Kelly's Quest (NYC LOVE Book 2) (22 page)

“Well this was productive,” she tells me under her breath. “I guess we’ll just have to get together again. Don’t make me ask Theo for the juicy details, Kelly Cavenaugh. I mean it. You have no idea how awkward it is, listening to him elaborate on past make-out sessions.
Especially
now that it’s with my bestie.”

“Anything I should know about these past experiences?” My stomach flutters with jealousy. Just because I gave Theo a detailed account of the men I’ve slept with, does it mean I want to know how many women he’s been with?

“Would you lighten up? I was just messing with you.” She braces herself over the bar, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “
Enjoy
your date tonight! Just relax, and remember Theo wants to be with you even after he’s heard your darkest secrets. I don’t see anything that could screw it up between you now.”

Chloe watches our exchange with wide eyes. “Is it time to go already? It feels as if we just got here.” She reaches into her studded leather bag to grab a business card, slipping it on the bar between her and Mick. “If you ever decide to get that tattoo we talked about, I know a wicked talented artist who could draw up the perfect one. She won’t even charge you full price. Her number’s on the card—you should really give her a call.”

Mick takes her hand to kiss it. “And I know a bartender who would love to take you to see a band one night. I’ll be callin’ ya.”

Chloe actually
blushes
when she reclaims her hand. She’s tongue tied, only passing me a wave before following Jewels out the door.

I turn to Mick with my hands on my hips. “What just happened? You totally made my most talkative friend mute
and
blush. In all the time I’ve known her, I haven’t seen her do either one.”

Winking, he says, “It’s called Irish charm, sweetheart.”

By a quarter to ten, I’ve tried on nearly every piece of clothing I own just to deem them all too revealing. I called Jean on my break to tell her of my big night out with Theo, and she advised me to wear something that won’t lead Theo’s imagination too far ahead. Theo sent a text earlier saying that I should wear something casual, so I guess it works.

“I’m going to need a new wardrobe,” I sigh, looking at the discarded pile of shirts and skirts spread across my mattress.

“You talking to me?” Felicity asks from the hallway.

I turn to see her lingering in my doorframe, her spectacled eyes expectant. Of the two girls I’m living with, Felicity’s my favorite. She’s way more interested in studying and reading fiction in her spare time than she is into guys and never brings anyone home I’ll bump into half-naked the next morning. She’s quite pretty with warm brown skin, a round face that draws you in, and smooth black hair she knows how to style a thousand different ways. If I dressed her up for a night on the town, she’d likely break a few hearts. But Felicity’s shy and reserved with the wardrobe to prove it.

“Felicity!” I exclaim, grabbing her by the shoulders. “Can I borrow something to wear on a date tonight?”

She draws her brows together, giving me a complete once-over. “I thought you told me I need to spice up my wardrobe. Is this some kind of a joke?”

“No!” I say with a blatant laugh. “This is me deciding I need something that doesn’t make me look desperate for attention. I just want to look pretty…like you.”

My roommate lights in excitement. “Oh, this is going to be fun!”

I’m downstairs and appropriately dressed
in time to see a dark sedan pull up to the curb. I check to make sure Felicity’s white sweater sits on my shoulders properly, not showing any skin beyond the leopard-print scarf she also loaned me. Paired with my favorite skinny jeans and tan riding boots, I actually feel quite comfortable. The tan suede coat I grabbed for later matches my outfit perfectly.

My heart thunders against my rib cage as I wait for Theo to step out of the car. Instead Charles, the elderly driver who took me to see Theo at work, steps out of the car.

I smile brightly. “Hey, Charles, looking sharp!”

“As do you, Miss Cavenaugh.” He opens the back door of the car. “Come along now. You don’t want to keep Mr. Roberts waiting.”

“Where are we going?”

“I’m afraid I’ve been asked not to share any details of the night with you. Be assured that he’s done a splendid job of preparing for your evening.”

I run my hand along my carefully styled wavy locks, suddenly nervous. I didn’t ask Theo where we were going. What if he’s taking me somewhere classy? “Charles, please, help a lady out. Am I underdressed?”

His kind eyes wrinkle with another bright smile. “You look brilliant. Rather fitting, I might say. Mr. Roberts will be pleased.”

