“That’s Sparrow, Inc.” Kate crossed her arms and shook her head. “And we have a lot to talk about.”
Kate tried to think. Stephanie had a one-track mind, and she repeated herself. How she could get what she needed from her? She scratched her head. Then she leaned closer to her sister. “The necklace is mine, and so is Mom’s company.”
Stephanie’s entire body shook. “No.”
She raised her eyebrows and in a dare she finished with, “She gave me the key, and the promise of what was mine.”
“Liar. You’ve never cared about the company, and have zero business skills, sis,” Stephanie shot back. “I’d be doing the thousands of workers a favor in taking you out.”
It was about the company. Kate’s head quirked backwards.
“Did you just threaten Katie?” Daniel stepped forward with her fist balled.
She patted Daniel’s arm, and he stepped back. He stuck to her, and she needed him. Then she reached back, took his hand, and told him, “Let’s go. I have to ask you something.”
“That’s it?” He took a step to follow her, but kept her hand in his, as she led him to the door. “I don’t understand. We came here for answers.”
“We have answers.” She closed the door behind them, and pushed him against the wall into a corner of the hall. Then she stood on her tiptoes and asked, “Will you marry me before we get off the ship?”
“What?” Daniel froze. “Where did that come from?”
She guided his hands back to her waist. “It’s not forever.” She closed her eyes, held herself in his arm. Then she gathered her thoughts. “Getting off the ship is dangerous. If anything happens to me, Stephanie inherits the company.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll get you off the ship, safe and sound.” Daniel patted her side, and she opened her eyes. “Everything will be fine.”
“My sister has never been able to fool me. There is some plan for tomorrow, and I don’t want her in a position to take control of Mom’s company.” She ran her hands down his shoulders. “Please help me, Daniel. I need to stop her. She cannot win Sparrow, Inc.”
He hugged her close. “You believe your sister will try to kill you?”
“Maybe.” Kate blinked. She hadn’t wanted to believe this. Perhaps she should, but her mind still couldn’t process that thought. “Marry me. That takes her motivation away. You would inherit instead. We can get divorced in a week or a few months, when this is over or if you meet someone else.”
“Stop. Don’t even think that.” Daniel held her, but gazed into her eyes. “Remember, Collins men marry forever. You trust me to make life and death decisions for you, Katie?”
“Yes.” She nodded and her eyes grew a little wet. “You’ve looked out for me more these past few days than my family has in years. I need you. It’s why I’m asking you.”
“This is crazy.” He kissed her forehead, but she pressed her body against his chest. She listened to his heart race. She stayed quiet, and let him have a moment. He traced her back, then went up to the bruise on the back of her neck. She winced and closed her eyes to not say anything. A few seconds later, he kissed her cheek. “Let’s ask the Captain.” Daniel stepped back, then kissed her hand. “Katie, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
She felt her muscles relax. Her plan would work. She squeezed his hand.
“I trust you.”
“Katie,” he said, smiling, “life with you is more interesting.”
Chapter 54
Kate stood in the bathroom, and stared at herself in her white dress. Knee-length was not how any woman imagined her wedding, but then she’d grown up in the fashion world. She swallowed and studied her off-the-rack dress. She closed her eyes. This was a temporary stopgap. Stephanie had planned to get the necklace. Had her sister bought a dog like Kate’s just to brutally kill it to get to her?
Kate shivered and shook her head. Her dog was nothing but love. But then would anyone else have had access to her room like that? Goose bumps formed on her arms.
The wedding was the best idea.
Then Kate blinked, checked her makeup, and steadied her trembling hands.
“You need help in there?” Gigi called in.
Kate’s heart skipped a beat. Daniel would be at the altar for her with his sexy dimples, kissable lips, strong shoulders and a designer suit.
“Forcing myself to breathe.” Kate unlocked the bathroom door. “Do I look okay?”
“Beautiful.” Gigi answered with a smile on her face. “Why does it matter, though? I thought this wedding was just to stop your sister.”
“It is.” Kate’s arms shook. She couldn’t stop trembling. “Daniel is saving my life.”
“Let’s get going then.” Gigi picked up a bouquet of flowers. “Your hero is upstairs already, but I don’t think this is just a plan to save you, for either of you.”
Kate froze. “It is, though.”
Gigi shrugged. “It’s not my place. Sean’s outside to guide us, and keep you safe.”
Then she bite her lip, and forced her leaden foot to step forward. She needed Daniel’s warmth.
She stopped, and imagined Daniel’s strong arms around her. The tension in her back dissipated and she could walk a little. Then, she took another step, this time with even less heaviness.
Today, she lived a fairy tale. She took a deep breath, then she imagined how she’d walk into a house after a busy day at work to kiss Daniel, who had come home five minutes before her. Then she’d wave to her two boys, their sons. She sighed then shook her head. Fairy-tales and Kate Sparrow were not friends.
