Safe in the Tycoon's Arms (Harlequin Romance) (10 page)

His steps slowed. The distance between him and Kate widened. The giggle of a little girl filled his head. He paused and glanced as the child sat on the edge of her bed. She had curly blond locks like Carrie’s and was smiling at someone. His daughter had never smiled at him like that. The knowledge stabbed him in the chest, robbing him of his breath.

“Lucas,” called out Kate.

He meant to keep moving, but he was drawn by this little girl. Her sweet smile threw daggers into his heart. Instead of smiles, Carrie had looked at him with tears in her eyes as Elaina raised her voice, shook a finger in his face and insisted he leave.

Pain churned inside him as though someone had reached down his throat and ripped out his heart. A cold, aching spot remained. He closed his eyes and turned away from the little girl. He shouldn’t have come here. This was a mistake. He needed to leave. Now.

Kate reached out and touched his arm. “Molly’s room is just a few more doors down this hallway.”

The heat of her touch seeped through his suit coat. He glanced at Kate. Her eyes pleaded with him. He wanted to do this for her more than he could say, but the trickle of the little girl’s laughter was his undoing. He needed to get out of there. He needed to breathe.

“I’m sorry. I can’t.”

With that he turned, jerking his arm from her touch. He could feel her lethal gaze shooting daggers into his back. He deserved her anger and so much more.

He’d failed Kate and he hadn’t even had the nerve to explain it to her. Although it wasn’t as if she’d understand. Her daughter loved her. Looked up to her. Trusted her.

He inwardly groaned as the thought drove home the pain and guilt. If he was doing the right thing for Carrie, why did it feel so wrong?

Unwilling to wait for the elevator, he took to the stairs. He raced down them as though the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels.

Kate would think he was a total jerk. And maybe she was right. Perhaps there was something inherently wrong with him that drove away his ex-wife. And now his child.

CHAPTER TEN

K
ATE
SWUNG
THE
hammer with more force than was necessary, missing the nail and putting a small half-moon indentation in the plaster. Just what she needed, something else to fix. It’d been two days since the incident at the hospital and she was still fuming. It was Lucas’s fault. He’d made a point of avoiding her, rushing off to the office early and receiving an urgent phone call and hurrying out the door just as she returned home for dinner. He assured her it was important business, but she didn’t know if she believed him.

Her mind warned her that Lucas was a typical man—unreliable. Why in the world had she let herself believe that he’d be any different than the other men who passed through her life? They said what they thought she wanted to hear and yet when it came to following through with their promises, they never did.

Lucas might clean up nice with his tailored suits and polished dress shoes, but beneath all of that varnish, he was just another lying man. She grabbed a nail, positioned it along the new chair rail and swung the hammer. Hard. Once again, she’d let her guard down and thought she could trust him. She swung the hammer again, hitting the nail dead center. When would she ever learn not to trust men?

She took another whack at the nail, shoving it further into the wall. Not about to ruin the chair rail with a ding from the hammerhead, she looked around for a nail set. Not finding one handy, she grabbed a scrap piece of wood from the floor, positioned it over the nail and swung again.

“What did that piece of wood do to you?”

Lucas. She’d know his deep, rich voice anywhere. Any other time it’d have washed over her like warm maple syrup—sweetening her up. But not today.

She didn’t bother to stop and face him. Another couple of taps and the nail was flush with the wood. “It got damaged from the leaky roof and had to be replaced.”

“That isn’t what I meant. Seems like you’re taking your anger out on that nail. Did something go wrong with the renovations?”

“No.” The fact that he was acting all Mr. Innocent drove her nuts. “I have everything under control.”

“Listen, I know I’ve been busy, but it couldn’t be helped. With the party coming up, we’ve had to kick up the media blitz for the new jewelry line.”

So that was how it was going to be. Act as if nothing happened. She should have predicted this. Her ex swept any trouble under the carpet and pretended as if it never happened. Well, not today. Something had happened and she wasn’t about to forget it.

She set aside the hammer and stood. “Don’t do this.”

“Do what? Ask about the progress on the house?”

“No. Avoid me and then act like there isn’t a problem between us.”

A muscle twitched in his cheek. “I wasn’t avoiding you. Honest. My marketing director went on an early maternity leave and everyone is pitching in to pick up the slack with the upcoming campaign—”

“Stop. This isn’t about your business. This is about you skipping out on me at the hospital without so much as an explanation.”

“I...I’m sorry.” He looked as though he was searching for the right words. “I wanted to meet your daughter but...”

“But what?” He seemed sincere and she really did want to understand. “Talk to me.”

