2

The encounter with Malachi Parker — Kai — remained on Bonnie's mind throughout the night until she succumbed to sleep. The next day Elena had a tennis lesson she insisted her friend had to be present for. This time Bonnie opted to leave her notebook in her hotel room, seeing no point in carrying it around when nothing would be written in it anyway. Instead, she fished out her worn copy of Jane Eyre from beneath her suitcase, hoping to refresh herself on Mr. Rochester's scandalous secret.

Tennis was not a game she played well or at all. Elena was not happy to hear that, but she didn't push this time, much to Bonnie's delight. She watched as the tall and muscled dark-skinned instructor guided her friend's serve with his front pressed against her back. Elena seemed to be enjoying that. Jean was his name. He was a nice man who complimented Bonnie's outfit for the day with a smile that wasn't invasive. Even now he was carefully deflecting Elena's generous attention to keep the focus on the game. He was probably used to it, the poor man.

In her teens, Grams tried to get Bonnie to play golf or tennis. A laughable attempt considering their Brooklyn neighborhood had no accommodations for any such sport. Athletics were not her strong suit at all. Swimming was the only sport she could tolerate. Bonnie had learned to swim spending the summers with her aunt and cousin Lucy in Delaware. She'd gone swimming the first few days of her arrival but Elena didn't like getting chlorine on her hair wasn't so they didn't get to spend much time in the pool.

She wondered what sport Kai played, or if he played one at all. From what Bonnie observed he was a well-built and healthy man. His beard was trimmed and his grooming was impeccable. Despite what Elena said he carried himself with the ease and grace of the old money rafters who came into Gram's shop sometimes to get their suits adjusted.

Nothing like the guys in her neighborhood. The only person she knew who dressed well was the mayor's son Tyler. They went to the same elementary school by chance but he was pulled out by his mom to go to boarding school in New Hampshire. They met again years later when she was in college during an event where the neighboring all men's University was invited.

Had Kai gone there too? He probably finished from somewhere like Harvard years ago.

She had never been interested in older men before. Not that Kai was ridiculously older than her but the eight years between them felt a little significant. The men her age were those she interacted with from school when Katherine's giggles would wake her up at night as she flirted with them from the open window.

Most were uninterested in a college-educated girl actively seeking work. The rest had no traits that interested Bonnie. Apart from a few dalliances which would surely scandalize Grams, her expertise with the opposite sex was limited. But Kai felt like a different breed entirely. The short conversation they had together left her feeling lighter than air and anticipating when she'd meet him again.

Elena finished her lesson and walked back to the table where a glass of cold lemonade was waiting swinging her racket. Bonnie poured her some and she gulped greedily. "That was such a great workout. It baffles me why you wouldn't want to play."

She shrugged. "All that exercise doesn't look too fun."

Elena huffed dabbing her forehead with a towel. "But you need exercise! You know women's bodies get soft when we stop exercising."

Bonnie held the urge to roll her eyes. Another one of Miranda Gilbert's fine lessons no doubt. "Can I ask you something?"

"You already are." Elena giggled tossing the towel on the back of her chair.

"That man who we saw yesterday at breakfast, Malachi, could you tell me more about him?"

She studied Bonnie suspiciously. "Why is that?"

Bonnie shrugged trying to appear unaware of it. Elena didn't like competition and as far as Bonnie knew, she was still interested in Kai. It was best not to stir up any unpleasant feelings in her friend. "I admired his suit but noticed his pants were a little loose." A bold lie. His pants were tailored to absolute perfection. "If he needs a good tailor then perhaps, I can recommend Grams to him when we get back. It'll be good for her business."

She threw her head back in laughter then a look that was meant to mock Bonnie's naïveté even if she did buy her lie. "Kai Parker doesn't get his clothes tailored in New York. Oh no, his late wife engaged the services of Madam Lanvin, an exclusive French designer. The woman doesn't take just anyone on as a client. Believe me, I've tried for over a year. I've heard that she dresses European nobility. He must have paid her a pretty fortune to attain her services. Then again one would expect nothing less from one of the richest men in the country." The country? Bonnie assumed it was just New York and Long Island. No wonder Elena had been clamoring for his attention. It made her nervous now when she realized just exactly who she'd be dining with soon.

"I thought you said he was new money?"

"Kai Parker might be nouveau riche but he certainly makes more than enough to fill those shortcomings," Elena explained. "His father single-handedly funded the construction of the Colombia Library when he was alive. The old man kicked the bucket years ago but not without making sure his kids inherited a lot of money."

