Love and Honor: The Coltrane Saga, Book 7 (17 page)

So he knew! Well, he was bound to find out sooner or later. Kit knew she had to get him to leave before her parents came home. “We have nothing to talk about. I had as much right to buy that ranch as you did!”

Kurt emitted a bitter laugh. She could see the naked fury on his face and the narrow look in his dark eyes.

“You took away my right when you hid that goddamn sign, you sneaky little vixen. I went by the office to find out when the land would be posted. That’s when I learned it already
had
been posted—and bought—by your grandmother, for you, of course. I rode out there and discovered the sign hidden in the bushes—where you put it the day the tax man was out there. He told me how he’d met you that day…said who could forget so beautiful a woman,” Kurt added with a sneer.

Drawing in a ragged breath, he said, “It didn’t take much to figure out your scheme—pacifying your parents by making them think you’re seriously considering moving to America permanently. But don’t worry, I won’t give you away. I only came to let you know that you’re not as smart as you think you are, and I’m sick of your deceit. I’m going to enjoy watching you fall on your smug little face, because you’ll never make it as a rancher, baby. Sooner or later you’ll get what’s coming to you.”

“Oh, really?” Kit stepped around Pegasus. She stared up at him undaunted, her hands on her hips. She was so angry she gave no thought to how she must look, her sheer nightgown wet and clinging to her body where the pncho did not cover.

“Get one thing straight,
Señor
Tanner—Pegasus is mine, and I’m taking him with me so you can’t steal him. And another thing, you pompous ass. Why is it that when a man does something sharp and cunning it’s shrewd, but when a woman does, it’s
treachery
?”

The storm had picked up in intensity, and was now directly overhead. Kurt stared down at Kit, her face shimmering in the glow of the lightning that streaked the sky outside.

His eyes raked over her, following the curve of her breasts beneath her damp gossamer gown. Without a word he stepped up to her and cupped her breasts. He pulled her close against him, and she could feel the sudden swell of his desire against her. It was as if he had hypnotized her with his steady, burning gaze. She could only stand there helpless, allowing delicious waves of passion to course through her body, shaking her as profoundly as the thunder that crashed around them.

“It’s
my
turn to make a challenge,
princesa
,” he whispered huskily. “I defy you
not
to want me…”

His lips covered hers possessively, urgently. She could taste the whiskey on his mouth, and her blood began to race with liquid desire. She was aware of a trembling deep within her and cursed herself for the wild longing that had taken over her senses. No longer did she have a will of her own. She was helpless before the intense yearning he had ignited.

The kiss seemed to last forever, and she prayed it would never end as she reached up and put her hands around his neck.

Then suddenly he released her. Taken by surprise, Kit stumbled backward. She was furious—with him, and with herself. She had realized in that moment why she had been so restless lately. Kurt Tanner was on her mind, in her blood, even though she despised him as she looked up into his triumphant face. Despite herself, she was drawn to him in a way she could neither explain nor deny.

“This time,
princesa
,” he said smugly, “
I
win, and one day, I’ll claim the full prize. Have a nice trip.” He saluted her impudently, then turned on his heel, leaving her staring silently, furiously, after him.

The cool rain beat down on his smiling face as Kurt headed into the storm. For once, he was glad his temper had gotten the best of him and kept him from telling her that President-elect Wilson had sent him a personal invitation to the inauguration. He’d be going to America too, as a successful and wealthy man. He’d thought maybe the vixen and he could have declared a truce, but he decided that it had all turned out for the best. He’d just show her a few tricks of his own—she certainly had it coming.

Kurt let her image take over his senses, and he marveled, remembering the sensuality that slumbered in those smoky lavender eyes. He had known that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Whether she liked it or not, he was a part of her private dreams.

As she had become a part of his.

