by C. C. Gibbs
‘Yours?’ she said drolly, flirtation always safer than actual emotion.
He grinned. ‘It is when I’m home. And I want you to see it. Now, let me find Roscoe,’ he said when they came to the bottom of the stairs. ‘I’ll say a few words and we can leave’ – he glanced at his Santos watch – ‘right on schedule.’
Roscoe didn’t look at all like Kate had imagined. She knew he was older, so had anticipated someone overweight, bald or greying, a few wrinkles.
He was dressed in jeans and a grey silk long-sleeved shirt buttoned at the neck, his blond hair long like Dominic’s, his lean face tanned, and either he’d had some good cosmetic surgery or he had good genes. He didn’t look a day over forty.
‘So you’re the sorceress,’ he said gruffly when Dominic introduced her.
‘Uh-uh, Roscoe, Katherine’s my good luck charm. Life’s been much better since I met her. So be nice.’ Although he was already. Roscoe had modulated his voice and spoke more quietly than his usual wake-the-dead volume.
Roscoe smiled. ‘Thanks for bringing in the twenty mil.’
Dominic had said Roscoe had been married twice. She could see how women would like him. That was a very nice smile. ‘My pleasure.’
‘You should work for us.’
‘I’d rather not, but thank you.’
He lifted his brows to Dominic. ‘What the hell’s wrong with you, Nick? Can’t you make her an offer she can’t refuse?’
‘I’m trying, Roscoe. But she doesn’t care about money. How do you deal with that?’
‘I’m sure you’ll think of something,’ Roscoe murmured. ‘If you have a minute, I’d like to talk about a couple of things.’
Dominic gave Kate a searching glance. ‘Do you mind, baby. Five minutes?’
‘I’ll go find Gretchen. Come get me when you’re finished.’
‘See, Roscoe? Is she perfect or what?’ He took Kate by the shoulders and spun her round. ‘There’s Gretchen. Five minutes, I’ll come get you.’
Kate went to the kitchen first because Po’s martini was like the nectar of the gods and she was addicted. She’d find Gretchen once she had her drink.
But she’d just reached the counter where the bartender was working and ordered her drink when a man’s voice close to her ear said, ‘Dominic has excellent taste as usual.’
She turned to find a tall, tanned, fair-haired man smiling at her and wondered if all Dominic’s friends looked like California surfers.
‘Kip Watson,’ he said with a dip of his head. ‘I can’t tell you how pleased I am to meet you.’ His voice was soft and low, a playful twinkle in his eyes.
‘Katherine Hart. Nice to meet you too.’
‘You’re not from around here.’ He grinned. ‘Fargo?’
‘Everyone says that. And I don’t think I have an accent.’
‘It’s charming. Don’t change it. Can I get you a drink?’
‘I’ve ordered, thanks.’
‘Will you be around long?’ His gaze slowly raked her figure before returning to her face. ‘I’m saying a little prayer here. Tell me yes,’ he said, his smile slow and easy.
‘I’m not sure.’ She shrugged faintly.
‘That’s better than a no. May I take you to dinner some night?’
‘No, you can’t,’ Dominic said, coming up and slipping his arm around Kate’s shoulder. ‘She’s mine.’
‘Mine?’ Kip lazily arched his brows. ‘What the hell does that mean?’
‘It means back off, Kip, or I’ll break your neck,’ Dominic said with the same lazy arch of his brows.
Kip’s smile was smug, a little swagger in his voice. ‘You’re not a teenager on the beach intimidating some rogue surfer, Nick. Those days are long gone.’
‘I know exactly where and who I am,’ Dominic quietly said, his glittering blue gaze squarely focused on Kip.
‘So you’re not going to do anything to me.’
‘I wouldn’t count on it.’
‘Here? In Mel’s house? Who the hell are you kidding?’
‘Did I say I’d do it here? I don’t remember saying that. But I remember saying I’ll break your neck if you get anywhere near Katherine.’ Dominic leaned forward slightly, aggression straining every nerve, his quiet voice deadly. ‘And that’s a promise. So stay the fuck away from her.’