Charles keeps the divider open between us at my request, calming my nerves with stories of his daughter and new grandson. Time flies by quickly, and in no time we come to a complete stop. I peer out the tinted windows as Charles steps from the car. For a moment I’m not able to place what buildings and trees are visible beneath bright lights. Then it finally clicks into place—we’re at a zoo, parked in front of a sign that reads “EMPLOYEE ACCESS ONLY.”

I balk at Charles as he opens my door and I step from the car. “The zoo’s open this late on a week night?”

He smiles warmly, the deep lines in his face settling. “I don’t believe so.”

A slender woman wearing safari gear appears at the gate. “Good evening, Miss Cavenaugh. Come this way.”

Charles winks. “I’ll be seeing you later. Enjoy your evening.”

Stunned, I follow the woman through the gate and down a path leading through two cement buildings. We come upon a nook designed to look like a jungle with bright flowers, dense ferns, and palm trees. A small table clad in a white linen cloth and a dozen candles has been set up in the center of it all. The dank smell and occasional sounds of lions and monkeys in the distance make it feel like we’re actually in Africa.

Theo stands next to the table dressed in a gray v-neck sweater that compliments the green of his eyes and tight-fitting enough to show off his rigid arm and chest muscles. Between his snug jeans and dazzling smile, I have to stop myself from rushing forward to ravage him. He looks amazing.

“Enjoy your evening,” the woman tells us as she walks away.

Theo strides my way, confident and in charge. “You look beautiful as always, Cavenaugh.”

I hold my breath as his lips graze my cheek, thrilled by the feel of it. “How did you arrange for this?”

“Generous donations will get you pretty much whatever you need in life.” He slips his hand into mine and checks his chunky, platinum watch. “Let’s eat, I’m starving. And we’re on a schedule.”

We’re barely seated when a stout, dark-haired woman in her 50s, wearing a white apron over a floral dress, sets a plate before each of us. “Good evening,” she greets me, beaming. “Theo tells me you like my manicotti. I wanted to give you a proper salad before your meal, but he tells me there isn’t time for that. Honestly, I don’t know where the boy’s head is half the time.”

My stomach bursts with joy when I look down to see the same manicotti Theo had ordered the day I stormed from his office. Once again, the smell is heavenly.

“I’m pretty sure it’s the best I’ve ever tasted,” I say, grinning.

With a chuckle, Theo pushes his sleeves up. “Kelly, this is my Aunt Carmela.”

The woman takes my hand, beaming. Her hand is warm and doughy. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,
tesoro
. My boy Theo has told me so much about you.”

I don’t try to hide the surprised look on my face. “Theo didn’t mention he ordered from a
family
restaurant.” Suddenly it makes sense why Theo seemed so tight with the kid who delivered our food that day.

“My boy works hard, makes good money, and he’s generous to those he loves.” She releases my hand to pinch Theo’s cheek with gusto. “My sister taught him to be proud of where he comes from. I’m sure it slipped his mind.”

Theo squirms away from her. “Ow, Aunt Carmela. Enough already.”

The way the two of them interact, I can suddenly picture Theo as a little boy before the big muscles and tattoos. I cover my mouth to muffle a quiet laugh.

Carmela crosses her arms. “I’ll leave the two of you alone now. Kelly, I hope you’ll come by for family dinner one night soon. Theo’s baby sister is dying to meet you.”

I raise my eyebrows at Theo, and his face turns beet red. “I’ll bring her by, Aunt Carmela. I promise. I can’t wait for everyone to meet her. Thank you again for doing this for me tonight.”

“Anything for my boy.” From the twinkling spark to her eyes, it’s obvious she’s happy for her nephew. My heart warms to know that she seems to approve of me at least. “Good night, you two.”

“It was nice to meet you,” I tell her. When she’s gone, I turn to Theo. “That was definitely a surprise. When you said you were ordering the best Italian in the city, you never mentioned it was from your aunt’s restaurant. Any other surprises you’d like to throw at me while we’re on the subject?”

Taking a bite, he gives me a crooked smile. “Eat your manicotti before it gets cold, Cavenaugh. The surprises for tonight have just begun.”

