Shifting Perspectives

“Having such a reputation would diminish you in the eyes of your colleagues and Mr. Dunsfield. You need to repair your relations with your coworkers. Starting with apologizing to those you may have made uncomfortable. Owning up to mistakes and working to make amends is what men do. That earns respect.”

“Well said, young Kyle!” Harry gushed.

The praise was lost on Kyle as he was suddenly struggling to keep from losing the contents of his stomach. As his words left his lips, he knew they should be directed towards himself too. His recent visit to Montreal was a recent example. This gut twisted, hard. “Excuse me!” He rushed from the room and realized he had no idea where the restrooms were.

One of the household staff caught the desperate look in his eye and snagged his elbow to pull him through a door and into a side corridor. He was pushed through another door to see a toilet before him. He barely managed to get to his knees and lift the seat before his body heaved.

Painful minutes later, he felt a cool facecloth cleaning his face. His stomach was done, but his hands were still shaking. He pushed himself up onto his feet and turned his face to see Reginald standing next to him.

“It wasn’t the scotch as I saw you knew how to handle it. Was it something you ate?” the older man asked.

“No! The scotch and the food were both delicious! Perfect!” He felt his stomach tighten once more as the man looked him in the eye. “I’m sorry for being a nuisance. I’m fine.”

“Did Dr. Hansey do or say something to upset you?” Reginald asked, and Kyle stared at him in surprise.

The older man smiled and shook his head. “I gave my staff instructions to keep an eye on the doctor. He won’t be accosting women under my roof.” Kyle now knew his suspicions were true. “They said he was speaking to you in the bar, and he seemed upset. Then you left to do this.”

Kyle nodded as he looked away. He closed his eyes and forced his stomach to settle. When he opened his eyes, he saw the man was waiting. He took a breath.

“I spoke with Dr. Hansey and questioned him on his reputation for inappropriate touching. I don’t think he was aware of it. He is now. I suggested how he might make amends.” Kyle frowned as he recalled his own guilt. “It seems I don’t have much of a stomach for hypocrisy.”

Reginald’s bushy eyebrows rode up in shock. “You’re a toucher too?!?”

Kyle shook his head. “No, I’ve never done that.” He frowned. “I picked up some behavior from my father I’ve been struggling with. I hurt a sweet woman in Montreal when I left to come here because I failed to notice she’d become emotionally attached. Telling Richard he needed to apologize brought my own guilt crashing back on me.” He hung his head in shame.

“How many women have you done this to?” Reginald asked in a controlled voice.

Kyle looked at the man and saw the stiff expression and understood. “Just the one. I’m not a player. That’s why it caught me by surprise. I let Juliette know from the beginning I wasn’t staying in Montreal for long. She said that was fine, as she was just interested in having a little fun. Now I know I should have paid closer attention to her. It wasn’t until my flight over that I realized what I’d done.”

Reginald seemed relieved and gave Kyle a pat on the shoulder. “I can’t relate to this as Francis has been my one and only for my entire life.”

“That’s something I envy you for,” Kyle said.

Reginald smiled warmly and guided him out of the bathroom, and gestured to his vast home. “Not for the trappings of my wealth?”

Kyle just shook his head with a small smile on his lips. “No, not minimal enough for my lifestyle. It won’t fit on my motorcycle.”

The old gentleman’s eyes lit up. “You mentioned earlier that you’re a rider.” They began walking down the hall when Reginald stopped and turned them in the other direction.

They walked through the back corridors until they stepped out into a garage. In the back corner was a workshop and a vintage WWII military motorcycle partially… reassembled?

“Is that a Norton 633? Very nice!” Kyle exclaimed.

Reginald frowned. “A very nice paperweight at the moment. I rebuilt the engine, and now it won’t start.

“Can I hear it turn over?” Kyle asked. Reginald nodded, and Kyle listened carefully as the older man tried to get the engine to catch. Kyle smiled as he thought he knew what it might be.

An hour later, Francis and Helen found them buffing the last greasy fingerprints from the gas tank.

“Reginald Dunsfield! What are you doing out here in the garage when all of your guests are inside?!?” Francis scolded him.

He looked up at the wall clock and made a noise of surprise. “Apologies, my dear! We lost track of time.”

“Doing what?” she asked in frustration.

“This,” he said, tossing a leg over the seat. He kicked the engine to life, and it purred happily.

“You got it running?” his wife asked, and her expression wasn’t as full of joy as Reginald’s had been.

He shut the engine down and gave Kyle a look. “See, she didn’t want it to succeed.”

“I don’t want you killing yourself racing around the countryside on the beast!” she exclaimed.

He gave her a sweet smile. “I never said I wanted to ride it. I just wanted to bring it back to life. It’s the tinkering that I enjoy. Thanks to this young man, I was able to restore this old beauty.”

Francis looked at her husband in surprise. “Oh! I thought you were going to ride it!”

“It’s very satisfying to bring a classic motorcycle back to life!” Kyle said with a wide smile. “This one was almost done. I only helped a tiny bit.”

The older man scoffed, then shook Kyle’s hand before they noticed how dirty their hands were. Luckily, they somehow spared their clothes.

Moving to the sink in the corner, they used a degreasing solution on their hands and then washed and dried them. They rolled down their sleeves and put their suit jackets back on.

Once more dressed for the party, they headed back into the main house side by side with their partners.

“Sorry for disappearing on you like that,” Kyle said contritely to Helen.

She smiled and shook her head. “I was speaking with Kate this entire time, and we’ll speak on that when we get home.” He looked to see her eyes sparkling excitedly.

“Ooo, good things, I assume?” Kyle asked quietly.

She just smiled mysteriously.

They returned to the ballroom, and Helen spotted her team and moved them in their direction.

Harry immediately moved to Kyle’s side. “Are you okay?” he gasped. Kyle nodded, hoping the man would drop it, but he was too far into his cups to stop. “You seriously looked like you were going to be sick! Believe me, I recognized that look as I’ve been there. Did you make it?”

Helen paused to look at Kyle in concern, but he just smiled at her and nodded to the man again. “I feel better now.”

“You did a smashing job of putting Ol’ Handsey in his place,” Harry chuckled.

“You were the one who accused him of pawing the ladies,” Kyle said with a smile.

Harry blinked at Kyle. “No… I remember you saying that.” The man’s voice was quieter now as he tried to sort out his drunk memories. Kyle shook his head. Harry looked queasy, then marched away with purpose.

“Seriously, that man needs to get control over his drinking!” Jane grumbled.

Kyle caught Ginny watching the dancers wistfully. The songs changed, and he saw her eyes light up when she heard the new one, which was faster for the younger guests. Kyle smiled at Helen, then moved to stand before Ginny.

“Shall we dance?” he asked.

She squeaked in surprise and froze, so he gently took her hand and led her out onto the floor. Ginny was blushing furiously, but he could see her joy as she began to move to the music. Kyle kept his moves simple and subtle while Ginny worked her way up the enthusiasm ladder, adding more energetic movements. She was really enjoying the music.

Nearing the song’s end, William worked up the courage to join them on the dance floor. He watched Kyle and matched his moves.

Ginny was in a world all her own as she danced with her eyes closed. She opened them as the song switched into another favorite. William was dancing nearby, and she smiled bashfully.

Kyle bowed out gracefully as William danced closer to take his spot. He returned to Helen and saw the others had left, and he raised an eyebrow.

“This is the time the older party guests go home. They asked me to give you their regards. Would you mind if we left too?” Helen asked.

“Not at all. If you’re ready to go, I’m all yours,” Kyle said with a smile as he held out his elbow.

She smiled at him and put her arm through his. They walked through the halls towards the front doors, where Kyle handed over the ticket for Helen’s coat. As they waited, Dr. Hansey approached, a little unsteady on his feet. They turned to face him.

“Helen. I need to apologize to you for any unwanted touching I might have done,” he sighed.

“Richard, please wait until you’re sober to confess your sins. No one accepts drunken confessions as genuine,” Helen sighed.

Richard reeled back and scowled at Kyle. “You told me I should apologize!”

“I didn’t tell you to do it now while you’re drunk. Helen’s right. You should sober up first.”

Richard flung his arm back to indicate the party behind them. “I’ve been telling all the women I might have touched that I was sorry. I have to do it again? It was hard enough to do after a few drinks.” He gave them a frustrated scowl. “Bugger that.”

The doctor pulled his car keys from his pocket and jingled them in front of Kyle. The Ferrari key fob was front and center. “I guess I’ll just have to be happy with the rewards of my profession!”

“Do you intend to drive yourself home in this state?” Kyle asked cautiously.

“It’s none of your bloody business, is it?” the doctor snarled.

“As it’s my party, it’s my business to know the state of my guests when they leave.”

They turned to see Mr. Dunsfield standing behind them with a disapproving frown on his face.

“Oh fuck! There’s nothing I can do to make you respect me, is there?” Richard mumbled.

“You don’t make people respect you. You earn respect. Knowing when you’re too drunk to drive is a good start,” the host said.

“I’ll let you know when I get there,” Richard said flippantly and jingled his keys over his shoulder as he walked towards the front door.

Kyle reached out and plucked the keys from the doctor’s grip. “Why don’t I drive you home? I’ll catch a taxi–whoa!” He easily dodged the sloppy punch the doctor aimed at his head.

“Richard, stop! Careful of your hands!” Kyle yelped as he ducked a second punch. He saw the anger building and spared a glance towards Reginald.

“Stop him,” the old man said in resignation.

Kyle buried his fist in Richard’s gut, lifting him off his feet momentarily. He held the man’s arm as he crumpled to his knees, wheezing for a breath. Reginald accepted a small pail from one of his staff and placed it beneath Richard’s face moments before the man lost the contents of his stomach.

Everyone stood back, and Reginald whispered something to his staff member, who stepped in to take Kyle’s place in holding the doctor on his knees.

The coat check clerk handed Kyle Helen’s coat, so he helped her put it on. They turned to the Dunsfields as Francis had come to say goodbye, too. They moved away from the sick man, and Kyle handed the car keys to their host.

“We’ll let him sleep it off in a spare bedroom tonight. He can drive home in the morning,” Reginald clarified.

“Thank you for a lovely party!” Kyle said.

The older couple looked at Dr. Hansey and back to Kyle. “I don’t know how this equates to a lovely party when you’re accosted as you leave,” Reginald confessed.

Kyle just waved his hand dismissively. “It’s an office Christmas party. There’s always some level of drunken brawling involved.” At the skeptical looks, he shrugged. “That was my experience back in Canada, at least.” He grinned.

“The colonies are a rough and tumble place,” Reginald suggested, and Kyle chuckled.

Helen moved forward to touch cheeks with their hosts as Kyle shook their hands. Then he was walking her to her car.

She unlocked the car, and Kyle held her door for her before getting in his side.

