“He really does love Colby.” The dam she’d erected to hold back additional tears broke. “Oh, Auntie, I think I blew it.”
“Sweetie.” She pulled Mia into her arms. “That man loves you.”
Mia nodded. “We had a fight and I said some horrible things.”
“Just give him some time. I’m sure this won’t be your last disagreement.”
“I don’t know.”
“I do. I’m sure it’ll blow over in a few days.” She wiped away her tears. “It’s almost Christmas, and magical things happen this time of year. Now, I’m going to head home and you should get some rest. You do have work tomorrow.”
“Thanks for everything, Auntie.”
* * *
Keylan spent most of the night thinking about his fight with Mia. He tried to rest on the plane but his mind kept reliving their argument. He wanted to call her and try to clear the air between them, but he was afraid he’d just make things worse.
He didn’t understand why she couldn’t see what he’d done was for her own good. He knew firsthand how an overbearing and overprotective mother could mess with a boy’s head, and Colby was no different.
He really couldn’t believe that she actually thought that if something was seriously wrong with Colby, he wouldn’t have moved a mountain to get her to him. That and the fact that she kept letting the media get to her made him wonder if he’d prepared her enough for what happened when someone was in love with a Kingsley.
Keylan usually found solace in arriving early at the visiting team’s arena especially after tossing and turning most of the night. He enjoyed being in their house, admiring any victory banners they may have, spending time alone on their court, dropping down threes or just sitting along the sidelines, soaking in the atmosphere that fueled him for the job before him. But now all he wanted to do was to talk to Mia. He was making his way to the locker room when he ran into Roger.
“There you are.”
“What’s up?” Keylan kept bouncing the basketball he had been using.
“I was concerned after your call last night. It seems a lot happened over the weekend. I was just checking to see if you are okay.”
“I’m good.” Keylan captured the ball in his hands and screamed, “I’m good!” before throwing the ball across the court.
“Wow. Sure you are. Sit for a minute.”
Keylan plopped down in a nearby seat and lowered his face into his hands. “Man, you have got to pull it together before tonight. You can’t take this out on the court.”
Keylan dropped his shoulders and his hands. He leaned back in the chair and said, “You’re right.”
“Look, those headlines about Mia were harsh, but it’s something she’ll have to get used to.”
“I tried to explain that to her, but she doesn’t seem to get it.”
Roger sighed. “She doesn’t get it, or you don’t?”
Keylan sat up in the chair. “What are you talking about? I’ve dealt with media vultures my whole life.”
“Yes, you have, but she hasn’t. No amount of preparation can really prepare you for that level of invasion of privacy. And your nonchalant and dismissive attitude toward it doesn’t help.”
“I thought you were on my side.”
“I am, and you’ve made it very clear that Mia is your future, so it’s up to you to make sure she gets through the bumps she’ll face getting to that future. One more thing—not telling Mia about her sick son was a bonehead move. Take the L on that one.”
“You know how much I hate to lose.” The corners of his mouth rose.
“I know.”
Keylan smirked. “Thanks, Roger.” He stood and they bumped fists.
“Just doing my job.”
“You’re a great agent, but you’re an even better friend.”
“I know,” Roger agreed.
“Time for me to go to work.”
Chapter 27
Mia was trying to stay strong and fighting back tears as she sat next to her son’s hospital bed. It was Monday evening and she still couldn’t believe they were there so soon after Colby had been to the doctor on Saturday. Watching him sleep through the breathing treatment gave her some solace. She didn’t want him to see how scared and upset she really was; she knew how intuitive her son was when it came to her emotions. She didn’t want to scare him, especially since he was handling this bout so bravely. Mia had no doubt that that was due to Keylan’s influence.
The door to Colby’s room opened and the last person she expected entered, dressed in Prada head to toe. Her blue suit only accentuated her powerful aura. “Mia, my dear, how is he?”
Mia stood. “Mrs. Kingsley.” She knew her shock at her presence had to be written all over her face. Victoria wasn’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type.
“I told you, it’s Victoria,” she reminded.
“Yes, ma’am. He’s doing much better, thank you.”
“I understand from my sister he got sick at school today.”
“Yes. The fluctuation of our Houston weather can be hard on his little system.”
Her expression dulled. “But he’s going to be fine, right?”
Mia recognized something in Victoria in that moment. It was in her very expressive eyes and it was something Mia knew she rarely exposed...fear. Maybe it was the mother in Mia that allowed her to recognize it, or maybe it was simply Victoria’s guard slipping long enough to show her she wasn’t alone. Either way, it helped.
