She hated that he had a point. This was her party—her idea. The thought that people were going to attend with the interest in meeting her made her stomach quiver.
“And,” he added, “I need you to be the face of Carrington Gems.”
“Me? I couldn’t.” She worried her bottom lip. “You need someone beautiful—”
“Someone just like you. And if you need anything my aunt and my assistant will be on hand.”
Kate cast a hesitant glance at Molly. She really didn’t want to leave her, but this fund-raiser was vital for her surgery. Maybe if she just slipped out for an hour or two...
Judy caught her gaze and smiled. “Go. Molly will be fine. There are plenty of people around here who will keep an eye on her. And I promise we will call you if anything comes up.”
Kate stood, still feeling so unsure about this arrangement. She looked into Lucas’s steady blue gaze and could feel his strength grounding her. He placed the jewelry case in her hand.
“There’s a car waiting downstairs to whisk you off to the ball.”
“Just like Cinderella.”
“Most definitely.”
If only her Prince Charming was going to meet her at the party. But this wasn’t a fairy tale. This was reality. She’d been on her own before—why should tonight be any different?
* * *
Lucas settled back in the chair, leafing through the financial magazine he’d brought along. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been able to sit down and read something besides sales reports and marketing projections. He glanced over at Molly as she cuddled with the pink teddy bear in her sleep. She was so cute—so like her mother.
“Okay, you can go.”
He glanced up, finding Judy standing there. “Go where?”
“Cinderella needs her Prince Charming. So off to the ball with you.”
“I can’t. I promised to watch over Molly.”
“I just got off duty and my husband said he’d entertain our little ones with a pizza and movie so I have the evening free. I know you’re dying to be with Kate. So go.”
“Is it that obvious?”
She nodded.
“Do you think Kate will mind? I mean, I don’t know how this works.”
“Kate has become a friend. It’ll be okay. Remember, I am a nurse. Molly will be in good hands.” She sent him a reassuring smile.
Lucas prayed that Judy was right. He headed out the door and rushed home, finding the mansion all lit up. It’d been so many years since it’d come to life like this. Instead of the dread he thought he’d feel, he was excited to see Kate. He had something to tell her...something very important.
And what could be better than telling her at the party? It would be a night to remember. Anticipation flooded his veins as he moved with lightning speed through the back door, past the servers dressed in old-fashioned police uniforms. He chuckled to himself at the irony of having police officers serving drinks at a prohibition party. Kate certainly had a sense of humor.
He quickly showered and changed into his tux. By then the party was in full swing. He really didn’t want to face the people or the questions. But he had to do this for Kate.
He plastered on a smile and worked his way through the milling guests decked out in 1920s attire from fringe dresses to black pinstripe suits and hats. It was like walking back in time. He smiled and shook hands with people he knew. Some patted him on the back, congratulating him on an excellent party and his choice of such a gorgeous hostess. Lucas promised to stop back later to talk and moved onward.
His gaze searched the crowded living room where a few people were dancing to big-band music. But Kate was nowhere to be seen. He scanned the foyer, followed by the dining room but still no luck. Was it possible she was upstairs showing people around? He started for the steps when he spotted his aunt.
“Do you know where Kate is?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be with Molly?”
“Judy got off duty and offered to sit with her so I could be here for Kate. I really need to talk to her, but I haven’t been able to catch up with her.”
“Finally came to your senses about her, didn’t you?”
He nodded. “If she’ll give me a chance.”
“I think you’ll find her showing some interested guests the prohibition tunnel. But Lucas...”
He didn’t have time to chat. He’d been waiting too long for this conversation. Actually, instead of words he intended to show her that he could be the man she needed him to be...the man his family needed him to be.
At last he found her on the landing, talking to an older, familiar gentleman, but Lucas couldn’t recall his name. He gazed up at her. A cute black hat was settled over her short bobbed hair. She looked adorable. The Fiery Hearts ruby and pearl choker sparkled on her long neck. His pulse picked up its pace as he imagined replacing the necklace with a string of kisses.
His gaze slid down, taking in every breathtaking detail. In a vintage black dress, her creamy arms were bare except for the matching bracelet. A murmur of approval grew in his throat, but he had enough sense about him to stifle it.
The dropped waist on her dress lent itself to a short skirt, which showed off Kate’s long legs in black stockings and black heels. He’d never ever get tired of looking at her. She was by far the most beautiful woman and the ideal choice to wear the Carrington Gems. He gave in to an impulse and let off a long, low whistle.
Kate turned and color tinged her cheeks. He ascended the steps and made a hasty apology to the gentleman before taking her hand and guiding her up the steps.
Kate stopped at the top of the stairs, refusing to take another step. “Lucas, you’re supposed to be at the hospital.”
“Judy is sitting with Molly. She said I couldn’t miss being here for you and I have something to show you.”
He couldn’t wait to show her the nursery that he’d changed into a little girl’s room—a room for Carrie. If it wasn’t for Kate, he might not have understood that letting go of his daughter might hurt her more than fighting to have her in his life. He owed Kate a debt of gratitude.