“How I would have loved being the one to punch that man in the stomach so hard!” Helen sighed. She started up the car and got them underway.

“I dedicate that punch to all the ladies who were the targets of his grabby hands,” Kyle said solemnly.

“While a little barbaric, it was also very exciting to see you beat him up.” Helen bit her lip as she gazed at him. His eyebrows went up in surprise.

She chuckled and drove them with quick efficiency through the back lanes to her neighborhood. Soon enough, they pulled into the parking lot, and Kyle got out and opened Helen’s door for her. After he closed her door, he saw her need for him in her eyes. He pressed her up against the side of her car and kissed her deeply. She squeaked then moaned as she clung to him. When he rubbed his erection across her sensitive bits, she gasped and pressed back.

She clung tighter as a couple walked past the parking lot with their dog on a leash. Kyle and Helen were only partially obstructed from view because of the hedges by the sidewalk and their position between the cars. Plus, other tenants might return to the parking lot and catch them.

He moved his mouth to her ear. “Fuck, you’re making me so hard! I don’t know if I can wait. I want to take you right here in the parking lot!”

She trembled and held him tighter, grinding against his bulge.

“You’d like me to fuck you against the car right now, out here where anyone might happen by and see your lusty behavior.

She made a desperate sound as her hips rolled to grind him more firmly.

He undid the lower buttons on her coat and tugged her dress upwards to slide his fingers over her panties.

“Oh my god, Kyle! You’re going to make me come!” Her eyes were scanning their surroundings to see if they’d been spotted. The street was surprisingly busy for this late hour. He saw it was mostly people walking their dogs. Another couple was coming by. He slipped his fingers under her panties, and she gasped aloud. The couple and their dog paused as they overheard a noise.

Kyle whispered into Helen’s ear. “They heard your sexy moan, Helen. They know you’re about to come.” He pushed two fingers deep inside her wet pussy.

Before she could cry out, he kissed her hard and pressed her against her car. Her orgasm crashed through her mind as she clung to Kyle and shook.

He held still but moved Helen to rest her face against his shoulder, where she panted as her body pulsed through the ebbing bliss.

The dog walkers moved on.

Helen pulled back to look into Kyle’s eyes. Her eyes rolled back, and her jaw dropped silently as he slid his fingers from her pussy. She watched him suck on his fingers as she trembled against his chest. She moaned at the heat in his eyes.

“Let’s get inside where I can warm you up,” Kyle said.

She smiled and straightened her dress and coat as he eased back from her body. She moved towards the entrance with Kyle following, and she tingled as if she could still feel his hands touching her.

Once inside, they walked to the elevators and stepped inside. Kyle stepped before Helen when the door closed, slid his fingers into her beautiful auburn hair, and kissed her passionately.

They broke the kiss when the doors opened on Helen’s floor. They stumbled out of the elevator and turned towards her condo, coming face to face with Margaret Hillsbury. The woman froze as she took in the disheveled state of their clothes, Helen’s slightly wild hair, and her lipstick smeared across Kyle’s mouth and jaw.

Then she saw Kyle’s zipper was open, and his boxers were being pressed out the fly by a bulge.

“Good-good evening, Helen! Kyle?”

He nodded at her correct guess of his name.

“Oh! Good evening, Margaret. How was the Church Gala?” she asked as she casually straightened her dress.

Margaret’s eyes were trapped by the gap in Kyle’s pants and the hint of something hard within.

She suddenly broke free from her daze. “Church? Oh yes, it was a lovely evening.” She failed to say that very convincingly, even to her own ears. Truthfully, it had been so dull! Especially when she now compared it to the night Helen appeared to be enjoying. “How was the office party?” she asked to change the topic.

Helen’s smile said it all. “The Dunsfield estate was so beautifully decorated. The food was delicious, and the dancing afterward was so much fun! The night was dreamy!”

Kyle leaned closer to Helen. “It’s not over yet,” he purred deeply.

Helen’s eyes widened, and she burst into giggles. “It was nice seeing you again, Margaret. Merry Christmas!” she scampered away towards her door with Kyle stalking after her.

“Merry Christmas!” Margaret squeaked out before they disappeared into the condo.

Dammit! That’s what she wanted for Christmas, too!

-=-

Kyle’s fingers were in Helen’s hair once more as he worshipped her lips with his. Her breath was coming in gasps as she clung to his ass, pulling him tight against her as he pressed her body against the inside of her front door.

Finally, Kyle stepped back so he could begin to take off Helen’s coat. She leaned back against the door, panting, and watched his eyes devouring her. A thrill shot through her as she realized how much he wanted her. It was genuine, intense, and made her feel sexy and desirable!

The coat fell to her feet, and his powerful hands settled on her hips and slid back to cup and squeeze her ass. That set off fireworks in her mind, so she missed feeling his hands slip up to the back of her neck where he unfastened her dress. She definitely felt him pulling her dress forward and down, her lingerie coming into view. Kyle growled happily as he cupped her breasts in his hands, enjoying the feel of her satin-covered softness. She sighed and trembled as he squeezed her tits.

He kissed her again, and her hands began frantically undressing him. He assisted, and soon he was standing before her in just his boxers.

They shared a grin, then rushed across the dark condo, down the hall to the master bedroom. The only light came through the sheer curtains from the few streetlights outside and below.

Helen was all giggles as she tossed the duvet down to the foot of the bed and dove onto the mattress. That giggle became a shriek when Kyle grabbed her ankles and pulled her flat on the bed on her stomach. He pounced on top and pulled her panties down as she lost herself in another burst of giggles. She moaned loudly when he grabbed her ass cheeks and squeezed them.

He continued this hard massage of her ass until she was desperately squirming. She felt him move back slightly. Moments later, he suddenly rested his weight over her body, forcing his hard cock down between her ass cheeks to rub across her asshole and pussy lips.

“Kyle! What! What are you doing?” she gasped in surprise.

Kyle pushed his cock between her legs, the head dragging across ass and pussy again. She jolted each time the thick head pressed against the tight, puckered orifice. His cock was slick from her juices, which had been flowing since their play in the parking lot.

He gently stroked the head of his cock across her hot and soft pussy, bumping her clit. “Ooooohhhh, that’s such a tease!” she purred.

Kyle pulled his hips back, and the slippery cock pressed on her tight asshole.

“AH! Kyle! Wha–Where are you going?” she yelped.

“I’m just enjoying exploring your body. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do.” He teased her tight rosebud and watched her eyelashes flutter as shivers shook her body. He pulled back, then pushed his cock deep between her thighs, brushing past her pussy once more.

“Oh, Kyle, you’re making my brain and body all confused and excited!”

He chuckled and adjusted his hips to push his cock’s head against her pussy. It welcomed him in and squeezed his entire shaft as he buried himself down to the root.

“Yyyeeeeessssss!” Helen sighed happily.

Kyle drew himself out, then forced himself deep once more. He ground his pelvis against her ass, and she cooed with pleasure.

He stroked in and out slowly and pressed against her ass on each downstroke. He felt her trembling and squirming against him.

When he pulled out this time, he let the head slip out and drew it up to press on her asshole. Helen surprised him by pushing back against him. He popped inside, the tight ring of muscle squeezing the end of his cock. Helen threw her head back as she moaned aloud. Kyle rocked his hips and teased her tight orifice with shallow strokes.

“Kyle!” she yelped and sucked her breath between her teeth before driving herself back against him to get more cock in her ass. She managed another inch and a half before she held very still. “So full!” she moaned quietly.

He moved back to slowly fucking her pussy. Her moaning was constant now, and one of her hands was busy rubbing her clit as he stroked deep inside.

When he pulled free again, Helen was ready for him. When he lined up the head against her ass, she pushed back hard and took half of his cock deep inside.

“Oh! Oh! Oh! Kyle! My ass, oh my god!” She was shaking hard.

Once her trembling settled a little, he began slow-stroking her tight, hot ass until she squealed.

“Kyle! I’m coming! It’s too much!”

He was relieved as he was right on the edge. “Me too!” He only managed three more strokes before he came hard, filling her depths.

Kyle could feel Helen’s body pulsing with her release. He eased himself out, and she sucked in a breath. As he eased himself down on the mattress next to her, she watched him from the corner of her eye as she gasped for breath.

“Are you okay?” Kyle asked.

She nodded. “You think I’m a slut, don’t you?”

Kyle choked on a sudden laugh as he suppressed it. “What made you ask that?!? No! Absolutely not! You’re by no means a slut!”

She rolled onto her side so she could face him. She worried her bottom lip between her teeth until he gently touched her lip to pull it free.

“I got so excited when we were… together in the parking lot. Then… when you put it in… my ass! I’ve never done anything like that before! It was so naughty, and it made me so hot! That makes me a slut!”

Kyle shook his head as he held her eyes with his.

“It does not. It makes you a woman discovering what makes her feel good. You are a very passionate and sexy woman! Enjoying sex is not a crime!”

The twinkle in Helen’s eyes showed him she was feeling better.

“Are you going to tell me the news you received at the party?” Kyle asked.

Helen yawned, pouted, then chuckled. “Tomorrow. You’ve worn me out.”

Kyle leaned forward and gave her a sweet kiss. She closed her eyes and smiled.

When he slipped out of bed, her eyes opened again. “Where are you going?”

He smiled back at her. “We left our clothes by the front door. I’ll be right back.” She was on top of the sheets, so he pulled them down under her then pulled them over her.

Kyle left the room and stopped by the washroom in the guest bedroom to freshen up.

He carefully made his way through the darkened condo to the front door, where he picked up their clothes.

He carried them to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the town outside. There was a little more light here, so he could neatly fold the clothes. As he was naked, he didn’t want to turn on any lights.

“Kyle?”

He turned toward the entrance to the hall and saw Skye standing there in a sexy little babydoll nightie.

“What are you doing up?” he asked quietly.

“I couldn’t sleep. I had the nightmare again earlier this evening. I’ve been up for a while. Then I heard you and mum get home and have a little fun. It sounded so hot! Now I can’t sleep without a little relief.”

He shook his head with a grin. She was such a demanding young wench.

He’d finished folding the clothes, so he left them on the coffee table and walked over to Skye. She was leaning against the wall, enjoying the play of light and shadow on his naked body.

She reached out and took his hand to guide him into her bedroom. She closed the door and led him to her bed. On the bedside table, a lava lamp was throwing warm red light over the area.

“Nice touch,” Kyle said, gesturing to the lamp.

“I find it soothing to watch,” Skye said with a smile of her own.

Kyle stood next to the bed, and Skye sat. She reached out to take his relaxed cock in her hand and smiled a little sadly.

“What was going through my head when I picked Owen for a boyfriend?”

“You thought he might be exciting? From the moment we met, you’ve shown a strong desire to stir shit up regardless of the outcome. You seem to get a thrill from living dangerously.”

