"Mother." Luke's voice had an edge to it.
Caro glanced at him and followed the direction his eyes were focused.
Her heartbeat grew stronger as she recognized her brother's cough behind her. Rafe had arrived earlier than them if he was in another room.
Luke then said to her, "Rafe's walking with Liz to her bedroom, probably for the pictures or evidence she has collected."
His mother's feet pressed against the floorboard, and Caro turned and went toward her.
Mrs. Morgan asked, "What's going on?"
On her knees, she checked to ensure Mrs. Morgan was comfortable and then smiled. "My brother is a detective from Miami PD. He's worked cases with both Peter and John Morgan. I know he can help her, though they both look stiff and uncomfortable."
Luke came to her side, and she stood. His mother still kept control of the conversation. "Did your brother go to UM like you did?"
Caro shook her head as Luke took her hand. His strength kept her together.
"No, he went to UF under The Best and Brightest Scholarship."
The sound of tears echoed through the walls. His mother's eyes turned watery. "She's crying again."
Luke placed his other hand on his mother's shoulder. "Mom, she'll be okay. She cries every time she tells the kidnapping story." Then he turned toward her. "Caro..."
She let go of his hand and averted her gaze. Her body shook. "Luke, I'll go get your mother a cup of tea that she likes from the kitchen. I'll make a pot for your sister as well, just in case. Stay with her. I'll be right back."
Without a backward look, she slipped out of the living area and headed to the kitchen. The second the door closed behind her, a familiar voice with a high-pitched edge to it said, "If it isn't the newest member of the Morgan family."
Her cheeks heated as she turned to the woman who was perhaps six months older than her, though in many ways Ashley was far more beautiful. Her dark hair and olive skin had a shine that made Caro's feel plain. She sucked in her cheeks and went to the stove to boil water. She kept her head low as she filled the teapot.
"Ashley, I didn't know Luke was a Morgan."
Ashley had her hand on her hip as she approached. "You work for the richest of them all, who employed all of us to ensure his mother was fine, and you're saying you didn't know you were dating his little brother?"
She glanced up and met Ashley's stare. Adrenaline pumped in her veins as she gave a firm answer. "No. Luke never came to Peter's house while I was there."
Ashley turned and found the loose tea to place in the infuser. "Where would you meet him if not at work in your uniform?"
With a large inhale, Caro placed the full pot onto the preheated burner. "In college. He was in the same fraternity as my boyfriend at the time."
Ashley nudged her. "And you didn't dump the boyfriend to marry a Morgan?"
"I did. He's the guy I broke up with Jose for."
Her fingers covered her lips as she remembered Luke's kiss. She tried to think backwards to college and Jose, but she couldn't recall once feeling this kind of spark. Luke’s kiss goodbye at the library had made her sway on her feet.
She blinked and placed a tray with cups on the counter. "He didn't know he was a Morgan then."
Ashley lightly pushed her arm. "I'll serve the tea. Go and stand by your man. If I were you, I'd never leave his side until he slipped a ring on my finger, and even then I'd stay close to ensure no other woman batted her eyes at my man."
Marriage was not on the agenda. Somehow, she'd have to tell her family she was dating a Morgan. She couldn't think beyond her mother's dramatic showdown the second she found out his last name.
"Ashley...thank you."
"If you find a single Morgan male looking for love, send him my way."
"I'll keep my eyes open."
She went to the door and slipped into the living room. Luke and Rafe were in a deep discussion as Mrs. Morgan hugged her daughter. Caro pressed her lips together and then went over to Luke and her brother.
She swallowed as she met his gaze. "Luke, what's going on?"
Luke stood stiffer than he had with her and kept his hands at his sides. "Your brother wants to take you home, Caro. I'll see you Sunday."
Ashley came out with a tray, and she served the family. Caro's skin crawled that she should be right next to Ashley and not be served.
If she felt that, then her mother must too.
