Chapter Twenty-Five
The sun was setting in the west in a brilliant blaze of purple and mauve when Talon and Kate stepped outside their hotel. Kate paused for a moment to admire the view then hurried to catch up with Talon, who hadn’t even realized she’d stopped.
He’d gone out for a while this morning, and he’d been distracted ever since. At first, she’d been nervous, afraid something had happened, something that would send this idyllic interlude spiraling out of control. But other than suggesting they go out for dinner instead of dining in their room, he hadn’t given any hint of what was on his mind. As they’d dressed for the evening in the clothes he’d purchased, she’d realized he had the air of a man with a secret.
“There’s something I want to show you.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her down the lovely, tree-lined street, still smiling that secret smile. “Do you mind if we take a little walk before dinner?”
She gazed up at him, amazed that he was hers. He looked every inch the gentleman in his fine cream trousers and tailored emerald coat, and she would have walked through hell and back to stay on the receiving end of his beautiful smile.
“I’d love to see a little bit of the town. It’s not at all what I’d expected.”
He grinned. “Not exactly a heathen, backwoods village, is it?” She shook her head, greedily absorbing the sights and sounds of Charleston. There was a newness, a freshness and an energy in the air that made it easy to understand why Talon loved his adopted country. Even the poor people they passed didn’t have the hopeless despair in their eyes she’d so often seen in London.
At last Talon drew her to a stop in front of a lovely stone church. Two magnolia trees in full bloom grew on either side of the front steps, and he plucked a blossom and tucked it behind her ear. “Would you like to get married here? I spoke to the minister this morning, and he agreed to marry us tomorrow, if that’s all right with you?”
Tears stung Kate’s eyes, and she blinked them away, afraid to believe this was real. “I thought you wanted to wait until we found your men.”
He cupped her cheek with his broad, warm palm. “I don’t want to wait, sweetheart. I want to hold you in my arms tomorrow night and know that it’s forever, that nothing in the world can take you away from me.”
She pressed her lips to his wrist, touched beyond words. “I want that, too. I would be honored to marry you tomorrow.”
The faint crease of worry, which had furrowed his brow during the last few hours, disappeared. He hugged her tightly in full view of all the passersby. “I never knew such happiness was possible.” His words were soft and fervent against her hair.
“I didn’t either. Not until I found you.” She hugged him back, uncaring of the scene they were making, oblivious to anything but the fact that tomorrow all her dreams would come true. She would be Talon’s wife and never have to spend another night alone.
After a long moment, they broke apart, laughing a little self- consciously, still holding hands. An old woman sniffed her disapproval at their public show of affection, and a man on the other side of the street was staring at them with burning intensity...
“Oh, no.” She took an involuntary step backward, her gaze locked upon the tall, slim gentleman who was making his way toward them.
“What is it?” Talon gave her a sharp glance. He half turned, looking for the source of her dismay, then froze. His hand tightened almost painfully around hers. “Daniel,” he breathed.
She nodded. There was nothing more to say.
It wasn’t possible. Of all the disasters Talon had imagined befalling them in the city, having Kate’s husband come back from the dead wasn’t one of them.
He closed his eyes as if that would take the image away, but when he opened them, Daniel was still striding toward them. He looked healthy and well. Unmistakable pleasure lit his eyes as he crossed the last of the distance that separated them.
“Kate! Talon!” He pulled Kate into his embrace, laughing. “I can’t believe it’s really you, sweetheart. I thought I’d lost you to the sea.”
“We thought you’d been washed overboard.” Kate endured Daniel’s hug, her gaze locked with Talon’s in an unspoken question. “Talon said you were to meet us at the lifeboat, but you never did.”
Talon took a step back, stunned. She was obviously wondering if he’d left Daniel behind on purpose, attempted to murder his own brother so he could have her to himself.
Her doubt slayed him. He’d hoped that after everything they’d been through together, he’d earned back her trust.
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to meet his brother’s steady gaze. “Hello, Daniel.”
Daniel drew away from Kate. “Talon. It’s good to see you again.” But in his eyes, Talon saw the same question. Apparently, Daniel also suspected Talon had left him to die. Christ, what had he ever done to make the two of them think so poorly of him?
He stepped forward and pulled Daniel into a rough embrace. “I’m glad you made it. I never expected to see you again.”
“I’m sure you didn’t,” Daniel said, pulling away. “But I’m like a bad penny. I always turn up.” His tone was light, but again there were dark undertones.
“What happened?” Kate asked. “How did you get off of the ship?” Daniel shrugged. “I must have passed out after Talon left me. That young cabin boy, Johnny, was the one who saved me. I woke up in one of the lifeboats the next morning with a hell of a headache.”
“Thank God for Johnny.” Talon was nearly crippled with guilt. He hadn’t given the boy a thought since he’d left the ship.
Hell, maybe they were right about him after all. The lad had saved Daniel, showing rare courage, while Talon had chosen to save himself.
