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A FaceTime call rang in from Avery and Kiefer’s heart smiled. He swiped the screen and accepted it.
“Is everything all set for tonight?”
Avery scrunched her face up at him. “Of course, it is. When I tell you I’m going to do something, I do it.”
The interruption of an overhead intercom sounded, causing them both to reflexively wait until the announcement was finished.
Kiefer frowned, curiously. “Where are you?”
“In New York. Surprise. I’m headed home.”
“Home as in where?”
“Forest Hills. I miss everyone.”
“Really,” Kiefer said. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?”
“I’m telling you now. I decided this morning. You know I live by the seat of my pants.”
“I suppose being impulsive is a lifestyle choice.”
“It is, and I like it. I’m going to invade one of Ethan’s guest rooms.”
“You should stay with me.”
Avery tossed her long hair over her shoulder. “Ha! Three’s a crowd.”
“Three is not a crowd because you’re my cousin. Besides, Leela’s moving out this weekend.”
“I’ll think about it. I kind of like all the staff at Ethan’s house. It makes me feel like I’m living in the hotel.”
Kiefer chuckled. “You’re mad spoiled. I pity and pray for the man who loses his head over you.”
“No worries about that. I don’t stay still long enough to get a man in his feelings.”
“Sometimes it’s mere seconds,” Kiefer said. “It’s one smile or the way you turn your head.” Maya Angelou’s poem came back into his mind. “The fire in your eyes. It doesn’t take much to hook us.”
“It certainly didn’t take much to hook you.” Avery stood. “I’m about to board. I’ll see you soon but have fun.”
Kiefer nodded. “I will.”
He ended the call and plunged back into work. Leela texted him to let him know she was stopping by the office. She’d spent the morning getting her hair done and shopping. He was glad she was in a better financial position to do those things. It wasn’t long before Leela sailed into his office carrying a takeout cup from his favorite juice bar. He’d left the house this morning without his daily green smoothie, and he was missing his hit of antioxidants.
“You are my favorite person in the world,” he said, standing. Leela kissed him. Her hair was back in braids. He rather liked those. “You look great.”
“This is the first time I’ve paid someone to braid my hair in like five years.”
“Well, she did a nice job, so you’ll have to keep yourself in her rotation.” Kiefer sat and opened his cup.
Leela looked at all the open files on his desk. He was working on two monitors, which was pretty rare. “You look busy. Are we still going to Lauren and Ethan’s dinner party?”
Kiefer finished chugging half the drink and put the cup down. “I’m looking forward to this evening.”
He received a text message at the same time as Leela.
Leela’s phone pinged, and she looked at the message.
“Good news!” she exclaimed, showing Kiefer an email on her phone. “Dream Events confirmed a booking for a large party.”
Kiefer’s face lit up, sharing in her excitement. “That’s amazing, Leela. I’m happy your hard work is paying off.”
“Thank you,” she replied.
He dropped his eyes to his phone and noted the reminder about this first tutoring session. He looked back up at her. They shared a smile, and Kiefer knew it was time to tell her about the results of his testing. She’d been vulnerable with him from the first day he’d met her, she deserved the same from him.
“What’s up?” she asked, sitting. Kiefer was convinced this woman could read his mind. She crossed a leg over her knee and propped her hand there.
“I want to talk to you about something.”
“I can tell,” she responded.
“Yeah, you can.” He took a deep breath and let it out. “You know I had the psychoeducational testing.”
Leela blinked hard one time and then nodded attentively for him to continue.
“You were right. I have dyslexia.”
She dropped her head for a second and then raised it to look back at him. “How do you feel about that?”
“I’m still processing it, but honestly, I feel relieved. Having a diagnosis is shocking and scary but satisfying at the same time.” He paused. “Does that make sense?”
Leela nodded. “It does.”
“Better to know than not and flounder,” he said. “I start tutoring on Sunday afternoon. The doctor gave me some resources. I’ve started using a few, including this voice automated typing app that prompts you to get your spelling and grammar correct. It’s pretty robust, so I don’t think Marie or anyone else will be gossiping about my emails.”
Leela’s eyes got misty with tears. She was so emotional she couldn’t speak.
“It explains so much of why your videos helped me. I’m more in your debt than I thought I was.”
She reached for a tissue and dabbed under her eyes.
“If I hadn’t hired you...” his words trailed off.
“...I wouldn’t have been on the business trip to Charleston, and we wouldn’t have had the incident at the screening and then the conversation about it.”
