Page 46 of Falling for the Unexpected

“Well, one of the cards is from me, y’know,” Trent said teasingly.

I grinned at him. “You’re the best,” I proclaimed, which seemed to appease his ego.

“You all ended up at the same place last night?” Jim asked, overhearing my conversation with Kyle.

“Yeah, at a club,” Trent explained.

“I hope you boys didn’t keep the girls from having a good time,” Marla admonished lightly.

“I’m pretty sure they had a good time. Didn’t you, Simone?” Kyle asked, smirking at me.

I blushed furiously and said, “Um yeah, I had a good time.” I couldn’t even look over at him afraid that I would give everything away with just one look.

“Okay, kids, the food is ready,” Marla announced as she and Jim headed to the dining room.

Trent, still holding Stella, eyed the two of us a little too long before leaving the kitchen.

Kyle looked at me and smiled, and then he held his hand out in front of him and said, “After you.”

As I passed in front of him, he placed his hand on the small of my back gently guiding me out of the kitchen. As we came into view of everyone, he removed his hand from me.

Trent had taken the seat next to Stella and was already dishing up food on her plate. That left the two seats that were next to each other for Kyle and me. He pulled out my chair for me and once I was settled, he again placed himself just inches from my left.

Dinner was quite enjoyable with everyone chatting with each other but Kyle constantly distracted me. Every time he shifted in his seat, or his leg bumped into mine, or his elbow brushed against my arm, it sent little sparks along my skin. After a few ‘accidental’ touches I looked over at him, but he never looked back at me. Instead, he stayed engaged in the conversation. I knew it was just in my head. I was putting myself on edge over nothing. Just my imagination in overdrive and it was annoying.

“Stella and I have a surprise for you,” Marla announced when we were all done eating. I was actually relieved that dinner was coming to an end. Sitting next to Kyle was becoming torturous.

“Cake!” Stella exclaimed, moving her chubby legs and arms in the air and causing all of us to laugh.

Marla stood up. “Stella helped me make a cake for your birthday. I’ll go get it.”

When Marla returned, she was carrying a double layer chocolate cake that had twenty-two candles on it. Jim quickly got up to turn off the lights and then Marla led the guys in singing to me.

“Make a wish,” Marla said.

I took a moment to look around the room before making my wish. Seeing everyone’s smiling faces made it easy for me to decide what to wish for. I wished that I would never lose this family I had come to love with every part of my heart. I smiled and then blew out my candles.

After indulging in a very large piece of chocolate goodness, I started to pack up so Stella and I could go. Leaving everyone in the living room, I ran up to the guestroom to get her favorite blanket. I found it in the crib that Jim and Marla had set up when Stella was just a newborn. When I turned to head back downstairs, I ran right into a solid brick wall. Kyle’s hands reached out and gently grasped my shoulders to steady my balance and my hands landed on his torso, gripping his shirt. It took my brain a moment to realize it was actually a person and I looked up and met his darkening gaze.

“You startled me… I-I didn’t know you were there,” I stuttered.

“I’m sorry, I just needed to have a minute with you…” he said, his voice low and urgent. His expression was intense and the same single-minded focus I’d seen last night echoed in his eyes right now. All he saw was me.

You’re gorgeous.

He’d said that. To me! And he had meant it. Two words that had made me feel like I was the most desirable woman in the world. And while I didn’t see myself that way, I trusted Kyle to tell me the truth, a trait he practiced in his business and personal life. He’d proved that to me over the past six months.

I almost took a step back, but I was rooted to the spot. I let my hands drift off his body. He released me too, excruciatingly slow, to the point where just his fingertips danced across my skin until he was no longer touching me. I exhaled the air I’d been holding, caught up in the moment. I was anticipating his next move, wanting that light touch again. It was confusing—he was confusing—but it was also exhilarating. I’d never had this kind of attraction to someone before. Kyle’s very presence was heady.

“I needed to talk to you before you left,” he said, looking over his shoulder briefly before resuming. “I was going to try and pretend like nothing happened between us since it appeared that was what you wanted—but I can’t do that. I can’t stop thinking about last night. About you.”

I took a moment to process what he was saying. At the real possibility that Kyle wanted me, wanted to be with me and something more.

“I can’t stop thinking about it, either,” I finally said. I needed to be honest, though. “This is… complicated. I have Stella and she thinks the world of you and… it could be really confusing for her.”

He nodded, sighing. “I know that, I do…” He paused, wearing a grim expression.

“What is it?” I asked.