Her father had set her up, time and time again, and he had called the cops and the press. He’d been too busy for her, and now she was about to turn federal evidence over against him.
The crowd parted, and she ran into guest services. “Leave me alone, Harry.”
Harry stood back as security circled. “In his way, your father loves you, Kate.”
Her fingers curled into fists. No. Love means a father who cares about his daughter. Hers set his daughter up to take the fall, for his crimes. She walked down the hall, but then Harry grabbed her from behind.
No. She heard the click of metal again. She elbowed Harry, then stepped on his foot, and escaped his hold. In her effort to run, she bumped into random people. Her feet wobbled at first, but then she raced into the promenade.
She ran as fast as she could. She’d not go quietly. Absolutely not.
Then she bumped into a huge wall of muscles. “Katie, what’s going on?”
Her leg returned to the floor and she shuffled away. Her hero had arrived. Kate ran to Daniel Collins. “Nothing, sweetheart. Just help me get out of here.”
Footsteps echoed, and her stomach hardened. They had to get out. Now.
“Are you okay, Katie? Who is that man?”
“Harry. He works for my father.” She gazed into Daniel’s smoldering gaze. A small ember of heat lit inside her cold body. “I need to disappear.”
Daniel brushed his hand against hers, then turned her out of the hallway and into the wall. “What are you doing?”
He whispered into her ear like he was her lover. “Hiding you. No one looks at public displays of affection, Katie.”
She’d not kiss Daniel, not here and not like this. She buried her face in his chest. His hands brushed her hair.
Footsteps echoed past him. Her heart almost fell out of her chest as it defrosted.
“He’s gone, Katie.”
She hugged him then stepped out of his hug. She’d never forget Daniel Collins. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
He nodded his head like he understood. She couldn’t tell him.
Daniel was the perfect guy. They’d never work out long term, but this temporary moment in time would last in her memories. For once, she had her own hero.
Chapter 13
“Daniel, I was surprised to see you.” Katie held his arm. Daniel’s mind rewound to the man who held Katie. The brawny, older man would kill her without an ounce of regret. A coldness enveloped him, but he led her someplace safer on the ship. She stayed on his arms and stared up at him. “Thank you. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.”
“Everything is fine.” He heard the words pour from his mouth. She breathed audibly. To turn the corner, he slipped his hand back to her waist. Lightening shot through his body. He shook off the reaction. “Do you get to have one day without being on the defensive, Katie?”
“What a question.” Kate’s eyes opened wider. Then she took his hand. “It’s been years. I don’t tend to bring my family much joy.”
Again the world became vibrant. He tried to keep his voice level. “For the next twenty-four hours, relax. If anyone says one word of trouble to you, direct them to me, and I’ll take care of it.”
Her mouth fell open.
Daniel squeezed her side, and led her upstairs to the sun deck. “Deal?”
She squinted. The sun in her eyes must have blinded her for a moment as she appeared shell shocked. Then she stared out into the ocean. “Why would you do that?”
He’d been in the marines. No one would get past him. He kept still near her, but she smelled fresh, like clean linens. “I’d like to spend time with the happy, carefree Katie I glimpse in you. When someone comes close, though, you shut down and strike out.”
She nodded. “I do.”
He led her to a quiet section upstairs with empty beach chairs. He needed to gain her trust to fully understand what happened. “There. I won’t steer you wrong.”
“You’re not navigating the ship,” she joked, then covered her mouth. “Okay, sorry. No one’s defended me in a long time.”
“Lucky me, then. Lie back and relax.” He massaged her hand. The bald man with tattoos all down his arms would be easy to describe to authorities. “Let the sunlight calm you down, and I get to be the guy you trust.”
She closed her eyes and waited. He thought she relaxed, but then her forehead wrinkled. A second later, he gazed into her stormy brown eyes. “Daniel—”
“Kate.”
Who? Daniel turned around, stood up and was ready to keep her safe.
Katie sat up and glanced around him.
Daniel blocked her sister from nearing Katie.
Stephanie yelled around him. “Dad called and asked me to have you call him.”
“Katie’s with me at the moment,” Daniel answered in his calm-down-the-patient voice.
“Daniel. My father had nothing good to say.” Kate shook her head. She ignored her sister, and her eyes now had specks of red. “I’ll blow up at her.”
“Stephanie, don’t interrupt our date.” Daniel rested his hands on Kate’s shoulder.
“Calm down, sweetheart.”
She blushed, and he massaged her. He wondered if his face blushed earlier. That nickname threw him.
Daniel glared at Stephanie. “She’ll talk to you at breakfast, Sunday, but right now, please leave us alone.”
“You two are on a date?” Stephanie’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Her head went back and forth between both of them. “I had no idea.”