Slack-jawed, fear passed over Kip’s features with hurtling speed, like a movie clip in double time.
‘Now get the hell out,’ Dominic said, very, very softly.
Terror-stricken, Kip looked like a deer in headlights. ‘Would you like help?’
The whispered words acted like the crack of a whip.
Kip leaped back, spun round and fled.
‘How’s that?’ Dominic nuzzled Kate’s cheek. ‘No scene. I didn’t even raise my voice.’
She turned and looked up. ‘Break his neck. Really?’ she said, with mild surprise. ‘Do you think you might have overreacted just a tad?’
Dominic frowned. ‘Kip’s an asshole on his best day. You don’t know him like I do. It wasn’t really a dinner invitation.’
‘I wouldn’t have said yes.’
‘He had no right asking,’ Dominic said curtly.
‘You can’t threaten everyone who comes near me.’
He could and he would. ‘Sorry, babe.’ He lightened his tone. ‘Maybe Kip just got to me.’
She gave him one of her sidelong looks. ‘Did you fight a lot when you were young?’
It took him a moment to answer, his teenage years fully occupied: school, sports, sex, surfing. He had always been busy. ‘I don’t know about a lot of fights. But between seething hostility over family issues and raging hormones …’ He shrugged. ‘I had a fight or two. I wasn’t the only one. Teenage boys, what can I say? It seemed as though there was always some dude on the beach who was trying to prove something. And I played football so I knocked a few heads around there, but nothing out of the ordinary. I played baseball too but that’s not a contact sport.’ No way he was going to mention the endless sex – which was a contact sport. ‘I didn’t sit around much, but I never went looking for a fight, if that’s what you were wondering.’ He smiled his most charming smile, the one that salved female peevishness and displeasure; the one that had gotten a helluva lot of use. ‘Are we good now? Am I normal enough not to make you nervous? Can we get out of here?’
But it took them another half hour to reach the door because everyone wanted to talk to Dominic or get a closer look at the woman he’d kissed with such extraordinary drama.
Those who wanted to talk to Dominic were almost entirely women, but he sidestepped most of them with a smile and a few brief words, until one woman grabbed his arm and wouldn’t let go.
She was like so many of the women here tonight: elegant, slender, well dressed, well coiffed, beautiful.
‘Come for coffee sometime,’ she said, breathy and soft. ‘Anytime.’
‘I’ll check with Katherine,’ Dominic said, gently freeing himself from her grip. ‘She’s running our schedule. How are Joe and the kids?’
The woman didn’t seem to hear or comprehend. ‘I really miss you,’ she whispered.
‘Thanks, Bets. I’m sorry,’ he said softly, backing away towards the door, ‘but we’re on our way out.’
Before Kate could fall prey to the realization that the scene she had just witnessed might well be her shortly, her melancholy thought was swept aside by the sound of a sharp, familiar voice.
‘You should get a haircut, Dominic.’
Letitia Knight was standing stiffly between them and the door, a sneer on her perfect face, her pink manicured fingers clasped at her waist in a pose reminiscent of the Queen on a walkabout. Only the purse was missing.
Dominic came to a stop. ‘If I wanted a haircut, Mother, I’d get one.’
She sniffed. ‘You’re not a surfer any longer.’
‘What makes you think that?’ he said pleasantly.
A quick, condescending glance Kate’s way. ‘I see
Miss Hart is still keeping you company.’
‘Yes, she is. I feel very fortunate. Is there something on your mind?’
‘Charlie said you were dismissive of her, actually rude to her.’
‘And that’s of interest to you because?’
‘Because her mother is a dear friend of mine. I expect you to be more courteous.’
‘Don’t expect anything from me, Mother. That ship sailed years ago. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re leaving.’ When she didn’t move, Dominic dropped Kate’s hand, walked up to his mother and said very quietly, ‘Please move, Mother.’ He dipped his head, his gaze completely blank. ‘You’re in my way.’
She moved.
‘Wise choice,’ he murmured. Then he turned, walked to the closet, took out Kate’s raincoat, helped her on with it under Letitia’s icy gaze, and without further communication with his mother, guided Kate to the door.
A moment later, they stood outside.
