Something About You. Bridget Anderson

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ

      “They asked about taking your workshop this morning, so Rollin invited them to breakfast,” Tayler added, before she backed out of the kitchen into the dining room.

      Kyla frequently invited people out to the farm to see how her program worked. But for the life of her, she couldn’t imagine who Tracee meant by ballers. Curious, she set her plate down and walked over to the kitchen door, easing it open just a crack.

      She could see a few of the guests, but couldn’t see who was sitting at the other end of the table. She heard Rollin talking to someone. But that wasn’t unusual, since he ate breakfast with the guests on many occasions. Then a voice she recognized made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.

      The World Hunger Day Conference was over three weeks ago, but that was definitely Miles Parker’s voice.

      “Kyla. You okay, honey?” Rita asked.

      Kyla let go of the door. “I’m fine.”

      Tracee crossed her arms and peered across the room at Kyla. “So where did you go to meet a professional baseball player?”

      “Wouldn’t you like to know.” Kyla grabbed her plate and turned to leave the room. “I’ll be in the office if anybody’s looking for me.” She walked down the short hall to the farm’s office, and closed the door behind her. Rollin had converted the billiard room into an office big enough for two desks. He’d even purchased her a laptop.

      She didn’t know whether to be excited, nervous or both. When she’d invited Miles to the farm, she was being polite. She never thought he’d actually show up. She’d assumed his interest in her program was out of sheer niceness to Professor Abraham. What did he stand to gain by taking a farm tour? His business wasn’t about organic foods; it was just the opposite.

      As the farm’s assistant manager, she needed to check her emails and make a few business calls before the morning tour. She attempted to answer some mail, but she couldn’t get over the fact that the same Miles Parker she’d seen on the front page of the tabloids in the grocery store was in their kitchen eating breakfast. He was infamous for dating celebrities and seemingly doing whatever it took to get him and his buddies on Entertainment Tonight.

      A knock on the door snapped Kyla’s thoughts back into place.

      “Come in.”

      Tracee walked in and closed the door behind her. “We have an idea. Right now Aunt Rita is in the dining room talking to Miles and his friends. Why don’t you get a picture of him while he’s here? We can display it in the dining room to show celebrities have eaten here, like they do in restaurants.”

      Kyla’s eyes widened in horror. “I can’t ask him to do that. I don’t know that man. I met him once, and when I invited him out here, I didn’t actually think he’d show up.”

      Tracee crossed her arms. “Well, he’s here. Rollin seems to know him, too. And he and his buddies are loving Rita’s breakfast. They ate a whole loaf of my banana bread. He’s not a paying guest, so the least he can do is give us a picture.”

      As if Kyla wasn’t already uncomfortable with him being there, now Tracee wanted her to impose on him. She hoped he wasn’t the type of celebrity who hated fans requesting pictures. “Okay, I’ll ask. Since he knows Rollin, maybe he won’t mind. Now get out of here and let me finish these emails.”

      “I’ll get my cell phone and meet you guys out by the truck. I can’t believe it, Miles Parker, here!”

      “Tracee, don’t go out there and make a fool of yourself. Take one picture of him and Rita. That’s it.”

      Tracee turned her lip up at Kyla. “You need to loosen up. You’re no fun, you know that?”

      “Yes, I am. I’m a lot of fun. Unlike you, I know the difference between work and play.”

      “Whatever.” Tracee walked back to the door. “We’ll meet you outside.”

      Once Tracee left, Kyla shook her head. Her sister acted as if she’d never met a celebrity before. Then again, maybe she hadn’t, since Miles was the first celebrity Kyla had ever met. He was not, however, the first player or womanizer she’d ever encountered. Someone from not so long ago came to mind.

      She pushed that bad memory from her head and shut down her computer. If it would make Rita happy, she’d ask Miles for a picture.

      Kyla grabbed her clipboard and went out the back door to meet Kevin and the truck. Every morning he cleaned the truck up and got it ready for the day’s guests. She found him standing at the back of the shiny, pristine vehicle, as usual.

      “Them kids yesterday smashed strawberries all over the floorboards,” Kevin complained as he finished wiping at some spots. “I swear they got no home training. People need to teach their kids about other people’s property.”

      Kyla opened the passenger door and tossed her clipboard onto the seat. “Kev, you know you love this truck like your own. If it wasn’t dirty, you’d still be out here wiping it down.”

      “Hey, a clean truck is a reflection of the driver. Besides, Mrs. Rollin said we have some special guests this morning, and I don’t want them sitting on smashed strawberries.” He stopped and looked up at Kyla. “Ever heard of Miles Parker, the baseball player? He went to UK and then played professionally for the Chicago Cubs. I used to watch him all the time.”

      Kyla rolled her eyes, and rested her hands on her hips. Geez, did everybody know this guy? “Yes, I’ve heard of him.” She cut Kevin a quick smile. “What do you say we get started? Our guests are eagerly waiting on the front porch.”

      Kevin frowned. “Okay, I see what kind of mood you’re in this morning. Research not going well?” he asked.

      “My research is fine.” She climbed up onto the back of the truck and took her usual seat against the back window. “Let’s start with collard greens this morning. We can end with cherries. Rita wants to make cherry pies this evening.”

      Kevin stood at the foot of the truck and smirked. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, as he two-finger saluted Kyla.

      She rolled her eyes again and shook her head. They spent so much time together, they were like an old married couple.

      As the truck pulled around to the front of the house, an unexpected shiver ran through Kyla when she spotted Miles standing on the front porch smiling and laughing with the other guests. His face lit up, and his square chin softened when he smiled. She wasn’t sure why she noticed that. Another thing she noticed was his ultra-bright-white T-shirt, which she would have advised him not to wear had she known he was coming. Where did he think he was going? She’d explained that it was a working farm.

      He’d looked effortlessly cool and confident in his suit at the conference, but today, in his casual attire, he was downright hot! The T-shirt showed off his muscular arms and the shorts his nice calves. He had on a baseball cap with a pair of shades sitting above the brim.

      The truck came to a halt, and Kyla jumped down to greet the guests and help a few of them up the steps onto the back of the truck. Still standing on the porch with Miles were Tracee, Rita and Tayler, all smiling like a bunch of Cheshire cats. The whole time, her family had been busy taking pictures with Miles.

      “Kyla, СКАЧАТЬ