Part 11 (2/2)
”Yes, I guess you can a.s.sume that,” Sterling answered before turning his attention back to the window. He ignored the fact Kyle was watching his actions with keen interest. And frankly, at the moment he didn't care. He couldn't remember another time the sight of the ocean looked so breathtaking. And he knew it had a lot to do with the fact Colby was out there enjoying it.
She was wearing a bathing suit that some would think was conservative, considering most women enjoyed parading around in bikinis or even less these days. But it was what Colby's one-piece swimsuit didn't reveal rather than what it did that heated up his imagination. It fitted snugly around her hips, and her full, generous b.r.e.a.s.t.s were well-defined by the soft material. Even from a distance his gaze was able to travel the perimeter of each and every delectable curve of her body.
Sterling heard a chuckle beside him. ”Don't mind me,” Kyle was saying. ”I'll just take a seat over there until you're finished gawking at your fiancee.”
The beginning of a smile tipped the corners of Sterling's mouth. He doubted he would tire of watching Colby anytime soon. ”It might take a while,” he said.
”Take your time,” Kyle replied, crossing the room and easing his muscular frame into a chair that sat across from Sterling's desk. ”And when you're through, I want answers, Hamilton. Lots of them,” he said with a friendly grin on his face, but a firm tone in his voice.
Sterling's smile turned into chuckle. He wasn't surprised Kyle wasn't buying the story that had appeared in the newspaper that morning. And with good reason. Kyle Garwood knew him better than anyone.
He and Kyle had been good friends ever since their early teen years. They had met the year Sterling's father had delivered all the fresh-cut lumber needed to build an addition to Special K, the Garwood family cabin retreat in the North Carolina mountains. Although Kyle had been born to wealth, and Sterling was the son of a lumberjack, the two teenagers had forged a deep friends.h.i.+p. Over the years, one had always been there for the other, and deep down they both knew it would always be that way.
Both the room and its occupant faded from Sterling's mind as he turned his attention back to Colby. He couldn't help but grin as he watched her repeatedly dodge the waves. She was frolicking to and fro, behaving in a frisky, playful way. He thought her movements were fluid, lithe and even sensuous. Her gay and lighthearted antics reached out to him and a part of him was tempted to join her outside. He couldn't remember the last time he had enjoyed the beach the way Colby was doing now.
A soft knock sounded at the door seconds before Simon entered. ”Will Mr. Garwood be joining you for lunch, sir?”
”Yes, he intends to feed me,” Kyle answered the man before sinking back against the chair's cus.h.i.+ons.
Sterling lifted a brow at his friend.
Kyle merely gave him an apologetic smile. ”I thought I'd answer for you since you were somewhat preoccupied.”
Sterling frowned at the humor he saw in Kyle's eyes. He turned to Simon. ”He'll also be joining us for dinner,” he said.
After Simon had left Sterling turned his attention back to Kyle. ”My apologies for being somewhat preoccupied.”
”Apology accepted. I know how it is when you're in love.”
Sterling raised a dark brow. ”And what makes you think I'm in love?”
Kyle shrugged his broad shoulders. ”According to the newspapers, you are.” He then leaned forward in his chair. ”In fact, I'm a little anxious to see that ring in your nose.”
The look Sterling bestowed on Kyle was totally lacking humor. In fact, it showed signs of tightly held annoyance. ”I don't have a ring in my nose. You should know me better than that.”
Kyle's grin was one of amus.e.m.e.nt. ”Yes, I should, but when I talked to Kimara yesterday she happened to mention your sudden interest in breast-feeding. Then in this morning's paper, I read an announcement about your engagement. And today I show up early for our meeting to find you standing at the window gawking at your fiancee, and not even trying to hide the fact you were doing it. So what am I to think, Sterling?”
Sterling looked at Kyle thoughtfully for several long seconds before answering. One corner of his mouth pulled into a slight smile. ”You're to think that I never do anything without a purpose. And that's all I'm going to say right now.”
Kyle digested Sterling's words and he couldn't help but notice the agitated expression on his face. ”All right, but do you want to know what I I think?” think?”
Sterling lounged casually against the window frame. ”Not really, but I'm sure you're going to tell me anyway.”
”I think that whatever your purpose, you may have gotten yourself in a little too deep.”
For some reason Kyle's observation clawed at Sterling's insides. ”Let's change the subject, shall we?”
He walked over to this desk and took a seat. ”I take it everything is going well with Kimara's pregnancy.”
At Kyle's nod Sterling shook his head. ”I can't believe she's pregnant again. Kamry was just born six months ago.”
Kyle shrugged. ”What does that have to do with anything?”
Sterling was barely able to keep the laughter from his voice. ”To you and Kimara, obviously nothing.”
He bent his head to make sure he had Kyle's undivided attention. ”But the way I see it, you have four kids and haven't been married four years yet. Can't the two of you find something else to do with your time other than make babies?”
Kyle's eyes glowed with unhidden warmth at the thought of his children, Kyle VI, the twins-Kareem and Kes.h.i.+a-and the newest member to the Garwood household, another beautiful daughter, Kamry. They were his and Kimara's four special Ks. He leaned back in his chair and let his gaze meet the probing inquiry he saw in his best friend's eyes. ”Kimara and I want a houseful of kids.”
”At the rate you two are going, you'll meet your goal in no time,” Sterling interjected.
The curve of Kyle's mouth deepened into a grin. ”That's a very good possibility. We found out a few days ago we're having twins again.”
Sterling's mouth dropped open. Intense astonishment lined his features. ”Twins again! Is that normal?”
”I'm sure it's a rare occurrence for most people,” Kyle replied calmly.
Sterling's mouth curved in pensive humor. ”But then you and Kimara aren't like most people, are you?”
”No, we aren't,” Kyle answered in a deep, jovial tone. His grandfather's will had forced him and Kimara to marry. Now he couldn't imagine his life without her.
”I hope you realize that every time you and Kimara have another baby, I take on another G.o.dchild,” Sterling stated as his mouth twitched with amus.e.m.e.nt. ”That can get rather expensive.”
Kyle's laughter was a full-hearted sound that vibrated throughout the room. ”Then I guess it will be to your advantage, Hamilton, to stay gainfully employed.”
A few moments later Simon arrived with their lunch.
”Has Miss Wingate been taken care of, Simon?”
”Yes, sir. However, she declined lunch. I think she's having a good time on the beach.”
Sterling nodded and glanced back toward the window. ”Yes, I totally agree with you.”
”You and your wife are expecting a second set of twins! Why that's absolutely wonderful, Kyle.”
Awareness flowed through Sterling's body as he leaned back in his chair and watched Colby conversing with Kyle as the three of them enjoyed an after dinner drink.
Unbidden, his gaze was drawn to her mouth. He couldn't help but remember how good it tasted and how soft it had felt beneath his as he plied it with languid strokes of his tongue.
Almost instantly, as if she'd been able to read his thoughts, Colby's gaze turned and met his.
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