The smile she gives me steals my breath. Her entire face lights up, her eyes a dazzling mixture of green and brown shine with utter delight. I realize I want to make her smile like this a thousand times over. I want to forever see this look on her face.
But I know I won’t.
“We’re going to my second favorite place,” she proclaims, taking my hand and practically tugging me toward the shelter. As we approach, she asks, “Can we just take one car?”
“That’s fine. I’ll drive,” I state, pulling a set of keys from my pocket. Turns out, even though my brother uses a driver for most of his transportation, he actually owns a second vehicle. I found the keys to an Aston Martin DBS Superleggera in his office, and even though he left it out of his packet of information—accidentally, I’m sure—I figured, since I’m pretending to be Matthew, I might as well enjoy all the perks that go along with it.
“Wow, have you had this thing all along?” Kyla asks, stopping short beside the fancy sports car.
Since I don’t really know the answer to her question, I go with a quick, “Yes.”
I unlock the doors, which deactivates the high-tech security system, and open the passenger door. It may have been a while since I’ve dated, but there are a few things that have stuck with me, like always opening a door for a lady.
When I get into the driver’s seat, Kyla is looking around, gently—and carefully—touching the dash. “Okay, this car is beautiful, and I’m pretty sure I’ve never said that about a car before.”
I snort a laugh. “Yeah, she’s okay.”
“Does she have a name?” she asks, her eyes brightening with mischief.
“A name?”
“Yeah, don’t all guys name their cars and trucks?”
Her comment makes me laugh—hard—because she’s not too far off base. My old Chevy back home was named Peggy Sue. She isn’t a new truck, but she is dependable and exactly what I need to get around the ranch and roads of Montana. “You’re funny,” I state, deflecting.
She sets her small wrist purse down on the floor. “Don’t think I didn’t notice how you completely avoided my question. Someday, you’ll tell me the name of your fancy car.”
Clearing my throat, I ask, “So where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
I can’t help but smile. “How exactly will we get there then, if you won’t tell me where we’re going?”
Kyla seems to think a few moments before reaching out and touching the computer screen on the dash. I watch as she inputs an address into the navigation system. If she noticed the shelter’s address was the last used location in the system, she doesn’t say anything. The truth is I have no clue where anything is in Boston. Perhaps using George was a better idea after all.
Fortunately, I’m saved from having to explain why I don’t know where anything is by the computer telling me to pull out of the lot and head to the right. I follow the directions, moving through downtown Boston, not too far from the complex my brother lives in. It takes nearly twenty minutes to get where we’re going, but the moment we reach it, I can’t help but grin.
This is one of her favorite places?
Of course it is.
I pull into Franklin Park Zoo and am lucky to find a parking spot about halfway across the lot. It’s a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, which means this place is going to be packed with families. A big part of me wants to pull right back out and not deal with all the kids and the crowds, but when I spot the smile on her lips and hear the sigh of contentment, I pull into the parking spot and shut off the car. I should be worried about leaving my brother’s car in the middle of busy lot, but I really don’t care. If he gets a few door dings, it would serve him right.
“Come here often?” I ask, following her gaze to the front entrance of the zoo.
She nods a little shyly and averts her eyes. Her wholesome, sweet demeaner does something to me. I can’t pinpoint it exactly, but I know I like it. Way more than I should.
“Well, come on. Let’s go see the animals,” I state, opening my door and moving around to open hers as well.
Kyla slips her hand in of mine, and together we walk to the entrance of the zoo. Definitely not how I pictured I’d spend a Sunday afternoon, but I think I like it just the same. First the park, and now the zoo. Matthew would have hated all this, and probably would have refused to come, but not me. Animals are right up my alley.
Then there’s Kyla.
It feels too right to soak up every ounce of her light and goodness. Despite the darkness that surrounds me and the deal I made with my brother, I’ll hold on to each and every sliver of her grace and elegance I can. She’s like a ray of sunshine in a dark tunnel, warm and inviting, and fuck if I don’t want to grab a hold of it for dear life.
Chapter Eight
Kyla
I’m still smiling.
Three days later, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a window or a mirror, and I’m still wearing this big goofy grin. Sunday was the perfect day. First, with the visit to the animal shelter and riding Dolly, but then lunch, the park, and the impromptu trip to the zoo. I thought for sure Matthew was going to throw a fit, but he did the exact opposite of what I expected. He did what I had hoped.
He rolled with the punches and seemed to enjoy himself doing it.
I even snapped a picture of him leaning against the fencing, watching a giraffe eat tree leaves. He looked so casual, so relaxed, as he gazed up and just observed the big animal eat. I couldn’t help but
