A Daddy For Her Daughter

She shook herself from her thoughts just as Kaleb pulled up to the entry of her modest apartment complex. “Is there a key code?”

“No, just push the button on the panel.”

He did and the single-levered barrier went up immediately. Kaleb slid into the dark parking garage, following the reflective arrows painted on the pavement. “Could someone get into the building itself through the garage?”

She frowned. “Yes, but we haven’t had any problems.” At least they hadn’t in the year that she’d lived there. And most of the people in the building knew each other. A stranger would be noticed.

Kind of like in her hometown? She shrugged off the thought. “There are also cameras in the garage and in the hallways.” She’d been shocked by the high cost of rent and by the security measures that came with living in a big city. But she’d come to love the anonymity afforded by a city with over six hundred thousand residents.

Sliding into one of the ten guest spots, he nodded. “Glad to hear it.”

Before she could twist around and reach into the backseat for the head to her sister’s costume, Kaleb had already retrieved it and was out of the car, heading around to her side. Just as he opened her door, something pinged from her purse.

Ugh. Her cell phone. And she had a pretty good idea who it would be. Roxy. The last person she wanted to text with right now. She could just ignore it until she got to the safety of her apartment.

What if something was wrong with Chloe, though? She climbed from the car and freed her phone from her purse, noting Kaleb’s frown as she glanced down at her screen.

“It’s Roxy.” She didn’t know why she was explaining.

We’re headed for that place with all the paraphernalia for Chloe’s doll. Having a blast. Hope you are too.

A blast? Not quite. But a few of her muscles relaxed. Chloe could spend hours in that particular shop, which meant they wouldn’t drop by the apartment anytime soon. She quickly typed Okay, have fun! and then dropped the phone back into her purse. She made no mention of the fact that she was arriving home with an attractive man in tow. A man whose name was most definitely not Max, nor was he from the masquerade party.

And if she had her way, Roxy would never know that Kaleb had been here. It would be her little secret. After all, that was one thing she’d learned she was good at. Hiding the ugly truth from everyone around her.

She glanced up at Kaleb. “I’m on the fifth floor.”

Modest by Seattle standards, her apartment had everything she and Chloe needed. It was only one bedroom, but she’d got around that by converting the tiny study into her daughter’s bedroom. There was a park right around the corner that Chloe loved to go to, so Maddy never really felt trapped. And she couldn’t afford anything bigger. Not yet. Once she’d been at the hospital a couple more years she’d be eligible for a pretty substantial raise. Maybe then they could move to a nicer place. When Chloe started elementary school, they would need something bigger. But for now, the apartment was just right.

They went into the lobby, and Maddy pressed the button on the elevator, hearing the creak as it broke free from whatever floor it was on and began to slowly descend to ground level.

“How’s your breathing?”

“Fine.” Even as she said it, she realized why he was asking. His proximity had caused her lungs to start working harder, wheezing a little—kind of like the elevator—as they pulled air into her lungs and then pushed it back out. To prove she was okay, she sucked in another breath and then let it rush back out. “You would never even know I’d had a problem.”

Kaleb made a noise. She wasn’t sure if it was a snort of doubt or if he was agreeing with her assessment. Whatever it was, she was ignoring it. Because she did not want to have to explain that having him behind her was doing a number on her organs. All of them, not just her lungs. Her swirling thoughts, jittery heartbeat and shaky legs were all warning signs.

She shouldn’t have brought him here. Her apartment was her one safe place. The spot she and Chloe could be totally themselves.

The elevator arrived, spitting out a puff of chilled air as she and Kaleb stepped through the doors. Kaleb moved to the opposite wall of the compartment, and she couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him carrying that cat’s mask. From where she was standing, she could see quite a few strands of her hair clinging to the stark black fabric of his tux. They must have got stuck in the mask when he’d pulled it off her. “I’ll have to loan you my lint roller before you leave.”

When his head tilted, she nodded at his trousers. “I evidently shed as bad as a cat does.”

Oh, Lord, she’d been trying to make a joke, but he probably thought she’d been eyeing his pants this whole time. “Not that I was staring. I mean...” Her words faded when she realized she was only making things worse.

His mouth cranked up on one side in a way that made his left eye narrow slightly, craggy lines webbing out from the corner of it. Her breathing went wonky all over again before she schooled it back to normal.

Dumb, dumb, dumb. This was one of her more stupid moves.