She'd have to think fast. Her family was not going to stop her from being with Luke. She refused to let Rafe interfere, and she needed to find a way to show her mother that Luke was good.
She wrapped her arms around Luke and kissed his cheek. "Or tomorrow if your family event is Peter Morgan's wedding."
"Then we'll get that dance."
His arms went around her waist, and she sighed as he hugged her. Whatever Rafe said had no bearing on them. Without another word, she pressed her lips to his, and his hands went to her hips to pull her close. The world disappeared for that moment.
"Let's go Caro." Rafe's voice was gruff.
No, her family had to accept. Her heart wanted to be with Luke, and his last name didn't matter.
She stepped out of his arms. "Tomorrow then. And yes, I'll save a dance for you."
"Looking forward to it then." He followed her to the door and nodded. "Good night."
Chapter 8
Rafe stayed silent in his Escalade until they passed Bridge Rd. Caro sat with her arms crossed and waited for his unsolicited opinion. The silence was a welcome moment. However, adrenaline coursed through her as Rafe's jaw clenched.
"You didn't tell me your Luke was Luke Morgan."
So his approach was to accuse her. She lifted her chin. "I didn't know his new last name, Rafe."
His face didn't move, but the gleam in his eyes told her plenty. "The Morgan family is completely out of our league."
Her lips pouted. Did her own brother see her as nothing but the help too? She sucked in a breath. "What do you mean out of our league? I am not planning on throwing myself at him and begging him to marry me or anything like that. I'm nothing like Jennifer."
His jaw tightened like she had struck him. "Don't bring her into this."
No. Her brother did not get to interfere with her life and then not handle it when she did the same for him. She shook her head.
"She dumped you for Peter. Then she came back only when Peter moved on with his life and fell for Belle. So now you're jaded, though I don't understand at all why you continue to help Peter Morgan."
"He's your boss and not his father." Rafe sat straight. "Besides she left Peter a long time ago."
Was her brother naive? Perhaps this was the issue, though he was always so smug about everything else.
She pressed her lips together and then decided to speak. "Yet she broke up with you the day before he's getting married."
He shrugged. "So?"
Jennifer wasn't over Peter, and she was using her brother's feelings for her. She placed her hand on his knee.
"So don't put Luke and myself into the same category as your messed up love life."
"There is more that you don't know." Rafe's voice deepened just as it used to when he wanted to yell at her for interfering with his dating life as a teenager. "Jennifer and I were not dating this time around. I was willing to see what happened as she's scared to let people inside her heart."
She rolled her eyes. Jennifer was still the same girl she had been back in high school. "Yeah, okay."
Rafe turned his car onto her street. "I don't approve of you going out with a Morgan."
Her voice grew higher as he neared her place. "He's a doctor. He has the money to ensure that his family is provided for, and he's there for his family during a traumatic time. So far he's adding up to amazing and perfect."
Rafe turned into her driveway. As she turned to hop out of his truck, he lowered his voice to a calm decibel. "What about your plans for your fashion show and career? Do you throw it all away because a
guy with money shows up?"
She sucked in her breath. Her brother cared about her. She crossed her hand but stayed still.
"It hasn't changed. Jennifer is wearing my dress to the wedding. I'm not out for Luke's bank account. I didn't even know it existed before this evening."
"The Soliz and Morgan names do not go together. We're different kinds of people." Rafe opened his door and got out. "Your dreams include working for the family, sis."
None of this was supposed to matter. She followed him out of the car and went to her front door. Rafe waited at his car like he was going to leave.
She patted his arm. It was time to go to bed. Tomorrow she'd see Luke and launch her business. She needed to look her best and trust that Rafe would do everything he could to find Luke’s nephew.
Rafe turned toward her and placed his hand on her shoulders. "Caro, no matter what happens, I need my baby sister to be safe. Don't go looking for trouble with the Morgan family."
She opened her arms to hug her brother. He came to her, though a second later he let her go. She swayed on her feet.
