An Unexpected Holiday Gift

“Yes, they are. This is the Down’s class from our special needs school,” Sandra explained.

“I didn’t realize the Down’s class had gotten so big. I knew our foundation school was growing, but I had no idea just how much.”

“Yep, and that’s due in large part to the efforts of this wonderful lady,” she proudly proclaimed. “Coach Cathy Hooper, this is KJ. He plays for the Houston Carriers.”

“Yes, I know. Nice to meet you,” Coach Hooper said, her face flushed.

“The pleasure is mine,” he replied.

“KJ will be helping out here from time to time.” Sandra turned back to KJ. “Follow me. I’ll take you to Coach Wanda. She’s in the big gym.”

“Actually, I think I’d like to spend some time with these guys right now. Can you see if it’ll be okay for me to come by later this afternoon?”

“Sure.”

He turned to Coach Hooper and gifted her with a megawatt smile. “That is, if you don’t mind a little help?”

“Of course not. But are you sure you want to work with my kids?” She looked over her shoulder and laughed as several of the kids chased her assistant. Coach Hooper returned her attention to Keylan. “They’re beautiful, sweet and a whole lot of fun, but I’m not sure they’ll be interested in basketball.”

“They don’t have to be,” Keylan assured her. He reached across the door, unlocked it and let himself in. “We can do whatever they want, but I might surprise you with what I have in mind.”

“Well, welcome...”

“I guess I’ll go talk to Coach Wanda,” Sandra informed him as she turned to leave.

Keylan stood back and watched as six little boys, no more than six or seven years old, played their version of dodgeball. Three girls, roughly the same age as the boys, chased each other on large bouncy balls with handles. They all wore white foundation T-shirts, khaki shorts and tennis shoes, and laughed and played together as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

In the corner of the room Keylan spotted the small, curly-haired boy he’d noticed earlier. He couldn’t have been more than five years old. The boy stood with a ball nearly as big as he was, bouncing it against the wall. It was a game of catch that Keylan remembered playing often himself; only he’d used two basketballs.

Keylan tilted his head and smiled whenever the little boy lost control of the ball and would fall backward on the matted floor. The look of determination on the boy’s face made Keylan’s heart expand and he was filled with a sense of pride for the child whenever he caught the ball and stayed upright.

He walked over to the area where they played, knelt down on one knee and introduced himself to all of the children. The boys that had been tossing the ball back and forth were excited to meet him, as were the three girls. Keylan figured it was more curiosity about his height rather than the acknowledgment of him being a professional basketball player. However, the small boy wouldn’t come anywhere near Keylan. When all the children returned to their games under the watchful eye of Coach Hooper and her assistant, Keylan tried to talk to the little boy. To no avail.

He decided to take another approach. Keylan selected a basketball from the wire basket, laid his back flat on the floor and began tossing the ball he’d selected into the air with both hands. Before long he was joined on the mat by several of the children. Soon, all but the shy boy were on the mat, tossing their balls into the air. He stood back, holding his ball tightly to his chest and watching as Keylan tossed his from one hand to the other.

“Hi, my name is Keylan,” he introduced himself, looking at the little boy while continuing to toss the ball in the air.

The child remained quiet for several moments before finally saying, “I’m Colby.”

“Well, hello, Colby.” Keylan tossed his ball again, keeping his eyes on Colby. “How old are you?”

The little boy held up four fingers.

“He doesn’t talk much. He’s shy,” one of the older boys said.

Keylan caught his ball and sat up. “I see,” he replied before turning to face Colby. “Would you like to play a game? Maybe we can all play a game.” His eyes scanned the faces of the other children.

All the other kids stopped tossing their balls, sat up and gave Keylan their undivided attention. Coach Hooper came over and stood next to the seated children. “What do you have in mind, KJ?” she asked.

Keylan looked at the kids’ curious faces and smiled. “Do you guys know how to play basketball?”

Two of the older boys began rapidly nodding like bobblehead dolls as they raised their hands, singing “I do, I do...” as they jumped up and down.

“Wait a minute. Sit back down, please,” Keylan said.

“Excuse me, KJ, but I’m not sure these kids are ready—”

“Of course they are, for what I have in mind. Trust me.” Keylan gave her a confident smile. “Now, you two—James and David, right?” he asked, hoping he had remembered their names correctly.