SIXTEEN

I’m in an Italian-induced
coma when Theo leads me away from our empty plates. The restless noises of animals settling in for the night are alive all around us. My pulse races with the possibilities of where he’s taking me next. I highly doubt he brought me here just for the jungle-like ambiance. My love for animals and the possibilities have already made this the best night of my life.

Theo strides with energy at my side, playing with my fingers and flashing me his deepest-set grin. A few months ago, I would’ve tackled him into the bushes and had my way with him. I still want to, but I resist.

We enter a gray cement building that smells like a vet clinic—a sharp mix of medicine and animal. I hear the soft muttering of a gorilla before we see it.

“Good evening, I’m Veterinarian Jackson,” a round-faced man in a white doctor coat and square glasses greets us. He stands beside a black gorilla nearly half his size that’s resting on her knuckles and chewing on something. “Theo tells me you’re interested in pursuing a career in animals, and thought maybe you’d like to see some of the behind the scenes action.”

“
Oh. My. God,
” I whisper, wrapping my arm around Theo’s waist. He pulls me into his side with a light squeeze.

“Serena, here, seemed to have a tummy ache, so they brought her in for an exam,” the vet explains. “She’s harmless. Just be sure to use a calm voice and slow movements around her so she doesn’t get overly excited.”

Theo and I watch on silently as the man interacts with her, as if examining a person. A few times her eyes fall onto me, and it’s like staring at another human. It’s a total rush standing so close to an animal without a fence separating us. I feel myself glowing with excitement. More than once Theo bends down to kiss the side of my head while I just stand in awe, taking it all in.

After the exam, the vet wraps his stethoscope around his neck. “It seems she just has a little indigestion. She’ll be just fine.”

The gorilla makes a quiet little noise, and reaches her arm out to me.

“Serena seems to like you,” the vet tells me with a bright smile that glows against his dark skin. “Would you like to come over and say hi?”

I look up at Theo, who laughs. “Go ahead. This is why I brought you here.” He kisses my head again before releasing me.

I slowly approach the large animal with my heart in my throat. “Hi, Serena.”

The gorilla first touches my hair, then brings a handful up to her nose for a long sniff. On instinct I reach for the roots of my hair so she won’t pull too hard and laugh softly. She meets my gaze as if watching for my reaction. Then she releases my hair and reaches out to touch the top of my head, gently picking her fingers along my scalp as if looking for bugs.

I laugh again. “She’s beautiful.”

There’s a soft click of the door opening behind us. The woman who brought me into the zoo appears. “Sorry to interrupt, but Zahara is crowning.”

The vet nods. “I figured that’d happen about now. I’m sorry, folks, but we’re going to have to wrap this up. Our newest addition to the zoo came to us pregnant, so I wasn’t one hundred percent sure of the timing. Susan, would you please take Serena back for me?” He removes his rubber gloves before reaching for another pair. He pauses, turning back to us. “If you’d like, the two of you could come along to watch from the other side of the gates.”

I open my mouth to answer, but can’t find the words. Theo rubs my arms. “We’d be honored.”

Exhilarated with the prospect of seeing an animal give birth, I don’t even think to ask what
kind
he’s leading us to as we wind through the trails of the zoo and into another gray cement building. I stop in my tracks when we come upon a group of elephants grazing inside a pen with thick cable wires. One of them seems to be more on edge than the rest, pacing and trumpeting in short blasts. A slimy white sack hangs from between her legs. It’s both disgusting and intriguing.

I squeeze Theo’s hand and whisper, “
Hole. E. Shit
.”

“You two wait here, and try to stay quiet,” Vet Jackson tells us as he opens a door to the pen. His eyes dance with excitement. “Don’t blink an eye. It will happen very quickly.”

We watch in bewilderment as the elephant paces around, a group of zoo staff hanging back incase she needs help. Theo slips his arms around my waist, resting his cheek against my forehead. I can feel the tension in his cheek from a wide smile.

The vet has hardly stepped foot inside the pen when the elephant takes on a galloping speed. The white sack falls out from beneath her, its contents of blood and fluids exploding everywhere like a full bathtub falling from the sky. I cover my mouth to stifle a small cry of surprise.

The staff is quick to release the baby elephant from its sack, and rouse it to life. Tears spring to my eyes as we watch the little animal take its first steps, lifting its hooves out in front in the world’s cutest baby elephant march.