“Right,” he said and then he chuckled. “Charleston was a date. I didn’t take you there because you were working for me.”
“Hmmm,” Leela said, standing. “Sneaky.”
“I didn’t want to let you out of my sight for three days.”
“Moving away from you is going to be hard,” Leela said rubbing down the lapel of his suit.
“I think we started this relationship the wrong way in that respect. But if we hadn’t, would we be here right now, loving each other?”
“I can’t despise our beginning. We’ll adjust,” Leela said. “Anyway, missing each other like that means a lot at our ages.”
“What do you think that means?” he asked.
“I guess I’ll say what it means since I’m big on words.”
Kiefer looked at her through hooded eyes. “Yes, and a brother would like to hear the words.”
“I love you too.”
Kiefer smiled. “No hesitation, just saying it with your whole chest.”
“With my whole heart,” she acknowledged.
“It’s nice to know I’m not alone.”
“If you ack right, never again.” Leela laughed.
“Well, that’s good to know. I’ve got nothing in me but some ack right.”
Leela wrapped her arms around his neck. Her big, brown, seductive eyes and full lips were irresistible.
Kiefer kissed her, fully, firmly, passionately, completely until the heat between them was too much for him. Leela pulled back and said, “You taste like green juice and mint.”
“There’s mint in it.” His eyes searched hers. “Is it good?”
She bobbed her head in a happy nod. “Very. Next time I’ll get myself a cup.”
Kiefer pressed his lips back into hers and deepened the kiss. He’d been so involved in what he was doing that he almost didn’t hear the knock on the door.
He and Leela jumped apart like teenagers who’d been caught by their parents. They laughed and he walked around to the other side of his desk and sat. “Come in.”
Rose walked in. She looked at Leela and blushed a little. “I need to go down to HR to finish my training. My computer locked up on the last module and tomorrow is the deadline.”
Kiefer raised a finger to his lips, his mind still on Leela’s. He cleared his throat and said, “Fine.”
After Rose backed out of the office, Leela asked. “Did you do anything about that HR situation?”
Kiefer’s eyes settled into Leela’s again. “Of course, I did. I’m a VP of people not just movies.”
Leela smiled. “Good and now that I’m officially your girlfriend, I need to deal with one of your other people.”
Kiefer cocked an eyebrow. “You have a mischievous look in your eye.”
“You read me well, sir. I’m about to get someone straight too.”
“My kiss didn’t make you forget her?”
“I’m a woman. I can keep ten balls in the air. She talked about my man, and that I cannot abide.” Leela reached for the laptop.
Kiefer said, “Allow me to handle my own business.”
“I’m not trying to bring up old mess, but you got Brad straight.”
“Fair is fair,” he said, giving her the laptop. “There’s something in draft to her. It’s ready to send, but it needs proofing.”
Leela read the message. Made a few changes and then typed a sentence at the end that read: BTW, how’s that spelling for you?
Kiefer chuckled. He supposed Marie had it coming. “Hit send,” he said, feeling a sense of liberation. Leela tapped the keyboard, and the message was on its way.
Leela smiled at him, her eyes giving him everything that he needed in this moment, like always. “You know,” she said, “one of your resources has always been right outside your door. Like I said, you could use Rose more. You don’t have to be a micromanager.”
“You’re right,” he said. “I kept the team on. I need to trust them more.”
“I think we’re all learning lessons about trust,” Leela said. “So, you’ll trust me when I say I quit.”
“Quit?”
“Yes. I’m going to be busier with my business and quite frankly, I don’t plan to spend my evenings with you talking about your work.”
“But...”
“No, buts. You’ll hire a reader and pay me a nice bonus to train him.”
“Him?” Kiefer pitched a curious eyebrow.
“I’m not the jealous type, but I’m not stupid either. That’s too many videos of one person in your eye gate. It’ll be a him.”
Kiefer laughed. “How about I let you do the interviewing and the training?”
“I like that,” Leela said.
“Okay, so you’ve got your business to run, and I’ve got mine,” he said, pulling her back into his arms.
“We’ll support each other anyway we can,” Leela said, “but now we need to get out of here if we’re going to make it to Lauren and Ethan’s.”
“Do you like surprises?” he asked.
Leela cocked an eyebrow. “Good ones.”
He nodded. “Good. I have one for you tonight.” He couldn’t wait to see her face tonight. She was everything he ever wanted. Smart, funny, kind, beautiful. She loved dogs. He was going to marry her. He was sure of it and that feeling in his gut was never wrong.