Chapter Fourteen

The voyage from France to England had been pleasant. They arrived late in the day, and Kit was disappointed when her father immediately whisked them away to a hotel in the city. She had wanted to check on Pegasus’s transfer to the ship they were taking to America, but Colt would not hear of it. When they arrived the next morning to board, he kept a firm hand on her arm as they went up the gangplank, to keep her from heading to the ship’s hold.

They were sailing on the White Star Line’s magnificent ocean liner
Olympic
. With a slim hull of forty-five thousand tons, the ship was known for its smooth ride across the rough Atlantic.

Upon entering the grand reception room, the Coltranes were greeted by a smiling, friendly young lady who introduced herself as their hostess, Miss Jane Aberdeen. An attendant stepped forward to present each of the women with a small bouquet of roses, and a white-coated waiter offered champagne and caviar. Miss Aberdeen then escorted them to their quarters, leading them down a wide, plushly carpeted hallway.

Miss Aberdeen paused before a set of double rosewood doors and said with a broad smile, “You have the Imperial Suite—one of our finest.” Then she guided them into a foyer, which held a huge vase bursting with red and white roses.

Their suite included a drawing room, a dining room, a parlor, three bedrooms, and a bath, as well as a dressing room.

After showing them around, Miss Aberdeen said, “On behalf of the White Star Line, we are proud to have such prominent and important passengers. You’ll be receiving a formal invitation to dine with the captain at his table.”

She then reminded them of the bon voyage party on the promenade deck a half hour before sailing and moved toward the door. Kit followed her outside and whispered, “Can you tell me how I can get to the cargo hold?”

“Why would you want to go there? It’s dirty, and there are rats, and the men aren’t exactly used to having a young lady around.”

Kit looked over her shoulder anxiously, fearful that one of her parents might overhear, and she led the curious hostess a few more steps down the hallway. “I’m taking my horse with me to New York—”

“Oh, of course,” Miss Aberdeen exclaimed. “Why didn’t you say so, dear? Lots of passengers ship their animals and pets. They’re put in a special part of the hold. It’s nicer there, so the owners can visit.” She gave Kit directions before going on her way.

Kit watched her turn the corner, then broke into an unladylike run. She knew that the family was about to go on deck to meet Uncle Drakar, who had come from Paris to see Marilee off. Kit wanted to see him too, but first she had to make sure that Pegasus was all right.

It took awhile to maneuver her way through the huge ship, but she finally reached the cargo hold. She was delighted to see comfortable stalls with fresh straw and hay. A young attendant who introduced himself as Norman Thatcher led the way to where Pegasus was stabled. He was eating happily, and Norman assured her that she had no reason to worry, and was welcome to visit any time.

Kit gave Pegasus a few hugs and let him know he had not been abandoned. When a horn blasted, Norman told her that the bon voyage festivities were underway.

Kit found the promenade deck crowded with passengers drinking champagne and waving to people down on the dock. Confetti and streamers were being thrown wildly, and a brass band was playing a rousing march. Kit pushed her way along, spotting her parents standing against a railing. Uncle Drakar was talking to her mother, and Kit saw that Jade had tears in her eyes. She knew how close they were, how they’d been best friends when her mother was growing up in Russia. Marilee clung to her father, torn between her excitement at seeing America, and her pain at leaving him behind.

After a few moments, Kit saw her uncle and cousin move away, to have some time alone. She stepped forward and met her mother’s scolding eyes. “Where have you been?”

“I had to see to Pegasus. He’s fine. Sorry,” Kit said contritely. Kit wondered what was wrong that her mother seemed so worried, so preoccupied. She seemed almost sad to be leaving Spain, yet that was all she had talked about for years.

Colt met Kit’s bewildered eyes and attempted to explain. “This is a time of mixed emotions for all of us, sweetie. Try and understand. I’m a bit torn myself. Europe has been our home for so long, yet my heart’s always been in America.”

