“This place is mostly windows built on the side of mountains near rivers and lakes. You’d think it would be freezing in these halls in spite of the central heat and fireplaces everywhere.”
“It’s the triple-insulated windows. My aunt hates the cold.”
“But your house is built on a mountain.”
“It was my mother’s idea. She’s big on security and privacy, remember?” Keylan said.
“I remember. Why do you have a small kitchen up here?”
“My mother didn’t want us kids running up and down the stairs looking for midnight snacks.”
“Make sense...I guess.”
Keylan directed Mia to a stool. “Have a seat while I get our dinner.”
“Dinner?”
“Yes. I had Alice bring it up here. I knew we’d be hungry after working up an appetite,” he proclaimed proudly.
Mia giggled and leaned against the counter. “What’s for dinner?”
“Spaghetti and some of the best meatballs you’ve ever had.”
Mia gave him a wicked smile. “I doubt that.”
Keylan walked up to her, nudged her legs apart with his knee and stepped between her thighs. “Don’t remind me of what you can do with that beautiful mouth of yours or we’ll never eat.” He kissed her as if his life depended on it.
Pulling a covered dish from a warmer, he placed it on a carrying tray. He selected two plates and grabbed some bread. “Can you take that bottle of wine and those two glasses?” He directed Mia to a smaller table.
Mia hopped off the stool. “I sure can.” She picked up the bottle and read the label. “Château Lafite Rothschild, nice.”
“Let’s go.”
They returned to Keylan’s room, where they ate in bed.
“This is so good,” Mia proclaimed.
“Told you,” he said, taking a drink from his wineglass.
As they ate, Keylan shared everything that had gone wrong with his trip home. He even told Mia about his conversation with Colby and his need for a big-boy bike, a subject he knew was a touchy one.
“He’s four. The bike he has is fine. He needs the training wheels,” she insisted.
“Not if he doesn’t think so.” Keylan broke off a piece of bread and handed it to Mia.
“He’s too young to know what’s best for him.”
“Yes, when it comes to most things. But there are some things kids can and should have a say in.”
“Not when it comes to their safety,” she insisted, reaching for the bottle and topping off both their glasses.
“You can’t smother the boy, Mia.”
Mia held up her hands. “Can we change the subject, please?”
“Sure, for now.”
“Why are you scared?” She placed her empty plate on the tray.
Keylan put his empty plate next to Mia’s, took the tray and set it outside his bedroom door as if he was in an upscale hotel. He returned to the bed, took Mia’s hand in his and peered into her eyes. “I was serious when I said I want a future with you and Colby. What scares me is what that would mean for you...for us. Being a Kingsley...being with a Kingsley isn’t easy.”
“I get that—”
“I’m not sure you do, baby. The wealth is a blessing and a curse. People will start to see you differently. They’ll respond to who they think you are and what you can do for them. The security, the media, it can all become overwhelming when you’re not used to it.” He squeezed her hand. “I’m scared to death that you won’t be able to handle it all.”
“But...” Mia broke eye contact and pushed out a quick breath. “If we love each other, we can handle anything that comes our way, right?”
Keylan pulled her into his arms. “I hope so, my love. I really do, because I’m not letting you go.”
Don’t cry... Don’t cry. “Good.”
“Now let’s get some sleep, because we have a busy day tomorrow.”
“Doing what exactly?” Mia laid her head on Keylan’s chest.
“I’m going to show you everything our mountain has to offer. I can’t wait to get Colby here. I’d love for him to have a white Christmas,” he murmured before drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, Mia woke up naked and alone. At some point in the night they’d made love again and Keylan had let the athlete in him take control. Mia smiled as she remembered flashes of all the different positions Keylan had managed to put her body in. “Keylan... Keylan,” she called out.
Mia got up and made her way to the bathroom, every muscle in her body protesting each step she took. After using the restroom and brushing her teeth, Mia stepped into the shower, hoping all those jets would do their job and revive her body.
After several minutes Mia’s muscles did, in fact, start to relax and she could sense she was no longer alone.
“Good morning.”
Mia turned to find a fully dressed Keylan leaning against the doorjamb. “Good morning. Where have you been?”
“I wanted to get in a few runs down the mountain. I figure you wouldn’t be ready to do that just yet.”
“I guess that explains the outfit, and you were right.” She smiled at how sexy he looked in his black snow pants and long-sleeved white shirt.
Keylan smirked. “I called and checked in on Colby and he’s fine. Get dressed and meet me downstairs in the family room.”
“Which room is that again?” Mia turned off the water and reached for her towel.
“Damn, you’re beautiful.” Keylan walked into the bathroom, leaned down and kissed her. “The family room is the one where the window faces the mountains.”
Mia’s eyebrows rose. “I’m going to need more than that to go on, mister.”
“The one with the big pool table across from the stairs.”
“Got it.”
Keylan walked out of the bathroom. Mia was awestruck by the way his snow pants fit his perfect behind and her body began to stir.
You have got to get a grip, girl.
