Niko's Stolen Bride (23 page)

“I had room service deliver a tray to your room. There’s sandwiches and coffee.” He gazed intently down into her face, his eyes sharp behind his reading glasses. “Rum and soda in the mini-bar too.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “Sounds great.” Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Frank stepping into one of the elevators. She crooked one eyebrow upward in question. “You’re not speaking?”

Her father’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the other man. “Is he going to be my son-in law?”

She shook her head mutely.

“Then, no. No more than was absolutely necessary to get you back safe.” He removed his glasses, folding them into the pocket of his white dress shirt. “He asked for the chance to speak with you, and I agreed you two needed to clear the air.” He glanced back toward the elevator doors as they closed, then at her set face. “Apparently, it didn’t go well. Come on up. We’ll talk a bit then get some sleep.”

“I doubt it,” she muttered under her breath.

They settled on the comfortable chairs on the balcony of her room. Ignoring the covered dish of food, they poured two glasses of cola then laced them with a small bottle of spiced rum. She curled her legs under her, staring out over the tops of the swaying palm trees. Her father stood to pull the curtains closed to block the light that glared from inside the room then sat back down in the chair next to her.

“Where’s Elaina?”

“In our room, chatting with her brother, Gabriel, over an Internet connection. They’re a bit worried about Niko.”

She flinched at the name and wondered how many times she’d hear it in the future.

He must have noticed, for he reached across the space between the chairs to clasp her arm. “I’m sorry honey. I know this has been a hard week for you.”

He released her and leaned forward, his elbows propped on his knees as he looked out over the resort gardens. “I don’t know that I’ll ever forgive Frank for destroying your chance for happiness in such a shameful way.”

Kara straightened in her chair, putting her feet on the floor. “That’s not so, Dad. He did us both a tremendous favor. We were never meant to be together.”

She heard his indrawn breath of relief. “Really?”

She nodded, then realized that he couldn’t see her. “We’re just friends. I thought – well, you know how Mom always used to tell me that a marriage based on friendship would last? I guess I was following in your footsteps, trying to find the partner that would give me what you and she had.”

He was silent for a moment then he laughed softly. “I think that was your mother’s way of encouraging you not to experiment with sex during your high school years.”

“What do you mean?”

“I know most kids don’t want to talk about this with their parents, but your mother and I were quite hot for each other in our early years. We had a whirlwind courtship. Met and married within two months.”

Kara tensed instinctively before realizing the idea of her parents being sexually active wasn’t repugnant after all. It was comforting, assuring her that they were a normal, happy couple. “But you two were friends.” The words were tentative, holding a question.

“Terrific friends and even better lovers. It was the best partnership I could have ever asked for.” He leaned back in the chair and put his feet up on the railing of the balcony. “I think that’s why I married Elaina. Of course, I was flattered by the attention of a younger woman. She and I were physically attracted to each other, especially at first. I thought with that kind of closeness, the friendship would grow.” He hesitated for a moment. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good relationship, but we’re not as close as your mother and I were. I think that was an once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“Oh my god,” Kara said softly, wonder in her tone. “And with Frank, I thought sexual compatibility would grow from the friendship.”

“We were both wrong.”

She didn’t miss the weariness in his voice. It seemed that everyone had to learn a lesson, one that Niko had learned years before. Neither sex nor friendship was enough. It took both to form a long and lasting relationship. Along with a healthy dose of good luck.

He drained his drink and stood. Bending, her father kissed her on the cheek. “See you in the morning, sweetheart.” He straightened and stepped toward the sliding glass door, hesitating just before he moved inside. “I’m glad you’re back. I was worried about you on that boat, especially with the storm that was coming in.”

“I was in good hands. Good crew,” she managed to choke out. Never would she tell him just how personal the attention of the captain had been.

“We’re lucky that Niko was on top of things and managed to book an early charter flight out. Since the hurricane strengthened so quickly, it would have been impossible to get off the island.”

