It wasn't until her mother and stepfather had said their vows that her mind began making the connection. She watched her stepfather as he embraced the cocky, muscular man behind him, and her heart dropped in horror. The silver-eyed man was now, officially, her stepbrother.
Chapter 6
The reception was the most awkward event she had ever endured. Dirk was like a glob of honey, and women, young and old and in between, were begging him to dance with them or help them to reach the finest morsel of food at the long banquet table. He was more than happy to help, giving some of the older women sly winks that sent them reeling with pleasure. Katherine was outraged. Not only was he cocky and rude, but he was also a playboy. She had been nothing but another of his random flirtatious whims.
After the reception, her stepfather announced their plans to vacation in the mountains for their honeymoon. Her mother looked excited beyond belief, and Katherine couldn't help but feel happy for her. She was living her dream life, finally, and whether she had been a good mother or not, she still liked seeing her happy.
A huge private jet had been arranged for them, and they stepped onto the plane together, waving wildly as the crowd gathered around them threw flower petals and blew bubbles to see them off. Katherine waved, smiling at her mother, who laughed ecstatically when her husband picked her up and carried her into the plane. The crowd cheered and everybody whistled and clapped as the engines roared and they took off together for their honeymoon.
The crowd remained on the island and partied until the end of the night, but Katherine chose to retire early. She didn't want anything to do with the gaggle of rich strangers who had gathered to celebrate the wedding, and she wanted less to do with her new stepbrother. In fact, she would have been happy to avoid him for the rest of her life. She couldn't believe how foolish she had been to so much as strike up a conversation with the likes of him.
Katherine sighed and headed into the bathroom. It was still her favorite part about the estate. You live, you learn, she decided, lighting the comforting lavender-scented candles. At least now that she knew who he was and what he was like, she could take comfort in knowing that she had dodged a bullet. She sighed to herself and sank into the hot water to wash the day away.
***
Dirk left the party early. He was shaken and exhausted after his hellish night and single hour of sleep. And to top it all off, he had had a sex dream about his stepsister. Well, he hadn't known it was her at the time, but it was still pretty terrible. He couldn't help but feel dirty about it. He sighed irritably to himself, trying to reason it out. It wasn't like they were actually blood related. The fact was that he was a hot-blooded man who had a drink with an irresistible woman. For god's sake, he was a man after all, and whether anybody liked it or not, he had his needs. He wouldn't apologize for being who he was.
He stripped off his shirt and pulled on a pair of sweatpants. As soon as his head hit his pillow, he fell into a deep, sound sleep.
The next morning, he was pulled from his slumber when he heard the staff rushing about the hallways in a panic. He stirred groggily and stepped out of his bedroom to see what the commotion was about. His long hair fell in his face, and he pushed it back, squinting sleepily in search of someone who could tell him what was going on.
His gaze rested on Katherine, standing at the end of the hallway. She was flustered and upset, and he went to her instinctively, his urge to comfort her overpowering. She looked at him without seeming to see him at first, and when she did, her face reddened and she looked down at the ground. He realized, with the closest thing to embarrassment that he had ever felt, that he was shirtless, and his tattoos and muscled form were probably not the most comforting thing she could have seen. He stopped himself from reaching out to her.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice hoarse and thick with sleep.
“The plane is about to leave the island,” she said, close to tears. “But I can't find my passport.”
Dirk fell back into the wall, rubbing his tired face. The woman wouldn't be able to return to the United States without it. He groaned.
“Where's the last place you had it?” he asked, his mind slowly awakening enough to kick him into problem-solving mode.
“I haven't seen it since just before I boarded the plane here,” she said quietly.
“You mean you didn't have it when you got here?” he asked, straightening to his full height and looking down at her. She looked scared, so he tried to ease the intensity of his gaze and lower his voice.
“I don't think so,” she sighed. “I was in a hurry, I almost missed it. I think it fell out of my pocket.”
“All right,” Dirk grumbled, suddenly agitated. “We'll figure something out.”
He stormed off, running his hand through his hair. The last thing he wanted was to deal with her irresponsibility first thing in the morning, especially when his company was in jeopardy. And the idea of being stuck for some unknown amount of time with her until she got a new passport was very unappealing. He had been looking forward to her departure home. It was one thing to have a dream about your stepsister; it was quite another to have her lurking around while you try to secure your business. He sighed deeply and headed toward the room where he gave the staff their orders.
“Everybody knows what you're looking for, right?” he growled. “Comb the grounds. If we don't find it within the hour, let me know. We'll have to make other plans.”
Chapter 7
Katherine's passport remained missing, and she locked herself in her room. All she wanted to do was cry, and crying in front of Dirk, or anybody else there for that matter, seemed like a terrible idea. She had been looking forward to getting off the island more than she had ever looked forward to anything in her life. And now, everybody else would be leaving without her. Who knew when she would be able to get back into the United States? Without her passport, she was stuck there. And the last thing she wanted was to be stranded on an island with her irritating stepbrother.