Bonnie closed the unread page of her book. "How did he make his money then?"

Elena shrugged. "Shipping and steel, I think. I can never really remember. But I know his sister Jo was being courted by my godfather Alaric after his wife died. For some reason, I heard Kai was against it but they're still together."

Her brow furrowed. "Why?"

"No clue. Maybe he's just apprehensive for her sake. His wife Isabelle died a few years back and he was a virtual recluse. He donates to plenty of charitable causes but mind you he hardly ever shows his face during the events but he does nonetheless. His wife was a staple during charity season." Elena had a sort of dreamy look on her face. It was obvious just how much she admired the late Mrs. Parker. It did bring Bonnie some comfort to know that Kai was not just another stingy rich man.

"It can't be easy to lose a spouse."

"I know but mourning isn't that long right?" Elena frowned. This time Bonnie did roll her eyes.

"I do remember all the glamorous parties they'd throw at Rosewood House. It was just marvelous. Filled with all of high society. Some people even came from other states just to attend. Sadly, that's all in the past. He hasn't had a party in two years. The death of his poor wife must have truly shaken him that he's barely been seen around. She was such a beautiful woman too. His sisters throw parties from time to time but they have none of the pizzaz Isabelle Parker did. His sister Liz is also king of a bitch."

"Why do you say that?"

Elena twirled the end of her hair around her finger. "I tried to talk to her once at the Opera and she snubbed me! I found it very rude, not to mention I hear she doesn't wear shoes around her own house. That's just gross."

Kai had nothing but crystal-clear fondness for his sister when he spoke about her.

Last night when he flirted with her, there was no impression of a man swaddled in grief. There was no mention of his late wife. Perhaps it was well concealed then. It sent a small pang through Bonnie to imagine his beautiful and glamorous wife. What did he want with her then? She was just a writer. A struggling one at that. He probably wanted an easy fling to fill the rest of his vacation with then he'd forget her the moment they both left Monacan soil. He was entitled to it, wasn't he? There was no need to overthink this. The two of them just met the day before. Bonnie was a modern woman and despite all Elena's ravings she didn't mind having a short affair.

"How did she die?"

"She drowned. They found her in the large swimming pool after a party. It was assumed that the poor thing fell in after drinking so much and no one heard her screams for help. Kai was away from town during the incident." Elena took another sip of lemonade. "It shook the community to hear that dreadful news. She was well-liked and appreciated."

Bonnie closed her book no longer feeling in the mood to enjoy Jane's pining over Mr. Rochester.

Later that evening after spending the rest of the afternoon entertaining two Italian countesses with Elena, she made sure to feign fatigue and said she was too tired to have dinner, that she just wanted to shower and sleep. Elena didn't seem suspicious and allowed Bonnie her privacy for the night deciding to have dinner in her room. After giving herself a pep talk for about twenty minutes, she riffled through her modest suitcase for an appropriate dress. The maroon one Elena bought for her the day before seemed suitable enough. It had two long sleeves and a fitted bodice. It made her look pretty. Feeling mildly satisfied with her appearance, Bonnie nervously made her way downstairs to the dining room where few guests were seated in a more intimate setting. Her heart pounded imagining Elena jumping from a corner to shriek at her deceit. No such thing happened and she happened upon Kai seated and waiting patiently in a grey tailored suit.

He smiled once he noticed her, the squinting causing those crinkles around his eyes to be prominent again. His cane was propped behind his chair. His brown hair was combed neatly and parted expertly. This time he wore a dark green suit with a black shirt inside. As Bonnie walked closer, she could make out the impeccable stitching. Another creation of Madam Lauvin then.

He stood up immediately pressing two light pecks on her cheeks before helping her with her seat. Her skin was set alight by the contact. "Wonderful to see you this evening. I was worried you wouldn't come or perhaps Elena roped you into another of her many appointments."

Bonnie bit her tongue so as not to laugh at that, grinning instead. "No, she's hopefully sleeping. I should be the one more worried that you wouldn't show."

"Why is that?"

Bonnie cursed her tongue. Being nervous all day made her careless. She hadn't meant to let him in on that tidbit but the cat was out of the bag.

Kai was leaning forward slightly seemingly interested in the reason she was saying it.

She shook it off trying to act nonchalant. "Elena was speaking about you earlier and I got the impression that you're a very important man. It made me wonder why you'd want my company." the little laugh she added, in the end, didn't let her off the hook.

