From Heartbreak to Mate

Chapter 2

Carissa could barely keep her eyes open as she cuddled with Kyle on the sofa. Hailey had taken the loveseat and was busy describing what the party would be like this year. The theme was winter wonderland, and Hailey’s father was going all out. She was excitedly showing pictures of the decorations and even some of the desserts that would be served, thanks to her father’s kitchen staff, who had made some in advance to test the new recipes.

“That fudge marble cake looks so good. I hope I can get a slice of it tomorrow,” Carissa said as she scrolled through the photos on Hailey’s phone.

“It is fantastic!” Hailey replied excitedly. “Dad’s new pastry chef, Melody, made that. I will message her and see if she can make an extra one for the party.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Carissa insisted as Hailey typed away on her phone.

“It's nothing,” Hailey said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “This is literally what Melody is paid to do.” Her phone beeped, and she turned it so Carissa could see the screen. “See! She’s happy to do it. Melody is asking if there is anything else we want at the party. Cookies? Cakes? Pies? She can do any of it.”

Carissa shook her head and said, “I can’t think of anything. Can you, Kyle?”

“If she is willing to take requests, I would love some butter cookies and some kind of cookie with a lot of nuts in it, like pecans or walnuts,” Kyle said, eager for the desserts.

Hailey typed on her phone while Kyle spoke. She smirked at him as she waited for a reply. When her cellphone dinged, she grinned and stuck her tongue out at Kyle as she showed him the screen.

“She is happy to do it,” Hailey said. She looked at Carissa and tipped her head to the side as she studied her friend. “Are you sure you don’t want something special? The cake isn’t special, and Melody was already considering making two instead of one. Your request just confirmed it.”

“I’m sure,” Carissa said. She yawned, covering her mouth with the back of her hand before continuing. “I already feel a little out of place going to this party. I know we have attended them since we were kids, but most of them were before your dad became such a big deal in the business world. I have the feeling that this year, most, if not all, the guests will be out of my league. I work with five-year-olds, not millionaires.”

“I’ll be right beside you all night,” Kyle said, kissing Carissa’s head. “Thanks to my family and clerking in Mr Evans’ law office, I know some of the people. They are just like us, only with nicer cars, so try not to worry.”

“Don’t worry at all. If you start to feel uncomfortable, we can sneak off with plates filled to overflowing and pig out while we watch TV on the opposite side of the house,” Hailey said with a grin. “We might even invite Kyle to join us, but I don’t know. A secret girl meeting might be in order.”

“It might be,” Carissa said through another yawn.

“That’s it, young lady,” Kyle said with a chuckle as he stood and pulled Carissa to her feet. “It is bedtime for you. I’ll help Hailey make the bed in the guest room.”

“But…” Carissa tried to protest, being interrupted by another yawn.

“No buts,” Kyle said, pulling Carissa close and kissing her tenderly. He broke the kiss and smiled at her, saying, “You need your sleep. You were up early because today was the last day of school before winter break, and I know you were on your feet all day. You had parties and parents and who knows what all to deal with on top of shopping after work and finding your dress. I will tuck you in and come to bed soon, OK?”

Carissa looked at Hailey, who shrugged at her. Hailey said, “Sorry, Care. I agree with Kyle. You already said you were up before five this morning, and we have the party tomorrow night. I can do wonders with makeup, but the bigger the bags you have under your eyes from the lack of sleep, the harder it is to hide them.”

“Fine,” Carissa relented with a sigh. “I will go to bed, but I do it under protest. It makes me feel like a bad hostess.”

“Hostess?” Hailey laughed. “You and I have been friends since the first day of kindergarten. I am closer to being your sister than a guest.”

“You have a point,” Carissa grinned, pulling away from Kyle to hug Hailey. “Thank you for dinner and baking the brownies. Leave the dishes, and I will do them in the morning when I make breakfast.”

“Will do,” Hailey agreed as they ended their hug. “See you in the morning. We didn’t get around to it tonight, so at breakfast, we need to figure out your hair and makeup. We can head to Dad’s as soon as the roads are cleared and get ready there. How does that sound?”

“Good,” Carissa said through another yawn. “I threw clothes in the dryer this morning before work. There are pajamas for you in there. I will see you in the morning.”

“See you in the morning,” Hailey called after her as Kyle looped his arm around Carissa’s waist and guided her toward the bedroom.

Kyle walked Carissa down the hallway to their bedroom and opened the door. The lamp on the nightstand was on, allowing them to see as he led her to the bed. Kyle kissed her deeply, pulling her close to press against him. The kiss left Carissa breathless and panting when he pulled away from her.

“Wow,” Carissa breathed. “Are you going to continue that thought when you come to bed?”

“Only if you are awake,” Kyle grinned as he pulled the covers back on her side of the bed. “Do you want one of my T-shirts to sleep in tonight?”

“Please,” Carissa sighed as she began to undress. Kyle went to the dresser to retrieve the shirt for her, only to turn around and see her in nothing but her panties. He swallowed hard as she took the shirt from his hand. “Thanks.”

“No, thank you,” Kyle said, his eyes scanning up and down Carissa’s body. “You are so sexy, even when you aren’t trying to be. Maybe we could have a little fun in the morning before we get out of bed,” Kyle said, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively as he gave her a crooked grin.

“That will depend on how late you stay up watching movies tonight,” Carissa giggled as she pulled the shirt over her head. “You might think sleep is more important than making love.”

“Maybe, but not likely,” Kyle said as Carissa sat on the bed. He took the covers in his hand and said, “Lie down so I can tuck you in. That way, you will get plenty of sleep, and Hailey can quit worrying about extra work to hide that you are tired.”

“OK, OK,” Carissa laughed as she snuggled down into the bed, Kyle covering her and gently tucking the blankets around her. “I love you. You are so good to me. You always have been.”

“I love you too,” Kyle said as he kissed her forehead. “You are so sweet, I have to be good to you. That’s the only thing you deserve.”

Kyle gave her a final peck on the lips before turning off the light on the nightstand and leaving their bedroom. Carissa was drifting off almost as soon as Kyle turned off the lamp. Her eyes were already closed when she heard the door shut, and Kyle’s footsteps pad back to the living room. Carissa’s last thought before sleep took her was of how wonderful it would feel when Kyle joined her in bed and pulled her close.

-

Carissa woke up with a start. The clock on her nightstand said it was just after 2:00 AM, and Kyle was not in bed. She sat up and listened carefully, unable to hear anything with the door closed. Carissa climbed out of bed and pulled on her robe to fend off the chill in the house as she went to the door. She opened it and stepped into the hallway to see Kyle closing the guest room door.

“Kyle? Why are you coming out of Hailey’s room? Is something wrong?” Carissa asked.

“I was helping her make up the bed, remember?” Kyle said in a hushed tone as he approached Carissa and ushered her back into the bedroom. “Hailey is wound up about the party and kept finding things to watch on TV. I finally said I had to go to bed, and she could use the TV in the guest room. It’s small, but it works.”

“Yeah, Hailey can get that way about the parties her dad throws,” Carissa sighed as she took off her robe and tossed it on the chair in the corner before crawling into bed. “She has done that for as long as I can remember. She is convinced that she will meet a guy, they will instantly fall madly in love, and he will be her knight in shining armor.”

“I’m glad you don’t want a knight in shining armor because, with me, you got a fool in tin foil,” Kyle grinned as he climbed into bed and pulled Carissa close.

Carissa giggled, “That might be true, but you are my fool, and I love you.”

Kyle replied with a chuckle. “I love you too.” He kissed her tenderly, then said, “I love you, Carrie. Sleep well. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.”