“Are you okay?”
He squirmed in his chair and nodded. “What happens to the clothing company now that your dad is gone?”
“Shoe company first and foremost,” Kate corrected him. “Sparrows started as a shoe company. We added bags. Then clothes. I’m sure Father’s will left everything to Stephanie.”
He sipped his merlot. “Would you have money then?”
She shrugged. “Mom’s will left me taken care of. I don’t really need any more money.”
She swallowed, and he watched as the gulp worked its way down her throat. Then he blinked, as another image raced through his mind. Alone, in their room, he’d have kissed every inch of her neck, and follow the same trail.
He massaged his neck to stop the fantasy.
“Did you hear me?” Kate asked.
He shook his head. “No, sweetheart, I was lost in my thoughts for a second. What did you say?”
“I asked if you’d still have me if I were broke.”
“I’d be happier,” Daniel answered then sipped his drink. “Seeing you barefoot and pregnant at my house in Hyannis, with nowhere to go and a smile on your face when I walked in the door . . . I’d be a happy man.”
“A dream world said by a man.” She shook her head. “I’d never be okay to stay home alone, without anything to do.”
“You’d have lots to do.” He winked.
She shook her head. “I’d need something to do outside the home. I’d like to be more useful to society.”
He nodded. “I’m sure we’d work out a compromise.”
Kate sipped her pinot grigio. “What does your mom do?”
He then sipped his glass, in unison. “She cleans the house and throws society functions like the one you supposedly stole the painting from at the museum.”
She crossed her arms and stared. “I wasn’t there.”
He nodded. “I know. I was there and I’d have spent the night determined to talk to you.”
Her mouth fell open. “Is that why you believe me?”
He put his glass down and stood. “No, Katie. You are at my side, and that’s all it takes.”
She blushed.
He offered her his hand. “Are you ready to dance?”
As she stood, he stared at the nape of her neck. His lips ached to kiss her, but he stayed firm.
Her hand fit in his, and she had a gentleness in her every step. She came closer, and he rested his hand on her hip. No woman had the same effect on him, and he needed to have her again.
“Your family is at the bar at the top of the ship, no?” Kate asked.
The opposite direction than where he wanted to go.
He nodded, and they ascended. At the stairwell, he inhaled her fresh lavender scent. On the next level, he released his grip on her hip but kept her hand.
He squeezed her hand, the one with his ring on it. For the first time in his life, the thought of forever hadn’t scared him.
Chapter 37
Kate led Daniel onto the dance floor in the nightclub. She ran her hands around his body, and shook her hips.
He took her hand and brought it to his upper-arm muscle, and spun her around.
A shock rushed through her body. He could dance.
The darkened room was illuminated with flashing lights. The music switched to a fast song. She shimmied in her dress, and Daniel’s hand went lower to her hip. She sighed and twirled into him.
Then the tempo changed to a salsa, and he held her tighter.
“Where did you learn to dance?” she asked, but followed his lead.
“Mom made me her partner when Dad was busy.” Daniel told her. “I’m the oldest.”
He dipped her, and her body lost control for a moment. She swallowed, then stood on her tiptoes to whisper into his ear, “Daniel, give your mom my thanks.”
“Katie.” He twirled her to the door. “Let’s go, before I drag you back to the room.”
She giggled, and they left. His family was supposed to be here, but he led her outside to the deck of the ship. Her feet followed his direction, and her body cooled down from that hot dance.
A sigh escaped her. The tropical heat was cooler than being held in Daniel’s arm.
She gripped his arm. “We’re supposed to be seen tonight.”
They passed people in the pools and Jacuzzis. Daniel stilled, and she led him to a shaded section of the deck, and to chairs to watch the sun set.
Daniel sat. “One hour, sweetheart, then we’ll go back.”
She gulped and nodded. “Tonight.”
“Sit on my lap until then Katie.”
A chill raced down her spine as she did as he asked. Stephanie’s wedding tomorrow and then the last night of the cruise, this was their last chance. She’d be up at six or seven the day after to leave. On land, she’d tend to her father’s funeral, and find a way to run away before her father’s men killed her too. She’d get her dog, and hide.
Daniel’s arms around her tonight brought back a warmth that she craved. She turned away from the sun to stare into his big black pupils.
“Kate, how dare you ignore me?”
Why? Daniel squeezed her hand, and Kate peered past him to her sister. Her sister had her hands on her hip.
Kate blinked then sat straighter. “Steph, your wedding is tomorrow. Don’t you have something to do?”
“Dad’s not answering,” Stephanie said.