Kai seemed perturbed by that statement. "I'm sorry if I've given you the impression that I'm some sort of a classist prick. I guess it does rub off even when I don't want it to." He was upset by that assertion.

"No!" Bonnie quickly denied. "You haven't at all. I just." She licked her lips looking down at the tablecloth focusing on the swirly patterns. "I-I'm just nervous." She hadn't meant to be so honest but couldn't be kept away. Something about him made her feel so open.

His expression softened and he reached for Bonnie's hand. His palms were callused but smooth. The hands of a man who'd done skillful work. The violin perhaps. Or archery. Katherine said the bow always roughed up her palms.

"Would it bring you some comfort to know that I was nervous as hell on my way down to meet you?"

She laughed. This time it was a genuine sound that bubbled from her throat. The idea that Kai was nervous to see her eased Bonnie's mind even if it was founded in disbelief.

"Well," She smiled widely. "I'm sure we can do our best to relieve one another of these silly notions."

"Indeed," he grinned back.

Dinner went wonderfully. Kai was an interesting man. Interesting was too tame to describe him. The man carried stories like one would butterscotch, revealing each juicy piece when the time was right and finishing with sweet, sugary satisfaction. Bonnie was enthralled by his every word like a bee to pollen. Each morsel of information was consumed eagerly.

He'd grown up in Long Island but left for Harvard when he was sixteen. His dad made him study law but he found it useless in the end since he was back to run the family business. Kai had five siblings, all twins. The youngest were Joey and Julian who were about fifteen years old now. His twin sister was Jo and she worked with him in their company. His middle siblings, Luke and Liz, had just finished college but did nothing other than wander around the house and go to parties. Bonnie could tell being an older sibling had its burdens but he was nothing but fond when talking about them.

Still, he enjoyed trips like this by himself. One thing Kai longed for was an adventure. He had a wandering spirit. One that was not satisfied with staying in one place at a time. That was probably the best thing about having money. If it wasn't for all the requirements of work, he'd probably spend every day of his life traveling.

"But alas, a man cannot live by adventure alone," he said as they both took a stroll after dinner. The two of them walked to where the docks were. Numerous bound yachts bounced gently over the rippling waters. It was cold but Bonnie managed even though the sleeves of her dress were are too flimsy for the weather. "Well, he can, but the bread is nice too."

She giggled. "Just bread is an understatement in your case. Elena gave me a pretty good idea of where you are in society." Far above her, that's for sure.

Kai shrugged. "She's more focused on that than I'd like."

"I'd say she's been raised to put a lot of focus on stuff like that," Bonnie stated delicately.

"I know. I was raised the same way," Kai said dully. "In the end, it gets...tiring. No offense but your friend is very shallow."

Bonnie waved her hand. "I know. She's a lot of fun though when she wants to be. She's just under a lot of pressure to follow her sister's path."

"Of course," he muttered beneath his breath. "I can't blame her then. My sister Jo was like that when we were younger. Our parents put all this crazy pressure on her to get married." Bonnie could relate to that. At least Grams wasn't too crazy about it but all the hints were exhausting. "Things got better on that front when they died. I'm not gonna make her do anything she doesn't want to."

"You're a good brother."

He raised an eyebrow. "I could see you two getting along. Driving me crazy while you're at it." Bonnie wouldn't mind meeting Jo Parker one day but she didn't want to get ahead of herself. This was one night and one date.

A comfortable silence enveloped the two of them. Despite the cold, Bonnie could feel some warmth from Kai's side. His fingers brushed hers several times making her want to blush like a teenager again. Bonnie wondered how it would feel to grab a hold, the sensation of his sandpaper palms again hers.

"Do you like New York?"

She blinked surprised by his question. "I do. I think so at least. The city is crazy but it feels like anything can happen you know? Besides I've lived there my entire life. I'm not sure if I can exist anywhere else."

"Why is that?" he inquired tilting his cane.

"It's so vibrant and full. Sure, it can be dirty and messy. The police are sometimes corrupt and the smoke clogs up everywhere but the messy parts make it what it is. I hope I'm making sense."

"You are," he assured. "The beautiful and the ugly parts make it completely whole. Can't have one without the other."

"Exactly." It was pleasant that he agreed with her line of thinking. "What about you?"

"It's not my primary residence but it has its charms." That was all Kai offered on the subject. Two men walking towards the docks behind the two of them chattered loudly in French. They walked past them and Kai gently grabbed Bonnie's arm to pull her close. He seemed to realize his actions after the men were a considerable distance away.