They both nodded. “Yep, I’m David.”

“I’m James.”

“Okay, you two will be my assistants.” Both boys clapped. Keylan looked up at Coach Hooper. “I hope you don’t mind a little extra assistance?”

Coach Hooper laughed. “Not at all.”

One of the girls said she wanted to be the cheerleader, while the other two girls insisted that they play. Keylan assured everyone that they could take any role they liked. He turned to Colby. “Do you want to play?”

Before he could respond James said, “He don’t like to play with us...him too little.”

“He like to play by himself,” David added.

Keylan watched as Colby’s eyes scanned the faces of the other kids. He figured Colby was looking for some sort of encouragement from them. “Thank you, boys, but I think he’s just the right size and, if we ask him to play, he just might do it. What do you guys think?” Keylan asked, wanting the group to show some support. Some nodded and others shrugged.

“I happen to think Colby can handle anything you have in mind,” Coach Hooper offered.

“See, Colby, we all think you should play. So, do you want to try? It’s real easy,” Keylan promised. Colby nodded his head slowly as if he really wasn’t sure. “That’s great.”

Keylan stood and all the kids looked up at him in awe; his height really appeared to fascinate them. He was only happy no one seemed afraid of him. Not even Colby, who was now standing mere inches from him, which, for reasons he couldn’t explain, made Keylan smile.

“Coach Hooper, can you please get us five basketballs and three large tubs?”

“Sure.” She walked away with a confused look on her face.

“David, James, can you two please give Coach Hooper a hand?”

Both boys jumped up and ran behind Coach Hooper.

Keylan turned to the little cheerleader who was standing, practicing, and asked, “You sure you don’t want to play?”

“I’m sure,” she sang, shaking her imaginary pompoms.

David and James returned, both holding one side of a big blue tub with two basketballs inside. Coach Hooper was following behind them, holding the other two tubs. Keylan ran to offer assistance. The three tubs were placed in the center of the court ten feet apart. Keylan lined up three children in front of each bucket, approximately forty feet away from the bucket. Colby stood at the front of his line.

“Here’s what you’re going to do. Wait, how many of you know how to dribble a basketball? Hold up your hands.” Every hand flew up except Colby’s. “With one hand,” Keylan specified, bouncing the ball with his right hand.

Several hands lowered.

“Okay, everyone put your hands down. Before we do anything, I want you to practice dribbling.” He held a basketball in his left hand and raised his right. “You’ll use your fingertips to control the ball as you bounce it.” Keylan walked around, showing each child his technique.

“Nice job,” Coach Hooper cheered.

Keylan looked over his shoulders. “Thanks, Coach Hooper. I’ve done this a time or two. Do you have a whistle I can borrow?”

“Sure, you can have mine,” she offered, smiling as she removed the whistle that hung around her neck and handed it to him.

“Thank you,” he said. The corner of his mouth rose. Keylan was just as excited about the game he was about to teach the kids as he would be when he played himself. “Please toss me a couple more basketballs.”

Keylan caught the additional balls before turning his attention back to the kids. “Now, you’ll all practice dribbling...” he started to explain as he handed each child at the head of the line a ball “...until you hear me blow the whistle. When you do, pass the ball to the person behind you so everyone will have a chance to practice. Everyone understand?”

“Yes,” they all said in unison.

“Ready.” Keylan blew the whistle. “Go.”

The first three children started bouncing their balls, two with their right hand and one with his left. Keylan smiled as he walked up to each child, offering assistance on their form.

Colby was the only one that didn’t need assistance; his focus and ball handling surprised Keylan. But the bigger surprise was the connection he’d made with the child. He wasn’t sure what it was exactly but he knew there was something special about the boy. “Good job, Colby.” The boy smiled but kept his eyes on the ball as he continued to bounce it. After two rounds of practice, Keylan blew his whistle.

“Looks like we’re ready to go. Here’s how the game is played.” Keylan picked up a ball and demonstrated. “You’ll dribble the ball down to the tubs. Go as fast as you can while controlling it. Circle the tub and dribble back. Hand the ball to the next person in line and they’ll do the same. The first team back wins. Does everyone understand?”