Daniel’s hand on Kate’s back gave her strength because didn’t know what to do. Did she not know? She rubbed her neck. “He’s not going to. When we get back, we’ll find out what hap—”
“First my dog, now my dad?” Tears pooled in her eyes. “Please give me the necklace, Kate, before something happens to you, too.”
“What?” The necklace again? Kate shook her head. Daniel’s arms around her kept her centered. “We need to talk, sis. Our father’s dead. Do you know how dad died?”
“No. Until you told me, just now. I didn’t even know. Did you kill him?”
A scoff escaped her lips. “No. I can’t swim in the ocean to off our dad and make it back for your wedding.”
“I hate you.”
“Why? I did nothing to you.”
Daniel squeezed her and Kate’s heart calmed a bit.
Stephanie’s eyes blazed with anger. “I need my property, and you hate jewelry.”
“What do you know?” Daniel’s deep voice startled both women. He held her close. She wasn’t alone.
Stephanie rocked back on her feet. “Kate, don’t do this. I haven’t hurt you.”
“Yeah, you have.” Kate shook her head. “You helped Dad set me up, and now he’s dead. Tell me what you know.”
“I can’t.” Stephanie lowered her head and kicked her foot in the air. “Give me Mom’s necklace. It’s all I want. I’ll be in my room all night.”
She ran off down the hall.
Daniel’s hand on her back steadied Kate. She refused to chase after her sister. “Whatever she’s plotted, I’ll find out in some staged scene of hers, later.”
Daniel stood up then kissed her cheek. She hugged his shoulders to kiss him deeper. Her feet arched up of their own accord. Damn. Kisses like his were part of movie magic, not real life, at least not her life, until now.
Her lower lip was sucked into his lips for a moment, and her entire body grew lax.
Then he stepped back, and led her back toward the night club. “Let’s check in with my family, then in half an hour, we leave.”
She squeezed his hand, and he opened the door into the night club. They made their way towards the back. She stayed with him, and he led her to a bar located at the forward top of the ship. She swallowed, and her mouth fell open. He wore her lipstick on his lips. She licked her finger, and stopped him to scrub what she could off.
He waved back at his brother. She chewed on her lip, and then she motioned with her hand for him to scrub his face. He gazed at her, and then he followed her directions. He rubbed his chin and dimples.
&n
bsp; When her mark on him was gone, he took her hand again, and guided her to his family. Her heart beat fast the second she joined the group. Her family stabbed each other in the back for breakfast. Yet Daniel’s family smiled at each other with genuine affection.
Daniel hugged his sister-in-law, and his brothers all shook her hand.
She almost smiled. After her unsettling encounter with her sister, the warmth of Daniel’s family helped her heart return to its normal pace.
Daniel was perfect.
Chapter 38
“So, Kate,” Gigi asked. “What do your parents do?”
Silence descended on the group.
“My mom has been dead for years. She stared Sparrow shoes.”
“I used to like them, I think.” Gigi reached over to Sean. “And your father?”
“And my father died today.” Conflicting emotions raced through Kate. How did she feel about that? He’d been dead to her for years.
Daniel squeezed her hand.
“I’m so sorry,” Gigi said, her eyes welling with tears.
Kate’s face grew warm, and Daniel and his brothers remained silent. Then her face grew wet.
Gigi shot to her feet and stood next to her. “Kate, join me in the bathroom. I, err, need to fix my face.”
Kate traced her neckline, and tugged. She swallowed, but followed Gigi out a side door. Gigi passed the women’s room and led them to a pair of deck chairs.
Kate slumped into one, and Gigi scooted her chair closer. “You’re white as a ghost, Kate. I’m so sorry for bringing up your father.”
“You couldn’t have known.”
Kate crossed her arms. “Did you not know about Sparrow shoes?”
“I should have known, but no, I didn’t.”
She dropped her hands to her side. “Okay.”
Gigi pushed her hair out of her face from the wind. “I wouldn’t want to be around family if I just lost mine.”
“The Collinses care about each other.” She shook her head. “My family and I weren’t close.”
“My mother tried to destroy my life.” Gigi’s smile faltered. “She had me convinced I was no good for Sean.”
Her mother tried to stop Gigi’s happiness. Kate shook her head. “I intended to testify against my dad in court. He set me up.”
“You’re braver than me,” Gigi said softly. “I wish I’d fought harder for my own happiness. She ran me out of town, and made me hate myself. Sean found me, years later. You can let go of whatever bad your dad did and be happy with Daniel.”
“Daniel’s a stable guy and a doctor.” Kate rubbed her neck. “But with Dad dead, I could be the next target. And my sister is up to something. If I drop my guard and let Daniel into my heart, his life will devolve into my rapidly spinning out of control world. He deserves better.”
