Finding Kylie (15 page)

             
She gave him her most dazzling smile, and left him standing there. As Timothy watched her walk through the restaurant, he was taken aback.

             
Wow. What a knock out!

             
For a minute he thought he had the wrong girl.  With the way she was staring at him, she acted like she didn’t have any idea what he was saying. 

             
Men probably approach her all the time.  Okay Banks, this is business and you’re going home tomorrow, so knock it off
! 

             
He followed her to the corner table, which set next to the open-air deck outside, and sat down across from her. 

             
“How was your flight?”  She started with polite conversation. 

             
“It was fine, thank you.  I hope you accept my condolences Ms. Wayne.  I know your mother loved you very much.” 

             
“Thank you.  Did you get to know her very well?”

             
“Well enough to know that her major concern was that you wouldn’t understand about the money left to you.  She wanted your future to be secure.  Kylie said you had big dreams, and she wanted to help you reach them.” 

             
He pulled her file out of his briefcase, and slid the paperwork in her direction. Chastity’s curiosity was peaked. 

             
“She left me money?  How is that possible? We didn’t have much...” Her voice trailed off, as she saw the figure on the paperwork.  “Excuse me, but that can’t be right!  That says I am worth just over two million!  Where did this come from?” 

             
Chastity felt light headed, like she was in a dream. Each word she uttered seemed to be in slow motion.

             
“Ms. Wayne.  Are you alright?” 

             
Timothy reached across the table to make sure she wasn’t going to pass out.               

             
“Chastity, can you hear me?”

             
She couldn’t make herself respond. All she could think of was if her mother had this kind of money, why didn’t they live life a little easier - instead of just making ends meet? 

             
How did mom have all this money?  Just how much did Mr. Mikale give her that day she went to his house?  Surely not this much! 

             
Timothy signaled the waitress.  “Bring her a glass of orange juice, quick please!”

             
When the waitress returned, he grabbed the glass and scooted across the table, to Chastity’s side.

             
“Here take a sip.  You look like you need a little something.”

             
He placed it in her hands, and she drank it down. 

             
“Thank you Mr. Banks,” her voice barely a whisper.

             
“Mr. Banks is my father.  I keep looking for him when you call me that.” 

             
His comment made her smile. 

             
Well that’s a start in the right direction.  What a smile.
 

             
“Listen,” he said, moving back to his side of the booth. “Your mom instructed that I leave you a someday fund.  She was pretty insistent on it being called that.  Kylie said it was for you to be able to go wherever you wanted and live your life exactly how you need.” 

             
He waited for her to respond.  Her silence made him shift in his seat, not knowing what she was going to do next. 

             
I’d be a little shaky too if I’d been left this kind of money. 

             
“I am sure you have a lot of questions.  Kylie told me that Cheryl would have all the answers you need.” 

             
Chastity pushed the empty juice glass forward, and brought hers up to meet his, as if in a challenge.  They held determination, and in that moment Timothy thought she was quite possibly the most beautiful woman in the world.

             
“I think I need something stronger.”  She lifted her hand to signal the waitress, who came over with an expectant smile. 

             
Before she could take their orders, Chastity raised her eyebrow and asked, “What’ll you have?”

             
“I’ll have a draft on tap.”  He loosened his tie.

             
Chastity looked to the waitress and pointed in his direction. 

             
“Bring him a draft and for me, a Godiva kiss, please.”

             
“A Godiva kiss?” He looked at her pouty mouth, thinking about how sexy it was.  Although his eyes felt glued to her lips, he forced them to meet her eyes when she started to speak.

             
Chastity angled her head, unsure of what just happened.

             
Was he looking at my mouth?  

             
She denied the thought of his motives being anything but pure, and began to describe her favorite cocktail.

             
“It’s Bombay Sapphire stirred with white chocolate Godiva liqueur and Hershey’s chocolate ... I only get them on special occasions.  And if this isn’t a special occasion - I don’t know what is.”

             
He glanced to her mouth once more and quickly brought his eyes back up.  He tried not to stare, but every word she spoke begged his attention.

             
There he goes again.
I wonder if something’s on it.
 

             
Chastity self-consciously licked her lips, which gave Timothy a jolt.  His mind went places it shouldn’t have with a client, and he had to remind himself again.

             
Tim ... stay professional. 

             
He quickly brought the conversation back to the subject at hand, to force his mind from the thought of slipping across the table and kissing her.

             
“So, I bet you’d like to know when your mom first contacted me.”  

             
After the waitress set their drinks down, he watched her take her first sip and cleared throat.  He promptly lifted his beer, and took a big drink before continuing. 

