Borrowing the Doctor (The Collins Brothers Book 2)

by Victoria Pinder

  The teller pointed her to a cab that waited. She smiled a little, and her leg muscles tensed, but she hopped into the cab. She nodded her thanks to the bank teller, but he had already went back in. She licked her lips and told the driver, “Cruise ship.”

  “Five minutes, ma’am,” the driver answered and drove to the main street.

  She nodded, and when the cab turned in the right direction, she half let out her breath. Then she turned back towards the bank and her heart sank. In the window, she saw Daniel and someone with a gun.

  Her hand flew to her chest. Daniel must have followed her.

  What could she do?

  Chapter 30

  “Stop the car,” Kate shouted at the driver, and held her pocketbook. A sudden coldness enveloped her in the tropic heat. Daniel should not have followed her.

  “No, ma’am.” The driver stared at her in the mirror for a moment. “The men in the bank were asking for you. The bank told me to get you back to safety.”

  “Stop,” she repeated, but the bank passed from her sight. She clutched her bag. Then she pleaded, “Please. Daniel’s inside. I can’t let him die over this.”

  “He won’t die, ma’am.” The driver stared at the road. “Trust in God and your man. If he’s the good sort, then he’d want you to be safe.”

  Dating advice? The ship offered her no safety. Her father’s men had combed the place and already knocked her out once. She gulped for air and stared behind her towards the bank. “Please. He’s more important than I am.”

  “No man would expect a woman to die for him.” The driver kept his eyes on the road. “Americans get stranger all the time.”

  Kate stared at the road. They were going too fast to jump. “Island people drive too fast.”

  He turned onto a side street then another side street. She fell back into her seat.

  Two minutes later, the driver stopped at the port. She covered her face with her hand and closed her eyes. Daniel had to be fine.

  The driver told her, “Now go in and stay safe until your man gets back.”

  “I’ll find you if something happens to Daniel,” Kate huffed out, but understood she was being ridiculous.

  After she paid the driver, she straightened her jeans and gazed at the dock. A second later, near the ice-cream shop, she spotted two of her father’s two men. She clutched her bag, lowered her head, and rushed toward the dock with the tenders to the ship.

  Every muscle shook, and she ran back to the tender.

  Footsteps echoed behind her. Passengers? Families? Enemies? Halfway through the gangway to the tender, Kate glanced back. Both of the men chased her.

  She held her breath, and the crew pushed off.

  Her feet refused to budge, and she stared at both men who cursed on the dock. Darn. She’d lost sight of the two men that she had known all her life as her father’s minions.

  She swallowed. The third one, the unknown one, was also on the cruise. Was he on the ship?

  The tender docked, and passengers went in.

  Kate waited her turn, but then stalled. Thirty impossible seconds later, her muscles cramped at the gangway, and she rushed inside the ship.

  “Stop,” the man behind the security desk told her.

  “Can you put me in a security hold?” She fumbled in her purse, then put her plastic card into the machine. Her hands shook. “Please, I’m scared. Two men from the ship, on the next tender back, they will threaten me again. Let me get away, back to my room.”

  “Kate Sparrow, right?” The man nodded. “After you go through the metal detector.”

  Her feet ached, but she moved past machine. The second boat tied itself to the ship, and the two men would be aboard. Her heart raced.

  The crewman then let her pass the metal detector. “Go. The Collins family asked to know when you returned.”

  Daniel. She nodded. Once cleared of security, Kate took to the elevator. The doors closed, and she released her breath.

  The soothing music hadn’t helped, and the ding of the door reverberated in her body. She jerked back as the doors opened.

  No one was outside. Her room was halfway down the hall. She clutched her pocketbook and ran.

  Despite the click of the door behind her, her body shook. Daniel wasn’t here. He never should have followed her. Why had he gone to the bank after her? And what should she do? Go after him?

  Her stomach quelled, but adrenaline coursed through her body. She paced. The confining walls offered no answer.

  Chapter 31

  Kate threw water on her face, but then froze.

  The cabin door opened.

  Her skin tingled, and she stared at the walls of the tiny bathroom. No where to run. She swallowed hard. She’d have no escape if her father’s men broke down the door. Her breath caught in her throat, but the footsteps of a man sent a chill through her.

  “Katie.” Daniel’s voice echoed. She uncurled her body and relaxed. “Are you in there?”

  “Yeah.” She couldn’t say anything else. She washed her face with a towel and tried to let heat back into her body. Her limbs shook, but she opened the door. Then she almost slammed the door into someone else. She called out, “Sorry.”

  Daniel’s arms held her tight, though someone closed the bathroom door behind her.

  A wave of emotion rocked through her and she turned to hug him.

