One day. Kate’s heart held on to hope. She’d be like them again soon.
In a few days, she’d have the papers or whatever her mother had left in that box. She had promised the agent an exchange that guaranteed her freedom and sold out her father.
Something important had to be in that box. People had tried to stop her. The government had offered her a deal. Whatever it was didn’t matter. She straightened in her seat. It was not like she had anything else to lose, other than her sanity on this trip.
She dropped her head in her hand and stared into her almost empty cup one more time. The milky-white vanilla on her spoon melted. She scooped up the remains, smiled, and then tasted the last drops.
Ice cream had never let her down. She took a bite, and escaped her thoughts in that one moment. She swallowed, then her gazed traveled back toward people.
Her skin jumped, and goose bumps rose. She stood up and tried to find a way out.
Two men who worked for her father were at the front door.
Adrenaline rushed through her body. She dropped the bowl on the table, and ran the other direction. Her heels pounded the metal floor, and her feet begged to be freed. She reached down and took off one shoe.
The men grew closer. Kate found the back exit and raced to the stairs. She lost the second shoe on the flight down. Her head screamed, There’s no escape. If his men were here, they would have days to get to her.
Her heart pounded in her chest. This ship was big, but the public areas were contained.
The ship made a strange loud screech, and then a cheery voice of a crewmember told everyone, “Please report to your muster station. The number of your station is on your room card.”
People appeared in droves in the halls fast, and Kate lost the men in the frenzy. She stayed low and followed everyone back up to deck.
A crew member asked, “What’s your muster station?”
She fished in her pocket and found her room key. She held up her identification card, and read the designation, B21.
The crew pointed her to her muster station for a safety review.
She tapped her feet, and tried to stay behind people. She’d have to stay out of sight. In her own room, she’d have locked the door and not come out.
Now she shared her space with Daniel Collins. Her heart raced in a new way. She envisioned them together, and how she’d lose her virginity to the sexy doctor. Then she shook her head at how stupid and idyllic that seemed.
She sighed to cool her thoughts. The hot air outside slowed down her intentions. She sucked in her cheeks. She’d never met a man she trusted her father hadn’t bought. Daniel’s money and family meant he didn’t need her father’s cash.
He was, in part, a fairy tale prince come to life, though she’d never be a princess. It’s why she named her dog, Charming. He had been her best shot at true love.
Goose bumps formed on her arms, and she glanced forward to Daniel Collins. He walked toward her through the crowd. Her heart raced. The man gave her a perfect excuse to be on this ship. She’d keep her imagination to herself, but stay at his side for the next few days.
He came closer.
She’d hide in his massive, strong arms.
Then Kate gazed beyond his shoulder. The two men stood near her call station. Her mouth went dry. They hadn’t seen her. Kate ducked under Daniel’s arm and locked herself in his embrace. He held her, but asked, “What now?”
“Shh.” She hid her face in his muscles and hoped the men hadn’t taken a close look at Daniel yet. “I’ll explain later. Hide me.”
He leaned closer, held her, and massaged her head.
Her body melted.
The ship’s announcer said, “We’ll be releasing everyone in a moment. Thank you.”
She glanced at his face, and his dimples played in her imagination. Did he kiss her with those dimples? He asked, “What’s happening.”
She’d never tell him her crazy thoughts “I’ll explain later, in our room.”
The ship announced again, “Thank you for participating in our safety drill. In the case of a real emergency, return to your muster station as fast as possible. This drill is over.”
A throng of people all stormed away. Kate held on to Daniel, then stared into his ember eyes. With him she was safe. She had other no explanation right now. She licked her lips and drew closer. He tilted his head and asked, “Katie, are you okay?”
She stood up on her tiptoes, leaned in, and kissed him. His arms secured her in place, and for the second time in a day, the blaze from the sun didn’t compete with whatever grew inside her.
He tasted far better than that ice cream.
Chapter 9
Daniel gave an inward sigh of contentment as Kate stayed in the cradle of his arm. He led her back, and she kept her head on his shoulder.
He hadn’t expected Kate’s kisses. Twice now. And his heartbeat had almost skipped. He rubbed his scratchy chin, and tried to figure out her kiss on deck.
He tilted his head. She’d kissed him more openly the second time, but she had an air of being rushed. Gigi’s warning that what was fast burned out quickly also hit him hard. He sucked in his lips. He shouldn’t kiss her again.
He crossed his arms, but she stayed close to his side.
Inside the halls, he led her back to their room. They turned toward a flight of stairs.
She stopped and picked up a random shoe. He gazed lower and realized she held a pair in her hands. “How did you lose it?”
She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I found it.”