             
“It was about a year ago.  She called me to set up a meeting, saying she had invested in to some funds, and wanted to draft a will for her daughter.”

             
Chastity set her glass down, and was quick to inquire. 

             
“How did she find you?”

             
“As far as I know your mother found me through my online ads.  She said she didn’t trust any of the large firms.”

             
“I thought all you guys ran ads in the yellow pages, or placed your faces on bus benches.” She smirked, trying to make light of the reality of her situation.  It made sense that her mom wouldn’t go with a big name, but this scenario was too surreal.

             
He smiled at her humor, and nodded.  “I’m a little out side the box when it comes to gaining new clients, and I think that’s what your mom liked about me.  I figure I need to advertise where I can get the most exposure.  The phone book stays closed until someone needs something.”  Timothy explained before taking another drink.  “If they don’t already know my name, I feel the phone book is a lost cause.”

             
“And the bus benches?”

             
Timothy had a smart comeback that he held in check.  He took the high road and replied with a proper answer.

             
“I’ll leave that to the bail bondsmen.”  He winked.

             
She did a double take, wishing he were sitting closer.  She, too, had to focus on the subject at hand.  

             
“So how did you win her over?  She must have had a reason for choosing you.  She didn’t trust many men, let alone a young, attractive - I mean … put together ones, such as your self.”  She could have kicked herself.

             
Timothy smiled. 
Is she blushing? 

             
He quickly gave her an answer she knew that was classic Kylie. 

             
“I couldn’t answer that, but I know she commented on my smile.  If I remember correctly, she said I had beautiful teeth.”  His eyes twinkled. “I can honestly say that I had never received a comment on my teeth before.  She definitely made an impression on me.” 

             
Chastity’s face was full of emotion, and Timothy surmised that he upset his client. 

             
“Ms. Wayne, what I meant was your mother was refreshing.  She had character and I liked her.  She was someone you just liked being around.”

             
Chastity’s heart felt like it was breaking in two.  The fact that he actually understood her mom meant she let him in to see a rare side of her.  That spoke volumes.

             
With so many emotions tearing through her, she felt like running as far away as possible.  The disappointment of her mother’s secrecy was as overwhelming as the tides breaking onto the shore outside – and the only other thing as powerful was the pull she felt for the lawyer, who was sitting across from her. 

             
She was attracted to Timothy Banks, and knew the smart thing to do was to run as fast as she could in the opposite direction.   She quickly finished her drink, and picked up the pen lying on the table.

             
“Well it seems lately, that my mother is full of surprises. All I have to do is sign, and we’re done?” 

             
Timothy, taken back at the change in her demeanor, pushed the paperwork closer to her. 

             
“Yes, just initial and sign where I’ve indicated with the tab stickers, and … and you’re done,” he added softly. 

             
Chastity finished initialing for her new fortune, and hung her head.

             
“Mr. Banks...” She lifted her face to him. “Timothy, I wasn’t trying to be rude.  I’ve just had a lot to deal with in the last few weeks, and I’m not coping very well.  Usually my first instinct when I’m not sure of something is to shut down.  I hope you understand that it’s not personal.” 

             
“Completely.”  He nodded, trying to comfort her in some way. “You’ve just lost the one person in life you thought you could count on.  Plus, you’ve had a bombshell dropped in your lap today.”

             
He gathered the papers and put them in his briefcase, saying, “I’ll tell you what, let’s order dinner - on me. Maybe it’ll make you feel better to talk about it.  I mean … if you’re up to it.” 

             
Timothy hesitated, feeling that he’d crossed the line.  For some unknown reason, he was drawn to her and really wanted to get to know her better.  Against her better judgment, she nodded and shrugged her shoulders.  It was all the permission he needed to signal the waitress and order dinner for two.

Chapter 20

              It hit Chastity hard, when she realized how much she liked Timothy’s company. 

             
This is not like me.  I would normally never engage this much.
 

             
She was relieved when he asked her to stay, but decided to keep the discussion between them light.  Whatever this was between them was nothing more than a harmless flirtation, so she stayed off the subject of her mom and focused more on her art and his background.  She wanted the last impression she left to be interesting.

             
Good thing he doesn’t live in LA.  Any more time with him would just
lead to more feelings like this, and that’s the last thing I need,
she thought, as she dug inside her purse for her keys.

             
To her, grabbing one’s car keys was the universal signal that their time has come to an end … the date was over.  Chastity knew she should go, but as she watched him talk, with his beautiful smile and dark gorgeous eyes, she grew weak.  Finally, she forced herself to push her chair back and stand.