  Clunk. Her purse fell off the bed and to the floor. Kate stepped back, but then shook her head. Daniel was alive. Her body ached to stay in his arms. She leaned up, and then kissed him. His lips tasted better than any alcoholic drink, and also took away the stress of today. She closed her eyes, and forgot everything else.

  “Glad you’re safe, Kate,” Daniel’s brother called out and interrupted the kiss.

  Kate held on to Daniel.

  She could breathe, and she dropped her arms to her sides. Then she backed away from both Collins men. “How were you both at the bank and now here?”

  “Taxi brought us back,” Daniel answered. “We went to find you.”

  She hadn’t meant her question to sound suspicious. She gulped. “Why?”

  “You were almost kidnapped yesterday, then I woke up with you missing.” Daniel’s arm was still on her hip, and her body warmed. “They wanted to kill you there.”

  Something hard formed in her throat. She winced. Death?

  “Sit down. You’re turning white.” Funny, because she should be warm, but she stilled. Daniel led her to the edge of the bed. She followed orders and sat. “Liam told me about your deal with the FBI.”

  She clutched Daniel’s hand, then cleared her throat. No words formed for a minute. “How does he know about my deal with anyone?”

  “I work for the FBI too, and I have the clearance,” Liam answered, and she froze. “Agent Houlihan was wrong with his deal.”

  “I didn’t steal art.” Kate stood up, but she bumped her head against Daniel’s arm. She shook her head. “I would never . . . What would I even need it for?”

  “Katie, sit. We believe you. My brother has no tact, but listen close for a minute.” Daniel’s voice held confidence. She blinked and sat back on the bed. The Collins hadn’t thought her guilty? Everyone assumed Kate Sparrow was evil incarnate. She sat to let her brain catch up to her heart.

  She ran her hand through her hair. “I need that deal. I can’t go to jail, not after everything.”

  “Houlihan shouldn’t have offered you the deal,” Liam answered, and Kate’s heart raced.

  Daniel squeezed her hand.

  “Liam means the FBI knows you’re innocent.” Daniel sat next to her on the bed, but her mouth opened a bit. Daniel’s word sounded true, but her heart thumped again. He believed her. “Houlihan never should have sent you on this cruise or to the bank to get anything from your father. He put you in jeopardy, and he knew you didn’t steal anything.”

  Liam nodded. “Houlihan should have told you that you’re free of all charges.”

  “You believe me?” She blinked.
Then she looked at Liam. “You both believe I’m innocent? The FBI will back that up? This isn’t a joke?”

  Liam nodded, but Daniel answered. “Yes. Now let’s talk about the bank and what happened.”

  The fog in her brain dissipated, and she felt like her shoulders had a weight lifted off them. “Can I talk to Daniel? Alone?”

  “Yeah.” Liam looked at his brother. “I’ll have my phone on.”

  She waited until Liam closed the door behind him, and then gazed into the warm brown eyes of the man she could fall for. She licked her lips. If he continued to stare at her like this, the pools of warmness building inside her would melt everything cold inside her.

  Chapter 32

  “We’re walking.” Daniel stood up, then took her hand to help Kate stand. “If whoever tried to kidnap you or your stalker sees you around the ship, they will see you with me.”

  “Wait.” She took his hand, and stood. “I appreciate everything, Daniel, but I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “The room is getting smaller with every second, Katie.”

  She swallowed. “Okay, but first, I need your advice.”

  Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. Today had been surreal. He shook his head. “Not now. Just give me a few minutes.”

  “I need advice, not saving.”

  He tugged on his ear. “My mind is running fast, Katie. I’m not thinking clear right now.”

  She placed her hand to her hip. “I don’t understand you.”

  He closed his eyes and tried to explain. “Someone held a gun to my head back at the bank. Katie, I need to figure out in a rational manner my next move.”

  He stared at her. “What next move?”

  She offered him surprise after surprise. She hadn’t trusted him, and her life was a disaster. Then he gazed behind her to the bed where he’d taken her virginity last night. He needed air. “Let’s go.”

  She nodded. “Where?”

  His heart raced. “I’ll listen better if we walk.”

  “Ohh.” She picked up her purse and followed him to the door. “We’ll find some place where no one can hear us.”

  “Perfect.” He opened the door for her, then held it for her to join him. If the conversation turned heavy or emotional, he’d take her back to their room. But first, he needed clean air. Her face read ‘serious.’ He ran his hand through his hair. “Today was nothing how I expected.”

  “It was better than I planned.” She stroked her shoulders, and slowed down. He extended his hand, and she took the offer. “I thought today would be bad, and for the first time in my life, I’m conflicted.”

  He nodded then led her to the exercise walkway on the eighth floor. “Go on.”

  She took a deep breath and stayed close. “In my purse, I have the statement for Dad’s account, that I promised Houlihan. I also have everything in the safety deposit box.”

