be something big, because she sent James to give me a personal invite since I didn’t answer her twenty text messages.”

  Keylan shook his head. “Man, my mother is something else. I’m surprised James hasn’t quit with all the crazy errands she makes him run.”

  “James quit? Never. He’s been Aunt Victoria’s personal assistant since your dad died.” Travis’s forehead creased. “Did you ever wonder if he and your mom—?”

  “Hell no,” Keylan admitted, shivering at the thought. “I wouldn’t want to know, either.”

  “Me, either. Just send her a text and let her know you’ll be there tonight.”

  Keylan sighed and obliged. “I swear, if this ends up being another one of her ‘When are you going to settle down and give me grandbabies?’ speeches, I’m going to get up and leave. It’s not like she’s the warm-and-fuzzy-grandmother type who wants grandkids she can boast about and hang out with. All she’s concerned about is having heirs to carry on her legacy.”

  “So, back to you and Mia.”

  A beautiful, sassy and very sexy woman with a really cool kid is the last thing I need in my life right now. “There is no me and Mia,” Keylan said, heading for the exit.

  Chapter 4

  Mia walked through the door of her three-bedroom bungalow behind her son, holding two bags of groceries and her son’s backpack. They walked through the living and dining room, passing an oversize, brown stress-leather sofa and a large bay window with a wide bench, to get to her grand, black-and-white gourmet kitchen that sat off her family room. “Good job, little man. Now place the milk on the table and go put your backpack away.”

  “I no have it,” he replied, frowning, showing Mia his empty hands.

  Mia smiled. “It’s by the front door. I dropped it next to Mommy’s purse.”

  “Okeydoke,” he sang, running out of the kitchen.

  Mia placed the grocery bags on her kitchen island. She looked around the room and her smile widened. Mia still couldn’t believe how great her remodel had turned out, especially after she’d fired her initial contractor for the rude remarks he’d continuously made about her son.

  “Backpack’s up, Mommy. Colby big boy.”

  “I know,” she confirmed as she put away her groceries. “How about beans, wieners and a salad for dinner?”

  “No salad.” His face scrunched up.

  “Yes, a little salad.”

  “Call Keylan now?” he asked, jumping up and down.

  “Colby, we talked about this already, son. Keylan is very busy right now.”

  “I want to talk to Keylan now,” he insisted, his little hands fisted at his sides.

  Mia sighed. “Mommy doesn’t have his number.” Colby ran from the room. “I guess I’m not winning Mommy of the Year again.” Mia looked over at the last award Colby had made for her that still hung on the information board in their kitchen.

  Colby ran back into the kitchen, smiling. “I got it.”

  “Got what?” she asked, her back turned away from her son as she opened the can of beans, pouring them into a small pot before she lit the fire on her gas stove under the pan.

  “Keylan’s number.”

  Mia turned around so fast she nearly gave them both whiplash. “What?”

  “Keylan’s number,” he said, waving a business card in the air.

  Mia took the card and read the handwritten message on the back. Call me anytime, little man. “Great,” she snapped.

  Colby ran out of the kitchen again, only to return seconds later holding his mother’s cell phone. “Call Keylan.”

  Mia exhaled noisily and turned on the fire under the pan of hot dogs. She accepted the phone, looked at the number and started dialing.

  Please don’t answer...please don’t answer.

  * * *

  Keylan had just pulled his black Sienna Porsche into the large circular driveway of his aunt’s mini mansion when his phone rang. He looked at the number but didn’t recognize it. Since only a handful of people had his private number, he answered it.

  “Keylan Kingsley.”

  “Hello, Mr. Kingsley.” Keylan knew instantly who it was. The edge to her voice was very familiar.

  “It’s Keylan or KJ, Mia,” he reminded her.

  “You gave
my son your business card.”

  Keylan didn’t know if that was a statement or a question. He decided on the former. “I know. And I told him to call me whenever he wanted.”

  “I really hope you’re not using my son to get to me because that would not only be despicable, but a waste of time.”

  “My, my, aren’t we full of ourselves. Is it so hard to believe I could actually like your son, see something pretty special about him?”

  “Well—”

  “And, for the record, when I want a woman, I go to her. I don’t need to use anyone,” he said, trying to control his annoyance.

  “I wanna talk to Keylan!” he heard the boy say in the background.

  “May I speak with Colby, please?”

  “Yes, of course. One moment please.” Her tone turned pleasant.

  “Hi, Keylan!”

  “Hello, buddy. How are you?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “What are you doing?” Keylan was excited to hear Colby’s voice and curious about his answer.

  “I’m talking to you.”

  Keylan laughed. “Yes, you are. Did you want to tell or ask me something?”

  “Come play with me tomorrow. I’ll be good. I promise!”

  Keylan’s heart flipped. “Yes, buddy, I’ll come play with you tomorrow. I promise.”

  “Okay...”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Keylan listened for a response but the phone fell silent. “I guess that’s that.”

  Keylan put his phone in his pocket and exited the car. He made his way to his aunt Elizabeth’s front door. It always made him laugh, entering her mustard-color house through a bright white door. Keylan had raised his hand to knock when the door opened. Elizabeth Kingsley, his mother’s sister and only sibling, had raised her children alongside his mother’s after both their husbands had been killed in a plane crash.

  “There’s my tall, handsome nephew,” Elizabeth said, pulling him into her outstretched arms.

  “You say that about all of your nephews.” He stepped out of her arms and kissed her on the cheek. “Now, don’t you look sunny?” Keylan smiled, admiring the bright green, short-sleeved dress she wore with no shoes. Her wrinkle-free, fair skin, makeup-free, only accentuated her youthful image. Her shoulder-length, dark brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail. She looked nowhere near her fifty-two years.