She pouted. “It was exciting until it became terrifying!”

“You know you deserve better, right? You don’t have to settle for a monster like Owen,” Kyle said.

Glancing up at Kyle, she leaned forward and kissed the tip of his cock. She grinned at how he twitched in response. “Someone like you?”

He shook his head. “Aim higher.”

She leaned back to look at him in surprise. “You’re teasing, right?”

“No, seriously, you can do better,” he stated.

She released his cock and dropped back on her elbows to look at Kyle in confusion. He took that opportunity to kneel next to the bed between her knees. He slid his hands up the outside of her thighs and felt her tremble. He saw her suck in a breath and bite her lip as she knew what Kyle was going to do next, and she deeply craved it.

He could also see that she was conflicted. She wanted to address his self-deprecating statement, but she desired the pleasure he could give her more. That told Kyle all he needed to know about their relationship, and it didn’t really upset him as he knew his feelings for her were equally casual.

He tugged her hips to bring her to the edge of the mattress. Before she could react, he dipped down and tenderly kissed the soft skin of her inner thigh.

“Oh fuck!” she gasped softly.

“You enjoy this?” he said as he kissed her close to her pussy.

She made an odd sound that sounded like a choked-off laugh mixed with a squeal. She looked embarrassed by the noise.

When he pressed the flat of his tongue against the slightly swollen lips of her pussy, her whole body jolted.

He stroked her well, pressing firmly with his tongue, and she grabbed his head as her body shook. He changed up his moves to keep her reacting with maximum intensity.

She made the sweetest mews of need between her gasps.

He could feel her muscles beginning to tighten, so he pumped two fingers into her as he increased his attentions on her soft lips and clit.

“OH GEEZUS, KYLE! FUCK!”

Skye’s legs were shaking as her imminent orgasm threatened to white out her brain. She screamed soundlessly as he overstimulated her stiff clit. When he sensed she was done, he pulled back and licked his fingers clean as she panted for breath.

He could see her eyes rolling as she struggled to stay awake. He gently lifted her to move her up the mattress and pulled the sheets over her body. He kissed her forehead, and she made a noise of protest as she didn’t want him to leave.

“Sleep, Skye. I’m tired, so I’m going to bed,” he whispered, and she finally allowed herself to drift off.

Kyle went back to the washroom in the guest bedroom and freshened up again.

Contrary to what he told Skye, he didn’t feel sleepy at all. He went to Helen’s door, but she was snoring softly. Finally, he went to the guest bedroom, climbed on the bed, and leaned back against the headboard with his notebook PC on his lap. He worked on his portfolio and reviewed stock trends. He made notes on a few interesting companies.

When he finally shut down for the night, he saw it was approaching three.

He didn’t know what was planned for the day, but he hoped it didn’t require a sharp mind.

Chapter 5

After dropping the rental suit, Helen and Skye took Kyle to a local restaurant they occasionally frequented on the weekends and enjoyed brunch. The owners stopped by to chat with the ladies, and Kyle was introduced to them. He was truly enjoying being immersed in the local culture and listened with rapt attention to their accents.

The food was very good, and definitely not fancy. He felt totally at ease.

Helen looked like she might burst into excited giggles at any moment. She had yet to fill them in on the news she’d received the night before at the party, and she said she wanted to take them out for brunch first.

Skye wasn’t quite as exuberant as she typically was. Kyle caught her watching him for the third and final time, so he put down his utensils and focused on her.

“What’s wrong?”

Her eyes went wide as she shook her head vigorously. “Nothing! I’m good!”

“If that’s the case, why are you watching me when I’m not looking your way?” he asked.

She smiled cheekily. “How do you know I’m watching you if you’re not watching me?”

He just locked his eyes on hers and waited. Finally, she threw her hands in the air.

“Fine!” she exclaimed dramatically. “What you said last night is stuck in my head.”

He shook his head as he had no idea what she was talking about. Helen watched with interest.

“You said I should set my sights on someone better than you, and that self-criticism seemed a little harsh. We think you’re amazing! I don’t understand why you feel differently,” Skye insisted.

“You said something similar to me at the party,” Helen recalled.

Kyle leaned back in his chair. “It’s not like I think I’m evil or bad. I just see I have a way to go before I’d be… worthy of being someone’s partner.”

The ladies shared a look then Helen put her hand on his. “We can’t imagine what makes you feel unworthy. We’re all too critical of ourselves–”

“That’s true, but we’re also the products of our upbringing. As much as we’d like to think we’re masters of our own destinies, truthfully, we follow the programming our parents fed into our heads. Sometimes that’s not such a good thing. I’m thankful for everything my mother gave me. If I were simply emulating her behavior, I wouldn’t feel this way. The fact is, my father’s influence surfaced recently and led to my hurting someone who truly didn’t deserve it. I wasn’t sufficiently vigilant in watching for signs of his behavior in me. I can’t consider entering a relationship until I’m sure I can protect my partner from what my mother went through.”

He saw the two women were giving him sad looks, so he held up his hands. “It’s a work in progress deal. I’m taking it day to day, and generally, I’m happy. You don’t need to give me the puppy dog eyes.”

That got a smile from the mother and daughter.

“Are you going to fill us in on the news you got last night?” Kyle asked Helen, hoping to change the subject.

She smiled excitedly at them. “Kyle, you were right about the purpose of all those questions directed at me during dinner. I was being interviewed. Kate Harriott is our chief hospital administrator. She’s retiring, and she wants me to take the job beginning next year.”

“That’s amazing! Congratulations!” Kyle exclaimed as Skye leaped to her feet to rush to her mother’s side to give her a hug.

“Obviously, you impressed the hell out of them!” Kyle suggested, and Helen shrugged happily with a broad smile on her face.

“What would you like to do today to celebrate?” he asked.

“We thought it would be fun to take you to see the sights in London,” Helen suggested.

Kyle nodded. “I’m all yours!”

“Maybe we should just take him home to bed, then!” Skye said with a sly grin.

The waiter chose that moment to appear next to clear the table. The older man froze as his eyes moved between the ladies and Kyle. Only Skye’s face remained blush-free.

Once they settled the bill, they headed over to the Twickenham train station and caught one to London’s Waterloo station. Helen and Skye each took an elbow and led him outside to begin his tour of some tourist spots.

They began with the London Eye to give him a magnificent view of the entirety of London. Helen wasn’t entirely comfortable with heights. At least, that was her excuse for clinging to him.

Skye got her chance to squeeze herself against Kyle on the taxi ride over to the Tower Bridge.

They had to cut short their visit to the bridge as Helen had tickets for the showing of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. While the ladies were awestruck by the jewelry, Kyle was just enjoying their enthusiasm.

“Fancy bobbles don’t catch your eye?” Helen asked him.

He smiled and shook his head. “My priorities are a little different these days. I wouldn’t mind doing a little shopping, though. You wouldn’t happen to know a good spot for shops, would you?”

As he’d expected, their eyes lit up with excitement.

A whirlwind taxi ride later, they were in the middle of a shopping district with little boutique shops. He was enthralled with the architecture and feeling of antiquity. The neighborhood was gorgeous! Helen boasted there were several other similarly lovely shopping areas within walking distance.

“This is the difference between here and what you find in Canada and the States!” he said, gesturing around them as they glanced at what he saw. “History! Some of these shops look like they’ve been operating since before my country became a country! This is amazing!”

He hooked his arm through both Sky’s and Helen’s and guided them towards what looked like a very stylish dress shop.

As they moved through the shop, Kyle caught Helen’s eye. “Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve. What do you normally do for Christmas?”

She smiled gently. “We used to visit my parents, but they’ve both passed on. I have a younger brother, but he moved up to Manchester, rarely calls, and never visits. He’s, unfortunately, very much the brat he was when we grew up.”

“Not seeing Uncle Frank is no hardship,” Skye said as she strolled by. “His kids are jerks, and his wife behaves like she’s the bloody Queen.”

Helen snorted softly and nodded. “So, these days, we just celebrate it ourselves. Sometimes we invite over one of Skye’s friends as not all of them celebrate Christmas.” She turned to Skye as she tried to recall. “Which of your friends was it last year? Priya something?”

“Singh. Priya Singh. Kyle got to meet her at the formalwear shop,” Skye said with a stiff smile.

Kyle moved to stand behind her and massaged her shoulder muscles.

“Uhhh, Kyle, that feels so good!” she moaned a little too loud.

Eyes turned in their direction, some disapprovingly.

He sighed as the girl was shameless. He looked back at Helen, who was smiling at them. He continued. “So, you don’t mind me crashing your Christmas plans?”

Both made sounds of protest. “We’re thrilled to have you join us for Christmas!” Helen insisted. “How did you celebrate Christmas at home?”

“Pre or Post Gwen?” he asked with a grin.

Helen raised an eyebrow at him as she held a blouse up to her chest. “Pre, please.” Kyle nodded at her choice, and she grinned happily.

He paused for a moment as his mind took him back. “Well, Mom loved Christmas, so we did the decorating thing pretty early in December, but we only got a tree on Christmas eve when they went on sale. We’d decorate it after dinner, then we’d open one present. It was always pajamas.” He smiled fondly as he recalled the variety of PJs he’d worn. “The next morning, we’d empty our stockings then open the main present. I always gave her some art I made at school or at home. She’d always surprise me with something unexpected, but it showed she was listening. Nothing too expensive but always something I needed. Dinner on Christmas day was a turkey. Never very big, but enough for two or three people during the years Dad was home. We’d go for a long walk at night on Christmas Day, holding hands, enjoying the lights of the houses in the neighborhood.”

He saw they were beginning to look a little teary-eyed, so he moved the conversation forward. “What about New Year? What plans do you have for that this year?”

Helen was pulled back from her thoughts. “Ah, yes! Well, there’s an annual New Year’s party that my family, the Livingstons, have been attending for generations. There are actually several family lines involved as it’s related to a regional family history society.” She paused. “It’s where I originally met my ex-husband.”

A lightbulb went on for Kyle. “Ah. He attends every year as well?”

Helen nodded as she bit her lip nervously.

Skye couldn’t contain her disgust. “Yeah, he was there last year with the skank he left Mum for.”

Kyle thought about that. While it was a little uncomfortable to realize he might be eye candy to piss off Helen’s ex, he realized he didn’t seriously mind as it was for Helen and Skye. They’d been there for him when Gwen left him. Besides, Helen deserved better than what her ex had done to her and seemingly, continued to do.

“Sounds like fun,” he said, and Helen’s expression showed her relief. “Is it black tie again?”

Helen nodded and was about to offer to pay when he held up a hand. “I’ve got this one.”

He looked at Skye’s smiling face. “I guess we’ll be visiting Priya in her shop again.” Her grin got wider as she nodded.