  “Kate!”

  Another voice entered the conversation and Kate jerked back.

  She clutched Daniel, her bag between them. They both turned around to stare at Stephanie.

  “Did you steal Mom’s necklace from the box at the bank?” Stephanie shouted. “I planned on wearing that for my wedding tomorrow.”

  Kate’s fingernails dug into his arm.

  Daniel shook his head. “Kate’s not ruining any weddings, and we’re having a private conversation. She’ll talk to you later.”

  “My sister and I are having a discussion. Boyfriends are not included,” Stephanie countered. “Besides, you’ll disappear from our family soon enough.”

  “Kate’s marrying me. It’s my ring on her finger,” Daniel retorted. Those words were not what he expected to say, but he couldn’t take it back. The only part of today that made sense was Kate at his side. “We were talking, Stephanie, so she’ll find you later.”

  “We’re in the middle of something important, Stephanie.” Kate gripped his hand hard, but she held her head up against Stephanie. “I will deal with you later.”

  Daniel opened the next door, and led her outside into the heat of the day on the exercise deck. Stephanie remained inside.

  Kate stayed with him for a moment, but then she froze again. He followed her gaze toward another man. She trembled and then gazed at the floor.

  The bald man with the tattoos on his arms scared her before, and Daniel’s fists clenched.

  Then before he could say a word, the man walked over to them.

  Kate bit her lip, grabbed Daniel’s arm tighter, and then stared at both men. “Harry, this is my fiancé, Daniel Collins.”

  “Fiancé? I had no idea you even liked men.”

  Her lips curled. “Get lost, Harry.”

  Daniel’s entire body clenched. This was the man that’d attacked Katie, yet the cruise ship had no evidence to back up the claim.

  His arm held Kate tight. “You and I should talk about how a man treats a woman.”

  Harry’s mouth fell open, but then he chose to turn and run out the door.

  Daniel took a step to follow him, but Kate held his arm and refused to move. Daniel sighed. “You were right. The room is better, after all. My head is clear now, Katie.”

  “If you say so.” She massaged his arm.

  Daniel shook his head. “Today has been a revelation.”

  They held hands, but quickly returned to their floor. In the hall, Kate swallowed, then said, “I still need your advice.”

  Chapter 33

  “Daniel, I need someone to hear me out.” Kate closed her eyes. “I’m confused.”

  He opened the door to the room. She swallowed, and waited. He nodded. “I’m here. Tell me.”

  “Opening up is new and hard.” She walked into the room then turned around to stare at him. “My mother left me a necklace in her safe deposit box and proof of ownership. She promised me what was in the box would be my ticket to freedom.”

  Daniel closed the door behind him, and she dropped her bag onto the bed. “How can a necklace do that?”

  Kate closed her eyes and recalled her mother’s dying words on protection and family. Then she opened her eyes and shrugged. “I hoped when everything went wrong in my life that, somehow, Mom had left me something more than more jewels.”

  Daniel stroked his chin. “How did your sister know about the necklace?”

  Kate shook her head. “I have no idea. It was my box. Stephanie doesn’t have a key.”

  Daniel blinked. “Your sister just made that claim.”

  She nodded. “I don’t know, but that’s my second mystery.”

  “Second?” He sat on the tiny couch. “You did want to talk. I’m listening now.”

  Kate sat on the bed and waited. When he didn’t say anything, she unzipped her bag and threw everything onto the bed next to her. “If I tell your brother Liam about what I found in my father’s box . . .” She rubbed her neck. “. . . I’ll betray my father, and now, it’s not for my freedom. But he set me up . . .”

  Daniel’s his arms fell into his lap. “Liam said you were free.”

  Her hands shook. “I took this already.”

  Liam jumped out of his seat to sit next to her on the bed. Her eyes watered, but she gulped several times to stop the tears. “This should be evidence. I risked our necks to get it. I don’t know what to do or who to trust.”

  He pushed a piece of her hair out of her face, and ignored her wet cheeks. “The decision is yours. I’ll stay at your side, no matter what.”

  Kate’s eyes were like faucets, and she wiped her face. No one had ever said something so nice and supportive in a good decade.

  “My family wouldn’t set me up like your father did,” he said. “All I can do is stay here.”

  Her heart heavy, she answered, “I’m thinking I should call my dad at the jail.”

  “Do you want me to stay here with you, or go for a few minutes?”

  She scooted closer to him. “Stay.”

  He nodded.

  She stared at her watch. The prison was still ope
n. “And you’ll stay? Right here?”

  He nodded again. She almost smiled. Support was new. Then she picked up the receiver in the room and gripped the handle. She dialed out, but almost hung up the phone at the first ring.