Her face had gone white. Something happened to her. She held whatever it was back. His arms went around her to protect her. She nodded and went back into the cradle of his neck.
At least she was tall enough to kiss without bending his neck.
He shook off the memory.
Kate had a fiery mix of sweetness and sassiness to her. Around the corner, someone slapped him on the shoulder and he stopped.
Kate ran her hands through her hair, and Daniel put his hands in his pockets. Then he gazed into Liam’s curious stare.
He kept Kate on his arms, and she stayed. “Hello.”
His brother smiled at her.
Daniel shook his head. “Liam, the lady’s not interested in you.”
Kate giggled near his ear, and he smiled.
“You’re supposed to act like adults once you pass the age of thirty,” Liam mocked, and tried to sound like him. “You and that lady are acting like teenagers in a public place, old man.”
“Funny. My baby brother, the FBI agent with a different date, every night, is lecturing me on rules of behavior.” Daniel quipped back, and offered his hand to Kate to hold. Her mouth fell open, and her skin went white. He almost checked her pulse again, but then she shook his brother’s hand. Daniel narrowed his gaze. “Katie surprised me. I’ll be sure to act the proper older brother.”
Daniel rubbed his neck.
Liam turned around and waved at them to follow. “Let’s go get the bon voyage drink. Bring your date to meet the family.”
Daniel stood still, but Kate took the first steps to follow. What the heck? Daniel picked up the pace to face his family.
“I’m not his date.” Kate rolled her eyes, but held Daniel’s hand. She sped up and told Liam, “We’re friends and rooming together on this ship.”
Liam shopped short and turned around. They both exchanged a long stare. Daniel nodded. They’d talk later.
At a short flight of stairs that went down the hall, the crowd eased to a more manageable group.
Kate turned around and scanned the area.
She rubbed her arms.
Daniel needed to ask her why she ran. It wasn’t just her crazy sister.
Kate jumped suddenly. What startled her? Daniel followed her stare, and focused on two men. They had been on deck with them.
Kate threw herself into his arms again, and he held her close. He led her to the front flight of steps to the bar.
Lia
m went in first and waved at the others.
Daniel quickly asked her, “Katie, who are those men?”
“Err, uh,” she stammered for a second. “They’re following me.”
“Relax. They haven’t figured out you’re here with me.” He hugged her, and she hugged him back. The erratic sound of her heartbeat sent a protective notion into his arms. “I’ve got you.”
“My . . . father,” she started, but lost her voice.
“He’s in jail,” Daniel massaged her scalp. “Besides, he’s your dad.”
“We’re not like your family.” She swayed on her feet, and leaned into him. Her sad sigh gave him sense and purpose. She needed him. He held her tight.
“Daniel, we’re over here, let the girl go for a few,” his brother Gerard called out.
They stepped inside the bar, but they held hands.
“Would your father hurt you?” Daniel asked, as they walked toward the table. “Katie, tell me what’s going on.”
“Nothing, Daniel.” She pushed away from his shoulder and shook her head. Her face flushed, and her head turned to him. “He’s never let me live my own life.”
There was more. Her words sounded hollow. He had no reason to disbelieve her, but his instincts said otherwise.
She squeezed his arm and brought him over to the table. “Let’s get that drink.”
Something possessed him, but he took his watch off, and tucked it into her back pocket. She jumped back and said, “Hey.”
He held his tongue. The watch’s GPS was attached to his phone, and his family’s security monitoring program. He paid the extra frees to ensure all his electronics worked. If Katie needed him, he’d find her.
“Won’t you need your watch?” she asked and fished in her pocket.
He shook his head ‘no’ and motioned her toward seats. “Keep it for me. You owe me a favor.”
She shrugged, then she let her hands fall to her sides. “It’s an odd way to grab my butt, but okay, whatever. I’ll hold on to your watch.”
He motioned for the waiter and his family all sat, far too quiet.
He and Kate sat down and waited.
Perhaps he’d brought her too fast into the fold of his family.
Fast seemed to be his life today. He ordered the drink from the waitress then stared at Kate.
She brought fireworks into his life.
Chapter 10
Kate stiffened. She scanned around the table she joined. Family had never been her thing. She blinked. With the four brothers and one woman, the wife of one of them, she had no idea what to say or do. She flicked her hands and almost dropped the silverware on the table. The clash had her jump. Luckily, Daniel placed his hand on hers to stop her and the flyaway silverware.
“Kate, this is my immediate family.” His soothing voice helped her stop her knees from an almost kick under the table. “Liam, you’ve met. He’s in the FBI agent and the youngest.”
He nodded at her and offered her a beer. Kate smiled and took the bottle. She nodded her thanks.