‘Sorry about that,’ he said with a small sigh. ‘I was hoping to avoid her.’
‘Don’t be sorry. She’s of no significance to me.’
He smiled. ‘Another area of agreement for us.’ He looked up. ‘Hi, Leo. Everything quiet?’
Leo came out of the shadows. ‘Everything’s fine.’
‘It was a nice party but we’d both rather be home.’
‘Don’t blame you.’
Dominic took Kate’s hand and started walking. ‘Let’s take a rain check on the bridge tonight,’ he said quietly, trying to shake away his mother’s confrontation, wondering why she’d irritated him more than usual tonight. ‘Suddenly, home is more appealing.’
‘You don’t have to convince me to stay in. I like being alone with you.’
He exhaled softly. ‘Same here, baby. We’re both tapping into the same good vibe.’
His mother had gotten to him, she thought. And why wouldn’t she? It was all fine and good to sweep all that misery under the rug, but it surfaced from time to time. Or it was deliberately provoked by Letitia Knight.
The cold-hearted bitch had been waiting for him.
CHAPTER 19
‘I left our phones charging next door,’ Dominic said as they entered his bedroom. ‘Be right back.’
In a few moments, he returned through the connecting door to his small office, barefoot now. Moving to the bed, he held out Kate’s phone. ‘Roscoe said I have some emails I should look at. He’s been deleting what he can. Maybe Nana left you a message. Did you tell her you were here?’
‘Not yet.’ Kate turned on her cell.
He grinned. ‘Will you ever?’
She did an eye roll. ‘I’m thinking about it.’
‘Let me know if I should add a note,’ he teased, dropping onto the bed, pulling some pillows behind his head, stretching out beside Kate and scrolling through his remaining emails. He’d deleted the one from Leo with the time and place for his meeting with Gora.
‘Jeez! I have another job offer! Wow!’ Kate quickly sat up, stared at the screen, read the entire email then handed it to Dominic. ‘CX Capital liked my work in Singapore.’
‘And why wouldn’t they?’ he said with an approving smile. ‘You’re the cyber wizard who can always find the missing loot.’ Setting down his phone, he took hers and read the message he’d been waiting for. ‘Congratulations.’ He handed her phone back. ‘The money’s not bad either.’
‘It’s huge! Well, not compared to your idea of money,’ she said with a small smile, leaning over and placing her phone on the bedside table. ‘But some of us are used to living on scholarships and ramen noodles. Did you see they have a sublet apartment available for me?’
‘They really want you, baby. Although you could stay at my place in London if you like.’
‘Don’t be mad if I say no. OK?’
He smiled. ‘I won’t be, Miss Independent. See, I’m learning. So, does the job sound like something you’d like to do?’
‘Does it ever! They have some major security vulnerabilities they need closed. Is that fun or what?’
Dominic laughed. ‘Apparently.’
‘I don’t have to be there until next week,’ she said softly. ‘I’m glad.’
‘Me too. We still have a few days then.’ He reached out and pulled her on top of him. ‘Just us.’ He lifted his head from the pillow, kissed her and, dropping back, said quietly, ‘I’m happy for you, baby.’
‘Thanks. I love what I do.’
‘It’s a good feeling, isn’t it?’ He smiled. ‘I’ll fly you to London. Tell them you don’t need a plane ticket. Once you’re settled in, I have to go to Rome. Business,’ he added. His meeting with Gora was scheduled for Tuesday.
‘Because you’ve put everything on hold for a week?’
He nodded. ‘Things can wait. I’d rather be with you while I can. Especially if you’re going to be working again.’
His words I’d rather be with you while I can triggered all her insecurities about time – or rather their lack of time, exclusivity contract or not. There were enormous dangers in loving someone like Dominic Knight. No matter what he said, the pattern of his relationships was a huge red flag. As were all the women he’d politely evaded at the party tonight. And her jealousy was like a fire-breathing beast – not even close to being able to be tamed. So despite knowing she should leave well enough alone, accept her place in the manifold ranks of women who’d passed through Dominic’s life and count her goddamn blessings, she said, ‘Who’s Bets?’