Helen’s cell rang, and she glanced at it. Her eyebrows rose when she saw who it was.

Skye and Kyle watched with interest as she lifted it to her ear.

“Hello? Ah! Francis, so good to hear from you again.” She frowned slightly as she listened, then her face registered shock. “I hope they get better soon! Terrible timing to happen at Christmas!”

Skye was squirming with curiosity, and Kyle put his arm around her shoulder to keep her from listening in on the call.

“Oh! Well, no, we don’t have any formal plans… I-I’ll ask. One moment.” She held the phone to her chest and looked at Kyle and Skye. “Reginald and Francis Dunsfield are requesting we join them at their mansion for Christmas dinner. Their kids and their families won’t be coming as they were on vacation together, and they all came down with the flu after the flight home. They’re quarantined, so they’ll miss Christmas with their parents.”

Kyle and Skye nodded to her.

Helen returned the cell to her ear. “Francis? Yes, we’d love to join you for Christmas dinner! What time should we arrive? Oh!” She looked at them again. “Yes, we could come over after lunch and spend the day. Thank you so much! See you then!”

Helen flashed a cheerful smile at them as she hung up.

“The whole family came down with the flu at Christmas! That sucks!” Kyle said with a sympathetic frown.

“They’d just spent a week together on the Greek Isle of Mikonos, so don’t feel too sorry for the family. I feel bad for Francis and Reginald, though. They don’t get to see their grandchildren very often,” Helen said.

“So, it’s just them and us?” Skye said.

“Reginald’s younger sister Louise and her son Byron will be there,” Helen said. “I think I’ve met Louise but not her son.” She looked at Kyle. “Reginald is inviting some of his buddies from a club he belongs to. They restore vintage motorcycles?” She was grinning as she knew Kyle would have something to talk about with them.

“Sounds like a great time,” Kyle said with a smile.

They finished up in the shop, and Kyle carried their purchase as they continued through the neighborhood. Kyle picked up a few dress shirts and a pair of black pants made of stretchy material. They were very comfortable and looked a little dressier than the clothes he’d packed.

Helen found them a wonderful Lebanese restaurant for dinner, then they took the train home. Everyone was tired from a full day of sightseeing and shopping, so they crashed on the couch in front of the TV, the ladies on either side of Kyle.

They made it through forty-five minutes of a show before they were all snoring softly before the set.

Chapter 6

Helen and Skye were all smiles as the mother drove them to the Dunsfield mansion shortly after one in the afternoon, Christmas Day.

They’d spent the day before just relaxing and walked the streets of Twickenham in the evening looking at the Christmas Lights. Kyle was really touched by the gesture.

Later that evening, Skye arranged for them to re-enact their first night together in France, though Kyle was allowed to remain in bed with them to sleep.

This morning, Kyle treated both to another demonstration of his oral technique. Then they took a long, hot shower together with scalp massages. There was definitely a rosy glow on their faces.

They parked in the long drive, much closer to the door this time. There was a collection of old Land Rovers lined up, each with a large trailer connected to them. Some of the vehicles were vintage. Kyle assumed these were owned by Reginald’s buddies.

As they arrived at the door, one of the staff opened it, and the three were ushered inside. The man collected their coats, which were handed off to another staff member who took them away. Kyle followed the ladies who were led to the lounge, which had been set up as a bar for the Christmas party. Reginald and Francis stood to greet their guests.

“Helen! So glad you could join us!” Francis said with a smile.

Helen took her hands in hers. “Thank you for inviting us! This is my daughter, Skye.” She gestured to the younger woman, who shook the hands of the older couple with a friendly smile. “And you remember my friend Kyle MacDenny.”

“Yes! The young man who dances divinely,” Francis teased as Kyle tipped his face over her hand once more. Her eyes twinkled with joy at his display of manners.

“He’s also the young man who worked a miracle with my restored motorcycle,” Reginald boasted, and the three men behind him locked eyes on Kyle. The master of the house turned to face them. “These scoundrels are all members of my Vintage Vehicle Restorers Club. Malcolm Hargrave, Gregory Tyndale, and Hugo Winterborne.”

Hair ranged from grey peppered with white, Gregory, to silver, Malcolm, to all-out white, for Hugo, who also sported a bushy mustache and mutton chops. Kyle thought all three easily fit the definition of dapper British gentlemen, including their host. None carried much extra weight, seemed fit and healthy, and all were dressed smartly for an afternoon of conversation in a manor house. Kyle felt like a lumberjack next to them.

“This is the chap who brought that beast to life?” Malcolm asked. “I didn’t think we’d ever see the day.”

“Reginald was very close to having it completed,” Kyle asserted.

“Where did someone so young learn how to work with such antique motorcycles?” Gregory asked.

“Now you’re making us sound like antiques!” Reginald complained. He spotted his sister, who was giving him a raised eyebrow for failing to introduce her. “Please excuse my poor manners. Kyle, this is my sister Louise Cantington and her son, Byron.”

She presented her hand to him as she’d seen Francis do, and he repeated the courtesy. She felt the warmth of his breath on her knuckles though there was no contact and a little shiver ran down her spine. She couldn’t suppress her smile as she gazed at him. “It’s so nice to see a man who remembers proper courtesy.”

Kyle picked up this was a compliment to him and a dig at her brother. Reginald’s three friends chuckled as the man in question winced at the jab but found somewhere else to look when the woman glanced their way.

Louise couldn’t have been older than her mid-fifties, so being the sister of the much older Reginald inspired questions in Kyle he thought best left alone. She had a subtle air of royalty about her, and she’d seen the inside of spas frequently as her skin was smooth and soft. Her luxurious, long honey blonde hair was artfully styled up with a few ringlets hanging down to touch her long neck. She also shared her brother’s trim and healthy physique except for a slightly over-proportioned bosom. Nature or science was another question best kept to himself. Her cleavage certainly made its presence known under the sheer lace neckline of her top. She was smiling as she enjoyed his attention.

He next shook the hand of a very handsome and sharply dressed man in his early twenties standing at her elbow. He had a friendly smile but seemed a little intimidated by the company in the room. Then Kyle saw him glance at Skye and knew the source of his distraction. He smiled.

“Have you met Skye Livingston? I thought I saw recognition on your face for a moment,” Kyle said as he gently tugged the man toward Skye.

She glanced at Kyle, then locked eyes with Byron, and her face flushed. Kyle hadn’t ever seen this reaction from the cheeky woman and was delighted to see it. He glanced over at Helen and saw she’d caught it too. Her eyes twinkled happily.

“N-no, I’ve not had the pleasure of meeting her before,” Byron said, trying to maintain the smooth flow of his introduction. “Enchanted.”

Skye’s mouth opened, but for once, she seemed not to have anything clever or sharp to say. “I-it’s nice to meet you as well,” she managed.

“Skye is studying… what was it again? Theatrics?” Kyle said, pretending he was struggling to remember.

“Acting, you ape!” Skye blurted quietly and slapped Kyle’s arm as he chuckled. He raised his hands in surrender as he slowly backed away, leaving the two facing each other. Skye’s face continued to glow with heat. He heard Byron pick up the thread. “Acting? That sounds like fun!”

When Kyle turned back to face Reginald and his sister, he saw them both looking at him with pleased expressions. Instead of responding, he looked at the scoundrels. “What machines are you restoring?”

Reginald’s smile widened as Louise’s eyes rolled, but she gave Kyle’s arm a friendly squeeze as she moved to speak with Francis and Helen.

Quickly the room separated into three conversation zones: Reginald’s restoration group, Francis’ current affairs corner, and the young couple getting to know one another off by themselves.

Reginald glanced at his wife and saw her roll her eyes, then nodded. That was the signal he could escape. He gestured to his friends, and they casually made their way to the exit with Kyle.

They ended up in the garage as Kyle suspected they would, but now there wasn’t just Reginald’s Norton 633 in there. He saw a Harley Davidson WLA, a BSA M20, and even a BMW R75.

“Wow! These are amazing!” Kyle said with a grin.

Reginald smiled. “And mine is one of the two that actually runs and the only one that runs reliably.”

Kyle looked at the others and saw hopeful expressions. He grinned and rolled his sleeves back. “Let’s have a look then, shall we?”

-=-

Hours later, Francis, Helen, and Louise entered the garage and put their hands over their ears as four engines purred with energetic health. The five men were grinning like kids as they revved their motorcycles.

Reginald finally spotted his wife waving at him and shut down the engine on his Norton, the others following suit.

“What noise you’re making!” Francis called out across the large room.

“Just the wondrous sound of fully functioning motors! Young Kyle has a master’s touch with motorcycle engines!” Hugo exclaimed happily, sitting astride his now fully restored Harley Davidson.

The ladies shared a coy look which likely had nothing to do with mechanical engines. Kyle wondered if Helen had been less than completely discreet in her discussions about his visit.

“Just some skills I picked up from my father,” Kyle said modestly.

“We have to join the parade!” Gregory gasped enthusiastically. “Prentice has been lording it over us or years that we’ll never get them restored to a rideable state. With how fine-tuned they are now, we could easily ride in the parade!”

“What parade?” Kyle asked.

Reginald smiled and shook his head. “It’s just a little community thing we do on Boxing Day. The local restoration clubs drive their vehicles through the main street for everyone to see. Afterward, the vehicles are put on display out at an old airstrip. The money collected for admission goes toward a local charity.”

Kyle looked at Gregory, who seemed eager to speak. “Dennis Prentice is the head of another restoration club. He’s been belittling our group for years. First, he said we didn’t appreciate truly vintage vehicles. Then, as we managed to acquire them, he claimed we’d never source the proper parts for their restoration. Reginald found one for us. In the last few years, Dennis has used every opportunity to openly criticize us. He even issued an open challenge for us to attend the parade. How about it, boys?”

Reginald frowned. “Prentice will make an issue of the fact someone outside our club worked on our machines.” He glanced at Francis’ stern expression. “And most importantly, I promised Francis I wouldn’t drive the motorcycle, just restore it.”

Hugo turned a wide smile at Kyle. “Sir, aside from ours, have you restored any other older motorcycles?”

Kyle blinked at Hugo, wondering where this was going. “I assisted my father with the restoration of a 1988 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic. It’s mine now, and I maintain it.”

“Do you have a photo of it?” Hugo asked.

Kyle smiled as he loved an opportunity to show off the machine. He pulled out his cell and scrolled to the picture to show the others. They made appreciative noises, and Kyle’s smile grew.

“1988 isn’t very vintage, but it was a restoration,” Hugo said. “This makes you a motorcycle restorer. I hereby submit a petition to add you to our Vintage Vehicle Restoration Club. Seconded?”

“Seconded!” Gregory called out excitedly.

“All in favor?” Hugo asked, and four hands went up.