He hadn't seemed very fond of the idea either, which made her even angrier. And although she hated him passionately, the idea of him hating her back hurt. Then there was the lingering problem of the mental image she had of Dirk stumbling out of his bedroom, his muscular abdomen bared and shameless, just daring her to look. His well-defined stomach and broad, tattooed chest stuck with her as she sat on the bed and dropped her head into her hands. This whole weekend was turning out to be a nightmare.
Eventually, the search for her passport was called off, and a soft knock came at her door. She opened it wearily, hoping that her face wasn't red and blotchy from crying. A timid woman in one of the maroon uniforms greeted her like royalty. She blushed and shook her head fervently, until the woman straightened herself and got on with her message.
“Master Dirk has called off the search, Miss. It has been agreed upon that you should contact the embassy to report your passport lost.”
“I see,” she said, crestfallen. “Thank you. Do you know where I can find the number?”
The woman pulled a slip of paper from a pocket in her apron and handed it to Katherine. She gave her a small bow before turning on her heel and heading down the hallway. Katherine studied the number and sighed. It was time to play phone tag.
***
Dirk was annoyed to discover that Katherine's passport was nowhere to be found. She had probably lost it at the airport or on the plane. Either way, it was gone, and she couldn't leave the island. He had been looking forward to the time alone so he could work on his motorcycle. He showered and changed into a pair of shorts and a sleeveless shirt and tied his hair up before heading to his office. Working on the motorcycle was out of the question now, between his uninvited house guest and the issues with the Russians, who were hell bent on making his life difficult. He was not a man accustomed to disappointment, but it seemed as if he would just have to get used to unexpected difficulties.
He sat down at his computer and gripped a tight fistful of hair as th
e monitor blinked on. He had to check to make sure his company was doing all right and that the Russian hackers were no longer a threat. What terrible timing to inconvenience his life, he thought bitterly, opening his email.
When the screen flashed in front of him, he immediately noticed that something was strange. He had four new emails from an anonymous sender, and in the subject line of each were intimidating caps-locked words. He furrowed his eyebrows and pinched the bridge of his nose. This definitely wasn't good.
Tanner had often warned him not to open emails like this, but his anti-virus software showed that they were safe. A cool sweat sprung up on his brow and he nervously clicked the first message that had been sent. He immediately recognized the choppy English and immature threats and sighed loudly before clicking through of the rest of the emails. They had been sent by the Russians, and the group was not happy. Apparently espionage was not above them, he thought, reading the final taunt. Despite his anger, the malice laced in the words chilled him. He knew they meant what they said.
“We are coming.”
Chapter 8
Dirk grabbed his phone and rushed out the door, dialing Tanner's number as he went.
“Did you see those messages?” he asked angrily, once Tanner's tired voice answered the phone.
“No, but I've been fighting another breach all night. I'm gonna have to sleep at some point, Dirk. Jesus.”
“Fuck. It's all right, I'll deal with this one. They said they’re ‘coming.’ Whatever the hell that means.”
“I don't know. Maybe they found out where you live during the last breach,” Tanner suggested.
Dirk groaned and sprinted powerfully toward the common room, where he called all the staff to meet him. When everybody was assembled, he ordered them to tighten security and comb the grounds. They were to report to him if they found any suspicious activity. As his staff dispersed, he suddenly remembered Katherine. She should be alerted to the dangers as well. He was about to order a staff member to brief her but suddenly felt ashamed. What would she think of him if she knew his business was in jeopardy, maybe along with their lives? If anything did happen, she would surely blame him.
He decided against informing her and then nearly collided with her as he rushed toward the armory.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” she said, with a resigned smile.
His resentment for her suddenly melted away as her kind eyes locked on his. He was pulled into their depths, and he had to fight hard to swim away. He heard the hurried shuffling of a staff member as she walked from room to room, slamming windows closed and locking them tightly, and was suddenly pulled back into reality. He didn't have time to deal with Katherine right now. He said nothing and pushed past her, determined to arm himself to the teeth in case the worst should happen.
Chapter 9
Katherine returned to her bedroom, hurt and angry. What was wrong with that man? And why did she let his cruelty affect her so deeply? It wasn't as if she should expect anything more from him. He was, after all, just a scumbag. But something inside of her secretly yearned for the same glimmer of friendliness and companionship she had seen in his eyes the first day they had met. And, she thought as a deep flush colored her cheeks, part of her seemed to stubbornly hold onto the way his body so near to hers had made her feel so safe. Strangely enough, he also made her feel just as unsafe. As if he could do whatever he wanted to her at any moment, and she wouldn't be able to say no.
Thinking about him just made her angrier. There was something very wrong with that man, and she was just going to lie low until the embassy mailed her passport. Unfortunately, it was a weekend and she was having a hard time getting through on the phone. One of the staff members had suggested that she write a letter instead. Who knew how long that would take? But they certainly would get it, that was for sure. She groaned in misery, wishing she had just missed her plane after all.