"I will be. Are you going to the wedding tomorrow?"
He shook his head. "Not anymore. I have a hunch to follow up on. If I'm right then Liz will get her boy back."
The determination in his voice was like a steady rock. She tapped her foot on the ground and then lowered her head. The palm trees flapped in the light tropical breeze.
"For someone who doesn't like the Morgans, you help them a lot."
Rafe walked to her front door with a simple wreath wrapped with a red bow as her only outside decoration. She followed. "Peter Morgan spoke with the governor, mayor and other public officials specifically asking for my help a long time ago. I have it in writing from my superiors that I'm to ensure that the Morgan family is given my top priority when a case comes along. That does not mean I approve of them for my sister."
Somehow, she'd convince her mother and brother that Luke was one of the good men out there. As she found her keys in her pocketbook, her heart switched to something her brother might know.
"Rafe?"
"Yes."
She sucked in her lips and closed her eyes. "Do you think Jennifer will honor the contract she signed?"
Again he shrugged, his usual move when the topic of Jennifer came up. "I don't see why she wouldn't. It's part of her job really. If she bails and word gets out, no one will dress her for events."
Clearly they didn't see the woman in the same way. Jennifer might be sweet to huge designers, but Caro was no one except the hired help to Jennifer.
Her eyes widened. "You're not dating her anymore. She has no loyalty to me. I'm worried."
"She's still my friend, Caro, and despite what you think, she has a good heart." He took the key out of her hand and unlocked her front door. "Besides, you can sue her if she doesn't mention your design. Relax."
She nodded, but pictured herself poor and in her maid's uniform while Jennifer strode into a spotlight claiming a fashion empire. Caro blinked and her face turned red.
"True, but we don't have the money for a lengthy court battle."
Her brother put his hand on hers. "One step at a time. It's why we have contracts."
At least he had her back and hadn't chosen the diva over family. "Okay, well, perhaps you're right about her."
His eyes darkened. "I'm also right about your Luke."
No, he wasn't. "It's getting late, and you haven't given him a chance or even a hearing. You're judging him based on his last name. You liked his respect at the bar."
She pushed her door open and intended to go to bed.
"He didn't introduce himself to me." Rafe stood at the door.
Her job was how her brother viewed her and probably their mother before her. She clutched the doorknob. Luke was nothing but kind to her, but her brother was also important.
"I know you mean well."
He took a step off her porch. "But you're not going to listen."
She pushed her head up higher. "Luke and I are not your business any more than it's my business how you feel about Jennifer. I have real feelings for him that have not disappeared over time. I see a future with him."
"I'll talk to him." Rafe clutched his hands into fists but kept them at his side. "As for Jennifer, I don't love her. I mostly feel sorry for her."
Now that she wasn't sure she could believe. She let go of the doorknob and wanted to hug her brother again. He was too far, so she stood there.
"Then I feel for you because you deserve love, Rafe. The more time you spend with someone you don't love, the harder it will be to find the one you do."
Again his face went white, but he nodded his head. "Good night."
"Good night."
As she closed her door, her lips still tingled with Luke's kiss, but tomorrow she had to ensure that Jennifer did not ruin her dream of becoming a fashion designer. She'd not be a maid forever.
Her mother's voice echoed from the hallway, "Mija."
Caro cringed as she walked into her living room and stared into the brown eyes of her mother. The blinking multi colored lights that lit up her Christmas tree was the only warmth in the room at the moment. It seemed tonight would never end.
She nodded her head. "Momma, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you." Her mother put her iPad down beside her and then met her gaze. "Caro, is it true you were out with a Morgan?"
Heat rushed through her. Rafe must have said something. She massaged her neck and turned her head.
"It's late. We'll talk about him tomorrow, Momma."
"Did you sleep with him?"
Her lips parted. This was insane. "Mother!"
"I don't want that man's genes in my family."
All the protests led to the past where she worked for the dead patriarch. Caro lowered her voice. "Mitch Morgan is dead, and Luke didn't even know him."