Hugo turned his satisfied grin on Kyle. “Congratulations! You are now a member of our club, granting you all the glory that entails. I believe Reginald had a spare badge you can wear to signify your membership.” He glanced at the man in question, who nodded with a grin. “As for the most important obstacle, Kyle, might you be available tomorrow to drive this lovely Norton motorcycle in a parade with our friend Reginald in the sidecar?”

He looked at Helen, who smiled and nodded to him. “I… I suppose I could. I don’t have cold weather riding gear, though.”

Malcolm pulled out his cell phone. “I have a contact who has vintage military uniforms. We ride in garb appropriate for the era. We already have ours, but I can have Jeremy deliver a uniform for you. I just need your measurements.”

“Luckily, I was recently fitted for a tuxedo,” Kyle said. He listed off the numbers Priya had taken from him. Then he looked at Reginald. “If I’m Reginald’s driver, shouldn’t he have an officer’s uniform? A General, perhaps?”

The four men burst into delighted laughter. “Oh, that’s a smashing idea! Captain Prentice will be gobsmacked!” Hugo gushed.

“I’ll have Jeremy dig up an appropriate uniform!” Malcolm said and dialed his cell as he moved a few steps away to speak.

Francis approached Reginald and looked at Kyle with concern.

“I’m a very skilled and sensible driver. I don’t take chances, and I’m very much aware of the exposed nature of motorcycles. I’ll be very careful with your husband,” Kyle assured her.

She nodded with a relieved smile, hearing Kyle understood her concerns.

“We came here to tell you dinner is ready,” Francis scolded her husband softly. He smiled and gave her a kiss.

“Jeremy has just the uniforms! He’ll drop them off within the hour!” Malcolm exclaimed happily.

“But it’s Christmas Day! Shouldn’t he be spending the time with his family?” Francis said in dismay.

Malcolm shook his head. “He’s a widower like us, married to his hobby. Besides, for the chance to upstage Dennis Prentice, Jeremy is willing to give up a couple hours, even on Christmas Day.”

“Let’s go eat this wonderful meal before it gets cold,” Reginald suggested, and everyone nodded.

They went to the formal dining room once more, but the set portion of the table was significantly shorter. It made for a more intimate setting.

Kyle found himself seated between Helen and Louise. Francis was sitting across from him, so he was definitely getting the impression of being surrounded as they glanced at him frequently. Reginald sat next to his wife with his scoundrel to his left. Byron was seated next to his mother but rarely looked away from Skye, who was on his other side. The two seemed thick as thieves, and Kyle heard their quiet laughter. He smiled, then caught Francis watching him with a smile.

“Helen tells me you rode your motorcycle from Vancouver to California to visit another friend you made on the cycling trip,” the lady of the house said with an innocent smile.

Kyle glanced towards Helen and saw her cheeks were just a little red. He looked back across the table. “Yes. It was the first long ride I’d done on the Harley in years. The Pacific Coast Highway is a beautiful route.” He saw she was waiting for more details about who he visited. “Seeing Fiona was so great, and we had so much fun as she showed me around Santa Barbara and the surrounding countryside.”

Louise touched his arm to get his attention. “Is she now in Paris, operating her parent’s newest hotel?”

“Uh, yes. She had to leave near the end of my visit and fly to France to ensure it opened on time. I heard it did, and I sent her a note congratulating her on this, but I guess she was too busy to respond,” Kyle said.

“So, you’ll pop over to see her while you’re here?” Louise pressed.

He looked at the woman sitting next to him. “Pop over? I-I thought about visiting her, but I haven’t made any serious plans yet.”

“I’m heading back to my apartment in Paris in two days. You could join me on the trip, then visit your friend in the hotel,” Louise continued.

“You live in Paris?” he asked.

“She lives everywhere,” Reginald said dryly as he glanced at his sister.

“Oh, please! You know I enjoy living in beautiful places!” Louise scolded him.

“So, Paris and…” Kyle asked.

She smiled blissfully. “London, Barcelona, Rome, Positano, Sliema in Malta, and the village of Oia on the island of Santorini, Greece.”

Kyle’s eyebrows rose as he imagined being able to live in all those places. It seemed so extravagant, but if you had the money and no other responsibilities, why not.

Helen gave her two cents as well. “I think Fiona would be so happy to see you again, Kyle. She’s all alone in Paris as her friends are back in the states.”

Kyle was a little confused. He grinned at the others. “Just popping over to another country isn’t a common concept for someone from North America. We only have three countries, and it takes over eight hours to fly across Canada and over six to fly from Vancouver, Canada to Cancun, Mexico. It’s a big place. I’ve only visited Europe once before for that France cycling trip.”

Amused expressions popped up on the surrounding faces. Reginald opted to speak for the others. “It takes just a little more than an hour to fly between London and Paris, and the prices are very reasonable.”

“Huh… well, I guess I could.” He looked at Helen. “Would you be joining us?”

Helen grinned and shook her head. “With my new position at the hospital, I’m going to be a little busy. Besides, Fiona will want you all to herself. As long as you’re back by the thirtieth?” He nodded.

Louise and Francis grinned wickedly, confirming for Kyle that Helen had over-shared. He sent her an annoyed look, and she pretended not to see it.

“So, you’ll fly to Paris with me two days from now?” Louise asked.

Kyle turned his face to hers. His neck was feeling all the twisting it was doing. “I should really call Fiona first to see if she has time for a visit.”

Louise shook her head. “She’s a driven businesswoman, yes?”

He nodded, wondering where she was going with this.

“She’s probably pushed all other concerns aside, including her need to unwind and relax. You’re not visiting to disrupt her flow. It’s highly likely she just needs to take a breath. You can help her with that, but only if she’s surprised.” Louise looked into his eyes as she nodded thoughtfully.

For Kyle, it still felt weird to jump on a plane to pop over to another country to say hello. Would he then have dinner and pop back to England?

Still, Louise made a good point about what may be happening with Fiona. He could easily see her becoming consumed by her work. He supposed a surprise visit to see for himself wouldn’t hurt.

“Yes, I can see that. Okay. A surprise visit it is,” he said firmly, and the ladies smiled.

Francis gestured to someone at the side of the room, and serving dishes were carried to the table. Kyle watched in wonder as one after another was placed on the table, their lids being lifted to show their steaming contents. There was nothing surprising as this British Christmas meal was close to what his mother made for them back in Vancouver. Still, it smelled wonderful!

Reginald said a few words, and they got down to the business of enjoying their meal.

Malcolm’s friend Jeremy arrived during the meal and was cajoled into joining them for dinner. Kyle could see how touched he was to be included. He was around the same age as the others, but he was carrying more weight than they did.

The conversation about the following day’s parade became quite spirited as Jeremy grinned with glee at the thought of Reginald upstaging Dennis tomorrow. He planned to record it as he was an amateur videographer for sporting events and festivities.

Kyle was aware that Skye and Byron were in their own world during the dinner and shared a smile with Louise and Helen.

After dinner, the young couple wandered away to continue their talk privately.

Reginald said they would do a fashion show for the ladies and his scoundrels rushed outside to their trailers to get their uniforms for the parade.

Jeremy gave Reginald a new uniform, and the man left to change. Then Kyle was handed one with a grin. “They tell me you’re Canadian.”

Kyle nodded as he accepted the bundle. “That’s right.”

“Then this is the correct uniform for you.”

Kyle eyed the package again and made his way into the hallway. One of the staff guided him into a room he could get changed in.

It took him some time to correctly put the uniform on, but eventually, he joined the others in the lounge, carrying his original clothing with him. It seemed he was the last to get dressed as he saw the General showing off his ribbons to the scoundrels, who all looked awesome in their own uniforms. He moved closer, and eyes turned to him.

“Oh my! Don’t you look yummy!” Louise sighed, causing Helen and Francis to burst into giggles.

Reginald and the others glanced at Jeremy with questioning looks. “It’s a Canadian RAF Captain uniform. It’s the right time period, and it matched his measurements–”

Kyle shook his head. “It feels a little snug–”

“It’s perfect!” Helen gasped, and more giggling ensued from the ladies.

“I brought a matching overcoat with gloves for driving the motorcycle outside tomorrow,” Jeremy said with a very pleased look on his face.

Kyle looked down at himself and took in the medals and insignia. The CANADA on the sleeves near his shoulders was nice, but he felt like he didn’t deserve to be wearing the uniform.

Reginald walked over to see what was making him frown. “What is it, Kyle?”

“I don’t know how I feel about pretending to be in the military. I didn’t earn any of these medals,” he said quietly to the other man.

Reginald nodded as he understood Kyle’s concerns. “We don’t wear the uniforms to glorify ourselves or war itself, but as a tribute to those who wore them then. This is for the people who enjoy their freedoms today, to ensure they never forget who paid for that with their bravery, and for some, their lives.”

Kyle nodded slowly as that made sense to him. “A symbol, then.”

“Exactly so,” the older man said with a smile. Then he leaned in to whisper to Kyle. “I can’t believe how excited I am to be doing this tomorrow. I’m glad you’ll be the one driving!”

Kyle grinned at the man and threw him a salute. “Looking forward to it as well, sir!” he said crisply.

The others cheered, and Francis walked up to hug her husband. “You may need to purchase this uniform to add it to your wardrobe,” she said softly for her husband’s ears alone, but Kyle was too close to not hear her as well.

Reginald looked very pleased.

Kyle wandered closer to Helen and posed for her with a coy smile on his lips.

“Louise was right. Very yummy! You get to wear that home tonight, right?”

Kyle chuckled, but then he saw Helen wasn’t joking. He saw Louise watching him with a faraway look in her eyes and a subtle smile on her lips.

One of the staff stepped in and spoke to Francis before stepping away. She turned to Helen and Louise. “Your children have left. Something about heading back to Byron’s condo for a nightcap, and Skye will find her own way home tomorrow. Likely Byron will drive her there.”

Helen and Louise shared smiles.

“What time should I arrive tomorrow morning?” Kyle asked Reginald.

“Why don’t you both come over for breakfast? Seven-thirty?” he said, and Francis nodded.

The party was breaking up, so Jeremy said his goodbyes first and promised to record their debut tomorrow.

The scoundrels said they’d return at eight to get on the road for the parade. With waves, they headed out.

Apparently, Louise was staying at her brother’s mansion, so Helen and Kyle said good night to her, Reginald and Francis, then Helen got them on the road home. Kyle was still carrying the clothes he’d arrived in.

He caught Helen stealing glances over at him as they drove. Perhaps she wanted to enjoy a little roleplaying? He grinned. He could do that.

When they made it back to her condo, she parked in her spot, and he slipped out of the car to open her door for her. She looked up at him as he held out a hand to her. He’d put on the hat to complete the image, and her smile was priceless.

“You look so dashing!” she purred.