She considered calling her mother but thought better of it. At best, the woman would offer her some half-hearted sympathy and hang up, complaining that her daughter couldn't look after herself for a minute. She'd never hear the end of how she interrupted her mother's million-dollar honeymoon with petty nonsense. No, she would deal with this on her own and, in the meantime, try to stay out of Dirk's way.
***
The next few days were chaotic. Katherine assumed everybody was still looking for her passport and had no idea that they were in any danger at all. The staff was busy and Dirk had cooped himself up in the office, ordering meals and sleeping on a small cot in the corner with one eye open. Eventually, his accounts were completely out of touch and encrypted so well that only he and Tanner knew how to access them. He spent the time on the edge of his seat, waiting for the shoe to drop. However, the time passed without incident, and Dirk finally allowed himself to step out of his office and take a much-needed break.
He pulled his hair out of his ponytail and rubbed his head. It was evening on the island, and most of the staff was settled in for the night. He had no reason to expect any company, and so he was very surprised when he saw Katherine's silhouette sitting forlornly at the fountain. She was gazing over the water, her shoulders slumped, and he suddenly felt a pang of guilt for how badly he had been treating her. He sighed, studying the way the vibrant lights made her blonde hair shine ethereally in the night, almost like she was a being of light from somewhere far more pure than his cursed island.
Dirk approached her quietly. She didn't notice him at first, and he gazed in the direction she was looking, staring up at the bright cluster of stars above their heads. He cleared his throat softly and she jumped, startled out of her thoughts. She turned her face toward him, and he was stricken by its beauty. He opened his mouth to speak, but found no words. Her perfect features tightened into a scowl, and he braced himself. He knew what it meant when a woman got that look.
“You know, it's not very fun for me to be stuck here, either,” she said to him. “I know you're super busy and all, planning out your next tattoo or whatever it is you do, but you don't have to treat me so badly.”
He wanted to apologize, but he was angered by her presumption. He had been up for days trying to make sure that his fortune and his family were safe. It really pissed him off to hear his hard work trivialized like that. More than that, though, he felt guilty. It wasn't her fault he was so stressed out. And yet there she was, constantly underfoot, making him feel very strange and unsure of himself.
Instead of answering her or apologizing, he held her gaze and approached her. She shrank back, unsure of his intentions. Suddenly his strong, warm hands were wrapped around her biceps, and she felt herself being lifted from the fountain. He brought to her feet and held her arm tightly in his, the way he had during their first meeting. Before she could protest, Dirk led her away from the fountain and walked calmly with her, deeper into the island.
Chapter 10
They walked quietly, their arms linked closely together. There was a forbidden type of intimacy in their stroll, and neither spoke as their bodies moved forward, almost of their own accord. She caught the fresh scent of his cologne as it wafted around them on the wind and had to stop herself from reaching down to grip his large hand tightly. His body was rigid but strong, and she allowed him to lead her deeper into the tropical wilderness.
Finally, he paused and dropped his arm from hers. He motioned to a large rock and she studied it quizzically, not entirely sure what he intended for her to do. Finally, he sat on the rock, and she sat beside him, finding herself looking out over a vast expanse of ocean water, brightly lit by the large, saucer-shaped moon. They stared at the scene together in silence, until finally Dirk cleared his throat and spoke.
“You're welcome to stay here as long as you need,” he told her, his hair falling in front of his face. “I'm very busy and have a lot of obligations. Don't take my lack of courtesy too personally. I'm not very good at politeness rituals.”
“I noticed,” she said. The sound of her laughter filled th
e air, causing Dirk's heart to thud. Her voice was musical. Everything about her seemed so damned perfect. If only they weren't related now.
“Yeah, well, they just don't make any sense to me,” he said, allowing himself to join in her laughter. She eyed him fondly before looking away. “I just do what makes the most sense to me. I don't have much problem offending people.”
“You must feel very free,” she observed, gently touching one of the bold tattoos on his forearm. “It must be nice having so much power and nobody to impress.”
The warmth of her hands ignited a fire within him, and he gazed into her eyes. They shone brightly in the moonlight, and he could almost imagine the burst of colors in them that had captivated him a few days prior when they had been having drinks together, not a care in the world. Until Tanner had called him about the Russians.
Suddenly his handsome face darkened, and he looked away from her.
“What's wrong?” she asked him, fighting the urge to caress his cheek. She had to remind herself that he was her stepbrother now. Any affection she showed him should be as platonic as possible.
“I'm just so tired,” he said, miserably. He wanted to tell her the whole story. Explain about Tanner, give her every detail about his job and his work, and why the obnoxious group of Russians were trying to get as close to his work as they could. It was just too much to say, though, and he felt his breath lock up inside his chest. He shook his head dismissively.
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