“Strengthened?” The word barely managed to squeak through as the breath stopped in her chest.

“You’ve lost track while traveling, I guess. They expect it to be quite a bruiser when it hits. Category 4.”

Kara stood slowly on legs she thought might buckle under her, reaching out one hand to steady herself against the wall. “Niko and Eduardo found a storm shelter, I hope?” She couldn’t imagine riding out a storm of that magnitude on the island.

Her father shook his head slowly. “I thought you knew. They decided to make a run for Miami. That’s why we got you out early.”

“Oh my god!” She stepped toward her father. “They’re on open water?”

He seemed to pick up on the absolute terror in her tone. “Let’s go see if Elaina has an update.”

With Kara almost running to keep up with his long strides, they headed to her father’s room. Elaina was in the shower, but her laptop computer was open where she’d left it on a desk by the window. With a gesture from her father, Kara sat in the chair. She cursed under her breath as the trembling in her hands caused a typing mistake before the weather map loaded and the huge red circle that she’d dreaded appeared.

The Category 4 hurricane was headed directly for the island chain of the Bahamas. Right for Niko.

Comprehension flowed over her. He’d sent her away to protect her. He’d gone to extreme lengths to make sure that she went, even having her father send someone to escort her. If he’d known it would be Frank, he’d probably thought it would give her a chance to reconcile with her ex-fiancé or decide that it wasn’t what she wanted.

What a fool she’d been. She’d had one last chance, at the car, to tell him that she loved him and she’d let anger stand in her way.

Kara jumped to her feet. “Dad, let me borrow your cell phone. I’ve got to call him.”

“It won’t go through.” Elaina spoke from the bathroom door. She tied the belt of her long, white robe as she stepped into the room. “I’ve been trying for hours. The Coast Guard has tried the ship’s radio as well, but there’s been no response.”

With jerky movements, Kara slammed back into the seat before the computer, forcing herself to read the public advisory. The hurricane was projected to pass between Nassau and Miami, skirting the edges of the east coast of Florida and making landfall on the coast of South Carolina. The leading edge of the thunderstorms that wrapped around the eye was already being felt in Miami. There might have been time, after the repairs were made, for the yacht to slip out ahead of the storm. Someone had to know if they were all right.

She turned in the chair to face her stepmother. “What can we do?”

“Niko called when they left Nassau. He seemed to think there was time to make the run.” Her tone took on a defensive note. “He would never endanger Eduardo’s life or risk the ship.”

“Of course not, but he couldn’t have known the storm would strengthen so quickly.”

Kara cringed inside at her own words, desperation creeping in and scattering her thoughts as her glance was drawn back to the huge red circle on the weather map. It didn’t seem possible that the ship could make it through. It was sleek, fast and fairly large, but small compared to the hurricane. “I have to know if he’s safe.”

A slight frown crossed Elaina’s brow and she exchanged a glance with Kara’s father. “It’s a seven-hour run from Nassau in good weather. It could be dawn before they reach the mainland.” She hesitated for a moment. “If you want, you can stay in Niko’s condo on Miami Beach tonight. It looks over the yacht basin where they dock the ship. I’ll alert security to let you into the building.”

“Won’t it be dangerous?” her father protested. “The storm could turn.”

Ignoring him, Kara said, “That’s perfect. Thank you, Elaina.”

Elaina moved closer to her father and put a hand on his arm. “None of the computer models have it turning. There are no evacuation orders in place for the city. Kara will be fine.”

The woman turned toward her with a smile so similar to Niko’s that it nearly took her breath. “It is important for Kara to be there when Niko arrives. There are things to be said, yes?”

Kara nodded slowly, wondering for a moment if she were so transparent that everyone knew she was head over heels over Niko. The thought should have embarrassed her, but the emotions were so real and strong that she couldn’t find anything wrong with acknowledging them publicly. She felt comfortable knowing that Niko was a good man, worthy of her love. Whether he returned it or not, it was right. She’d never regret their time together.