“I can’t. Not now. Just please believe it had nothing to do with you or Molly. I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”

The little voice in her head said not to believe him, but her gut said something else entirely. Not sure which to trust, she decided she needed time to think without him clouding her thoughts with the pleading look in his blue-gray eyes.

“Thank you for your apology, but I don’t have time to talk now. I need to finish replacing this chair rail.”

“It looks like you’ll have this place in tip-top shape in no time.”

“I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions yet. There’s a lot to do and if we’re going to showcase the tunnel, we’ll need every single minute before the party.”

“The tunnel?”

Kate made a point of inspecting her handiwork. Finding a nail that wasn’t quite flush, she grabbed the hammer and the scrap piece of wood and gave it a whack. “Surely you know about the prohibition tunnel beneath the house.”

“Of course I do. But my family liked to pretend it didn’t exist. I’m surprised you know about its existence.”

Kate cocked a smile. “You really need to read more often. You’d be surprised what you learn.”

“I read the
Wall Street Journal
every day.”

“Something tells me that prohibition tunnels wouldn’t be of interest to that paper.”

“Wait. Are you trying to tell me that you read about my house and my family in the paper?”

“Not exactly. Your aunt mentioned that the place had quite a history. And then I did some research online. You’d be amazed at what is put online these days. This house is just teeming with history.”

Lucas raked his fingers through his hair, scattering it in a haphazard fashion. “Great. Isn’t anything private anymore?”

“Quit grumbling and come check it out.” She started for the door. When she didn’t hear Lucas following, she turned back. “You have to see all of the work the men did on the tunnel—from rewiring the lighting to replacing the rotted wood. Although to be honest, it’s more like a long skinny room than a tunnel.”

Lucas let off an exasperated sigh, but she knew once he explored the hidden tunnel, he’d be as impressed as the rest of them. She led him to the back stairs that was constructed of stained wood. But it was the small landing that was a beautiful maze of inlaid wood.

“Someone was very clever,” she said, coming to a stop by a sunset-inspired stained-glass window. “I’m guessing it was your great-grandfather’s idea to create such an artistic floor pattern. If I hadn’t known to look, I never would have guessed the center section opens up.”

Sticking her finger in a discreet thumbhole, she lifted the wood panel. Inside was a rustic wood ladder.

“Don’t worry. The ladder is safe. The men just finished the repairs today and I haven’t had a chance to look around. You must be familiar with it.”

“Actually, I’ve never been down there. My grandfather had the entrance sealed. I’m surprised the workmen were able to open it up without damaging the wood.”

“Believe me, it took a while and lots of care. But I think they did an excellent job. Let me be the first to give you the grand tour.” She didn’t bother to wait for him to make up his mind. She started her descent.

Entering this rustic area was like stepping back in time. She let her imagination run wild, thinking of the old-timers trying to outsmart the cops. The Roaring Twenties must have been a very interesting era, especially for the Carringtons with their hidden tunnel.

Kate rubbed her bare arms. There was a distinct drop in the temperature down here. She was certain the goose bumps were from the chill in the air and had absolutely nothing to do with her view of Lucas’s long legs or toned backside as he descended the ladder.

She gazed around, imagining the wooden racks lined with bottles. “Back here there’s a rack with some very old wine. Seems it was shuffled out of the way and forgotten.”

“Interesting. Did you uncover anything else?”

“Afraid not.”

He moved closer to get a better look. It wasn’t until then that she noticed how tight the quarters were down there. Lucas’s broad shoulders filled the space between the brick wall and the wooden shelves. There was no getting around him. And there was no room to back up.

Lucas’s spicy cologne teased her senses. How could one man look and smell so good? And why did her body so readily respond to him? She knew better than to let her guard down around him. Perhaps inviting him down here was not the best idea.

“That’s all there is. We should go.”

Lucas glanced up from the bottle of wine he was examining. His gaze met hers. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were afraid to be so close to me.”

The problem was she liked it too much. If they stayed down here much longer, she was afraid she’d abandon her common sense and cave into her body’s lusty desires.

“I...I have work to finish.”

“I’m going to look around here a little more.”

He returned the dusty bottle to the rack and turned, signaling her to pass him. Anxious to make her escape, she moved. By the time she figured out there wasn’t enough room for them to modestly pass, her body was sliding over his. Toe to toe. Thigh to thigh. Chest to chest.

The temperature suddenly rose. Her gaze caught his. Did she stop moving? Or had time slowed down?

“Kate.” His voice was raw and full of unmistakable desire.

She’d lied to herself. That first kiss was unforgettable. The memories flitted through her mind every night. What would it hurt to let him kiss her again? Just to see if it was as good as she remembered.