“He should be. The doctors just wanted to run a few more tests to make sure there’re no underlying issues with his heart.”
The respiratory therapist walked into the room. “Excuse me, ladies,” she said, stepping around them and approaching the bed. She turned off the machine and removed the oxygen mask. She made several notes in her tablet before listening to Colby’s chest. “Everything sounds good, Mom.”
Mia heaved an audible sigh. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome. I’ll be back in four hours.”
Mia nodded but Victoria’s forehead creased. “Four hours?”
“Yes, he has to have breathing treatments every four hours for a full twenty-four hours. That’s only his second one.”
“Poor thing. That must be really hard on him.”
“Usually, but Keylan...taught him how to handle it.” The words caught in her throat. She stood over her son’s bed and lightly ran her hand through his hair.
“Where’s your aunt? You’re handling this alone?”
“Yes, but it’s fine.” Mia forced a smile. “She and my uncle left for their vacation this morning.”
“Please sit down. Mind if I join you for a while?”
“Not at all.” Mia sat with her hands intertwined in her lap.
Victoria pulled up a chair and sat next to her. “Does my son know that Colby’s here? He would want to know... He’d want to be here.”
Mia shook her head. She was struggling to get the words past the lump in her throat. She had lost count of the number of times she’d called Keylan in her mind. The number of ways she’d apologized, wishing that he wasn’t working and could be with her, holding her hand, but most of all she wished she hadn’t thrown all his kindness back in his face.
Mia lowered her head as she had lost her battle to keep her tears in their ducts. “He’d want to hear about Colby but not talk to me. We had a fight and I said some horrible things that I didn’t mean,” Mia explained, keeping her head down.
Victoria laughed, reached into her purse and pulled out a monogrammed handkerchief. She handed it to Mia and crossed her legs. “My dear, look at me.”
Mia slowly lifted her head.
“Keylan James Kingsley is my son. If he can’t take a few harsh words from the woman he loves, he doesn’t deserv
e you.”
“Thank you, but it’s not just the fight. The media—”
“Is a necessary evil in our world. And as long as you’re a part of it, you’ll have to understand that and learn how to deal with it.”
“That’s just it—I’m not sure I can.”
Victoria reached for Mia’s hand and squeezed it. “Do you love my son?”
A wide smile spread across Mia’s face. “Very much.”
“Good, then together you can handle anything.”
Victoria’s cell phone rang and she pulled it out of her purse. After reading the name, she said, “Excuse me for a moment.” She rose and stepped slightly away from Mia. “Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. While I appreciate everything you’ve done, in the future I’d expect for you both to stick to our agreement and not deviate.”
Mia wasn’t trying to eavesdrop but she couldn’t help but hear Victoria’s side of the conversation and know she wasn’t happy with whomever she was speaking to. Mia knew Victoria was a powerful woman but seeing her in action was something to behold.
“I appreciate that, and please share my hope for your boss’s continued success in her new role as commissioner.” Victoria ended the call and returned her phone to her purse. “Now, where was I? Oh, yes, I’m having Colby moved to a VIP room, which has a bed for you. You need to get some rest, and we both know you’re not leaving his side.”
“That’s not necessary.”
Victoria walked over to Colby’s bed. She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead before turning back to face Mia. “It most certainly is. Nothing’s too good for my future grandson.”
Future grandson. Mia knew better than to argue with Victoria, but she figured that any future she’d hoped to have with Keylan was pretty much off the table. “Thank you.”
“Kirby and her team are in place. If you need anything, just let her or me know.”
“I will, thank you.”
Within an hour Colby had been moved to a large room that rivaled any kid’s fantasy. Between the rocket-ship-shaped bed, the large chalkboard wall and box of toys waiting for attention, any kid would be motivated to get better.
The beautiful daybed was a welcome sight for Mia.
After ensuring that Colby was resting comfortably, she changed out of her work clothes and into a pair of black leggings and a black Carriers T-shirt thanks to Kirby, who’d collected a few things from her house. Exhausted physically and mentally, Mia laid across the bed and was asleep in seconds.
* * *
“Man, you were on fire tonight. What a way to come back, with a triple double... Twenty-five points, fifteen rebounds and ten assists tonight. You clearly got your focus back.” Roger praised Keylan.
“You know me, man. I can compartmentalize.” Keylan slipped on his suit jacket and began packing his bag. “Besides, we’re headed home and I’m going to talk to Mia.”
