Sandra slowly walked up to Mia’s desk. “I was coming to ask if you wanted to check out what we found on the security feed but it looks like you found it for yourself.”
Mia felt horribly embarrassed at being caught gawking at Keylan. She dropped her head in her hands. “How long have you been standing there?” she murmured through her fingers.
“Long enough to see you sitting back squirming in your chair.” Sandra laughed.
Mia dropped her hands and gave Sandra the evil eye.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not the one who’s in here gawking at a walking wet dream and getting all hot and bothered. Thank goodness the door was closed.”
“I wasn’t...” Sandra raised her left eyebrow. “Okay, maybe I was.”
“You were what?” a baritone voice asked.
Sandra swung toward the sound and Mia quickly rose from her chair, tilting it backward. “Keylan...”
“Ladies,” he replied, crossing his arms at his chest, which was now covered by a black muscle shirt. “Am I interrupting anything?”
“Not at all,” Mia replied, hoping her face was less crimson than a few moments ago.
“Pardon my appearance—”
“It’s fine,” Sandra said, giving him a nonchalant wave and offering him a wide, wolflike smile.
“Actually it isn’t,” Mia said, glaring at her friend.
“Trust me, I know the rules. I needed to retrieve my bag from my car.” He held up a black-leather Gucci carrier. “I was hoping I could convince you to have lunch with me so we can discuss some of the recommended changes I sent you to review. I’d love to hear your thoughts.”
Mia brought her left hand to her hip, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. “Oh, now you want to have a discussion, after you’ve already implemented several things on your list.”
Keylan shrugged and walked into the office. “While I’ll always welcome everyone’s input, I was left in charge. It’s our family foundation, so funding any changes I want to make won’t be a problem. Besides, the few improvements I’ve implemented were no-brainers. Having a professional chef brings order and structure to the kitchen. Updating the meal program to include something a little fresher and expanding the Meals on Wheels outreach to include both lunch and dinner is the right thing to do when there’s such a need. Who could possibly object to any of those things?”
Mia dropped her hand and sighed. “You’re right, and while I’d really like to discuss your ideas, we have a lunch meeting.”
“Oh, yeah, about that.” Sandra turned her attention to Mia. “That was the other thing I wanted to tell you when I came in here. I guess I got sidetracked.” Sandra winked at Mia.
“Like now.” Mia’s eyes narrowed.
Sandra laughed. “The lunch got rescheduled.” Her eyes darted back to Keylan. “Looks like she’s free, after all.”
“Great. I’ll just go change and bring our food back and we can get to work.”
“Fine.”
After Keylan left the office, Sandra turned and faced Mia. “You can thank me later.”
“Thank you for what?” Mia asked, glaring at her friend as if she didn’t know who she was.
“Oh, give me a break. I realize you’ve taken this long vow of celibacy but you’ve clearly been affected by that man,” she insisted.
Mia sat in her chair and turned to her computer. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Sandra brought both hands to her hips. “Then what exactly were you doing when I walked in here a few minutes ago?”
Losing my mind. “Have you started working on the added verbiage for the new teaching positions we want to fill?”
“I was, but I guess you weren’t the only one who got distracted,” she said, laughing.
Mia ignored her comment. “Can you email me the final list of participants for this weekend’s bowling tournament?”
“Sure thing, boss lady.” Sandra walked out of the office.
* * *
Keylan showered, changed back into his suit and was preparing to head to the kitchen to collect lunch for himself and Mia when his phone rang. He smiled at the stunning face that popped up on his screen. “Good afternoon, China.”
“Good afternoon to you, too. How’s it going?”
“So far, so good. How’s my favorite sister-in-law doing?”
A small giggle came through the phone. “I’m your only sister-in-law, KJ...kind of.”
China Kingsley, an environmental lawyer and lead counsel for Kingsley Oil and Gas, was married to Keylan’s eldest brother, Alexander.
“What’s up?”
“I’m just checking to see if you have any questions about everything that’s going on with the company. I know you got the message regarding our response to the media.”
Keylan laughed. “You know I did. ‘Kingsley Oil and Gas takes the safety of our employees very seriously and we’re working closely with the US government to resolve these ridiculous charges.’ Did I get that right?”
“Yes, you did. How are you and Mia getting along?”
“The jury is still out. Mia’s beautiful, but she’s tough,” he informed her.
“That she is, and she’s very good at her job,” China assured him.
“I can see that. Why haven’t we made her executive director of the foundation?”
“Aunt Elizabeth tried. Mia prefers being Elizabeth’s second and the activities director. I think it’s the time restraints that come with such a busy and visible role. She’s a single mother, you know.”
“Yes, I know. Colby is a great kid, cute and smart, too.”
The phone went silent. “Hello... China, you still there?”
“Oh, I’m here. I’m just trying to wrap my head around the fact that you got a thing for a woman with a child.”
“Who told you that? Travis?” He raised his voice slightly.
“He might’ve mentioned it, but I told him I’d have to hear you confirm it before I believed it, and you just did.”