As he slid his fingers of his right hand through her hair, he brought his face to hers to take a kiss. When he pulled back, he could see her eyelids fluttering. “Your beauty takes my breath away.”

Her eyes widened with pleasure at his words, and he offered his arm to her.

They walked together into the building and stepped into the elevator. She couldn’t stop smiling. He leaned her back against the wall and kissed her once more.

A loud gasp from three throats let them know they’d arrived on their floor. They turned their heads and saw Helen’s neighbor Margaret standing in the hall with two other ladies who were equally wide-eyed and frozen. The door began to close again, and Margaret’s hand shot out to slam against it, to push it open once more. Her face flushed with embarrassment.

Kyle stepped back and gathered Helen in his arm to guide her out past the three gawking women. He tucked his hat under his arm and nodded to them with his best seductive smile. “Good evening, ladies.”

They mumbled a greeting back to him as he walked away and slid his hand down Helen’s hip to caress her ass. He heard her breath gust out as a shock wave coursed through her body.

He got them into the dimly lit condo with Helen’s key and locked the door.

Helen immediately dropped to her knees before him and ran her fingers over the front of his pants, feeling his straining erection. She sighed happily. As he removed his overcoat, jacket, tie, and shirt, she made quick work of his belt, button, and zipper, and her fingers wrapped around his cock.

“Mmm! I’ve been thinking about this all day!” she purred.

Kyle smiled at her. “All day?”

She pressed her lips against the head and smiled as Kyle gasped lightly. “Well, maybe since the afternoon.”

“Right about the time you were telling the ladies all about the fun we’ve been having?” Kyle asked, and her eyes looked up at his face cautiously.

“I might have disclosed a little more than I should have. They were most persistent in their interrogation, and I do like them so much,” she said between kisses along his shaft, her eyes begging to be forgiven. “You aren’t angry with me, are you?” She slipped the head of his cock into her mouth, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

“It’s difficult to remain annoyed with someone who does that so well!” he sighed.

She drove him deep into her mouth, and his eyes closed in bliss. She really was becoming quite good at this.

Kyle looked down to watch Helen enjoying herself. Her face was quite flushed as she might have been touching herself as she sucked him into her mouth. He didn’t want her to wear herself out before they got to the main event, so he reached down and lifted her to her feet. She looked at him in surprise as he spun her around and unzipped her dress, letting it fall to the floor. Bra, slip, and panties came off quickly, and Helen gasped and sighed as each article was removed.

He marched her across the condo to face the floor-to-ceiling windows. They hadn’t turned on any lights inside yet, so they were mostly invisible as they stood behind the thin curtains. Down below, they could see people walking along the riverside path as they passed under the lights.

Kyle pressed his naked body against Helen’s back as he moved his lips to her ear. “If we open these curtains and step closer, they’ll be able to see your sexy body. Your naughty, sexy tits and your hot wet pussy.” He forced his erection between her thighs to rub against her wet lips and heard her suck in a shuddering breath. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her breasts, holding her nipples between his fingers while she gasped and drove her hips back to rub his cock against her pussy lips.

She reached out and threw the sheer curtains wide as she gasped excitedly.

He knew they were still fairly hidden by the darkness in the condo, but they could see the path below quite clearly. If the possibility of being seen did it for Helen, he wouldn’t ruin that fantasy for her. Besides, it would likely take binoculars to see any detail at this distance.

He bent his knees and repositioned his cock against her lower lips.

“Oh! Yes, Kyle! Do it!” she cried.

He drove himself up into her, and his pelvis slapped her ass. Her mouth dropped open, but she made no sound. She reached out and placed her hands against the glass, bracing herself as he began to stroke in and out of her body. He moved his left hand down to rub her clit as his other hand massaged her breast.

“Oh, god! Yes! Yes!” she panted as the sensations washed over her.

Kyle squeezed her tight against his body as his hips took over short-stroking his cock into her, slapping her ass with his body on each thrust.

“You’re so fucking sexy,” he whispered into her ear, then ran kisses across her cheek and down her neck. She turned her face, and he kissed her.

As they faced the window once more, Kyle’s release was rapidly approaching, and Helen’s was on the precipice.

She suddenly went into a frenzy, her body clamping down on Kyle’s cock as she reached over her shoulder to pull his face to hers for another deep kiss. He moaned into her mouth as the pressure was too much, and he came hard, bouncing her a few times to drive himself even deeper.

When she pulled back from the kiss, she held his head next to hers and made him look down at the walking path again.

Margaret was there, lit by one of the path lights as she watched them with binoculars.

“H-how did she get downstairs so fast… and why does she own binoculars?” Kyle asked in shock.

“Birder…” Helen sighed quietly as her body shook through an aftershock.

They saw Margaret suddenly lower the binoculars as she jerked to her right. A foot patrol police officer was approaching her cautiously. They watched Margaret try to make a run for it and only get three steps before the man caught her. She appeared to be screaming and thrashing, trying to point up to their window.

Kyle quickly stepped back, carrying Helen back into the shadows of the condo. He lifted her from his softening erection, and she purred happily as she turned to hug him.

“That was incredible!” she sighed blissfully, resting her cheek on his shoulder.

Kyle frowned in concern. “I’m a little worried about your neighbor.” He felt oddly responsible… somehow.

Helen pulled back to smile sweetly at him. “You are a sweet man! That’s one of the things I like most about you.” She gave him a tender kiss.

As Kyle still looked worried, she took his face between her hands. “Margaret acts like a good person, a truly devout Christian, but in reality, she’s just a bully. Nothing that happens to her now is undeserved, but I won’t be the one to list her sins.”

Kyle saw the honest conviction in Helen’s eyes and felt better. He gave her a small smile. “Shall we continue in your bedroom?”

Helen’s eyes widened excitedly. “Continue?”

He gave her a sly look as he slipped the air force cap on his head. “You didn’t think once would be enough for a flyboy heading off on an important mission in the morning, did you?”

Helen rushed down the hall to her bedroom giggling happily, with Kyle on her six.

Chapter 7

Kyle drove down the lovely country lane, which followed the rolling contours of the fields. Secure and comfortably warm in the sidecar, Reginald grinned like a schoolboy playing hooky. Behind them rumbled the engines of their riding companions.

Truthfully, every one of them was grinning with delight as they made their way toward the staging grounds the parade would launch from. Kyle listened to the blending roar of their engines and thought it sounded like a squadron of Hurricane fighter jets.

At breakfast this morning, Reginald presented Kyle with his official Vintage Vehicles Restoration Club pin, which was currently shining happily on the lapel of his overcoat.

Hugo also let them know he’d registered them with the parade organizers at the last minute. They’d be the last group in the convoy of vehicles, but Kyle saw they were thrilled to have that position.

“The best for last!” Reginald cheered, and his friends joined in. Francis just smiled and shook her head, enjoying her husband’s excitement but sharing a look with Kyle, comforted by the younger man’s calm nod.

Helen had been glowing this morning throughout breakfast, and Kyle spotted her whispering to Louise and Francis. It seemed the kiss and tell restriction only applied to gentlemen.

Reginald had been too excited to notice, but Kyle got curious looks from at least two of the scoundrels. As he was a gentleman, the story wouldn’t be shared from his lips.

Kyle saw an open gate ahead with two older men standing sentinel with clipboards. He slowed and saw they were wearing uniforms as well. He moved his goggles to his helmet, then saluted them with a smile. This brought smiles to their lips.

“General Reginald Dunsfield and the Scoundrels of the Vintage Vehicles Restoration Club reporting for duty!” Kyle announced crisply.

This made the men chuckle, and Kyle stole a look at his passenger. The General was delighted!

“Right! You’re the last-minute add-on!” one of the men said, gesturing to his checklist. He glanced back at the line of vehicles waiting to move. “The field’s pretty muddy. Why don’t you wait off to the side and slip in behind the last group as it passes by?” He gestured to a nice paved pad to the right of the entrance.

“Much obliged! That would be perfect! Have a lovely day!” Kyle said and threw them both another sharp salute.

He dropped the bike into gear and led the others to their waiting spot, where they all shut off their engines.

Kyle helped Reginald out of the sidecar, and the man turned to his group. “Did you hear how Kyle introduced us at the gate?”

Heads shook as smiles were aimed at Kyle. “The Scoundrels of the Vintage Vehicles Restoration Club!” he said, and they laughed.

“Scoundrels! I love it,” Gregory chuckled.

“To be fair, that’s how he introduced you to me,” Kyle admitted with a grin.

There was a whistle, and the first vehicles far to their right began to move. Some of these vintage machines were ancient tractors and didn’t move very quickly, so the parade would move at the speed of the slowest. Luckily, this field was just on the outskirts of the town they’d be passing through.

Kyle stood with his group, watching the passing line of mostly wartime cars and trucks but some tractors and utility vehicles. Surprisingly, there were no other motorcycles represented.

“Are we in a class of our own?” Kyle asked.

Reginald smiled and nodded. “Nice way of describing us.”

A British Austin Tilly WWII utility vehicle passed, followed by a German SdKfz 222 WWII Armored Car and a shiny Triumph roadster. They slowed as the driver of the first truck stared at them in shock.

“The man with the open mouth is Dennis Prentice, and these three restorations were done by his club. He brings them every year,” Reginald said to Kyle as he smiled at the now scowling driver.

The Triumph wasn’t quite so shiny as the mud from the field streaked its fenders.

“Coasting on past glories?” Kyle asked and got a grin and a nod from the man. They could see the end of the convoy, so they got back on their bikes and rolled in behind the last ones. They gave themselves a little room as the mud was dropping off the tires of the cars and trucks unfortunate enough to have driven through it. They made sure their motorcycles remained clean.

Soon enough, they were cruising through the town’s streets towards the center’s main square.

The spectators in the outer streets had been few and far between, but as they got closer to the center, the sidewalks filled.

Kyle and Reginald led the way for their group, and Kyle noted the excitement on the faces of the watchers of all ages as the motorcycles rumbled their throaty purrs.

He glanced at Reginald and saw the pride on his face. The man was in heaven.

Kyle saw news camera crews stopping selected vehicles in the parade for quick soundbites as they entered the square. He saw Dennis was chatting with someone from the BBC. Sending a quick grin to his passenger, Kyle squeezed the clutch and revved the bike’s engine, drowning out Dennis’ words.

The reporter frowned and turned to face the source of the noise as the cameraman pointed the lens their way.

Dennis forgotten, the now smiling BBC reporter rushed away from Dennis to intercept Kyle and Reginald as the rest of their group pulled in close. As there were no others behind them, they pulled up next to each other, spanning the street.

The reporter moved in to speak to the General as the camera focused on his smiling face.

“Garreth Parker, BBC News. I’ve been attending this parade for years, but I believe this is the first time I’ve ever seen such a lovely group of vintage motorcycles presented.”