“Yes,” all the kids replied—everyone except Colby.

“Here we go.” Keylan brought the whistle to his mouth.

“My team will win,” the boy declared loudly and with a confident smile.

* * *

Mia sat at her desk, staring at the computer screen, reading the same paragraph she’d read three times within the last forty-five minutes and still couldn’t comprehend. Her mind kept traveling to the extremely sexy but annoying man with his perfectly trimmed goatee and a smile that did crazy things to her body. She shook her head. Mia still couldn’t believe she had been so rude to the boss’s nephew. “Stop it.” Mia removed her eyeglasses, placed them on the desk and rubbed her eyes.

“Talking to yourself again, boss lady?” Sandra asked, walking into the office carrying two large cups of tea. “Time for a break...sweet tea with lemon.” She handed Mia a cup and a straw.

“Thanks, and I told you to stop calling me that,” she reminded, accepting the drink. Mia placed the straw in the cup and took a big pull. “Mmm, that’s good.”

Sandra took one of the seats in front of her desk. “So...” She took a drink of her tea, staring at Mia.

“So what?”

“You know what. What’s up with you and Mister Tall, Sexy and I’d Do Anything He Wants?” she asked, her eyebrows dancing.

Mia scowled. “Nothing’s up. He’s here for community service hours. That’s it.”

“If you ask me—”

“I didn’t,” she said, placing her tea on a coaster near her computer. “Now, where are we with finalizing the contract with the toy company? Their commitment to donating a hundred bikes is a critical part of our giveaway.”

“Okay, I’ll drop it, but you’ll have to tell me where we are with the contract.”

“Excuse me?” Mia’s brows snapped together.

“You’re the one still reviewing the contract,” she noted, pointing at Mia’s computer.

“Oh...” Mia glanced over her shoulder and looked at her computer. Is that what that is? “I guess I forgot.”

“I bet you did.” Sandra smirked and drained the last of her drink. “I’ll wait.” She placed her empty cup on the edge of Mia’s desk and sat back with her arms folded.

Mia turned to fully face her computer. She put her glasses on and quickly read through the paragraphs on the screen. “Looks good.” Mia hit a few keys before pushing the send button. “I just sent the electronically signed version back to you. Please send it out right away.”

“I’m on it, boss lady.” Mia glared at her. “Sorry.” Sandra stood, picked up her cup and turned to leave.

“Sandra, can you wait a minute?” Mia removed her glasses. She picked up her pen and started tapping it on the top of her desk.

Sandra stood in front of Mia’s desk. “What’s up?”

“Do you know how things are going?”

Sandra frowned. “With what?”

“You know what—Keylan and Coach Wanda’s class.”

Sandra’s frown deepened. “KJ’s not with Coach Wanda’s class. He’s with Coach Hooper’s class in the small gym. He’s helping out with ball time.”

“What!” Mia yelled, getting to her feet. She rounded her desk, heading out the door and down the hall.

Chapter 3

Mia stood just inside the doorway of the small gym, blinking to clear tears from her eyes. She wasn’t sure if what she was seeing and hearing was real. “What’s up?” Sandra asked, trying to catch her breath. “You ran out of the office so fast, I—”

Mia held up her index finger to stop her friend from speaking. Sandra turned toward the sounds and sights that held Mia’s attention. “Are they playing some kind of basketball game?” she asked, her eyebrows standing at attention.

“Looks that way,” Mia replied, slowly nodding. “Colby is actually talking to the other children.”

“Talking? It looks like he’s cheering his team on. I thought Coach Hooper said these guys weren’t ready for organized sports yet.”

“She did. I guess she was wrong...so was I, for that matter,” Mia admitted.

“Yes!” both women screamed, jumping up and down as they watched the last child on Colby’s team finish the task before anyone else, winning the game. Everyone cheered with excitement, even those children who were not on the winning team. Mia and Sandra walked over to where the children had gathered around Keylan. Sandra started giving high-fives to all the children. “That was great, you guys,” Mia said, smiling at all the excited faces staring up at her.

Colby ran over to Mia and threw his arms around her waist. “Mommy, I won.”

Mia knelt down and gave Colby a big hug as she fought back a fresh batch of tears. “I see that.” She kissed him on the forehead. “I’m so proud of my little man.”