Thankfully the elevator decided not to prolong her misery and rolled to a halt. She was across the tiny foyer as soon as the doors opened, sliding her key into the lock of her apartment.

Once inside, she took the mask from him and waved to the front room. “Make yourself at home, and I’ll be right back.” She zoomed into the kitchen, only to stop when Jetta went tearing past her to check out the intruder.

Oh, no! Expecting to hear curses at any moment, she headed back the way she came. But when she reached the living room, she found Kaleb on his haunches, stroking long fingers over her cat’s black fur, rubbing one of his cheeks and murmuring in low tones. When she moved forward to pick the animal up, Kaleb again beat her to it, scooping up the young feline and tucking him into the crook of his arm. “I take it this is the cat in question?”

Her cat was not a fan of being sandwiched in someone’s arms, but right now he looked as if he was anything but unhappy. “Yes. His name is Jetta.”

“Jetta. It fits him.” He moved to a corner of the sofa and lowered himself into it, still stroking the cat. More shedding hair for his tux, but the man didn’t seem to mind a bit. Nor did Jetta, who was lapping up the attention. “Do you want any help? With the coffee?”

She was staring again.

“Oh. Um, no. I’ve got it.” She started back for the kitchen before turning toward her visitor. “How do you like it?”

“Hot and sweet.” That crazy tilted smile went off again. “My coffee, that is.”

Yikes. A shiver went through her.

“I understood what you meant.”

How lame could she get? Evidently very, judging from her answers so far. She picked up the pace, practically skidding around the corner into the kitchen, where she leaned against the wall and drew several deep breaths, hand over her heart.

For twenty seconds she remained that way, eyes closed, wondering what it would be like for Kaleb to undress with those strands of her hair still attached to his clothing. Oh, Lord, she’d better get that image out of her head pronto. And she was still in her cat suit. Maybe she had time to run back to her bedroom and change. While she was there, she could call out to him in a seductive voice and ask him to—

“Madeleine? Are you okay?” Fingers touched her hair and her eyelids jerked apart.

Horrified that he’d found her daydreaming about him, she rattled around for a response before she noticed he had her purse in his hands. She’d left it in the entryway.

“I’m fine. Is something wrong?” Funny she should ask that question, because something was wrong. With this whole scene. She hadn’t been affected by a man in years, and this wasn’t the time to start.

“Your phone pinged. I thought it might be something important.”

Taking the purse from him with shaking fingers, she reached in and took her phone.

Chloe wants to run home to get her doll so she can try on the clothes. We’ll swing by and grab it and then head on our way. Hope you’re having fun at the party!

Her sister was coming here. Now. Oh, no! She was bound to get the wrong idea! And worse, Maddy didn’t want Chloe seeing her in their home with a strange man.

Kaleb must have seen something in her face, because he took a step closer. “What is it?”

“My sister is coming over. She’ll be here in about ten minutes.”

His brows went up. “And you’d rather she not find me here.”

“I know it sounds weird and crazy—”

“This whole evening has been an interesting mixture of weird and crazy. But I understand, and I’ll see myself out. Just one question.” Tilted smile came back for another visit. “What exactly does a person wear under a cat costume?”

Maddy laughed. Partly at the audacity of the question and partly at the irony of her answer. Not that he would see her in her black leotard. In another life, this might have ended differently. Parts of her were warming up, and she’d love nothing better than to explore a quick no-strings dalliance with a man who was too handsome for his own good. And for hers.

“They wear a catsuit. What else?”

“What else, indeed.” He twirled a strand of her hair one last time, before leaning in and kissing her cheek. “I’ll see myself out, Madeleine Grimes. But I would like a rain check for that coffee.”

“Okay.” She waited for what seemed like forever before she heard her front door click softly shut. And then she sank to the floor a shaking mass of fear, relief...and disappointment.

CHAPTER TWO

WHAT WAS HE doing here?

He wasn’t sure. Respiratory Therapy was two floors above where his office was located. Part of his job was in the hospital itself, but he had to be ready to leave for the luxury hotel across the street at a second’s notice. Or one of its sister hotels, which were sprinkled around the city.

The hospital had partnered with the swanky investment group, and, honestly, it suited him perfectly. He’d never liked being trapped in the sterile confines of a hospital. Too many bad memories. When his life had taken a turn for the worse, Kaleb had had to endure the pitying glances of colleagues and nursing staff until the bitter end, when his wife—also a nurse—had had an affair with another doctor. It had been the final tragic straw in a marriage that had been spiraling downhill.