Reginald nodded. “This is the first year for the Scoundrels of the Vintage Vehicles Restoration Club. Motorcycles of this age and quality take time to bring back to the peak condition.”

Garreth was visibly pleased. “Can you tell us a little about them?”

Kyle watched as each of the men gave concise but glowing descriptions of their rides. He could see their pride and joy at the attention their rides were getting. Each man introduced themselves, and Malcolm worked in a plug for Jeremy for the brilliant uniforms. The camera returned to the General. “And who is your driver?” the reporter asked.

“Kyle MacDenny from Canada is the latest member to join the Scoundrels. His skills with engines ensured our machines were running at peak efficiency!” Reginal boasted.

Kyle smiled and nodded to the man and smiled for the camera as well. He didn’t really feel the need to add anything.

The reporter suddenly realized the parade was moving on, so he wrapped up the clip and thanked Reginald and the rest. They started their engine and rolled away smoothly as the camera caught their formation in flight.

Kyle got them back in line, and they followed the parade out of town to an abandoned airport. The organizers had them line up their bikes close to the entrance as no more spots were available down the runway.

Jeremy arrived with a massive grin on his face and a video camera in his hand.

“Bloody brilliant, drowning out that windbag, Prentice! I caught that on camera too! Your bit with the reporter was the longest clip they filmed. I hope they show the entirety on the news tonight!” the man gushed. He looked around at where the motorcycles were all parked in a neat row. “You’ve got a prime spot as well! Everyone has to pass right by here! That’s bound to annoy Prentice too!”

The group chuckled at Jeremy’s excitement.

Then the visitors began arriving, and the Scoundrels were on, fielding questions about their beautiful vintage motorcycles. Kyle stepped back to act as a backdrop for the Norton as this attention was really for the owners. Jeremy was next to him, so he thanked the man again for the use of the uniform. The man noticed Kyle was getting some admiring glances from some of the ladies dragged along by their boyfriends and husbands, and mentioned it.

“What can I say? The ladies like a man in uniform,” Kyle quipped quietly as he smiled and nodded to the visitors. Some younger women asked him to pose with the motorcycle, and them, for some photos, so he did.

As they walked away, Helen, Louise, and Francis arrived and grinned as they saw the excitement on the men’s faces as they showed off their motorcycles. Their eyes turned to Kyle, and he got the definite impression that Helen and Louise were thinking naughty thoughts. He made a mental note to ask Helen later if there was a Mr. Cantington.

Francis gave her husband a quick kiss on the lips, and Reginald smiled happily at her. “Are you enjoying yourself?” she asked.

“This has been wonderful!” he replied. He noted his wife looked a little chilly. “Would you like me to get you a cup of tea?”

She flashed a smile at him. “That would be welcome.”

Kyle looked at Helen and Louise. “Tea?” They nodded happily, so he joined Reginald on the trip to the snack bar.

“I can’t thank you enough, Kyle, for making this happen this year,” the man said to him when they were alone.

He glanced over at the man. “Please, I’m not responsible for making it happen. All I did was help a little to get the bikes tuned up. Everything else was entirely you guys. You restored these beauties to an awesome state. You deserve the praise far more than me,” he said with a smile, though he held the man’s eye.

Reginald finally nodded with a grin. “Okay, but it certainly feels like your arrival played a key role.”

They got in line, and thankfully, it moved quickly. They were soon heading back with the hot teas.

Dennis Prentice was standing in their way with a bigger man by his side, who looked like he’d been used as a hammer for most of his life. He was a broad-shouldered brute with a flattened nose and several missing teeth, which he was currently displaying in a menacing snarl. Kyle caught the German insignia on the brute’s uniform, so he likely drove the SdKfz 222. Obviously, Dennis brought him along for his intimidation value.

Kyle immediately saw they weren’t going to talk their way out of this situation. They’d pushed Dennis and his team a little too far. Perhaps he was to blame for some of it, too.

Faced with seemingly imminent violence, Kyle felt his father’s calm sliding over himself, and he didn’t fight it. He took a more comfortable grip on the tray of teas with his right hand as he slipped his hidden left into his pocket while keeping the men in his sight. In his peripheral vision, he noted three more men a distance away with angry looks on their faces, too.

This scenario was going from bad to worse.

“What makes you think you can just show up and take over the parade?” Dennis snapped.

Reginald held the man’s eye. “We were last-minute additions, and I hardly think we took over anything, Dennis.”

“You’re dressed as a General, the highest rank of any of the attendees! You ruined my interview with the Beeb when this git made that obnoxious noise as you arrived.” He swung an arm back. “And now the organizers are giving you preferential positioning!”

Reginald gave the man a pitying look. “This uniform was more suitable for riding in the sidecar, and we were told to park there because there was no more room on the runway. As for your interview, the reporter seemed almost eager to join us, so maybe you need newer, more interesting material.”

“You pompous old–” That’s as far as he got into his insult before the ogre at his elbow launched himself at Kyle.

Scalding hot tea hit the big man’s face, and he bellowed in pain as his beefy fists swung through empty air. Kyle ducked down, yanking the multi-tool from his pocket and slamming it up against the brute’s testicles, hard.

The big thug made the oddest high-pitched shriek, then crumpled into a fetal position. He was out of the fight, but Kyle was already moving to intervene with Dennis’ attack.

He leaped between the man and Reginald and caught Dennis’ punch against his own shoulder. It hurt like hell, but Reginald was safe. He spun, guiding Dennis’ next jab past him while driving his knee solidly into the man’s soft gut.

Dennis lost his wind, breakfast, and will to fight in that order as he fell to the ground.

Kyle saw the next three goons rushing up.

“Move back,” Kyle called over his shoulder to Reginald and felt the man giving him room.

The men rushing at him had to be in their forties but were friends of the big guy moaning on the ground, so Kyle expected some pain.

But he wouldn’t be the only one feeling it.

Leaping forward, he surprised the closest man with a solid punch to the solar plexus, stopping him in his tracks, dropping him to his hands and knees as he tried to suck in a breath.

The second thug thumped his fist into Kyle’s cheekbone, but he rolled with the punch into a glancing strike against his chin from the third man. Both hits sent spikes of pain through him as the goons wore chunky gold rings that cut him. His cap was knocked loose as he collided with the third thug and fell with him.

Kyle used the hard edge and weight of the multi-tool to crack the man’s rib with a sharp jab. Grunting and wheezing, the goon rolled off and away to protect his side.

The last man still on his feet kicked Kyle in the ribs, but his loose overcoat absorbed some of the force. As he pulled back for another kick, Kyle smashed the ankle bone of his planted foot with the metal tool. The ankle folded with a sharp crack, and the man screamed as he fell.

Kyle rolled back to his feet and stood, panting hard as he cast around for the next target. When he saw none, he slipped the multi-tool back into his pocket as he bent to pick up his uniform’s cap. He brushed the dust from it and placed it on his head once more. Then he adjusted his uniform and dusted off his overcoat as he glared down at the fallen men. He felt his veneer of calm slide away, and his body shook once from excess adrenaline.

Reginald walked up to his side. “Are you injured, Kyle?”

“Just a few bruises,” he said with a wince as the cuts on his cheekbone and chin made themselves known. “And a cut or two. I’ll be fine. Are you okay?” He glanced at the man.

Reginald snorted. “Thanks to you, I remain unscathed.”

Some police officers finally arrived and took in the five men on the ground and the bruising and blood on Kyle’s face. They moved toward him, then stopped as they saw Reginald’s scowl. The older man smiled at Kyle and patted his shoulder. “My turn. Could you pick up some fresh tea for the ladies?”

Kyle nodded and headed back to the snack bar.

One of the older ladies working the counter gasped when she saw Kyle’s state and brought him to the side to clean and bandage the cuts on his face. She insisted the lacerations were minor and wouldn’t scar. She informed him she worked as a nurse in her younger years.

Afterward, she served him four teas on-the-house and slipped him a cookie as well. He thanked her with a broad smile, and she seemed pleased with his manners.

He rejoined Reginald as the men were being led away by the police. “Everything okay?” he asked. He saw the BBC reporter rushing closer with his cameraman and Jeremy close behind.

Reginald nodded. “Quite. Dennis and his club members are in the police’s hands to cool off and get medical attention. As it’s being called a Breach of the Peace, they won’t be charged. I assumed you wouldn’t want to get involved with a court hearing.” Kyle nodded with a smile. Reginald continued. “I assured the police you acted only in response to the attack and in my defense.” Kyle nodded, then looked at Garreth, who was preparing for another shot. Jeremy was all smiles. The three ladies arrived with concerned looks on their faces.

The reporter got into position before Reginald and his cameraman nodded to show they were rolling.

“This is Garreth Parker, BBC News. I’m here with Reginald Dunsfield and Kyle MacDenny at a showing of fine vintage vehicles near Twickenham. While I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the number of classic wartime cars, trucks, utility vehicles, and motorcycles, I wasn’t expecting the event to include an actual battle! Yet here it was! Can you tell us in your words what happened?” He aimed the microphone toward Reginald, who glanced once at Kyle before beginning.

“One of the other exhibitors took exception to what they believed was preferential treatment my club received. We were last-minute additions, so we had to be the last in the procession. Upon arriving at the airport, the organizers informed us we were to park next to the entrance as the runway was full. It seems this was the last straw for the other group. These malcontents confronted us about it, and when I failed to take their baseless complaints seriously, they attacked.”

The reporter turned back to the camera. “Amateur videographer and period costume expert Jeremy Paleman captured the action and shared it with us. What you are about to see is quite graphic and may disturb some viewers. Be warned.” The reporter paused as he looked at the cameraman then nodded. He turned to Kyle with a smile. “We’ll insert the clip here, and after it plays, I’d like to come back to a few questions for you, Mr. MacDenny.”

“Thank you, but no. I have no desire to speak about this on television. They attacked, I defended, and they lost. I see no need to glorify what happened. There really isn’t anything else to say,” Kyle said firmly. With a nod to Reginald, he handed the gently smiling man one of the teas and walked over to Helen’s side to hand out the remaining beverages. The women were examining the bruises and bandages. Helen touched his shoulder, and he winced, pulling away slowly.

“How badly hurt are you?” Helen asked in dismay as Francis rushed to her husband’s side.

Kyle shook his head with a frown. “Not as bad as the other guys.”

Louise moved closer. “How many?”

Kyle glanced her way. “What?”

“How many did you fight?” she insisted.

“Oh, uh, five men,” Kyle said distractedly as he looked over at Francis clinging to Reginald’s arm with a worried expression. He was giving another soundbite to the reporter, and Francis locked eyes with him. She mouthed thank you, and he gave her a little smile and a nod.

“Are you a martial arts expert?” Louise asked, pulling his attention back.