“The dark, brooding one with my coloring is Gerard.” Daniel squeezed her knee, and her pulse raced. “He’s the lawyer, so if he doesn’t smile much, know he’s not supposed to care.”
“Ehh.” Gerard offered her a half-smile. “Family is family, Danny boy.”
Kate giggled. They sounded like a real family.
Daniel rolled his eyes, but the Collins clan had a clear undercurrent of love. She glanced at her date, and her awareness of him grew. She had never had this close family. Daniel pointed with his palm to the other two at the table. “Next is Sean, he’s the second youngest and the CEO of the family.”
“CFO,” the woman corrected. Then she scooted over closer to the man who was likely her husband. Kate smiled at her, and the small brunette smiled back. Then she added, “I’m waiting to hear my description.”
Daniel shook his head, but it was clear from his face that he cared about the woman, too. “Gigi is Sean’s wife. They’ve been dating on and off since they were three, so she’s very much the annoying little sister.”
Kate’s hand flew to her heart. Lifelong love seemed a foreign concept. Kate stared at Daniel’s strong jaw line. His determination, and his dark brown, short almost-black hair made his other features stand out more. She respected him. How does one know what love is when she never had anyone but her mother, who died?
Kate tore her gaze away from him, and turned to the woman. “Must be difficult being the female in this family.”
“The Collins boys saved my life and are my family,” Gigi added, sipped her drink and turned to Daniel. “This girl has fire in her. She’s better than the other ex-girlfriends.”
Kate winked at Daniel. “I figured he dated boring women.”
“You don’t know enough about me to guess that.” Daniel bumped her with his hip, and her gaze shifted.
She’d tease him. With his family near, Daniel appeared the best person she’d ever met. She shook her head. She refused to get too carried away. “I know what I see. Boring is written all over your face, Doctor. You play it safe.”
He shrugged. “I don’t hide who I am, Katie.”
She brushed the side of his leg and noted how his muscles contracted. She sighed. It’d been forever since a man who would be acceptable spent time with her. She quelled her heartbeat. This couldn’t be. She had given up the search long ago and assumed Prince Charming never existed.
Daniel came a close second to the fictional prince. Unlike dreams, he had lips that set her on fire.
An hour later, the waiter brought the other brothers another round of drinks, but she tugged on Daniel’s arm. He leaned closer and she whispered into his ear, “Daniel, can we go somewhere alone, to talk?”
“Sure.” He nodded at her. “Whatever you want, Katie.”
Gerard yelled at a nearby television, and Daniel became momentarily distracted. She glanced over and saw a hockey game. She straightened her neckline. Would Daniel fit in her life?
Probably not. He could be a total sports fanatic or have some other abhorrent trait that become so obvious with time. Kate took a few deep breaths. She ought to know more about him, other than she swooned near him.
She licked her lips the second he turned back toward her. She doubted it. It had been far too long since she’d been attracted to a man.
“Sorry.” Daniel finished his last sip and asked her, “Ready?”
“Sure.” She stood up and took his offered arm. He led her to the backdoors. She watched the ground for a moment then tugged her ear. “Let’s go the room. If the bags arrived, I want to put on my sneakers. If not, we’ll go check out the ice-carving show.”
He held open the door for her, and they walked down a flight of stairs. On the first landing, he tucked his hands in his back pocket. “This our big first date.”
A date? When had she had one of those? High school? Most men she met offered to hang out, not date. She followed Daniel’s body language and added her hands to her back pocket. “Sure. Sounds good. I guess since we’re sleeping in the same room already, we should be free to talk.”
On the next landing, Kate slipped off her heels, then slipped her hand in his. He slid his other hand out of his pocket and winked. “You’re on the small side.”
She cocked her head to the side and took a fighting stance. “Big enough to handle you.”
His dimples appeared.
She shook her head, and followed him. Two more steps down, a woman called up from the next landing, “Daniel, it’s me.”
He stopped short, and Kate looked at the exotic, Asian beauty.
Daniel’s face went red, and he tried to leave. Kate stopped. Daniel’s lips grew thinner, but then he nodded. “Gabriella, it’s good to see you again.”
“Daniel”—the woman batted her eyes—“I heard you were going to be at this wedding. I was hoping to reconnect.”
“Don’t let me stop you.” Kate crossed her arms. The woman had knowledge in her eyes. Kate refus
ed to ever be the other woman. Of course, this happened now. She stared at Daniel, and she dropped her hands to her side. She was out of fight. She turned to walk away, but Daniel held her arm and gently asked her to step closer to him. She took a deep breath and turned her face up to him. “What?”
Borrowing the Doctor (The Collins Brothers Book 2) Page 6