Mia walked into the closet and selected the white outfit that Sandra had insisted made her look like a Kingsley, though she had no idea what that meant. After drying her body and hair, she dressed in a white turtleneck sweater and white snow pants and pulled her hair into a tight bun. She applied as little makeup as possible and slipped her feet into a pair of boots that had cost more than what anyone should be allowed to pay.
Mia put on the matching white mink-lined jacket and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She finally knew just what Sandra meant. Mia was wearing a six-thousand-dollar outfit and she didn’t look like herself. She looked like a Kingsley. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that, no matter how much she loved Keylan.
Being invited into this world of luxury and excess was new to Mia. She had seen firsthand how this changed people; her ex put money and fame before her and Colby. Mia knew she was being ridiculous. Keylan—and the entire Kingsley family, for that matter—had been nothing but generous. She saw every day how they shared their time and resources for the betterment of others. Mia took another look in the mirror and this time she smiled.
Chapter 25
Mia made her way to the family room and spied an off-looking Keylan sitting at a small, round table in the corner of the room reading something on his phone. When he spotted her, he placed his phone aside. “You found it,” he said with a half smile as he rose from his chair. “I was about ready to send out a search party.” He kissed her on the cheek and helped her out of her jacket, placing it on the back of her chair.
“Everything okay? You look like something is wrong.”
“Everything is fine.” He relaxed his face and pointed to the mobile tray next to the table. “We have coffee, orange juice and cocoa. What’s your pleasure?”
“Coffee a
nd orange juice. Thank you.”
Keylan poured up her request and handed them to her. “You look gorgeous, by the way.”
Mia accepted the cup and glass. “I feel like a snowman in all this white, but Sandra and the salesperson insisted that I get this one.”
“Sandra?”
“Yes.” Mia sipped her coffee. “She went shopping with me. She said this outfit made me look like a Kingsley.”
“Oh, yeah? What do we Kingsleys look like?”
The corners of her mouth rose and she remembered what he’d said last night. “Money.”
Keylan nodded as if his earlier point had been made. He reached for his glass.
“What’s that you’re drinking?”
“A protein energy drink. Between you and our mountain, I need to replenish.” He glanced over at his beeping phone.
“Do you need to get that?”
“Actually—”
“Excuse me, sir, are you ready to order?” a tall, thin young man asked as he entered the room.
“Yes.” Keylan waved him forward. “Forgive me, what was your name?”
“Patch,” he replied.
“Mia, this is Patch. He’s new to the staff,” Keylan said by way of introduction.
“Good morning, Patch.”
“What would you like for breakfast?” Keylan took a drink from his glass while he waited for Mia’s response.
“What do you mean?”
“Pancakes, eggs, steak, maybe? Whatever you want, the kitchen can make,” he elaborated.
Mia shrugged and Keylan laughed at her clear confusion. “Patch, we’ll have some mixed fruit first, brown sugar and cinnamon oatmeal, and we’ll round things off with ham-and-cheese omelets fully loaded. Is that okay, Mia?”
She nodded and watched as Patch wrote everything down before leaving. “What was that?”
“What was what?”
Mia rolled her eyes. “You just placed an order like we were in a restaurant.”
“Oh, that.”
“Yes, that. What’s the deal?”
“That’s how breakfast is done. Lunch and dinner are different. Those meals are preset by preference. Alice has the menus prepared based on my requests, but if you’d like something special I’m sure we can make it happen.”
“No, I’m following your lead this weekend.”
“I like the sound of that.” Keylan wiggled his eyebrows.
Patch returned with two bowls of fruit, along with toast and several jams and jellies to choose from.
Keylan’s phone rang and he glanced at the screen. “Excuse me, baby, I have to take this.” He stepped into the foyer before answering the call. “Mavis, is everything all right?”
“Yes. The doctor just gave him another breathing treatment and we’ll be heading back home soon. He’s perfectly fine. You didn’t tell Mia, did you?”
“No, not yet, but I think I should.”
“Not unless you want your trip cut short. That child hasn’t had a vacation or any real time to herself since Colby was born. She deserves a couple of days of being a pampered twenty-six-year-old. She is being pampered, right?”
“Yes, ma’am, she is.”
“Good. Now you go enjoy yourself. I got this. I’ll let you know if anything changes.”
“Please do, and tell Little Man we love him.”
“I will,” Mavis promised before hanging up.
Keylan knew Mia would be furious at him for keeping this from her from the time her aunt had first called him. No matter how minor the situation was, Keylan felt like a heel for keeping the information to himself, but he also knew how right her aunt was. Mia deserved a break and to be treated like a queen, and he had every intention of doing just that. He shook off the guilt and returned to the table.
“Everything okay?”
“Just an unexpected development.” Before Keylan could return to his chair, Alice entered the room.
“Good morning, Alice.”
“Good morning,” she replied, placing a large bowl of oatmeal in front of each of them. “Sit down and eat, KJ, before your food gets cold.”