“Yeah, about Mia...” Roger fretted.
“What about her?” Keylan’s face went blank.
Roger explained Colby’s current hospitalization. Keylan’s knees buckled and he gripped his locker to keep himself upright. His chest was tight and he was finding it difficult to fill his lungs.
Keylan pulled out his phone and tried to call Mia, only to be sent to her voice mail. “Dammit!”
“Nothing?”
“No, it keeps going to voice mail.” Keylan’s phone rang and he looked down, hoping it was Mia returning his call.
“Not now.”
“What is it?” Roger frowned.
“My mother,” he uttered.
“You should get that,” he directed.
“Why?”
“Because she was the one who told me about Mia.”
“Yes, Mother?” Keylan answered, his desperation on full display.
“Have you spoken to Roger?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“So you’re on the way to the airport?”
“No, our plane doesn’t leave for several more hours,” he explained.
“That’s why I sent the jet. It’s waiting for you at the airport.”
“Is Colby okay?”
“Yes,” she said.
“And Mia?”
“About as well as can be expected. Just get to the airport.”
“Thanks, Mother.” Keylan disconnected the call and turned to Roger. “Meet me outside. I have to go talk to Coach.”
“I’ll have the car brought around.”
* * *
Mia opened her eyes to a dimly lit room. As soon as her eyes made the proper adjustments, she reached for her phone to check the time, only to see that she’d missed several calls from Keylan. “You left your phone on mute and missed the chance to talk to Keylan. Just great...nice going, Mia.”
“No, you didn’t, baby.”
Mia sprang forward. She scanned the room to find a dark figure rising from a chair in the corner next to Colby’s bed. He walked into what little light the room had and came to sit next to Mia on the bed. “Wh-what are you doing here?”
“My family needed me,” he proclaimed.
Mia threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I’m sorry about what I said.”
“I’m sorry. You were right—I should have told you what was happening with Colby.”
“You were right, too. I can be overprotective and stubborn, and I shouldn’t let the media get to me so much. I’ll work on it. I promise.”
Keylan kissed her again. “How’s our boy?”
Mia’s heart started racing at his words. Our boy. “He’s fine. The tests look good. I can take him home tomorrow.”
“We can take him home tomorrow. Speaking of which...” Keylan took Mia’s hand in his. “I know it’s fast, but I love you and Colby. We belong together, Mia, and I want us to be a family.”
“Are you sure?” Her voice was low.
“Yes, and my question to you is, can you handle becoming a member of my family and all that comes with it?”
“I love you so much and I know Colby loves you, too. Yes, I can handle it, with your help.”
Keylan hugged and kissed Mia until they both had a need for air. “As soon as he’s well enough, I want to find a justice of the peace to make our family legal. I want to start the process of making Colby legally my son. I want him to have my name.”
“You want to adopt Colby?”
“Yes, of course. If you want a wedding—”
“I just want us to be a family.”
“Good, because I want that, too...but by Christmas,” he declared.
Mia laughed, wiping at a fresh set of tears. “You do realize that’s next week.”
Keylan pulled Mia onto his lap and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Yes, I do, my love. What a wonderful and unexpected gift.”
* * * * *
If you enjoyed this romantic story, don’t miss these other titles by Martha Kennerson:
PROTECTING THE HEIRESS
SEDUCING THE HEIRESS
TEMPTING THE HEIRESS
ALWAYS MY BABY
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Desire in a Kiss
by Nicki Night
Chapter 1
Serenity Williams looked up at the man across from her in the swanky restaurant. His mouth moved as furiously as his animated gestures. A smile. Hearty laughter. A wink. Hands tossed in the air. Serenity forced a half-cocked smile. It was the most she could manage having no idea what he’d just said. She’d zoned him out several minutes before, hearing the voice but no longer making out his words. His voice droned on. She was sure he was still talking about himself. Had he even asked about her? They had to have been at the table for at least an hour.
Entertaining herself, Serenity allowed her thoughts to wander from her crazy work schedule to creating mini-stories about the people her eyes landed on in the restaurant. Still, she maintained some level of consistent eye contact with her rambling date. The shifts in his motions clued her in on when to tilt her head sideways to appear engaged or spread her lips into an attentive-looking grin.
Serenity felt cynical, a feeling that didn’t sit with her well. She loved people. Never had she been so uninterested in what a person had to say. But this man in front of her, the self-absorbed Mark Stapleton, had trampled on her attention span and hadn’t bothered to notice when she disengaged.
An Unexpected Holiday Gift Page 19