Colby gave his mother another hug and a toothy grin before returning to his friends, who were now standing next to Coach Hooper and Sandra. “So Colby’s your son.”

Mia rose, wiped at her tears and looked up at Keylan. “Yes, he is.”

Keylan stood with his feet slightly apart, rolling a basketball between his hands. “What are you doing with these kids?”

“Playing basketball.” Keylan looked over his shoulder at the kids, who were now dribbling balls all over the court, and smirked. “Our version of it, anyway. Colby...that’s a great kid you got there.”

“Thank you.” Mia wrapped her arms around her waist. It was either a protective gesture or a nervous habit that she’d given up trying to break a long time ago. Keylan’s kind words and the excitement radiating from his body at playing with the kids had her heart doing flips. Not to mention the way the rest of her body was responding to his nearness. “You were supposed to be helping with the older kids.”

“I know, but when I passed by this gym and saw these guys, something drew me in.”

“They can have that effect on people,” she said, smiling.

Keylan gave Mia a half smile. “Do you mind if I—?”

“Key...lan,” Colby sang. “Key...lan.”

“Looks like I’m being summoned. Can we pick this up later when I’m done?”

“Key...lan,” Colby yelled, jumping up and down.

Mia’s eyes widened. She had never seen her son respond to anything or anyone in such a way.

“Demanding little dude. I guess he gets it from you,” he said with a sneer.

“He’s usually shy around strangers. Loud noises, inanimate objects that move or too much commotion makes him nervous...freaks him out.” Mia wondered if she looked as confused as she felt.

“Maybe it’s just me. Until later,” Keylan called over his shoulder, returning to Colby and the other children.

“Looks like Colby’s made a big new friend,” Sandra said, coming to stand next to Mia.

“Yeah, and that’s what I’m afraid of,” Mia replied, her forehead creased.

* * *

Keylan had showered, changed into his street clothes and was sitting on the bench in front of his locker, flipping through his phone messages, but found his ability to concentrate fleeting. He was still flying high from all the fun he’d had hanging with all those kids today, especially Colby. The way Colby seemed to come alive around him made his heart swell. His brilliant and very beautiful mother was making him crazy in ways no other woman had and that scared the hell out of him. All he could think about was Mia’s short but athletic legs, her small waist and ample breasts. Keylan had been so deep in thought that he didn’t hear his name being called. “KJ,” a raised baritone voice said before a quick punch landed on Keylan’s right shoulder. He looked up to find his cousin Travis smiling down at him.

Travis Kingsley looked like a fairer-skinned version of Keylan. A wildly successful cattle rancher, he was the only son of Keylan’s aunt Elizabeth. Travis served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the family’s foundation.

“You don’t want none of this, son,” Keylan replied, laughing, placing his phone down on the bench before the two men bumped fists.

“What are you doing here and what has you so engrossed in thought that you didn’t hear me coming? You know what Aunt Victoria always says,” Travis prompted.

“Always be aware of your surroundings,” they said in unison.

Keylan nodded. “How can I forget? She only drilled it in our heads for years.” The two men were more like brothers than cousins. After all, they’d all been raised together.

“So what’s going on? I hear you were working with our Down’s kids,” Travis asked. “I know how special that group is to you.”

“Yeah, they’re a really great bunch of kids. I had no idea we’d doubled our initial admission numbers.”

“I know, and while I appreciate you finally making time to stop by, I can’t help but wonder what prompted this visit, especially while you’re in the middle of your rehab.” Travis leaned against the locker, crossed his arms at his chest and his feet at the ankles.

“I can’t believe the story hasn’t been picked up by the media yet.” Keylan grabbed his phone and searched his name online. “Yep, it’s there.”

“What’s there?”

Keylan handed Travis his phone. He preferred for his cousin to read the articles for himself. “Man, that’s BS. Z’s reaction to that play was a flop. Everyone knows he made that fall look worse than it really was. Now you get suspended for three games, along with having to pay a fine and perform community service because of his punk-ass move.”

“I really don’t mind doing the service or paying the fine. Hell, I’ll even accept the three-game suspension, although I do find it excessive, especially since it won’t be imposed until next season. It’s being labeled a selfish bully on the court. I may be aggressive when I play, but I’m no selfish bully.”

