One Special Moment - Brenda Jackson [46]
Kyle’s smile widened. “But I guess I can say in your case, Hamilton, the early bird catches you standing at the window ogling your future wife,” he said, chuckling. “From the news I’ve read in this morning’s paper, I assume congratulations are in order.”
“Yes, I guess you can assume that,” Sterling answered before turning his attention back to the window. He ignored the fact Kyle was watching his actions with keen interest. And frankly, at the moment he didn’t care. He couldn’t remember another time the sight of the ocean looked so breathtaking. And he knew it had a lot to do with the fact Colby was out there enjoying it.
She was wearing a bathing suit that some would think was conservative, considering most women enjoyed parading around in bikinis or even less these days. But it was what Colby’s one-piece swimsuit didn’t reveal rather than what it did that heated up his imagination. It fitted snugly around her hips, and her full, generous breasts were well-defined by the soft material. Even from a distance his gaze was able to travel the perimeter of each and every delectable curve of her body.
Sterling heard a chuckle beside him. “Don’t mind me,” Kyle was saying. “I’ll just take a seat over there until you’re finished gawking at your fiancée.”
The beginning of a smile tipped the corners of Sterling’s mouth. He doubted he would tire of watching Colby anytime soon. “It might take a while,” he said.
“Take your time,” Kyle replied, crossing the room and easing his muscular frame into a chair that sat across from Sterling’s desk. “And when you’re through, I want answers, Hamilton. Lots of them,” he said with a friendly grin on his face, but a firm tone in his voice.
Sterling’s smile turned into chuckle. He wasn’t surprised Kyle wasn’t buying the story that had appeared in the newspaper that morning. And with good reason. Kyle Garwood knew him better than anyone.
He and Kyle had been good friends ever since their early teen years. They had met the year Sterling’s father had delivered all the fresh-cut lumber needed to build an addition to Special K, the Garwood family cabin retreat in the North Carolina mountains. Although Kyle had been born to wealth, and Sterling was the son of a lumberjack, the two teenagers had forged a deep friendship. Over the years, one had always been there for the other, and deep down they both knew it would always be that way.
Both the room and its occupant faded from Sterling’s mind as he turned his attention back to Colby. He couldn’t help but grin as he watched her repeatedly dodge the waves. She was frolicking to and fro, behaving in a frisky, playful way. He thought her movements were fluid, lithe and even sensuous. Her gay and lighthearted antics reached out to him and a part of him was tempted to join her outside. He couldn’t remember the last time he had enjoyed the beach the way Colby was doing now.
A soft knock sounded at the door seconds before Simon entered. “Will Mr. Garwood be joining you for lunch, sir?”
“Yes, he intends to feed me,” Kyle answered the man before sinking back against the chair’s cushions.
Sterling lifted a brow at his friend.
Kyle merely gave him an apologetic smile. “I thought I’d answer for you since you were somewhat preoccupied.”
Sterling frowned at the humor he saw in Kyle’s eyes. He turned to Simon. “He’ll also be joining us for dinner,” he said.
After Simon had left Sterling turned his attention back to Kyle. “My apologies for being somewhat preoccupied.”
“Apology accepted. I know how it is when you’re in love.”
Sterling raised a dark brow. “And what makes you think I’m in love?”
Kyle shrugged his broad shoulders. “According to the newspapers, you are.” He then leaned forward in his chair. “In fact, I’m a little anxious to see that ring in your nose.”
The look Sterling bestowed on Kyle was totally lacking humor. In fact, it showed signs of tightly held annoyance. “I don’t have a ring in my nose. You should know me better than that.”
Kyle’s grin was one of amusement. “Yes, I