Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Robyn pushed, and the hangers slid along the painted wooden closet rod. “Dress, skirt, or pantsuit, Meryl?”
“I got this, amateur.” Meryl grabbed her arm and tugged. “Let me choose. You go do your make-up.”
“Fine.” Her friend usually did a better job picking appropriate outfits for any occasion anyway.
As she danced out of Meryl’s way, a small giggle bubbled out—an honest-to-God giggle, like she was a college coed going on a date with the senior star quarterback. It was silly, but when had she ever felt like that about any of the guys she’d dated?
“He’s taking you to Snodgrass’s, right?” Meryl asked.
“Yep.” Best steakhouse in town, and one of the few local restaurants with a palatial front door.
They also had a reputation for accommodating the specific physical needs of their off-world guests, like a chair without a back for Kyzel’s wings.
“Good choice. All right, let’s see here….” Meryl’s words became indecipherable mumbles as the scrape of plastic on wood resumed.
Robyn planted her bottom in the vanity chair and stared at her reflection. There was a definite spark in her eyes that she hadn’t seen for…years? Decades? Certainly not since she was an infatuated nineteen-year-old bride embarking on what was supposed to be the grandest adventure of her life.
She dipped her make-up brush into the foundation and made dots across her face. That adventure had fizzled quickly. By thirty, the spark had dulled to an ember of resignation. She stroked the brush over her skin, blending the foundation into a satin-smooth finish, then moved on to her blush.
In hindsight, the clues to Kevin’s control issues had been there from the beginning. How many guys went dress shopping with their fiancée and chose their wedding dress for them? Why had she ever believed that him doing so was an adorable expression of his devotion?
“Ah ha.” Meryl emerged from the closet holding a hanger high. “Sexy in a black pantsuit.”
Ooh, yes. The crepe, waist-hugging, flare-legged outfit with a draping neckline was elegant, and yes, even a little sexy.
“It’ll look perfect with red lipstick, and your white pearl earrings.”
“You mean the earrings Kevin gave me?” She squished her face to match her uncertainty. “Don’t you think that’d be like intentionally jinxing my date with Kyzel?”
“Spare me the drama, Robbi.” Meryl laid the pantsuit on the bed. “Your date is what you make it. Besides, those pearls are karma’s way of rewarding you for all the shit you put up with from that ass-clown.”
Wasn’t that the truth? “You always find a way to put everything into perspective.”
“And speaking of perspective.” Her friend sat on the end of the bed and met her gaze. “I have a really good feeling about this guy.”
“Oh, you do, do you?”
“I do.”
“So do I.” Robyn gave her friend a gentle smile. “There’s something about him that’s…different. Special. Hot.”
Now Meryl laughed. “In all the years we’ve known each other, I’ve never seen you shine so much.”
“Oh, please.” She gave a dismissive wave and turned back to the vanity.
“Do you know how many guys you’ve dated who got this kind of reaction out of you?” Meryl continued. “None. Zip. Zero.”
Robyn met her own gaze in the mirror again. The sparkle was still there, and just the thought of Kyzel filled her heart full to bursting. And this was only their second date. “You might have a point.”
“But,” Meryl lowered her voice, “he’s from another planet, honey. What are you going to do if things work out?”
It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about that scenario, hadn’t considered the implications of a long-term relationship with Kyzel.
If it were just Kevin she’d be leaving behind, the decision would be a no-brainer.
But she had Karen, Kev, and Kathy to think about.
Could she just up and leave her kids behind, if things got that serious?
She shifted her gaze to Meryl’s reflection. “I…don’t know.”
Kyzel rapped his knuckles against Robyn’s front door, then gave his wings a quick shake to release some of his tension. Rol’s lack of enthusiasm about his fledgling relationship with her stung. Was it too much for his friend to stir up some sort of positivity, even if just for show?
The door opened, and Robyn stunned his senses with her smile. “Hi, Kyzel.”
“Robyn.” It was all he could choke out. By the immortals, she was regal in her curve-hugging black outfit. “I have missed your smile.”
“Oh.” The lovely rosy pink color was back in her cheeks, and she looked down at her feet in their strappy black sandals.
He reached out and brushed the backs of his fingers against the soft skin of her cheek. Her warmth heated him to his core. If the only way to look upon her was to stop breathing, he would do so, gladly.
She raised her face, her blue-eyed gaze on him only. “It’s only been four hours.”