“Since when do you give a damn about what people think?”

“Since now,” Keylan said, accepting his phone back from Travis.

“Now I see why you were so deep in thought when I came up. But there’s no better place to get your hours completed than in a place you help build and financially support.”

“Tell that to our activities director.” Keylan sat his phone on the bench next to his keys.

“Mia?” Travis’s eyes widened and he stood straight.

“She thinks I’m a rich and overprivileged playboy.”

Travis grimaced. “Well...”

“Okay, but she also thinks I’m only here going through the motions.”

“That’s because she doesn’t know your history here or the fact that you paid for that massive gym with your NBA money. I guess you failed to mention those facts.” Travis smiled. “She’s good people. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

Keylan rose from the bench and placed his hands in his pockets. “Why the defense...she yours or something?”

A smile crawled across Travis’s face as he stood in silence for a moment. “Why? You interested or something?”

Keylan and his cousin had always been competitive when it came to sports and sometimes business, but never when it came to women. Blood was blood. As much as it bothered Keylan to lie to his cousin, if Travis had a thing for Mia, he would never know how much Keylan was attracted to her, too.

“You know she’s not my type...too short. Plus, she has a kid. I don’t date women with kids, although Colby really is cute and could use some KJs or at least some Jordans in his life. Those Velcro things she’s got on his feet are ridiculous.”

Travis gave Keylan a lopsided grin. “What?”

“You do like her.” Travis burst out laughing, slowly clapping his hands.

Keylan reached down and picked up his phone and keys. “I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to.”

“Well...” Keylan said, trying but failing to look disinterested.

“Well, what?” Travis teased. Keylan glared at him. “No man, Mia is great, but she’s my friend and our employee. That’s all.”

“Really?”

“Really. But heed my warning—Mia’s not one to be toyed with,” Travis warned.

“I’m not looking to toy with anyone. Besides, she’s not—”

“Your type, so you’ve said. I’m not buying it.”

“If she’s so great, why didn’t you asked her out? Or have you? What, she turn you down?” Keylan laughed.

“She’s our employee, so no, I haven’t asked her out. If you’re not interested, why all the questions?”

Good question.

While Mia wasn’t the type of woman Keylan usually went for—tall, agreeable and strictly fun—the idea of Mia and Travis together annoyed the hell out of him. Keylan’s phone beeped and he was relieved by the interruption. He read his text. “What’s up with my mom? She’s texted me like ten times within the last thirty minutes.”

“She’s trying to confirm that you’ll be at the dinner meeting she scheduled tonight.”

“Why, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know, but it must be something big, because she sent James to give me a personal invite since I didn’t answer her twenty text messages.”

Keylan shook his head. “Man, my mother is something else. I’m surprised James hasn’t quit with all the crazy errands she makes him run.”

“James quit? Never. He’s been Aunt Victoria’s personal assistant since your dad died.” Travis’s forehead creased. “Did you ever wonder if he and your mom—?”

“Hell no,” Keylan admitted, shivering at the thought. “I wouldn’t want to know, either.”

“Me, either. Just send her a text and let her know you’ll be there tonight.”

Keylan sighed and obliged. “I swear, if this ends up being another one of her ‘When are you going to settle down and give me grandbabies?’ speeches, I’m going to get up and leave. It’s not like she’s the warm-and-fuzzy-grandmother type who wants grandkids she can boast about and hang out with. All she’s concerned about is having heirs to carry on her legacy.”

“So, back to you and Mia.”

A beautiful, sassy and very sexy woman with a really cool kid is the last thing I need in my life right now. “There is no me and Mia,” Keylan said, heading for the exit.

Chapter 4

Mia walked through the door of her three-bedroom bungalow behind her son, holding two bags of groceries and her son’s backpack. They walked through the living and dining room, passing an oversize, brown stress-leather sofa and a large bay window with a wide bench, to get to her grand, black-and-white gourmet kitchen that sat off her family room. “Good job, little man. Now place the milk on the table and go put your backpack away.”

“I no have it,” he replied, frowning, showing Mia his empty hands.

Mia smiled. “It’s by the front door. I dropped it next to Mommy’s purse.”