Brides, Babies And Billionaires. Rebecca Winters
father? For a second a thread of fear wound through her. Was Jack okay? Had something happened? Would she always be wondering about him? The answer was of course, yes.
Sighing, she said, “Hi, Thomas, everything all right?”
“Oh, yes, yes. Everything is great, really. I was just wondering, though, if you might do an old man a favor.”
Setting the timer on the oven, Rita wandered to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. She uncapped it, took a long drink and said, “Of course. What can I do?”
She heard the smile in his voice when he said, “I hoped you could come down to The Sea Queen to see me.”
“You’re on the ship?”
“Yes,” he said. “I’m taking the first cruise. Thought I’d get a little golf in on the islands. But there’s something I’d like to give you before I go.”
Rita did some fast thinking. She really liked Jack’s father and just because the man’s son was behaving like a loon didn’t mean she couldn’t be close to his family. Thomas was, after all, her daughter’s grandfather. And Jack’s sister was going to be the baby’s doctor. Family mattered, whether Jack could see that or not. “Of course I can. What time do you want me there?”
“Wonderful,” he said, pleasure ringing in his voice. “As for what time, the sooner the better.”
Now she was curious. Jack hadn’t said anything to her about his dad going on the first cruise. But then, she told herself, maybe he didn’t know. What could Thomas possibly have to give her that was important enough for her to go scurrying down to the harbor just before the ship sailed? “Okay, I’ll just arrange for my manager to take over and I’ll come right down.”
“Thank you, Rita. I’ll leave word at the dock and they’ll bring you to my suite.”
“Okay, then,” she said, still baffled, “I’ll see you soon.”
She hung up and just stared at the phone for a second or two. Rita had no idea what was going on, but the sooner she got to the harbor, the quicker she’d find out.
* * *
Half an hour later, she was boarding the ship and being met by a young man in a navy shirt and sharply creased white slacks. The Sea Queen was stitched onto the breast pocket of his shirt and just below, he wore a name tag that read “Darren.”
“Mrs. Buchanan?” he asked and when she nodded, he said, “If you’ll come with me, Mr. Buchanan is waiting in the owner’s suite.”
The crowds were frantic. People rushing around, having their pictures taken, waving to people on the dock. Children ran past her, their laughter hanging in their wake. The scent of the sea flavored the air and Rita lifted her face into the wind briefly before boarding an elevator with Darren.
“Everyone seems really excited,” she said.
“They are,” Darren assured her. “It’s a great ship and it’s always fun to go out on the first cruise.”
Probably would be, she thought and told herself that one day she’d have to try it. Right now, sitting on an island beach with nothing to do sounded pretty good.
She had no idea what deck they were on when the elevator stopped and they stepped off into a luxurious hallway. But it was quiet with none of the eager abandon down on the main decks. Darren led her to a door at the end of the hall, then opened it for her.
“Mr. Buchanan said you should just go on inside, ma’am,” he said, then strode quickly away, back to the elevator.
Rita walked into the massive suite, closed the door behind her and for a second, all she could do was stare with her mouth open. It was more than elegant. It was opulent.
Midnight blue carpeting was so plush her feet sank into it. There was a huge living area, with a flat-screen TV, an electric fireplace and several couches and chairs all done in cream-colored fabric. There was a bar, and out on the private balcony, she could see a table and chairs as well as lounges.
She’d love to get a look at the rest of the suite before she left, but for right now... “Thomas?”
Someone stepped into the room from the terrace, but it wasn’t Thomas. Even before he spoke, she knew it was Jack because her blood started bubbling and her heart leaped into a gallop.
“Thanks for coming, Rita,” Jack said.
She backed up. Cowardly, yes; she’d be embarrassed later. “What’re you doing here? Where’s your father?”
“That’s the thing. He’s not here. I asked him to call you for me, since I figured you wouldn’t speak to me anyway.”
“You were right about that,” she snapped and turned for the door. She had to get out of there. Off the ship, back to the bakery.
But Jack was too fast and his legs were much longer than hers. He beat her to the door and stood with his back against it, blocking her way.
“Move, Jack.”
“Not yet.”
“You really don’t want to push me right now,” she warned, though she didn’t know what she could do to move him if he didn’t want to be moved. Gina would kick him, but Rita just wasn’t the kicking kind. Too bad.
“Just hear me out. Then if you want to leave, I won’t stop you.”
“Why should I?”
One corner of his mouth quirked up and her heart thudded painfully in her chest. “Because you’re curious. Admit it.”
She hated that he was right. Hated that he could make her body burn with a half smile and hated that just standing this close to him made her want to lean in and take a bite of his lower lip. “Fine. Talk.”
He shook his head. “Not here. Come in. Sit down.”
When he took her arm, she pulled free of his grasp. She didn’t trust herself to stay mad if he was touching her and she really wanted to stay mad. She’d earned it, hadn’t she?
“No,” she said. “I’m not sitting down. I’m not staying. Just say whatever it is you want said and get it over with.” She felt a little wobbly. Too many emotions churning inside at the same time. Didn’t he know how hard this was for her? Didn’t he care at all? Shaking her hair back, she said, “Unless you’ve brought me here to declare undying love, then just let me go, okay?”
“That’s why you’re here,” he said softly.
“What?” She couldn’t have heard him right, Rita told herself. Jack wouldn’t have said that unless he had another agenda. “What’re you saying, Jack?”
“I love you.”
She swayed in place and he instinctively reached out one hand to steady her. Tears blurring her vision, Rita slapped at his hand. “No, you don’t. You’re just telling me what you think I want to hear.”
Irritation bloomed on his face. “I should have known you wouldn’t react the way I expected you to. You’ve always surprised me, so why should now be any different?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m trying to tell you that I was wrong. That I love you. That I want you—but if you’re not going to believe me why bother?”
“I didn’t say I didn’t believe you—” She broke off, stared up into his eyes and saw, along with sparks of exasperation, the love she’d always hoped to see. “You love me?”
“Now will you sit down?” he asked.
“I think I have to,” she said. She was shaking all over and her heart was pounding so quickly it sounded like a frantic drumbeat in her ears.
Once she was perched on the couch, Jack started