Kate laughed. “Why would it matter if I dated Daniel or not?”
“Dad wouldn’t approve,” Stephanie said quickly, then she covered her mouth.
Kate shook her head. “Unlike our family, the Collinses have morals. Dad would like their money, though.”
Stephanie stomped away with her head down.
“Your father has money,” Daniel pointed out.
“He has no class.” Kate stood up. “I’ll burn if I stay up here much longer without sun block.”
He nodded. “Okay. You are far too white.”
Daniel stood up, took her hand, and led her back inside.
The word money out of a woman’s mouth usually meant she was after it. Daniel hadn’t felt used with Katie, though. He’d like to know what was going on.
He’d also like to kiss her again. This time without any interruptions. On the landing, he chose to lead them back to their room.
Chapter 14
“Why are we back in our room?” Kate’s gaze went toward the hollow of Daniel’s neck. She imagined how she’d rip his tee shirt off his body. She licked her lips.
“Katie, when you left our room, why didn’t you take your sneakers?”
She sighed. “I left without thinking.”
Daniel’s dimples grew and he helped steady her as she kicked off her heels.
How did she get him to kiss her? She sniffed his earthy scent, and her mouth watered. Her fingers ached to reach out to him.
“True.” She gazed at his strong shoulders. She swallowed. His powerful, tall frame let her be fragile, and no one ever treated her so gentle. She should fight this attraction. “Daniel, I’m not going to have sex with you.”
“Calm down. I was hoping for the kiss you promised.” He winked at her, but kept his distance. “Unless you meant that as a dare, sweetheart.”
“No.” She bit on her lower lip. Wait. She made no sense. She’d missed something. She shook her head and stared at his broad shoulders. “I don’t sleep with men I don’t know.”
“That’s a good policy, Katie. So I’m taking you rock climbing and your high heels are girly.” He dropped her bag next to her bed, and nodded at her. “Sneakers.”
“Haute Couture.” She kicked off her shoes, and her heart almost calmed down. Her erratic heartbeat signaled to her how she stopped that kiss. “Sparrows come from a long line of flimsy, girly shoes designed to turn men into mush. I have the family reputat
ion to consider.”
“Is that why you’re infamous for stepping on people, Katie?” He offered his hand to lead her into their room. She walked around him, sat on the bed, and then tied her laces. Finished, she took his arm to stand. “Helping promote the family shoes?”
“Naturally.” Unlike her sister, he teased her about that nightclub, and she wasn’t judged. He’d believe her. She had been cornered near people who had taken drugs and had run out. Her sister had sent her there. The press had made her sound like she had stepped on people to leave as the cops arrived to arrest people. With Daniel she was safe.
He shook his head at her and she stopped. “What?”
He smiled. “Now, change your lacy white top to a tee shirt so we can climb.”
“I’m infamous, because of a set-up.” She had never told anyone the truth of that night. No one had cared. With her gaze at the floor, she could speak. “I never sought out anyone, and I hate night clubs.”
He took a step toward her and she stared up at him. “I believe you, Katie.” Her mouth fell open. He squeezed her hand, and she gaped at him. No one had said that to her. Daniel tilted his head then shrugged. “You’re secretly a sweetheart, not evil. Now change, so we can get going.”
“Rock climbing.” A smile broke out on her face. What else could she say? Kiss me sounded like too much. He had stolen her armor, and had left her defenseless. She nodded. “Thirty seconds in the bathroom. Start counting.”
“One, two . . .”
She grabbed her bag and found a fitted green tee shirt and shorts. She closed the door behind her. Moments later, she changed then threw open the door, and stepped into her white sneakers.
“Twenty-three. Twenty-four . . .”
She rushed back toward the door, and he stopped counting. She leaned against the doorframe and gazed at his dimples. He winked at her. “You’re much prettier without the layers.”
“You are a strange man, Daniel.” Her feet thanked her. What’d possessed her earlier to wear heels? The sole of her heel no longer squeezed her toes. She grabbed a sweater in case she became cold. “We’ll see if you can handle a woman who can climb faster than you, Daniel.”
“Katie, prepare to lose.”
She ran into the hall. He stayed hot on her heels and she giggled. At the corner to turn into the main part of the ship, his hands went to her hips, and tickled her. She stopped and fought off hysterics. “Is that your weapon?”
“If you think that, you’re far too innocent.”
She laughed, but a coldness raced through her. Her lack of experience made her different from most women in her world. She was a virgin. Her father had bought her friends and men that reported back to him everything she ever did.
Daniel kept his arms at her side, but they raced again toward the steps. He stopped fast, and she followed suit. She swallowed. Gabriella. Kate shook her head. “We keep running into you right here.”
“Same ship, same wedding.” Gabriella batted her eyes at Daniel, and Kate’s spine tingled.