In a sudden wave of nostalgia, he recounted his first trip to Europe, to regain the family fortune after being swindled. Kit knew the story well just as she knew that her father had loved other women before her mother. That was all right though. She was not naive. Then he told how he’d met Jade on his second visit to Europe, and they’d married. Kit knew the rest of that story, too, about their tragic sea voyage, and the dark time they spent apart. Colt made his third trip to Europe with Jade by his side, to forge a new start and try to forget the past.

“I never dreamed I’d end up staying in Spain and loving it, but new challenges and new dreams keep a man young. I guess it’s time for another adventure before I wake up one morning and find myself an old man.”

Jade suddenly lifted her face to receive his kiss, and managed a smile. “You’ll never grow old, Colt Coltrane. You’re forty-eight now, but you might as well be sixteen.”

Colt seemed to glow with renewed enthusiasm at going home. He then asked, “Do you think we’ll be able to find Andy? We haven’t heard from him since he wrote last year that his mother had died, and he hasn’t answered any of my letters. I’d like to see him. It’s been a long time…”

Kit melted away into the crowd, sensing that her parents needed to be alone. Besides, she didn’t particularly like being reminded that long ago her father, suffering from amnesia, was tricked into believing that he had not only married another woman, but had fathered her baby—Andy, who was now twenty years old. Even after Colt had learned the truth—that the boy was not his—he’d kept in touch with Andy, whom he had grown to love like a son. Kit had nothing against Andy, had actually liked him when he’d visited. But she still found the situation awkward, and that dark past of her parents’ lives painful to contemplate.

Kit found Kitty standing above by a railing and was not surprised that she, too, seemed melancholy. Kit slipped her arm around her waist and said gently, “You’re thinking about Grandpa, aren’t you? That you’re going home and leaving him behind.”

Kitty gave her an incredulous look. “I’m never without Travis, child. He lives in my heart. Forever.”

“But you seem so sad—”

“I guess it’s because part of my life is ending, but”—Kitty gave her granddaughter a quick hug—“another part is beginning, and that, I’m looking forward to. And do you know something else? We’re going to have fun in New York. With our sense of adventure, we’ll either search it out, or make our own!”

Just then, Kitty spotted her friend Amelia, an ardent crusader for women’s suffrage. Kitty called to her and started to make her way through the crowd. Kit saw Travis and began to walk over to him. Then she saw that he was engrossed in conversation with a lovely blond with round blue eyes. The girl was staring up at him as if completely entranced. Kit decided not to intrude.

Soon the ship’s horn blew long and loud, and everyone cheered as the mighty liner began to move slowly from the dock.

Although she was surrounded by hundreds of people, Kit realized that she had never felt more alone in her life. It was as though something was missing, but what? She’d always been independent, never really needing anyone. Yet there was an odd feeling of emptiness in her.

A wave of awareness then swept over her. Dammit, it was Kurt Tanner again! She could close her eyes and see him—his dark, beautiful eyes, mocking and devouring…and his lips, so sensuous, almost chiseled in perfection. She could feel his strong arms around her, warm and protective, and remember how well their bodies curved together when he held her.

But why?

Why did she have to be haunted by a man who obviously had only one use for women?

Because
, a voice within her taunted,
he’s the only man who’s ever made you feel like a woman, and you’re afraid you’ll never feel that way again with anyone else.

She jumped, startled, as the horn sounded again. She turned from the railing, determined to enjoy the crossing and not allow her mind to dwell on thoughts of Kurt Tanner. And the little voice within her challenged,
but can you
?

Miss Aberdeen came to the Coltranes’ suite promptly at seven to escort them to the captain’s quarters. They met two other couples also invited for the evening, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Grenoble and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Horing, all of London. Miss Aberdeen had confided on the way that both gentlemen were members of Parliament.

They were served champagne and iced Russian caviar, and they chatted amiably among themselves. Captain Braden Pawley soon came in, resplendent in white dress uniform, four black bars on each broad shoulder denoting his rank as master of the
Olympic
. He was friendly and charming, yet reserved, as befitting his high position of authority.