“Take the rental car,” her father urged as he gave her a quick hug. “We’ll call a taxi for the airport.” She spent a few more minutes getting directions then returned to her room. Her leaving complicated their travel arrangements back to New York, but it couldn’t be helped. As soon as she was sure Niko had made it in safely, she’d fly home out of the Miami airport.

The trip back across the Everglades was surreal. She was virtually alone on the long flat highway and stopped only once for gas and coffee. The wind blew in gusts that rocked the car and tossed dried leaves and grass that struck the windshield of the car with incredible force. The guard at Niko’s complex was sleepy and ill humored, muttering under his breath as the storm blew the door out of his hands, slamming it against the wall.

Hours later, Kara sat alone on the floor in front of the glass windows of Niko’s living room, looking out over the yacht basin. Dawn peaked in shades of light and dark gray. She watched as car headlights tracked across the causeway between Miami and the island of Miami Beach. The lights of the city that had kept her company gradually dimmed from radiant red, yellow and green to dreary brown as the street lights and neon winked off one by one. Rain came in flurries, driven against the windows by the force of a fitful wind. Below, she could see flags on various docked ships snapping in the strong breeze. She checked her watch for the thousandth time.

They should be here by now. Somewhere in the long night, it had occurred to her that they might not even dock on the pier below. She didn’t know the procedures for entering the country on a yacht. Perhaps they had to be cleared through Customs somewhere else first. She sipped at her fourth cup of coffee and pulled the soft blanket she’d found in a closet closer around her. She reached for the cell phone charging in an electrical outlet and checked for messages again. Nothing. Muttering to herself, she considered calling Elaina for another contact phone number, perhaps Eduardo’s family or even George’s. Anyone who might know if the ship had arrived safely.

Leaning forward, she rested her head against the cool glass. She was an impetuous fool. What was she doing here? She had no idea what she’d say to Niko when he arrived. She’d tried to create the scene in her head as she wandered through his apartment, touching his things, looking for a connection to him. Nothing came to her. The longer she sat here, the greater the fear grew that he’d be uncaring, might even taunt her for chasing after him. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, she rolled to her back and starred up at the ceiling. It didn’t matter. She couldn’t live with herself if she left for home without telling him that she loved him. If he didn’t feel the same, at least she’d know that she’d tried.

She rubbed her eyes, wincing. The inside of her eyelids were like fine sandpaper against her pupils. She let her eyes close for just a minute, hoping to activate the tear ducks that would moisten them. It felt unbelievably good to shut out the light.

* * *

“As much as I like watching you sleep, I can’t help wonder what you’re doing on my floor. You should be on your way to New York by now.”

Kara jerked awake, widening her eyes in shock. Niko sat cross-legged on the floor beside her. She’d been so soundly asleep that she hadn’t heard him enter the apartment. He was dressed in an orange windbreaker, unbuttoned to show a dark tee-shirt and jeans. Rain had dampened the shoulders of his jacket and droplets lay glistening in his dark hair. She sat up with care. She wanted to launch herself into his arms, but for now, it was enough to know that he was safe.

He seemed tense, almost as on edge as she was herself. Her mind foggy as it emerged from sleep, she said the first thing that came to her. “What took you so long?”

His gaze moved from her face to the window behind her, then back again. “We had to track around the hurricane.” He shrugged. “The journey took a little longer than usual.”

The sky had darkened to deep purple as storm clouds chased each other across the vast expanse visible from the high-rise building. Lightning flared so far away that the boom of the thunder was muted by distance. Far below, the palms thrashed in the wind, their fronds slashing the air like the plastic legs of an octopus-shaped children’s water toy. Rain splattered against the glass, rattling it in its frame. She shivered. He’d been on a ship out in that. Either he was deliberately downplaying the danger or, like Eduardo, he enjoyed a touch of adventure.