Kyle shook his head. “Not by any stretch of the imagination. Against five experienced fighters, I almost got my clock cleaned. I just fought dirty to make them stop. It worked this time, but I took some hits too. My shoulder, my ribs, and my face are going to be black and blue tomorrow, if not tonight.” Helen and Louise made sympathetic sounds.

The interview was over, and Kyle noticed the BBC camera was pointed at him. He was far enough away that he sincerely doubted they caught what he was saying. He turned his back to it and offered an elbow to the two ladies, walking with them back to the motorcycles.

Hugo spotted them first, and his smile dropped away as he saw Kyle’s injured face. The others quickly took note, and the group rushed over to find out what had happened.

“Just a brief altercation. It’s done.” Kyle said, brushing it off. The pain was setting in, and he still had to drive Reginald back. He hid his wincing as he didn’t want his hosts to worry.

Their faces turned to Reginald, who arrived with Francis on his arm. Seeing Kyle’s silent plea to not make a big deal, he nodded, but he wouldn’t leave his friends in the dark.

“Dennis Prentice and his team made trouble, but the police took them away. You should be able to see the story on BBC One news tonight,” he said, and they picked up his signal not to push it. Jeremy looked at the older man in surprise, but Reginald just patted his shoulder.

They settled back into their roles as more people stopped by the bikes to ask questions and take pictures. They spent the better part of the day there before they mounted up and drove back to the Dunsfield’s estate. Kyle changed back into his own clothes, and they shook hands, and Kyle arranged for a lift from Helen’s the following day for their flight to Paris.

After enduring some hugs and kisses from Francis and Louise, his ribs and shoulder were hurting. Helen could see a hint of the pain in his eyes, so she guided him away from their friends and drove them home. She undressed him at her place and got him into a hot bath with Eucalyptus-scented Epsom salt as she insisted it would help.

Ten minutes into his soak, the bathroom door opened briefly as Skye slipped into the steamy room. He watched her smile and sit on the edge of the tub to admire his naked body in the hot water.

She finally spotted the bruises, and her smile changed to dismay. “What happened to you?” she gasped.

He cracked a smile. “I had no idea joining Reginald’s Vintage Vehicle Restoration Club would be so physically demanding!”

She gave him a stern look. “I’m not kidding! Who hurt you?”

He shrugged, then winced as his shoulder reminded him not to do that. “Another restoration club got their noses out of joint when Reginald’s club got more attention. They had it out for him, and they attacked us at the airstrip.”

“Oh, my god! Is he all right? Who attacks a man in his seventies?” she gasped in shock.

Kyle lifted his hands from the water to calm her. “He’s fine. I protected him, and the police took them away.”

Skye gave him a concerned look. “How many did you fight?” she asked quietly.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s done,” he sighed as he closed his eyes again and settled back to relax in the hot water.

Skye was quiet for a moment. “I meant to thank you for your introduction to Byron.”

He opened his eyes to look at her with interest. “It’s going well?”

She had a small smile on her lips and nodded. “Really well. He’s a sweet man! He doesn’t rock my world in bed like you do–yet!” She added when she saw the protest on his lips. “But he seems eager to learn, and that’s what matters.”

Kyle nodded as his eyes closed again, and he smiled. “Good. I’m glad.” He really was pleased she’d found someone.

The heat soaked into his body, and he felt his aches easing.

-=-

Skye silently watched Kyle for a bit, then she slipped out of the bathroom and walked into the living room to plunk herself down on the sofa next to her mum.

“How’s our patient?” Helen asked.

“He’s enjoying the bath,” she sighed. “What happened today?”

Helen nodded toward the TV. “That’s what I’m watching the news for.”

Skye looked at her mother in surprise. “It’s on the news?”

Helen shrugged. “It might be. There was a reporter there who did a story on the parade. He was pretty excited about a video of the fight he received from one of Reginald’s friends. Whether or not it makes the news is anyone’s guess.”

They sat together quietly as the news played until it was almost over. Then they heard them introduce their last story of the night, and it was about the parade.

They watched Garreth Parker talking about the annual event and giving some details, then they heard the roar of the motorcycles. The news used a clip of the group riding into view that began by panning away from the scowling face of Dennis Prentice to focus on Kyle and Reginald guiding their motorcycles into a formation that spanned the roadway. Helen and Skye were all smiles as they watched the brief introductions.

The next scenes were some shots of Reginald’s group speaking with visitors at the old airport. The reporter’s voice came in over these images.

“Unfortunately, not everyone involved with the parade was as pleased to see these new exhibitors. While the inclusion of many vintage wartime machines was impressive, we certainly weren’t expecting to see any re-enactments of the battles of that great war. Amateur videographer Jeremy Paleman caught this confrontation.” A still was displayed of the beginning of the encounter. “Reginald Dunsfield, dressed as a British General and his Canadian visitor Kyle MacDenny, dressed in a Canadian RAF Captain’s uniform, were confronted by two men, one dressed in a German Africa Corps uniform. What happened next was shocking for a Boxing Day festivity.”

Helen and Skye squeaked in fright when the big man attacked Kyle, then the thug was on the ground, and Kyle blocked Dennis from punching Reginald by taking the hit himself. Then Dennis was vomiting on the dusty earth.

The two women continued to squeak in fear and shock as Kyle engaged the next three opponents. They saw how his injuries happened, but all three men were quickly down, and Kyle was back on his feet, dusting himself off. They saw him looking at Reginald and the older man’s relieved smile. Reginald’s brief clip describing the reason for the fight played next. The next shots were of Kyle standing next to Helen, Louise, and Francis, handing them cups of tea while the reporter’s voice-over played.

“When asked to comment, Mr. MacDenny modestly declined. So, we spoke with the man whose defense he came to.”

Reginald was on the screen again with Francis clinging to his arm but saying thank you to someone off-camera.

“When young Kyle first put on the uniform of the Canadian RAF Officer, he was troubled by wearing the medals as he felt he hadn’t earned them. I told him he was merely representing the men who originally wore them, to remind people of those brave few who sacrificed so much to give us the freedom to enjoy these festivities today.” He looked fondly at his wife then back to the camera. “Personally, I can’t help but feel he has earned a medal today. I’m certainly grateful for his protection.”

The last shot was of the reporter speaking to the camera with Kyle and the Scoundrels in the background, chatting with the visitors by the motorcycles. Kyle was seen standing silent sentinel behind Reginald.

Garreth smiled at the camera. “And personally, I can’t help but consider this a symbolic re-enactment of the Canadians coming to the defense of England in World War Two. It certainly made for an exciting finish to a lovely display of vintage vehicles this Boxing Day. Garreth Parker, BBC News, Twickenham.”

The show cut back to the smiling news anchor in the studio, who said his goodnights and ended the show.

Helen shut the TV off and looked at Skye. “As much as I want to drag him into bed right now, he needs to heal and get some rest. Tomorrow, he’s flying to Paris for a surprise visit with Fiona at her hotel.”

Skye nodded with a thoughtful look on her face. Then she looked into her mother’s eyes. “I-I won’t be sharing Kyle’s bed anymore, as Byron and I are a couple now. We’ll see how this works out.”

Helen smiled and hugged her daughter. “I’m so happy for you! I like Byron. He seems like a really nice young man.”

“I think so too. I also think Kyle is a really nice man, even if he disagrees,” Skye said sadly.

Helen could only nod. She patted Skye’s leg and stood up.

“Come on. Let’s get Kyle out of that bathtub. He’s soaked long enough. You may not be allowed to touch, but there’s nothing wrong with looking.”

Skye snorted in amusement and grinned as she joined her mother. It was time to put their patient to bed.

Chapter 8

The following day, Kyle found himself leaning back in a plush seat next to Louise Cantington as they rose into the sky above England.

Louise had failed to mention that they’d be traveling to Paris on a chartered private jet.

A limo had picked Kyle up shortly after breakfast. He only had his small carry-on duffle as he wouldn’t be there for long.

The next stop had them picking up Louise at the Dunsfield mansion. As her bags were loaded into the car, Reginald and Francis came out to say hello to him and to fret over the vibrant bruises on his cheek and chin. He shook the man’s hand and accepted the hug and cheek kiss from his wife. Then Louise swept out to give her brother and sister-in-law goodbye hugs and kisses.

She was wearing her beautiful hair down, and the waves of honey-colored hair poured over her shoulders. She was wearing a faux fur coat as the air was especially chilly today, but its collar was open and displaying the smooth tops of her full breasts. Between that, her hair, and the fur, Kyle’s eyes were trapped by the sight of so much… softness. He couldn’t help but admire how lovely she looked in her outfit.

“Bringing out the big guns, I see,” Reginald said to his sister.

She gave him a subtle smile. “A woman does what she must to maintain her appeal,” she whispered back.

She kissed Francis’ cheeks, and the women shared a look.

Then Kyle held her door for her as she slipped into the limo’s back seat. He got in, and they were on their way.

Once they got to the airport, Louise sprung her surprise on him by leading him to a wicket where they added his passport details to the ticket she’d prearranged for him. Then they went through a scaled-down version of the pre-flight processing he was expecting, and he boarded the jet.

The woman was still smiling at his impressed expression when he glanced over at her. “I have to agree, traveling this way is superior to flying coach on a commercial airline. That said, I was fully prepared to buy my own ticket. I certainly didn’t expect you to pick up the tab.”

“It’s my pleasure! Consider it a thank you for protecting my big brother,” she said, patting his hand. She left her hand on his as she looked over at him with a smile. “You don’t need to rush away the moment we arrive in Paris, do you? Could we have dinner together?”

Kyle was aware of her fingers gently stroking the back of his hand and the hopeful look in her eyes. “Dinner would be great. I have to admit, I’m completely unprepared for this popping over to another country thing. I didn’t have a ticket for my flight. I don’t have a hotel reservation. I don’t even know where Fiona’s hotel is. I don’t know where anything in Paris is.”

“Helen mentioned you’ve been here before when she met you,” Louise said, sliding her fingers between his.

Kyle pushed back at the distracting sensations to answer her. “Yes, I’ve been to France once before, but the Paris portion of that trip was supposed to be with my fiancé after we enjoyed the cycling. Instead, she ran off with another man. I enjoyed a week of cycling, then I just went home. My exposure to France was very limited.”

“I can’t believe this woman abandoned you for another!” Louise asserted.

Kyle smiled faintly as he recalled the morning he confronted Gwen about it and learned why she’d done it. “The man she abandoned was… incomplete. I discovered myself again during the week of cycling with Helen, Skye, Fiona, and the others. I became someone new. I’d shed so much of my old self for Gwen, I’d lost… me. The ordeal she put me through made me re-evaluate my life, and I took control back. When she returned, she discovered I’d become what she’d wanted all along, but it was too late.”