Drake Restrained: A Novella in the Unrestrained Series (The Drake Restrained Series) (9 page)

That really infuriated me. "Maybe she's just
picky
."

"Must be if she turned me down," Dave said and laughed out loud.

"Maybe she’s just not into you," I said, wanting him to get the hint.

"You're just jealous because she was having eye sex with me and not you. Apparently Ms. McDermott isn't impressed by your neurosurgical skills or the size of your wallet…"

No, she didn't appear to be, showing no particular interest in me at all other than to note that her father had spoken of me.

I had to admit I'd go vanilla for her, at least, for a while. But
to thine own self be true
was my motto. I'd want her on her knees to me and soon.

Then she was spirited away to another room and I stood there and watched her leave. I hadn't wanted to get to know a woman like that for some time.
Know
her. In every sense. Usually, I didn't want to know anything about women except their kinks around submission.

She was different. Unfortunately, she was Judge McDermott's daughter and so completely off limits. He was my father's oldest friend and she was not the kind of woman I needed.

Finally, someone joined Dave and me and the conversation turned to new regulations governing tax shelters. I couldn’t pay any attention, my mind occupied thinking of Kate and how our fathers were best friends before my father’s death. I was certain my father would be happy to know the two of us were together. But I was getting ahead of myself. I hadn’t even asked her out for coffee.

A while later, I came upon a group containing Katherine and stood on the periphery to hear her talk about West Africa. She turned and spoke directly to me.

"People with influence have to step up to the plate and use their power to do good. Like Dr. Morgan, using his father's foundation to provide hospital equipment to Africa. Those who have the means should use them."

I was completely surprised that she referred to me and bowed my head, touching my chest to show her words had affected me deeply.

"My father was committed to Africa," I said. "I'm just trying to fill his big shoes using whatever influence I have."

As that conversation ended,  Nigel pulled Katherine away and once more, I felt a mix of emotions – pleased that she acknowledged me, and frustrated that I wanted her and knew I couldn’t have her. I could never have her because of Ethan. He'd die if he ever learned of my lifestyle. I knew I'd lose his friendship if he found out. I felt such affection for him and such respect for Katherine that I couldn't do it despite how much I desired her at that moment.

I hated myself for being so principled and for once in my life, I wished I were more like Dave Mills, lacking any scruples when it came to women.

If I were, I wouldn’t let her out of my sight.

But I wasn’t like Dave and so for the next half-hour, I tagged along behind Dave as he made his way around the room, glad-handing the other big rollers who were here from Wall Street, thoughts of the delicious Ms. Bennet in her stockings and garters plaguing me. When I next saw her, she was standing surrounded by a herd of men who were all eagerly listening to her talk. I kept to the periphery of the group to see what they were discussing.

"So, I read your article last month in the newsletter on the need for direct action, and civil disobedience on the famine in West Africa," one of the Wall Street suits said.

She nodded, totally absorbed in the issue, unaware that most of her audience were barely listening, too busy imagining her naked, her limbs restrained with soft leather ties, her body in various lewd poses, an expression of pure ecstasy on her pretty face.

Or maybe that was just me.

Ethan was late arriving at the fundraiser, showing up just a few moments before it was over. I was getting ready to leave, having agreed to give Dave a ride home, when Ethan came over to me, pulling Katherine behind him.

"Drake, did you get a chance to meet my daughter, Katherine? I don't believe the two of you have met."

I held out my hand and Ethan and I shook as we usually did.

"Judge McDermott," I said. "Glad to see you. Yes, I did meet Katherine.
Finally
. You've kept her pretty well-hidden."

Katherine turned to Ethan. "Dr. Morgan used his medical skills on me, father. I fell in the alley and he patched me up." She pointed to her knees and Ethan made a show of inspecting her wounds. He turned and smiled at me.

"Well, that's just great," he said and shook my hand once more. "I knew you’d come in handy one day. Thank you for looking after my very tomboyish daughter, Drake. She has a tendency to take a bigger bite out of life than she can always chew." Ethan winked at Katherine. "Can't call her timid, at least. Maybe foolishly brave."

Katherine frowned. "How am I foolishly brave, Daddy?"