Her mother's lips curled. "He has his DNA. I don't trust any Morgan with my daughter."
"Stop." Caro curled her hands together. “You worked for the Morgans for years and often talked about wanting to protect Peter and his siblings.”
“I had no power in that house.” Her mother stood. "The family is nothing but trouble, and Mitch groomed his children to be his heirs."
Caro took her hands. "Mom, Luke’s wonderful. He's nothing like his father. Luke is the same Luke I went to school with and dreamed about for years. I loved him once, and he never knew."
"This cannot be, mija." Her expression cracked. "He cannot be your dream."
Caro lowered her head but refused to let go. "Mom, I could seriously fall in love with him again. When I look at Luke, I see the man who made me happy."
Her mother reached up and patted her arm. "And what about him? How does he feel about you now?"
"He's interested in me." One date was hardly time for a love reveal. It was too soon. She'd keep her own thoughts to herself and expected he'd do the same. "He said he missed me."
Her mother placed her hand under her chin. "Because you gave him your body."
She loved her mother, but she needed to accept that Luke was hers to decide. He was not his father. She shook her head and took her hand away.
"No. Mom, that's not your business, and you taught me about honoring myself."
"You don't deny it." Her mother placed her hand on her hip.
Caro lifted her gaze and stared at the wall with the stockings hung as they did ever Christmas. She lived in the house that the Morgans helped them pay for. Most maids couldn't afford half as nice of an area as her family did. The Morgan family paid for her college. Mitch might have been a horrible boss to her mother, but she had never quit. Even her mother's retirement villa was bought and paid for with Morgan money.
Caro's mind flashed to her own time working for Peter, and he had never once disrespected her. He was a good boss. Her issue had always been Jennifer, but that wasn't the topic right now. Caro swallowed and addressed her mother's question.
"I'm an adult, and I want to work for Victoria and date her brother. None of this is a crime. I want to be with Luke, right now."
Her mother crossed her arms. "I want you to be happy."
"Then let me be." Caro dropped her hands to her sides and hoped her mother opened her heart.
Her mother closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She then opened them and walked toward the front door.
As she opened the door to leave, her mother turned around and said, "Bring him to meet me. I want to look your Luke in the eyes and then determine if he's like his father or not."
Lightness entered her spirit as her entire body felt like a feather in the wind. Caro nodded. "Okay. I'll bring him for Christmas dinner."
Her mother took a step out the door. "Good night then."
"Night, Mom," Caro called out as she followed her mother and hugged her. She stood in silence until she heard her car start in the garage.
Tonight, she'd dream that Luke was hers forever. Then tomorrow, when she went to the wedding, she'd see him, all dressed up. Perhaps tonight, she’d indulge her old dream, where they'd have their own wedding and a marriage that would last a lifetime.
Chapter 9
Caro spent the morning working on her hair and makeup. She refused to let one flaw stand in the way of her fashion success. Her heart ached to see Luke again, but she brushed off the thought. Jennifer would be wearing the red dress from her glamour collection, so today Caro would wear something from her 'soft and all feminine' collection. If she found and spoke to Victoria, and she enjoyed her designs at the wedding, then with luck Victoria would invest or offer her a position in her fashion empire.
Today held hope.
If somehow she joined forces with the House of Morgan, specifically Victoria, there would be no doubt she'd have the best launch of fashion in the year. If Caro found a way to pull this off, then she'd finally have a platform for her designs to be discovered.
Business helped her steady her hand. Every time she thought about Luke, her heart thumped, and she lost her ability to think.
Everything had to appear perfect. At the last minute, she changed into her Christmas green belted dress and stared at herself in the mirror. Everything fit her perfectly, but she had to remember to tell anyone who asked that this collection was designed to flatter all women's figures. Curves were to be celebrated, not defiled. Or perhaps, curves make a woman unique. Yes, that was what she'd say.
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