‘Why?’ His clear gaze was on her, his voice mellow.
‘Because I heard her say how much she’s been missing you, that’s why.’
‘You don’t have to miss me,’ he said, ignoring her question. ‘Say the word and you’re welcome in my life.’ He reached up and touched her cheek with his palm. ‘I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that.’
‘You didn’t answer. Who is she?’
‘Bets is someone who needs someone,’ he said, the quiet affirmation in his voice not meant to persuade but to confirm.
‘Not someone. You.’
‘I can’t help that. She can’t have me.’ Slowly, he ran a hand through her tousled hair. ‘You can have me if you like.’
She took a small breath, rolled off him, sat up and gave him a shaky smile.
He suddenly wished like hell they’d never gone to the party. Or that Betsy hadn’t gone to the party. Or that he could think of some excuse that would placate Katherine. His mind was blank; he must be more tired than he thought.
‘I know you’re supposed to be coy and not rock the boat with a big-time player like you,’ Kate said, her voice very quiet despite the determined look on her face.
Not good, he thought. Katherine determined.
‘But I’ve never been coy or cautious, so here goes. I love you. You don’t have to love me back. You probably couldn’t even if I wanted you to. But it’s all I can think about – even when I know how colossally stupid it is to love someone like you. It’s on my mind all the time, every minute, every second, so I’m telling you.’
It wasn’t about Bets. That would have been easier.
The silence lengthened.
‘Say something.’
His gaze was shuttered. ‘What do you want me to say?’
‘I think I’ve heard that line before. But this isn’t a multiple choice question. Tell me what you’re thinking.’
He smiled faintly. ‘I’m thinking that I wish you weren’t asking me to tell you what I was thinking.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I don’t want to piss you off.’
This time she smiled just a little. ‘That bad, hey?’
‘No, it’s not bad. Nothing about you is bad. It’s just that I don’t know what I’m thinking. My brain doesn’t work like that.’
‘Are you uncomfortable … uncertain?’ She grinned, feeling a strange satisfaction and relief now that she’d made her confession; all the pressure of not talking about her feelings gone. ‘Are you wis
hing I’d shut up?’
‘Yes.’
Her brows rose. She’d rather know than not know. And it wasn’t as though she seriously contemplated Dominic handing her a ring.
‘Yes to all that.’ An almost inaudible sigh, then his lashes lifted and he gave her a long critical look. ‘Look, baby, you don’t understand,’ he said softly, his blue eyes surprisingly open now. ‘No one ever asks me what I’m feeling. And even if they did, I’m guessing those doors were closed and locked long ago. I don’t sort out my feelings, I don’t know how. In any case, they’re irrelevant to the actions I take. My activities are based on pragmatic decisions.’
‘Am I a pragmatic decision?’
‘I knew you were going to say that,’ he grumbled, raking his hand through his hair, hitting his knuckles on the headboard and wincing. He rubbed his knuckles, dropped his hand on the bed. ‘I don’t know what you are. I don’t know what fucking day it is when I’m screwing you or waiting to screw you or have just finished screwing you. You’ve made my life a total take-no-prisoners clusterfuck. This is the second time I’ve walked away from my world for you, because of you … because of my obsession with you. So you might be in love … I don’t know what that means … but I’m fucking involved if that’s what you’re wondering – in ways I’ve never been before.’ He scowled at her. ‘But that’s all I know. Don’t expect me to know what love is. I don’t.’
‘Even with your wife you didn’t know about love?’ She shouldn’t have said it; she knew she shouldn’t have even before his whole body went completely rigid.
‘I’m not talking about Julia,’ he said, tightly.
‘But I want to know,’ she said bluntly, staring him down. ‘So you might as well tell me.’
He didn’t say anything for a long time.
‘I can outlast you,’ she whispered. ‘Or maybe I should start undressing.’ She gave him an impudent smile. ‘That always gets your attention.’
He gave her a nasty look. ‘I don’t know why the fuck I put up with you.’
‘Because I don’t roll over like the rest of them. I make you work for it. So tell me.’
She saw him ball his hands into fists, saw him stretch his fingers wide, figured he was trying to decide how little to tell her.