“It seems longer.” Much longer.
“A-hem.” An unexpected voice from behind Robyn intruded on the moment.
Robyn startled. “Oh, sorry. Kyzel, this is my best friend, Meryl.”
A tall, slender female, with tightly curled golden hair covering her head, stepped into view. “Nice to meet you, Kyzel.”
He dipped his head in a greeting. “The pleasure is mine, Meryl.”
“Thanks. Well, I’ll be going now.” Meryl hugged Robyn. “Got my own plans tonight.”
“You do?” Robyn gave her friend a curious look.
“Dinner with my goddaughter, of course.” Meryl moved around him and down the porch steps. “Behave yourselves, kids…or not. Ta-ta.”
Kyzel tilted his head to one side. “What is a goddaughter?”
“I met Meryl a year before I got pregnant with my youngest daughter, Kathy,” Robyn explained as she grabbed her purse, then closed and locked her door.
“She and her husband Nathan couldn’t have children, but they helped me out a lot when I ended up on bedrest. I asked them to be Kathy’s godparents when she was baptized. ”
“Bap-tized?”
“It’s a religious ceremony.” She took his hand and he allowed her to lead him toward her car in the driveway. Surely, she did not intend to drive to the restaurant. “The simple explanation is that they became part of our family and…oh, dear.”
She stared at her car hard, then at him, and back again. “You won’t fit.”
“No, I will not.” It was very difficult to not crack a grin.
“It’s too far to walk to Snodgrass’s in these shoes.” The look she gave him was bleak. “I could change into my sneakers.”
“No need.” He moved to stand directly in front of her. “We can fly.”
Her eyes went wide with comprehension. “Isn’t that…dangerous?”
“Not at all.” As long as he stayed high enough to not tangle with the black wires between the poles, and low enough to avoid small Earth aircraft.
“Okay.” She still sounded uncertain. “How’re we going to do this?”
“I will carry you.” He bent, scooped her into his arms, and cradled her against his chest. “Hang on.”
He unfurled his wings, took a step, then another, faster and faster, until he was running across her front yard toward the street.
Robyn snaked her arms around his neck. “Kyyyzzeellll…the streeeeeeet!”
He gave his wings a mighty pump, and leaped.
Oh, my God, we’re flying!
Robyn squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again. Her house, her car, her entire neighborhood, looked like a miniature toy town. “This…is…amazing.”
Kyzel’s deep laugh rolled over her like a warm wave. “You like the view?”
“Oh, my gosh, yes. Everything looks so different from up here.” Different even to the view from an airplane.
A wisp of her hair came loose and whipped in front of her glasses, but there was no way she was letting go of him to fix it. “Next time I’ll remember to wear a scarf.”
“It is good to know there will be a ‘next time.’” The deep, suggestive timbre of his voice shot straight through her like an electric bolt, ending smack dab between her legs.
She turned away from one incredible view to another: the shimmering pleasure in Kyzel’s eyes. His completely black eyes. Not a bit of white showed.
“What happened to your eyes?” The words were out of her mouth before common sense kicked in.
Kyzel’s smile got larger, if that was even possible. “It is a lens that protects my eyes and enhances my vision as I fly. It will help me avoid obstacles.”
Well, that was reassuring.
His smile faltered. “Do they bother you?”
“No.” Not in the least. They were kinda sexy, really. “I like them.”
What would he do if she kissed him right now? Would that distract him enough to crash? Probably should avoid that, but a kiss on the cheek should be okay. She raised her head, aiming for his cheek, until Kyzel turned his head and she met his lips. His firm, warm lips.
Her thoughts spun like a spiraling kite, then the kite caught a breeze and soared to heights she’d never expected to reach. Who knew a simple kiss—two sets of lips moving against each other—could elicit such a reaction? Without any tongue action, even?
Kyzel pulled back, just a fraction, and snared her gaze. “So, now we know.” His voice was rough and sent a thrill of excitement straight down her spine. “We both are that interested in each other…and I did not crash.”
A laugh bubbled out of her. “Well, thank God for the last part. And, yes, to the first. How did you know that’s what I was thinking, though?”
“Your face is very expressive.” He grinned back at her. “We should be careful about how severely we test my flying skills, though. This is the first time I have carried another, other than my fledglings, and that was years ago.”
Heat stung her cheeks. “Am I too heavy?”
“No.” There was so much sincerity behind that word. “You are perfect.”