On the stairs up, she almost ran into a bathroom with a sudden bout of nausea.
Marriage to stop her sister? This was her big plan? Kate rolled on her feet, but she grabbed the handrail. She wouldn’t faint. Gigi hit the button for the elevator, and her new almost family led her inside. Her heart palpitations lasted the entire ride up to the wedding chapel stairwell.
She stared at the last few steps and nodded. She could do this.
Sean and Gigi were behind her, and she climbed the last flight and walked into the bridal station.
Gigi patted her hand. “I’m afraid Stephanie’s horrible decorations are up partly.”
“She paid a lot for those, I’d imagine.” Gigi smiled, then shook her head. Flamboyant was her sister’s style, but Gigi had no idea. “They were not completely horrible.”
“I’ll block them out.” Kate smiled then checked her heel straps. She had one thing that worked, and it was designer shoes.
She pressed together and checked her makeup.
A lady from the salon on the ship checked her hair and pinned her hair back down.
Kate shivered. The cold metal soaked through her heels of her shoes. She gulped for air, and then reached for the door. Daniel would be warm and waiting.
Sean stood next to the door, then he put his finger on his mouth and nodded at the altar. A second later, a soft song wafted through the air.
Classic Beethoven Sonata.
She had picked that song out. Her breathing became more even, and her shoulders straightened.
In the aisle, her feet uncurled in her shoes, and she glided forward. Then she stared into Daniel’s eyes, and her body became light.
Daniel. In another life, she’d marry him and live out the fairytale dream. Her hands shook still, but tremors of heat coursed through her now. She smiled and gazed at his wide grin. How different would he look, if he loved her? She licked her lips. Could she have withstood that heat? Near Daniel, she became warm in every part of her body.
Daniel took her hand and nodded at the captain.
Kate’s heartbeat echoed so loud in her ears that she couldn’t hear. Daniel mouthed the words, ‘I will.’
The sounds of his voice was muted. Then the Captain turned to her and spoke. Whoosh, the sound returned and she quivered. Then she gazed into his brown eyes and answered, “I will.”
Had she sounded like a bingo player calling for the win? She to
ok his hands.
Then he held her hand up, and placed a ring on her finger. Her cheeks became wet.
She had never thought she’d be a bride.
Daniel held her hand for the rest of the ceremony. Then the captain announced to the crowd, “I’m happy to declare this couple husband and wife. Daniel Collins, you may kiss your bride.”
She closed her eyes and pursed her lips. His shadow was on her, and her arms wrapped around his back. She wouldn’t let him go. He licked his lips then pressed his to hers.
A sigh escaped her.
Tomorrow her sister and her friends would try to take her out over the necklace. All they had would be tonight.
Her arms circled him, and his lips matched hers.
A moan escaped her lips. Daniel had her, and she let him.
Chapter 55
“Here is the paperwork.” The captain handed the marriage certificate to Daniel, and Kate stared at the document. She glanced at the clock and then back to Daniel.
They had crossed into American waters, but the signatures three minutes ago made everything legal for international waters. They had beat the clock.
Kate clenched her fists, and then released them. She held in her breath, and leaned closer to Daniel.
She closed her eyes, and inhaled the forest scent of his skin. She told herself she hadn’t married for love, but her heartbeat sang a different song.
The image of something horrible happening in a few hours played out in her brain. Stephanie and the uncaught dark-haired man weren’t going to let Kate escape. Her body chilled. How had she missed the darkness in her sister’s soul?
If not for Daniel, she’d be dead already.
She shook her head. No wonder her father had treated her as a threat instead of a daughter. Stephanie took after him.
Daniel led her to the side of the celebration hall. A warmth rushed through her, and Daniel’s hand landed on her shoulder. Without looking backward she told him, “Thank you.”
“Katie . . .” Daniel leaned closer to her. “Let’s go back to our room, away from prying eyes.”
She gazed at his handsome face. His lips created a fire in her belly from one brush against hers. His five o’clock shadow would tickle her skin, again, if she leaned up to kiss him. Her insides curled, and her hand uncurled. She reached up to touch his strong jaw.
She traced his arm to his shoulder, and he took her other hand in his. First, he kissed her palm and then held her hand to lead her toward the stairs.
Her fingers squeezed his on their heated, silent walk to the elevator.
He hit the button, and then he scooped her up into his arms.
“Put me down.” She giggled. He tightened his grip. So much for her command. “Daniel, you don’t have to treat this as a wedding night.”
“It’s my first one.” Daniel shook his head. “This makes you the starter wife. You’re supposed to train me, Katie.”