Keylan followed her direction. “I can’t count the number of times you’ve told me that over the years, Ms. Alice.”
“I can. Way too many to discuss. Did you sleep well, Mia, dear?”
Mia’s eyes cut to Keylan, who winked at her. “Yes, ma’am, I did.”
“Alice’s oatmeal is the best,” Keylan related.
“You’re making breakfast, too?” Mia asked, taking a bite of her oatmeal.
“Child, no. We have a full staff for that. I just make the oatmeal for everyone.”
“This is delicious.”
“Thank you.”
“Who’s everyone?” Mia took another bite.
“I’ll leave the explaining to KJ. Eat up and enjoy your day.”
Keylan could see the curiosity in Mia’s eyes. I’m not sure how much more Kingsley she can handle, but here goes nothing. “While this is our family home, during the holidays and summer, the west wing is open for business.”
“Business?”
“Yes, it’s open to the public. It becomes an upscale, thirty-room resort and spa that celebrities, business associates and politicians frequent. That includes a couple of presidents. Not to mention a few of our own parties and activities are held there, too.”
“Just the west wing?”
He nodded slowly. “The main house and the east wing remain private year-round. The west wing has its own parking area and two helicopter pads.”
Mia ate in silence and he respected her need for it. He realized that she might finally be grasping the enormity of their wealth and influence and what all that meant. It was a lot to process.
Keylan sat back and finished off his oatmeal.
Mia set down her spoon and pushed her bowl forward. “So it’s open now?”
“Yes.”
Patch walked in and placed their omelets before them. “Thank you. It looks great.” Mia complimented him before he scurried out of the room, leaving them alone. “With such a distinguished guest list, I assume there’s press here.” Mia used a fork to cut into her omelet and took a bite. “Mmm, so good.”
“Celebrities and politicians bring out the press, so yes, but their focus will be on them and not us. Besides, we’re staying on our side of the house and the mountain.”
“If you say so.” Mia wiped her mouth, having finished half of her food. “I’m full. What’s on the agenda today?”
“We’ll take a quick tour of the west wing, and then it’s my lady’s choice, skiing or snowboarding down Kingsley Mountain, before we head down to the village for lunch and a little shopping.”
“How about we take that quick tour, skip right to the shopping before it’s time for lunch?”
Keylan laughed. “Skiing it is.”
Mia groaned. “Fine, but if I break something I’m really going to be pissed.”
“If you break something, I’ll happily play doctor with you,” he promised.
Mia rolled her eyes skyward. “Let’s get this over with.”
Keylan rose, helped Mia out of her chair and pulled her into his arms. “I need this first.” He leaned down and Mia went up on her toes, circling her arms around his neck. Keylan kissed her as if he was afraid he wouldn’t get another chance.
“If we keep this up, we’ll never get out of here,” Mia said, trying to catch her breath.
“Well, let’s get started.” He led her out a side door, down a long hall and through another set of secured doors that opened into a living area in the west wing of the house.
Keylan showed Mia everything they had to offer in a vacation spot to their foundation kids—the indoor bowling alley, a la
rge movie theater, a game room any kid would be satisfied with and a massive gymnasium. He even showed her their on-site night club that could be easily converted to a kids’ dance club.
Mia admitted to not only being surprised but really impressed. “This place really is amazing, and you’re right—this would be a great experience for our kids.”
“I’m glad you agree. Now...” Keylan looked like the cat that ate several canaries.
Mia gave him the side-eye. “Now...what?”
“Time to hit the slopes.”
* * *
Mia spent the next two hours on what was considered a junior slope and couldn’t believe how much fun she was having, the type of fun she hadn’t had in years. She didn’t even care that there were reporters who managed to take their picture before being removed by Keylan’s security.
“I must admit, that really was great. What’s next?”
Keylan laughed. “We’re going to a small village at the base of the mountain. There’s a few places I’d like to show you.” He took Mia’s hand and led her out to a waiting SUV where they took the forty-minute drive down the mountain.
The small lakeside village, nestled between two peaks, had fewer than eight hundred inhabitants. It had taken great lengths, with the financial support of the Kingsleys, to ensure its stunning and cozy appeal remained untarnished.
Keylan took great pride in introducing Mia to the villagers. He even showed off pictures of himself with Colby, promising to bring him back for a visit. Mia’s heart exploded with love for the man she pictured having a future with.
They made their way to a small, two-bedroom cottage on the outskirts of town. They exited the vehicle and Mia couldn’t believe her eyes. “Wow, this place is beautiful.” She loved the snow on both the roof and grass and the flickering light in the window. “What is this place? It looks like something you’d see on the front of a beautiful holiday card.”
Keylan kissed her hand. “It’s home away from home.”
They walked up the three wooden steps and Keylan opened the door. Mia was overwhelmed by the warmth and romantic feel of the room. The decorations were what she’d expect in a small country house. It even had a beautiful Christmas tree in the window. A table set for two sat in front of a crackling fireplace.
An Unexpected Holiday Gift Page 17