Her heart pounded, echoing in her ears. Her breath hitched. She was playing with fire. She should move. Leave. Run. She didn’t want to get burned. But she couldn’t turn away from his hungry gaze.

His head dipped. Her eyes fluttered shut. Curiosity and desire collided, holding her in place. And then he was there. His touch was warm and gentle as his lips brushed over hers. No kiss had ever felt so heavenly. Her insides melted and pooled in the center. If she weren’t pinned between his hard chest and the wall, she was quite certain her legs wouldn’t have held her up.

But all too soon reality rumbled through her dream. The memory of how he had walked away from her at the hospital shattered the moment. She couldn’t do this. Not with him.

She couldn’t trust him.

Ducking her head, she moved to the ladder. With lightning speed, she rushed up the rungs and hurried back to the library, hoping Lucas wouldn’t follow. She willed her heart to slow. For her lips to quit pulsating. Most of all, she needed to think clearly. And with Lucas around, her thoughts became a jumbled heap.

* * *

What in the world had just happened?

Had he dreamed that one succulent moment? He ran his tongue over his lower lip, tasting the sweetness of Kate’s cherry lip balm. A frustrated groan rumbled in his chest. He’d given his word that he wouldn’t let something that foolish happen again. Yet every time Kate came close and he could smell her fruity shampoo and feel the heat of her touch, logic evaded him.

Now that his ill-laid plan had gone awry, he couldn’t leave things like this. He started up the ladder, wondering what he should say to her. “I’m sorry” just didn’t seem enough, but he had to try. With the wood plank back in place, he headed for the library.

He rolled his shoulders, trying to ease the tension running through them. He was making too much of this. It was barely even a kiss. No big deal.

When he strode into the library, Kate once again had a hammer in one hand and some trim in the other. He waited for her to turn. When she didn’t, he cleared his throat.

“About what just happened, I just want you to know that I shouldn’t have overstepped—”

“It was nothing.” She kept her back to him, shielding her facial expression. “Now you see why I think the tunnel would hold a lot of appeal for people.”

She waved off his kiss as if it was nothing—as if it hadn’t meant a thing. The thought that this thing—this growing attraction—was all one-sided pricked him. His jaw tightened and his body tensed. Why was she being this way? He wasn’t the only one who felt something.

Kate swung around to face him with the hammer still in her hand. “Do you have a problem with the plans?”

Lucas found himself eyeing the business end of the hammer. If she meant to gain his attention, she’d certainly done that. Not that he couldn’t easily overpower her. After all, she was inches shorter than him and looked to be as light as a feather. Only feathers didn’t have so many delicious curves. Kate’s waist dipped in above the flare of her hips, and his fingers itched to wrap around her and pull her close. He was tempted to remind her that though the kiss had been brief, it’d definitely ignited a flame.

He straightened his shoulders. “And what if I do have a problem with all of this?”

“You’re backing out on me now?” Kate’s features hardened and he couldn’t help but notice how her knuckles turned white as her grip on the hammer tightened. “You can’t do that. I won’t let you. We have a verbal agreement. If you even think of backing out now, I’ll...I’ll...”

He smothered a chuckle as her threat lost steam. Not wanting to add fuel to her rising temper, he willed his lips not to lift into an amused grin. She sure was cute when she was worked up. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to egg her on a little more.

“Should I be worried?”

“You already agreed to this party. It’s too late to back out now. I already gave my word to the hospital that I’d have the funds for the operation.”

Her words hit him with more sting than any blow from a hammer. She was right. How was he supposed to put up an argument now when faced with a little girl’s well-being?

As though remembering the hammer was still in her hand, Kate bent over and placed it on the white drop cloth lining the floor. She straightened and tilted her chin upward. “Besides, your aunt thinks the prohibition tunnel will play in nicely with the 1920s flapper theme.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” he mumbled.

As though he hadn’t spoken a word, Kate continued, “She also said that at last some good would come from the Carrington history.”

He didn’t like being ganged up on by his aunt and his... What was Kate to him? A friend? She was closer to him than he let anyone get these days. But
friend
didn’t seem to fit what they had either. Especially not after that brief but stirring kiss.

Just then Kate leaned toward him. He froze. What was she planning to do? His gaze slipped down to her lips. They were full and rosy, just perfect for another sweet kiss. Anticipation grew. Was it possible she’d enjoyed his touch more than she’d been letting on?

His breath hitched as she moved closer. Her hand reached out to him. What was she going to do? Pull him down to her?

The thought of her being so bold...of her taking control of the situation turned him on. His eyes drifted closed. All semblance of logic fled his brain. He waited for her to make her move, willing her to keep going.