Gabriella pouted. “I feared I interrupted earlier.”
“Don’t worry about us.” Kate took his arm and tugged him to move.
He followed. Kate turned back and flashed a smile at Gabriella. “See you at the wedding, sitting far away from us.”
Steam would come out of her ears, but Kate vowed to hold her tongue.
Daniel waited until they climbed the flight of stairs. “Sweetheart, there is another ex on this ship. I bumped into her earlier.”
“Will there be an army of women out for my head on a stake this trip?”
He shook his head, “No. You don’t have to kill anyone.”
“Good, because I’d feel cheated and think your promise hollow.” Kate tilted her head.
“What promise?”
She stared into his eyes. “You’ve offered me freedom for twenty-four hours.”
“From accusations. Don’t worry.” Daniel hugged her.
Her body trembled, and she rushed past him. A kiss would send her over the edge. She tried to smile at him and opened the door to the outside deck. She stood straighter and rubbed her arms. The rock-climbing apparatus on the side of the ship was way too high. The rocking of the waves would make this exercise intense. She gulped.
Daniel led her to the check-in. “I’ll protect you.”
The wave runner overlooked the ocean below. She swallowed. Then she brushed her arms. The wall was too formidable. At least the rock climbing was thirty feet away from the edge. The wind from the ship sent her hair rushing to the side of her face. She turned and stepped closer to Daniel, who conveniently blocked the wind. To keep her mind off what she was about to do, she said, “You’re from the Cape, right?”
“Yep.” His lips turned into a smile. “Ms. Socialite from Manhattan and LA.”
“Don’t forget the fashion shows around the world,” Kate added. “Paris, Milan, Tokyo.”
Daniel shrugged. “Did your family ever settle in one place for long?”
To call her father and sister a family was a stretch of the truth. “No.”
They waited for their turn. He turned around and watched her with her safety gear. Kate’s heartbeat doubled. “Despite the short trips my family took as vacations or my time in the Marines, the Collinses stayed close to home.”
“That explains your muscles.” She smiled. “Is that what your tattoo is?”
He lifted his arm to show her his marine unit stamp.
“Nice.” Her heart whispered to reach out and brush against his hand. She held her wrist close to her stomach. She nodded her head. “Your life sounds better. Growing up in my house was cold if not for the constant travel.”
They moved forward, and he turned around to lead her. The instructor signaled them, and she stepped up. She shook her weak legs to get more power. It was their turn. She half-listened to the girl who gave them directions. Kate bit her lip and signed the waiver. Then she waited for the teenage girls who just finished their climb. They had guts, and no issue with the height. Kate shivered a bit, then glanced out to the ocean.
Daniel stepped next to her. “Ready, Katie, or are you chickening out?”
“Never.” She stepped forward and strapped on the safety harness. Daniel joined her and threw on his gear. She snapped her harness to a snug fit, and nodded. He double-checked her safety then his own. His fit muscles and lean body must get all the women. She absolutely melted near him
“Staring at my body, sweetheart?” He winked at her.
“It’s good you’re not vain, Daniel.” She flexed her fingers and grabbed the first plastic rock. “You’re about to get beat by a girl.”
“You’re on.”
Her hands grabbed the first two pretend rocks without issue. If she focused straight ahead, she’d finish fast. Her feet were smaller than his, and would fit better on the rocks.
Daniel sped up, and came beside her. She gritted her teeth, but climbed. Daniel was in front of her now. She stared lower, towards the ship.
Huge mistake.
The ship swayed back and forth, and she was higher than everyone else. One big dip would be bad. Her fingers throbbed, and her hands became icy. She clutched the plastic rock tighter, and she couldn’t climb anymore.
Daniel called out, “I win.”
She stayed still. Shallow breaths were all she could handle. How would she get down?
She leaned closer into the wall, and said a silent prayer. Then Kate’s brow sweated. Ice raced through her body.
Daniel appeared next to her, “Do what I say, Katie. I won’t let you fall.”
“I’m a wimp,” she admitted, but let him guide her hand lower to the next plastic rock. Her hands were clammy, but she had to trust him. His body now surrounded hers, and the safety helped calm her fears. She climbed down in his cocoon.
Near the end, she tried to pretend she was fine. “Guess I’m buying dinner.”
“Generous of you. I’ll order two full meals then.” All food on the cruis
e was included in the price to get onboard. “And a dessert and an appetizer.”
“Order everything on the menu, Daniel,” she quipped back the second her feet touched the ground. Her heart leapt. “The price is perfect on the cruise.”
He shook his head. She rolled her shoulders then said, “No more adventure today. Can we get a bottle of wine and talk?”
Borrowing the Doctor (The Collins Brothers Book 2) Page 8