He dropped her arm. "I'm sorry about that. It's a habit of mine." His stuttering apology was so endearing Bonnie couldn't help but smile.

"It's ok. I guess I should say thank you. You were only acting like a gentleman."

"Regardless, I should respect the autonomy of a woman enough to seek her permission before making such moves," he insisted. It was not something she was used to. Respect for her person, that is. Most men viewed her space not as a privilege but a right to encroach upon.

"You're a strange breed, Kai Parker," Bonnie stated.

A slow smirk formed on his face. "Blue grey eyes trailed over her, documenting every bit to commit to memory. "I hope you find strangeness pleasant, Bonnie Bennett."

"Very pleasant." Bonnie swallowed. By now the cold had gotten to her and the shivering couldn't be hidden.

"You're shaking like a leaf dear one." The endearment fell off his tongue like fresh honey squeezed from a bottle. It warmed her insides even more than the expensive black coat he removed and hastily threw over her shoulders.

"But you'll be cold too," she protested.

"I've braved worse than a chilly night." Kai patted her shoulder. "I'll be fine. You, on the other hand, shouldn't suffer even the most minute semblance of discomfort."

"Thank you." Her voice came out so low even Bonnie wasn't sure she'd spoken. It felt strange to have someone fuss over her. Apart from her Grams, that is. But this wasn't her overbearing, panicked fussing. This was firm but gentle. Like a warm hand that would guide her but still allowed Bonnie to wander. A true novelty in every sense of the word.

"You are more than welcome." If it wasn't for the feeling of his warm breath on her nostrils, Bonnie didn't realize how close he was. They both stood there, mere meters away from the docks, the bright lights of the incandescent city behind them. Yet all she could see was the brilliant and strange blue grey of his eyes drawing her in. Her fingers clutched the coat tighter.

Kai didn't bother hiding his enrapture of her. All that worry that she wasn't good enough or he'd find her uninteresting was gone at that moment. No one had ever looked at her that way. Like she was the only girl in the world and he was the only guy and time stood still for the two of them. He confidently raised his hand to her face, thumb stroking her chin. Her eyes fluttered and she shuddered.

He hesitated for a few seconds then slowly leaned closer until their lips brushed then closed the gap with quiet fervor. The feeling on his lips took Bonnie aback. They were surprisingly soft, almost pillowy in fact. His large hand cupped her cheek like it was a delicate artifact prone to shattering if too much force was exerted. He tasted of the whiskey he had with his dinner, smoky and sweet, filling her senses. Her hands left the coat and clutched his shoulders as though he would disappear if Bonnie didn't hold onto him.

His other arm was wrapped around her waist holding her closer to him. The warmth of her soft body chased away the very idea of chill from Kai. Bonnie's soft moans and whines made Kai dizzy with desire and if he were a lesser man the open space might not have deterred him from taking it further.

They must have kissed for what felt like hours only pulling away when their body's demand for oxygen forced it.

Bonnie panted, gazing up at Kai with her shiny spit-slicked lips, uncertain of what to say. He simply kissed her forehead and smiled. It felt like there was a bite to his sincerity. A few more moments and she would be devoured. Worse, she'd like it.

"I would like to see you again. Tomorrow preferably. Would that be alright with you?" Kai muttered, leaning closer to lightly bite her bottom lip. His words toed the line between request and demand, the intense feelings he stirred made it difficult to consider refusal.

"Yes." She breathed incapable of any other words to speak. The kiss incapacitated her senses so it would take a while for her mind to settle. Deep down it felt like it never would. Kai Parker had shaken something inside Bonnie and a part of her knew her life would never be the same. Like a creature buried beneath the earth that had just tasted sunshine for the first time. Everything was brighter and softer but also had a sharp edge.

Kai escorted Bonnie back to her room. A risk since there was a chance Elena could be gallivanting in the hallway looking for her but she couldn't bear to walk back alone and he couldn't bear to let her. At her door, he kissed her again. It was quick but just as welcome. She made a move to remove his coat but he stopped her.

His finger traced the seam of the lapel. "I want you to keep it for now. Can you do that?"

"Yes." Bonnie realized that she could do anything this man asked of you at the moment.

"I'll leave a note for you at the reception tomorrow morning. Goodnight Bonnie." His fingers danced on her cheek for a second longer before sadly pulling away.

"Good night, Kai."