"All your life, you've been trying to keep up with the older kids, like your brother. Going to Africa with Nigel and staying in one of the camps is a perfect example. How many of your friends can say that?"

She shrugged. "Lots of us volunteer, Dad. We have to in order to stand out on college applications and for scholarships. Dawn went to India."

Ethan nodded. "Still, you have to admit it was pretty brave." Ethan turned to me. "Thanks for looking after my baby girl," he said to me.

"No, my pleasure," I said, happy that Ethan was finally willing to introduce me to his daughter. "Thank you for inviting me. I was pleased to finally meet the mysterious Katherine you’ve spoken so much about but kept well-hidden."  I smiled at her.

"Not hidden," Ethan said. "Katherine's been very busy with school and the student paper, haven’t you, sweetheart?" Katherine smiled, flushing a bit as if embarrassed at the attention.

"Of course," I said.

Ethan left with Peter and Dave, Katherine and I were alone by the front closet where our coats were hung. Katherine took her coat out and was just about to put it on when I stopped her.

"Here," I said. "Let me get that."

I took the coat and held it up for her.

"I can do that," she said, trying to take it from me as if she didn’t want any help.

"Please, allow me."

I helped her on with the coat, and when she pulled her hair out from underneath the collar, I leaned forward and inhaled, enjoying the scent of shampoo and her perfume. I adjusted her collar and the shoulders. She turned around and smiled at me, a quizzical expression on her face.

"Thank you," she said and gathered up her bag before limping to where Ethan stood, speaking with Nigel. As I watched, she kissed him when he offered his cheek.

"Good night Daddy," she said.

"Good night, sweetheart." He glanced over at the door where Dave and I were standing. Then I went over and said goodbye to him. We shook hands once more and then Ethan turned to Katherine.

"Do you need to use the limo service?"

She shook her head. "I'll catch a cab."

I frowned, wondering why she’d turn down the use of the limo, not wanting her to have to take a cab. "Nonsense," I said. "Let me drop you off. Where do you live?"

Ethan rolled his eyes. "In a hovel of a rent-controlled apartment building in Harlem," he said, obviously in disapproval. I turned to Ethan for an explanation.

"Don't ask," he said. "She could live somewhere nice, but that's my Kate. Independent to a fault."

"
Daddy
," Katherine said, frowning. "I have a perfectly fine apartment." She turned to me. "I'm sure it's out of your way. I can catch a cab. But thank you."

"I insist," I said. "I won't take no for an answer."

She and Ethan said a final goodbye, this time Ethan kissed her cheek, and I felt a momentary twinge of envy for their relationship. My father and I weren’t close in the last years of his life and I regretted it so much. It was nice to see that Ethan and Katherine were so close.

I opened the door and Dave escorted Katherine into the elevator. Dave offered her his arm at the same time I did and instead of taking one or the other, she leaned on both our shoulders.

"So, Katherine," I said, as the elevator went down to the garage level. "You should watch those cuts, make sure they don't become infected. If they do, you can go to a clinic to have them cleaned."

"Thank you," she said. "My best friend is a nurse, so I'll get her to check."

"Where does she work?"

"Harlem," she replied. "She's doing her Master's right now and only works part-time."

I nodded. That must be the friend I saw her with at the pub. The blonde nursing student I’d seen before.

When the elevator opened, I took her arm to help her walk. I felt her initial resistance but finally, she gave in when I kept hold of her. I held the door to my car open for her and helped her inside.

"Where do you live?" I asked once I got in the driver’s seat.

She gave directions and I drove through the streets north and west to Harlem. Dave turned and glanced back at her from the front seat.

"So Kate, do you feel like going out for a drink? I'm still up for some fun tonight."

When Katherine replied, her voice was hesitant. "I don't think so…"

"Come on, live a little,” Dave said, pushing things as usual. “I've been trying to get you to go out with me for a long time. Why not tonight?
Muse
is just around the corner from your place. We could have a drink and something to eat."

I watched her in the rear view mirror. She shook her head and caught my eye.

"I don't think so," she said. "I have class tomorrow early…"

"Kate, you are just such a mean woman," Dave said, laughing. He turned to me. "See what I mean? Turned down again!"