She withdrew her hand. “Can it wait? I have guests to greet.”
“It’s important. I’ve done a lot of thinking about what you said about the future. Just give me a minute to show you what I’ve come up with.”
Her eyes lit up and sparkled with interest. “Since you put it that way, lead the way.”
He smiled. This night was going to be unforgettable for both of them. It would be a new beginning full of countless possibilities. His chest filled with a strange sensation—dare it be hope.
“Ms. Whitley.” One of the young male servers rushed up the stairs. “Umm...Ms. Whitley.” The young man’s face filled with color. “I’m sorry to disturb you. I...umm... You’re needed downstairs.”
She flashed a smile, visibly easing the man’s discomfort. “What’s the problem?”
“There’s a gentleman downstairs. He says he needs to speak with you.”
“Please tell him I’ll be down in a moment.”
The young man shook his head. “He isn’t an invited guest. At least I don’t think he is. He isn’t dressed up. The man says he needs to speak with you right away.”
“I’m coming.” The young man nodded and hustled back down the stairs while Kate turned to Lucas. “It must be Chad. Seems he came to his senses about leaving. Molly will be so happy. But first I need to have a serious talk with him. Can we finish this later? After the guests leave.”
Lucas didn’t want to wait. He wanted to show her that he was taking strides to be the man she wanted. But part of that meant having patience—after all, he wasn’t going anywhere. Their talk could wait. But that didn’t mean he had to like it.
He groaned his impatience and nodded his agreeme
nt.
She lifted on her tiptoes and went to press a kiss to his cheek, but he turned his head, catching her lips with his own. He’d never ever tire of kissing her. He went to pull her closer—to deepen the kiss, but she braced her hands on his chest and pushed away. The kiss might have been brief, much too brief, but it promised of more to come.
“Later.” She flashed him a teasing smile.
He ran his tongue over his lower lip, savoring her cherry lip balm. He stifled a groan of frustration. He wanted more of her sweet kisses now...and later. Forever.
The last word caught him off guard. He never thought he’d ever use that seven-letter word in terms of a relationship again. But Kate had come into his black-and-white world and somewhere along the way had added all the colors of the rainbow. His heart was healed and ready to fight for those he loved.
How it’d taken so long for him to come to terms with how he felt about Kate was beyond him. Now, he couldn’t wait to tell her that he loved her. He was dying to know if she felt the same way. But what choice did he have but to wait? Only a little longer and then he’d have her the rest of the night.
“Let’s go greet your ex.”
They’d just turned the landing when Kate asked, “So what was it you wanted to show me—”
Her words hung there as she came to an abrupt halt.
“Kate, are you all right?”
When she didn’t move, didn’t say anything, he followed her line of vision to an older man with white hair standing at the foot of the stairs. He was definitely too old to be Chad. And there was something vaguely familiar about him. In a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt, he certainly wasn’t here for the party. The man stared back at Kate with tears in his eyes.
Panic clutched Lucas’s chest. The face. The age. The look. It all came together at once. This was Kate’s father—her estranged father, Floyd—the man he’d connected with on MyFriends.
A hush fell over the crowd as though they sensed the tension in the room and were checking it out. The paparazzi covering the event for all of the major news outlets moved in closer. Their flashes lit up the room, causing even more people to move in for a closer view. Lucas waved them off and the flashes stopped. But it was too late—the press was going to have a field day with this story. Guilt weighed heavily on Lucas’s shoulders.
Floyd placed a foot on the bottom step and Kate took a step back.
“Katie, you look so beautiful all grown up. You’re the spitting image of your mother—”
“Don’t! Don’t say that. There’s nothing you could say that I want to hear. Just go.”
“Katie girl, I’m sorry—”
Her voice shook. “I don’t know why you picked now to pass through my life, but just keep going. You’re good at walking away, so don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
Floyd’s gaze moved to Lucas. A light of recognition filled the man’s eyes.
Lucas might not have talked to the man online, but looking back now, he realized even seeking him out and sending a friend request had been too much. The man had already been curious about who he was—all he had to do was look on Lucas’s MyFriends page to find a picture of Kate. He’d unwittingly laid out a trail of breadcrumbs that anyone could have followed—including Floyd.
Finding his voice, Lucas said, “You should go. Now.”
Kate’s shocked look turned in Lucas’s direction. He froze. The breath trapped in his lungs. He wanted to wind back time and change things, but he couldn’t any more than he could ease her pain.
“You did this.” Her voice vibrated with emotion. “You brought him here, didn’t you?”
Her pointed words jabbed at his heart. He wanted to explain and make her understand that he hadn’t invited Floyd here. He’d never ever orchestrate a public reunion.
“I didn’t invite him—”
Her eyes narrowed. “But you contacted him, didn’t you? You couldn’t leave well enough alone.”
Lucas wanted to deny it, but he couldn’t. He was losing the woman he loved and there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it. He merely nodded.