“Did not,” he said, sounding like a little kid.
“Oh, but you did. Talking about Mia like that was a hint. Adding your impressions about her son was the final tipping point,” China concluded.
“I think since getting pregnant and marrying my brother you’re seeing and hearing love and relationships everywhere,” Keylan declared.
“If you say so. I heard about the suspension. Are you okay? You appealing it?”
“I don’t know. I’m letting my attorney and agent deal with it. I’m just focusing on rehabbing my knee and now the foundation.”
“And Mia...” she added, making kissing sounds.
“Really?”
“Keylan and Mia kissing in a tree...” China sang.
“On that note, I’ll talk to you later.” Keylan disconnected the phone and continued down the hall toward the kitchen, murmuring, “Me and Mia, right...”
Chapter 8
Mia laid all the files and contracts she believed they would be reviewing on her conference table. She returned to her desk and pulled her makeup bag from her purse. She powdered her face, freshened up her lipstick and made sure her hair was pinned up tightly in its bun. “What are you doing?” Mia closed her compact and returned it to her purse. “This is a business lunch.”
“Ready for me?” Keylan said, walking into the office carrying a tray with two plates with silver cloches.
Mia rose from her seat. “Sure, come in.” She gestured with her hand to the conference table. “Everything is completely organized for your review. I thought we could jump right into things while we eat.”
Keylan placed the tray on the table. “Of course you did. I asked Donna to make us something special.”
“What, no fish tacos?”
Keylan pu
lled out her chair, placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her to the seat. “Please sit.”
His gentle touch and the sweet, musky scent emanating from his body assaulted her senses, sending Mia’s body up in flames. She smiled at him and complied. “Thank you.”
Keylan placed a covered plate in front of Mia and lifted the top. The plate held four palm-size tacos: two fish and two shrimp with two different sauces. Mia took a whiff. “This smells wonderful.”
“Wait until you taste it. Shoot, I forgot the drinks.”
“No worries. I have water and juice,” she said, pointing to the small black refrigerator in the left corner of the room. She started to rise.
“I’ll get it.” Keylan walked over to the refrigerator and bent down. Mia couldn’t help but admire how well his pants fit his butt.
Keylan opened the refrigerator door and laughed. “What’s so funny?” she questioned before sticking her pinky finger in the green sauce and then placing it on her tongue.
“When you said you had water and juice, I didn’t think you meant mini water bottles and juice pouches.” Keylan picked up two pouches. “What’s your pleasure, grape or fruit punch?” His mouth curved into a smile.
Mia smiled. “I’ll take the fruit punch.”
“Me, too.” Keylan closed the door and returned to the table. “If you open my brothers’ or even my mother’s refrigerator, for that matter, you’ll find beer, wine and soda. And the soda is for adding to the alcohol.”
“I can imagine your aunt Elizabeth’s refrigerator probably looks closer to mine than theirs.”
“You’re probably right. Here you go.” He handed Mia a pouch.
“Thank you. I thought we could go over your recommended changes first,” Mia said, reaching for her files.
“And I think we should eat first,” he said, lifting the lid from his plate. “Donna makes the best seafood tacos.” Keylan took the green sauce and poured it over his fish tacos. “Her avocado sauce is fantastic, too.”
Mia followed Keylan’s lead, adding sauce to her tacos before taking a bite. “Mmm...so good,” she said with her eyes closed.
* * *
Damn. The sound and look of satisfaction on Mia’s face sent a wave of desire through Keylan that had him grateful to be sitting down. “Donna really is an amazing chef,” he agreed before taking a bite into his own tacos.
Mia picked up her drink, used the attached straw and poked it into the pouch. She wrapped her mouth around the straw and took a pull. It was a move that made Keylan reach under the table to adjust himself.
“I must admit, adding Donna to the staff and embracing a more organic and fresh menu is a pretty good idea. A surprising one, too.”
“Surprising how?”
“I’ve had dinner with your family. They love their steak.”
Keylan laughed. “Yes, we do. However, I also love my fruits and vegetables as long as they’re fresh.”
“It must be an athletic thing, having a balanced diet, I guess.” Mia took another bite of her food.
Keylan nodded. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Depends.” Mia took another drink from her pouch.
“On what exactly?”
Mia covered her mouth and said, “On how personal the question may be.”
“Fair enough.” Keylan got up and walked over to the refrigerator. He opened the door and pulled out two bottles of water and returned to the table. He handed one to Mia.
“What, you didn’t like the fruit punch?” she asked, laughing.
“One’s my limit. I’m driving.”
Mia smiled. “So what’s your question?”
Keylan wiped his mouth with a napkin and tossed it onto his empty plate. “Colby has few of the physical characteristics associated with Down syndrome and those that he has are less prominently visible. Does Colby have Mosaic Down syndrome?”
Mia’s eyes went wide. “Yes. Colby has a percentage of cells with the extra chromosome number twenty-one associated with Down syndrome. How do you—?”
