Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Juniper Park
Last night, after texting with her about how the rest of her day had gone, and some more mild teasing about her “disappearance”, Kyree had lain in the queen-sized bed of his guest room, running through options of what to do with Zuri.
He’d considered dinner at Lombardi’s Chophouse, the kind of restaurant he imagined Zuri frequented.
He knew his cousin could get him a last-minute reservation, but the idea of being separated from her by a table all night didn’t exactly excite him.
Then he’d wondered if she’d enjoy Capers, an arcade and sports bar in the neighboring town of Evergreen, but how would they get to know each other better over the noise of the games and machines?
He’d also had to be mindful of her time. She hadn’t come to Granite Falls to see him, and if he tried to monopolize too much of it, he might lose favor with Soleil, Thao, and Avery. If Zuri’s friend group was anything like Aaliyah’s, he knew their opinions mattered.
In the end, he’d texted her, suggested a walk in Juniper Park, held his breath, and jumped off the bed with a shout when she texted back, “I’d love that”.
The sun was doing its best to push through the light overcast as he turned right onto Evergreen Drive, passed Hotel Andreas on his left, and crossed Beacon Street.
A fresh layer of snow covered the ground, and a few flurries danced in the air, but Michelle’s Bentley Bentayga handled the mountain roads like it had been engineered specifically for them.
He’d been reluctant when she insisted he take the SUV instead of his own car, but remembering how his Camry had gotten stuck in her driveway when he’d first arrived, he knew that with her wheels, he’d have better luck getting himself––and his precious cargo––to Juniper Park and back home safely.
Hearing a small bark, Kyree glanced in the rearview mirror at Princess, snug in a seatbelt harness in the back seat, and looking like royalty in his red booties and brass-buckled, burgundy wool coat. “We’re almost there, Princess. Sit tight.”
Kyree’s stomach flipped as he neared the park and spotted Zuri standing at the entrance, her eyes scanning the street.
The fur collar of her chestnut brown, shearling coat was raised high around her ears, and she was hopping from foot to foot.
She must be cold, he thought, as he cruised past. But damn, she looked incredible in her curve-hugging, black mini sweater dress, dark stockings, and black knee-high boots.
A car pulled out of a space just past the park entrance, and Kyree flicked on the turn signal, slid the Bentley smoothly into the spot, cut the engine, and turned. “Stay, Princess.”
Princess whined softly and laid his head on his paws.
Kyree unclipped his seatbelt and stepped out into the crisp winter air, the cold hitting him despite his black wool coat, red beanie, and beige and red lambswool tartan scarf––last year’s Christmas gift from Robert, who, at the time, had just spent two weeks exploring the Scottish Highlands with his family.
“Zuri!” he called, waving a hand.
She turned at the sound of his voice, and her entire face lit up, sending fire spreading through his chest.
She walked confidently toward him. “Hey, I didn’t even see you drive by!”
Kyree met her on the sidewalk in front of the car and pulled her into a hug. Her scent wrapped around him, and his pulse raced when she kissed his cheek, her lips soft against his skin before she pulled back with that alluring smile.
“Hey, you look absolutely beautiful.”
“Why, thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.” Her gaze slid downward from his eyes to his dark jeans and leather boots, then past him to the Bentley. “Nice wheels.”
“Yeah, thanks.” He caught the flicker of approval in her eyes. He’d explain later, but for now… “I hope you don’t mind, but I invited someone to join us.”
Her forehead creased, confusion flickering across her features.
Kyree bit back a grin, stepped down from the sidewalk, walked to the back door, and opened it. He reached in, picked up the leash and tugged gently. “Come on.”
Princess bounded out, all energy and fluff, his little paws hitting the ground with enthusiasm.
Zuri squealed. “Oh my gosh!” Her leather-gloved hands flew to her mouth as Princess bounded up onto the sidewalk, straining at the end of his leash to greet her.
“Zuri, meet Princess.”
“Hi, Princess!” Zuri crouched down to pet the little dog, her fingers immediately finding the soft spot behind his ears.
He leaned into her touch, wagging his tail furiously, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth in profound bliss.
“Oh, she is so cute! Whose dog is she?” Her eyes flicked briefly up to his before returning to the puppy who was now trying to lick her cheek.
“Well, first—” Kyree closed and locked the car doors. “Princess is a boy, and—”
“A boy named Princess?”