“You had to prove me wrong, didn’t you? You had to prove to me that...that he—” she pointed at Floyd “—had some excuse for leaving me just so you could feel better about walking out on your own daughter. I should have never trusted you. When will I ever learn not to trust people?”
“You can trust me—”
Her chin lifted and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “No, I can’t. You just proved me right. Molly and I are better off on our own.”
Lucas could feel the curious gazes boring into his back. He wasn’t worried about himself as he was used to providing fodder for the press, but Kate didn’t need her private life made public knowledge.
“Kate, this isn’t the place for this.”
Her brows drew together. “Maybe you should have thought about that before you started poking around in my life. I’m not the one who made it possible for Floyd to be here. You did that all on your own. I should have known I couldn’t trust you. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Kate spun around and sailed up the stairs. Even though he hadn’t invited her father here, he had opened Pandora’s box. Like Cinderella running off into the night, Lucas knew their fairy tale had just ended.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
IT HAD TO BE HERE. It just had to be.
But search as she might, Lucky Ducky was missing.
Kate shoved aside her purse. How could this happen? Ducky was always in her purse. And as Molly’s surgery dragged on, Kate was starting to feel nervous. She knew it was silly, but that toy made her feel somehow connected to Molly. She could still envision her sweet smile when she’d handed over the trinket—back before Molly had gotten sick.
With a sigh, Kate slouched back in the stiff hospital chair. Two days had passed since she’d left Lucas at the party. She still couldn’t believe he’d stepped so far over the line by contacting her father. She glanced over at Floyd. He sent her a reassuring smile. It was good to have family around. And if it hadn’t been for Lucas’s meddling, Floyd wouldn’t be here. But did that excuse Lucas’s actions?
“You’ve got plenty of time before we hear anything about the surgery,” her father said. “Why don’t you call that young man of yours and let him know how things are going?”
“I don’t see the point. Even if we find a way to get around what he’s done, he’ll eventually leave.”
“I know you don’t have any reason to believe me of all people, but not everyone walks away.”
“The people in my life do.”
“If he really loves you, like I suspect he does, he’ll stick.” Her father sighed and ran a hand over his day-old stubble. “Don’t let my poor decisions color the rest of your life. If you quit letting people into your life, you’ll end up old and alone. You know Molly isn’t going to stay small forever. Why don’t you give him a call and see what happens?”
She hated to admit it, but Floyd had a point. Molly would eventually move on with her own life. But the thought of putting herself out there only to have Lucas reject her scared her to bits.
“I doubt he’ll want to talk to me.”
“You’ll never know until you try. From the sounds of it, you both have some apologizing to do. But he appears to be a good guy. Is he?”
She nodded. “But I can’t forget that he went behind my back and contacted you.”
“Everyone makes mistakes.” Her father reached over and grasped her hand, giving it a squeeze. “If it wasn’t for him, I might never have gotten up my courage to track you down. I know we still have a long ways to go, but you are willing to give me a second chance and what I did was so much worse than Lucas’s misstep.”
But it was more than Lucas contacting her father—it was the way he was willing t
o back quietly out of his daughter’s life. Sure, he had his reasons, but none of them were good enough to walk away from someone you loved. A lump formed in the back of her throat. But wasn’t that what she was about to do—walk away from the man she loved without giving him a chance to explain?
The realization that she still loved Lucas even after everything that had happened jolted her. What should she do now? Ignore her feelings and hope they went away?
“Call Lucas.”
It was as if her father was privy to her thoughts. Was that even possible after their extended separation?
Just yesterday morning, the day after the party, Floyd had caught up with her here at the hospital. At first, she hadn’t wanted to hear what he had to say, but eventually she reasoned that if she ever majorly messed up with Molly, she’d want to be given a chance to explain.
Her father had struggled with the words, but at last he admitted how he’d gotten caught up in gambling and put the family in deep debt. Things continued downhill to the point where he got involved with some unsavory loan sharks. A shiver had run over her skin when he’d described how they’d roughed him up when he didn’t have the money he owed. Unwilling to make his family targets, he’d left. It’d taken him years to conquer his addiction, but by then he figured it was too late to fix things.
“The difference is you were trying to protect us.” Though she still hadn’t made peace with her father’s choices, she was willing to give him a chance as long as he was up-front and honest with her. But there was something she’d wondered about. “Mom never spoke of you after you left. I never understood why.”
“I hurt her deeply.” Her father leaned back in his seat and ran a hand over his aged face. “Things were so messed up back then. I loved her, but love doesn’t mean that two people are good for each other. Your mother and I, we were too different. You and Lucas, do you have things in common?”
She thought of the man who could make her heart skip a beat with just a look. They were different, but not to extremes. They liked the same sorts of food. They both enjoyed quiet evenings at home. And they both thought family was important. Secretly she was missing Lucas and wishing he could be here with her now. When he held her close she felt safe and protected—as if nothing could go wrong.
Safe in the Tycoon's Arms (Harlequin Romance) Page 16