“Daniel deserves a choice,” Gigi reminded her. “I’ve known Daniel since I was three years old, and he’s never looked at a woman the way he looks at you. Even his brothers see it.”
“I don’t know,” Kate answered, and covered her face with her hand. Daniel had been amazing. He stood next to her when no one else ever had. “I don’t need a man to fight my battles.”
“He can be in your corner,” Gigi said. “Don’t convince yourself you’re right to keep him out. You’ll end up alone.”
Kate’s eyes threatened to water, and she wiped her face. She wouldn’t cry. She stared at the moon over the ocean.
Gigi stayed quiet, though beside her. Kate hadn’t made new friends in a long time, but Gigi was nice. Her face dried, and Kate inched closer to the door. Gigi followed, and Kate nodded at her. “Thank you. Tonight, I don’t intend to think about anything other than Daniel. Tomorrow can take care of itself.”
Gigi nodded. “Love cures a lot of bad.”
Love?
“Let’s get back in for a drink with the sexy Collins brothers.”
“My exact plan.” Gigi smiled, and held the door open. “Daniel’s needed a girl with fire for a long time. As a kid, he spent so much time being the older brother, he missed out on being a little boy.”
“Is Gigi spreading lies about me?” As they approached, Daniel stood up at the table, then the other men did. Gigi kissed his cheek.
He flashed a smile at Kate. “Don’t listen to her at all. I’m the fun brother.”
“If you say so, Daniel,” she said, and his brothers laughed.
“Trouble at three o’clock,” Gerard said.
Kate swung around. Eric and Stephanie walked in through the side door. Kate squeezed Daniel’s hand. “I don’t want to fight with her again, tonight. I won’t be happy—”
“We’re leaving,” Daniel said to his brothers. “See you at the court tomorrow.”
“Court?” she asked, as he led her out the other door.
“Ping-Pong,” Daniel answered and held the elevator door for her. “We’re all competitive.”
Her mind swirled.
“And,” he added, “tomorrow, we’re talking to Gerard about your legal options, Katie. When we get off the ship, we’ll need a plan.”
“But not tonight,” she said, and ran her hands down Daniel’s back.
“No,” he said, squeezing her hand, “Not tonight.”
Tonight, she had no worries. Everything else would be dealt with tomorrow.
Chapter 39
Daniel stopped at the cupcake place and chose a cream-filled pastry guaranteed to put ten pounds on in one bite. Her heart stopped, as she spotted her father’s men, Gabriella, Daniel’s ex, and another woman all coming down the hall. She stepped away from the door and into Daniel’s back.
The door jingled opened, and Kate leaned forward and whispered to Daniel, “Dad’s men and Gabriella are here. I still have this bump on my head.”
“It wasn’t us, miss,” the men behind her said. Daniel turned them around and held her waist in one smooth motion.
“We’d never hurt Mr. Sparrow’s daughter,” Harry, the bald man, said.
Daniel stepped in front of her. “So you kidnapped my fiancée?”
“Yes. They found me at breakfast.” Kate could hear the slight tremble in her voice. “Can we call security?”
“Keep your fiancée on a leash, Daniel,” Gabriella. “She’s insulting our dates. Now get out of our way.”
“”What?” Kate’s mouth fell open. “Gigi was right. You had no taste.”
Kate watched as the group exited the cupcake shop and down the hall.
Daniel’s fists were clenched. “The tapes of the ship show nothing happened. It’s your word against theirs, and with the tapes, they’d win in court.”
She shook her head. “Figures.”
He banged on the table. “We shouldn’t have let them get away, Katie.”
She sighed. “Let it go. Hopefully it’s over now that my dad is dead.”
Daniel crossed his arms. “I don’t like this.”
“Get your cupcake.” She swallowed then walked away. If Daniel wasn’t ready to flirt, then fine. She found a seat, and draped her leg over the side. The cupcake might calm her racing heart.
They’d go to the room soon.
A few seconds later he sat opposite her at the table, and handed her a spoon. She stared at it. “I never eat these things, but we’re celebrating.”
She nodded then scooped a piece.
“What’s the occasion?” he asked, and then took his first bite.
“Kate Sparrow’s freedom.” She reached over took another bite. “Delicious.”
They both took another bite.
“If you’re free what’s your plan?”
“I’ve never made plans.” She shrugged then stared at him. Then she shook her head. “I never eat desserts. I never make plans. Daniel, this means, I get a say in my life.”
“What would you do?”
She tapped her fingers on her cheek. Her mind imagined a life married to Daniel with two children, but she gulped. Then she licked her lips and adjusted her neckline. “I want
ed to play violin in the orchestra. I’m too out of practice now, but I could play music again.”
Borrowing the Doctor (The Collins Brothers Book 2) Page 16