“How do I know about Mosaic Down? I just do.”
Mia slid her plate forward. “There’s definitely a story there.”
Keylan folded his arms across his chest. “How about I tell you my story and you tell me yours?”
“Mine...?”
“Yes. Why don’t you celebrate Christmas?”
“You first,” she said, cracking the seal of her water bottle.
“We were all home-schooled when we were younger. When I was in eighth grade, we started having school here.”
Mia’s eyebrows came to attention. “At the foundation?”
“Yep. You know what happened to my father and uncle, right?” he asked, taking a drink from his water bottle.
“Yes, they died in a plane crash that they piloted, right?”
Keylan nodded as he held the bottle to his lips. He brought it down and said, “Their death sent my family into a tailspin for a really long time.” Keylan broke eye contact for several seconds as he fought to keep his emotions under control. “We all found ways to distract ourselves from the pain of the loss, as well as all the unsettling changes that followed. I had a friend that had Down syndrome and I wanted to learn everything I could about the disease. I became obsessed with researching it. His symptoms were so light some people couldn’t tell anything was different about him. He explained to me how the chromosome count worked and that he had Mosaic Down syndrome. Colby reminds me of my friend. His name is Raul.”
“Where’s Raul now?”
Keylan missed his friend and a wave of sadness came over him. “He and his family live in Florida. My schedule doesn’t make it easy but we try to see each other a couple of times a year.”
“That’s nice. Colby’s physical symptoms, appearance-wise—his facial features—are slight, as well. He has some respiratory issues but his intellectual disability is mild. He’s like any other four-year-old boy, except he’s usually very shy and timid around people he doesn’t know,” she explained.
“He’s an amazing kid,” he commented.
“I know,” she said, smiling at the compliment.
Keylan could see the tears Mia was trying to hide as she stood and collected their trash, dumping it in the can next to her desk. “Your turn. What is it about Christmas that makes it like just another day for you?”
Mia used the hand sanitizer on her desk. She turned, faced Keylan and held up the bottle. “Care for some?”
Keylan smiled, rose from his seat and walked up to Mia. “I most certainly would.”
Mia shook her head and said, “Is this you trying to be charming?” She squirted the gel in his hands.
Keylan stared down at Mia. He rubbed his hands together and the corners of his mouth lifted before he replied, “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
Mia’s mouth mimicked his. “Thank you, but we really should keep things between us professional.” She held his gaze before stepping around him, returning to her seat at the conference table.
Too much. “So Christmas...?”
Mia groaned. “I told Colby’s biological father that I was pregnant Christmas Day, thinking it would be a wonderful way to celebrate all our holidays moving forward.”
“I’m guessing it didn’t go over well,” Keylan observed.
“No, he denied he was the father and ended our relationship.”
“Seriously?”
Her mouth set in a tight line. “Yep, even though he knew he’d been the only man I’d ever been with.”
“I’m sorry.”
Mia shrugged. “I guess having a wife and kid at his side as he entered the NBA draft wasn’t part of his plans.”
“Did he make it to the NBA?”
“For
a while. Now he’s playing somewhere overseas.”
“He’s not even a man. You shouldn’t let the actions of one ass ruin Christmas for you.”
“How about the actions of two asses?”
Keylan frowned. “What do you mean?”
“When I was a little girl, my mother decided she didn’t want to be a mother anymore. Can you guess what day she had that great revelation?”
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“Not at all,” she said nonchalantly, reaching for her stacks of folders. “That’s enough of walking down memory lane. How about we get down to business?”
Keylan felt a strong sense of anger and sadness for the stunning woman sitting across from him, trying her best to appear as though she hadn’t been deeply affected by the betrayal of those she’d trusted the most. Keylan accepted the files she handed to him and asked, “Where would you like to start?”
They spent the next few hours going over all of Keylan’s recommendations, including plans for the weekend’s upcoming charity event, as well as the best way to handle the predicted media firestorm they were expecting with everything going on with their company and Keylan’s suspension.
He found Mia’s questions and concerns to be smart and well thought out. She was not only gorgeous and sexy as hell; he thought she was intelligent and very compassionate. Keylan caught himself wondering what it would be like to kiss her. How it would feel to have those hands she talked with explore his body.
“So you think we should take ten to fifteen kids on a summer and winter vacation?”
“Excuse me?” Keylan said, embarrassed to have been caught not listening.
Mia repeated her question. And while she was in agreement with the majority of Keylan’s outlined recommendations, the suggestion that they take kids on vacations was clearly giving her pause.
“Sure, why not? Look, most of these kids never have a chance to leave Houston, let alone the state, for such an amazing opportunity.”
“I realize that and spending a weekend at your family’s ranch would be a good idea. But taking kids on a ski trip is a bit much, don’t you think?”
“Not at all. These kids need to be introduced to new adventures. I think you could use a little adventure yourself,” he proclaimed. “In fact, we should take a quick trip so you can see for yourself what I have in mind.”
An Unexpected Holiday Gift Page 6