“Ahh.” She smiled. His easiness made her lighter, too. “I’m management then. Okay. I’ll get right to work then. We should have a toast, in champagne, to us.”
The elevator doors opened, and Daniel carried her into the hall. Did he intend to carry her all the way to their room in his arms?
He stopped fast, and her body jostled into him. He turned her toward his shoulder, but she straightened her neck and stared toward the side.
Her sister stood there.
“What’s going on?” Stephanie asked. “What are you celebrating?”
“Being alive and happy,” Kate answered fast. Why was she always here? “Daniel’s the best man, I met.”
“Kate—”
Daniel opened his mouth. No. She used both hands and pulled him in for a fast kiss. He couldn’t tell Stephanie.
The second her lips met his, she heard a moan escape her lips.
“Enjoy your last night on the ship, Kate,” Stephanie answered with her arms crossed.
“You, too. Toast to your freedom,” Kate snapped back.
The elevator door rang.
“’Night, sis.” Stephanie hastened away the second the doors opened.
Daniel stayed quiet. The doors closed, and they went to their floor. The doors dinged again, and he hugged her closer. Then he carried her to their door.
Outside their cabin, he leaned her against the wall to hold her up, then struggled to reach into his pants pocket. She shook her head. “Stop.”
“I’m getting the key.”
She reached in the hidden pocket, and took hers out. “Mom always said girls were good for something useful, like holding money.”
“I will send a pray of thanks to your mother for her genetics and her advice.”
He juggled her and the plastic key until he managed to open the door. Then he brought her inside. The door clicked closed behind him, and she asked, “You going to let me down?”
He leaned down, and let her feet touch the ground. “Why didn’t you let me tell your sister we were married?”
“If she’s planning something bad, I want you to have the surprise against her.” Kate stepped forward into the room. “I hope she’s not.”
“Don’t think about her tonight.” Daniel reminded her. “We’re together, safe in our room. The only danger is tomorrow. Follow exactly what we tell you Mrs. Collins, and everything will be fine.”
“Confidence is sexy.” Kate told him while keeping her eyes downturned. “Daniel, I shouldn’t have been mad at you.”
His mouth kissed her shoulder, and her body heated up.
“Sweetheart, it’s okay,” Daniel said, undoing his tie. Then he hung up his jacket. “I deserved it. I should have remembered and told you.”
“Yes.” She kicked off her shoes. “And I should have understood.” Her feet throbbed, and she winced. Then her heels flattened out on the floor, and she smiled a bit. “Can you unzip me? This dress is tight.”
“You’re beautiful, my wife.” Daniel unzipped her dress, and his fingers traced her skin. “I’m glad I bought the photo package of us.”
“You’re funny.” She turned around. “Tonight, we’ll celebrate life.”
He raised his eyebrows and unbuttoned his top button. “If I’d have said no to this?”
She shrugged. “I’ve have spent the night curled in the fetal position.”
Daniel’s arms wrapped around her. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest. Her lips puckered to kiss him, but his hand traced the naked spine of her back. She stood up on her tiptoes, and leaned into him. His mouth curled into a smile. “It’s you and me.”
His hand slipped off one shoulder of her dress.
“I want you,” she whispered.
Chapter 56
Daniel smelled deliciously salty. Kate inhaled again, and realized he smelled great, but the salt in the air came from the ocean outside.
Sighing, her body quivered from last-night’s activities. Time moved too fast, and she snuggled closer to him.
Their last morning.
She couldn’t close her eyes to sleep. She stared at the ceiling, then through the plate glass of their balcony. The blue waters were replaced with buildings.
The ship had no motor sounds. The dock didn’t sway. They must have anchored. She sighed and covered her eyes with her hand.
Daniel turned his head into her shoulder. “Ten more minutes, Katie.”
Her arm wrapped around him, and she stared at his profile. She’d married the sexiest man she’d ever laid eyes on, and that said a lot. He was real and so different from the camera seekers. She traced his stomach muscles, and sighed. This was that moment she’d remember forever.
She snuggled closer to him. His elbow moved to let her come closer, and she traced her hand to under his arm and tickled him. He sighed. “What did you do in the mornings at home?”
“Watch TV mostly.” She sucked in her lower lip. “I stayed home most nights, too.”
His hands went around her waist. “Why?”
She shrugged. “Not allowed to do much.”
<
br /> If he could talk, he could open his eyes. She wiggled her fingers harder to tickle him.
He swallowed. “What are you doing?”
“You’re not ticklish?” She frowned, dejected, and then he snorted out a laugh.
“Fight fair.” He stretched, and his hand trailed up her body toward her breasts. Then he brushed past them and went to her armpits. She sucked in her breath, but then he jiggled his second finger to tickle her. “I was trying to sleep.”
Borrowing the Doctor (The Collins Brothers Book 2) Page 20