"Maybe you should take a strong
hint
," I said, trying to give him the message that she didn’t want his attention.

Dave made a face at me and turned back to her. "No offense meant, Kate."

She shook her head, and in the darkness, I could see her face was flushed. "No offense taken." She smiled but I could see it was forced.

Dave was never one to give up easily. "One of these days, you
will
have to go out with me, Kate. Live a little. Nigel told me you've been practically a hermit for the last two years."

"Final year of classes before I write my thesis," she said. "I've been working hard trying to keep my grades up."

We arrived at her apartment block and Dave hopped out as soon as the car stopped. He opened the door for Katherine before I could even get out of my door.

I watched helplessly as Dave walked Katherine up the stairs to the front entrance of the building.

"Good night, Kate," Dave said when they reached the door. "Call me about that interview."

"I will," she said, and then she turned back to the car where I stood watching. She smiled at me and in that smile, I saw appreciation as if she was glad that at least I had shown her more respect. "Thank you for the ride. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to finally meet
you
," I said and smiled back. "Take care of those knees. If you have any problems, feel free to call me."

She turned and went inside.

Dave returned to the car and sat in the front beside me.

“You know,” I said, trying to choose my words carefully. “I can tell from her response to you that you make her uncomfortable.”

“You think so?” he said as if genuinely unaware of how he affected Katherine. “I thought she was flirting with me.”

“No,” I said firmly. “She was trying to be nice. She was not flirting.”

Dave turned to me and frowned. “What makes you an expert? I barely ever see you with a woman. In fact, I never see you with anyone beside that lawyer woman, Lara.”

“I can tell by watching her with you that you make her feel uncomfortable. You might want to dial the attempt at seduction back just a bit.”

I raised my eyebrows for emphasis, but Dave only frowned.  He watched out the window as we drove to his apartment.

“Well, no loss,” he said finally and shrugged. “Women are like buses. If you miss one, there’ll be another along in a few minutes.”

“Not like Katherine,” I said to myself more than to him.

He turned to me and made a face. “You
like
her?”

I said nothing, trying hard not to smile or respond.

“Drake Morgan, the great Doctor, likes the Hangin’ Judge’s daughter?” He laughed at that and shook his head. “Well, I’ll be damned. OK,” he said and smiled, punching my shoulder playfully. “I’ll back off if that’s the case.”

“It’s not that,” I said, not willing to admit to anything. “It’s just that I’m very fond of Ethan and he’s very protective of Katherine. She’s not a trifle.”

“A trifle?” Dave laughed at that and peered at me as if I’d lost my mind. “What are you? A throwback to the Edwardian era?”

He chuckled to himself and watched out the window as we pulled up to his apartment.

“Drake Morgan, you surprise me,” he said as he left the car. He stood with the door open, leaning in so he could talk to me. “I thought you stuck with nurses or physicians. She’s kinda out of your league, isn’t she?”

“She’s very smart,” I said. “She writes very well.”

“She has a hot little body,” Dave said and wagged his eyebrow in the most annoying manner. “Admit it.”

“You know, I
am
your boss,” I said to him, trying to look stern.

He broke out laughing at that. “What? Are you going to fire me because I made a pass at her? Good God, Drake, you’re
smitten
.”

I frowned at him, but then I realized I was being a bit of a prude. I took in a deep breath for a moment and then I finally smiled at him. “She does have a very hot little body. Now, get the hell out of here and leave her alone or else it’ll be sabers at dawn,” I said, laughing at his expression.

“Later, boss,” Dave said. I waved him away, knowing that we were too good of friends for this to come between us.

I left him standing on the sidewalk and drove to my apartment in Chelsea, but something he said kept echoing in my mind.

Good God, Drake, you’re smitten…

I wanted her. I felt it in my gut, in my groin. Adrenaline washed through me when I thought of her being under my control. I’d have to go very carefully with her. I’d take it really slow, be really gentlemanly, respectful. She reminded me of a timid doe, and I’d have to move slowly and quietly or else I’d scare her off. To tame her to hand would take quite a lot of finesse.