It was exactly what he had said the first time he met the sweet spaniel.
Kyree nodded. “A boy named Princess. I borrowed him from my little cousin, Nicholas––he’s the one who was calling out to me yesterday.
He was obsessed with The Princess Bride when they brought the dog home.
Actually, his full name is Princess Buttercup.
His mom said it was the only name Nicholas would consider. ”
“Aww, that’s adorable. He certainly does look like royalty in his little coat, and booties, that’s for sure.” She gave Princess one more generous scratch behind his ears before pushing upright.
Her eyes, beautiful and direct, met Kyree’s, completely disarming him. The joy on her face sent a thrill racing down his spine. He loved that he could so easily make her smile. He would do anything––every day for the rest of his life––just to see that expression.
“So, Nicholas just handed over his precious Princess to you?”
Kyree crouched and adjusted the collar. “I told him I needed Princess’s help to impress a girl.”
“Well, okay then, Princess Buttercup, mission accomplished.” Zuri bent down to ruffle the animal’s ears, her voice soft and affectionate. “Aww, he is just adorable! I just love small dogs.”
“I know,” Kyree confessed, straightening up to his full six feet five inches.
She cut him a look. “What do you mean you know?”
“Your missing person photo that security showed me? You were sitting with a little Frenchie on your lap.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh my gosh, Steve!”
“You have a dog named Steve?”
Zuri laughed. “Steve Urkel. Not mine. My brother’s.”
Kyree tilted his head, looping the leash over his hand. “Your brother named his dog Steve Urkel?”
“Trust me, it’s perfect. He’s always getting into something he shouldn’t, and then acting surprised when he gets caught, like, Did I do that?”
Her Steve Urkel voice made Kyree snicker as he imagined being curled up on a couch with her, watching Family Matters reruns with a dog of their own nestled between them.
Just then, a sleek brindle Greyhound and its owner loped past them, and into the park, exciting Princess. He tugged on the leash.
“I think someone wants to get going. Shall we?”
Zuri bowed her head to Princess and did a small curtsy. “As his highness commands.”
Princess trotted happily between them, tail wagging, his tiny booties pattering in rhythm with their steps as they passed beneath the wide stone archway into the park.
Kyree’s gaze swept over the scene; snow blanketed everything––the juniper trees, the wrought-iron benches, a bronze angel statue, and the low stone wall bordering a garden where flowers had blossomed when he visited last summer.
Pedestrians moved along the shoveled, sanded paths lined with evergreen shrubs.
“How’s your day been so far?” Kyree asked. “You conquer the slopes this morning?”
“Actually, no. Today the girls and I have been working our way through spa treatments.”
“You’re saying you traded a spa day for a freezing walk? You could have told me you had plans–– We could have figured out something else.”
“It’s fine,” she assured him. “I had a ninety-minute massage this morning and got my nails done before lunch. See?”
She slipped off a glove and extended her fingers, allowing Kyree to admire her smoothly rounded, berry-red nails.
“Nice, very nice.”
“Then we all had lunch at Big Boy’s Pizza,” she continued, inching her delicate hand back into the glove. “And now, we’re all doing our own thing for the afternoon before group facials at four.”
Kyree checked his watch as they walked past a silent stone fountain, its basin drained for the winter. “So you’re saying I have you for just under two hours?”
“I don’t think I’ll last that long.” She pulled her coat around her, making sure the fur trim covered her chest and neck, and drew the waistband tight. “But I can at least say that I’m in no rush to get back,” she added, a playful glint in her eyes.
“Fair enough.” He was beginning to feel like he wanted a lifetime with her, but even if all Zuri had was ten minutes to spend like this—walking side by side––he would gladly take it.
“By the way, how’s everything with your family? With the drama I mean.”
“Well…” Kyree sighed. How indeed was the family? “I can’t really say.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” She touched his arm, just briefly, but even through their layers he could feel the warmth.
“No, it’s not that,” he said quickly, as he noticed a group of children dragging sleds toward a modest slope. “To be honest, I don’t really know what happened. But I think it has something to do with Michelle’s stepdaughter and a boy she met at college.”
“Oh heavens, not a college boy.” Her tone was clearly sarcastic. “How old is she?”
“Twenty, but her dad’s really protective, and I don’t think he’s handling the idea of his little girl becoming a woman very well.”