So why was he walking across the floor to see a woman who had caught his attention in the strangest of ways? Maybe because he didn’t quite believe the surreal experience had actually happened. And because the image of the woman lounging around in something akin to a slinky black wet suit had haunted his dreams for the past two nights. And then her mention of a catsuit. He’d had to look up what that was. And while he was pretty sure some of the images hadn’t been what Madeleine meant by the term, he would have loved to have been there when she stripped herself down to it.

He was here to assure himself that the Madeleine he was acquainted with was indeed the cool, aloof woman he’d known before that asthma attack. And to make sure she really was okay. She’d acted shaken the whole time he’d been in her apartment, and if her sister hadn’t been on her way home, he might have insisted she get checked out.

Arriving in front of the door of her office, he hesitated, wondering if he should turn around and head back to the safety of his own corner of the hospital. But he was here now. And if he left now, the nurse he’d asked about her whereabouts was bound to ask Madeleine if he’d found her.

And then she—and the other nurse—would wonder why he’d left without seeing her. Better to just go through with it.

He knocked.

“Yes? Come in.” The soft voice from two nights ago was now infused with a crispness that Kaleb definitely recognized from other chance meetings, where she’d given him a clipped “hello” that had been anything but friendly.

Even then, though, their interactions had intrigued him. She’d been indifferent to his presence, no sign of the half invitations he’d got from a few of the other single women in the hospital. Curiosity had had him trying to break through that reserve whenever he saw her. But he’d never glimpsed the slightest chink in her armor.

Until her asthma attack.

He opened the door and stepped through it. She wasn’t with a patient. Instead she sat at a desk with two simple chairs in front of it. The work surface was surprisingly devoid of any clutter, as was the room itself, giving off an almost austere vibe. Her fingers rested on the keyboard of a laptop, and a framed picture, its back turned to him, sat on the right-hand corner.

If he were smart, he’d toss a quick question about her health and leave. But he didn’t. And the slight widening of her eyes as she looked up told him that he was the last person she’d expected to see that morning.

They were even, then. Because she’d been the last person he’d expected to see beneath that cat costume at the convention.

“Did your sister make it to your place okay the other night?”

Her eyes shifted from his before coming back again. “Oh...um, yes, thank you. I appreciated your help at the hotel.”

“Just doing my job.”

And had he just been doing his job when he’d driven her home and installed himself on her couch with her cat? Hell, no. He’d wanted to be there.

He’d wanted to stay, actually. Which was crazy.

“Of course you were. But I’m still glad you happened to be there.”

Damn. He’d sounded like an ass without meaning to. “I came by to make sure you’re okay. No lasting problems from the asthma attack?”

“None.” She smiled, and a slight warmth infused it. “I’m a pulmonologist. I’ve given myself the all clear to return to work.”

He smiled back. “Is that why you went into pulmonary medicine? Your asthma?”

“No.” She hesitated. “That was because of my younger sister. She had cystic fibrosis. She died two years ago.”

His insides tightened at the sadness in her eyes.

Kaleb wasn’t the only one who’d known loss—who’d had someone special succumb to disease. No one ever expected it to happen to them, though. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. We miss her terribly, but we were so lucky to have had her with us as long as we did. Patricia was sweet and funny, and we loved her very much.” Her hands clasped on her desk. “Roxy and I were both tested to see if we’re carriers of the disease. Thank God we’re not.”

Carriers. Pain wrenched through his gut.

At least she and Roxy had lucked out.

Maddy reached for the picture and angled it a little more toward her. A photo of her dead sister?

Trying to erase the whole subject of genetic testing from his head, he threw out the first question that came to mind. “Are your parents still living?”

She motioned to one of the chairs. “My mom is. My dad died in a tractor accident on their farm in Nebraska a few years ago.”

“I’m sorry again. Is your mom still working the farm?”

“She has people who do that for her.” She turned around and retrieved a carafe on the credenza behind her desk. “I can finally offer you that cup of coffee, if you still want one?”

If she was offering, she must not be in too much of a hurry to get rid of him. He rounded one of the chairs and settled into it, not quite sure why he was in such a hurry to stay. “Only if you’re having a cup as well.”

“I am.” Standing, she poured coffee into two plain white mugs and handed him one. “It should still be hot. As for the sweet...” She pushed a sugar bowl across the desk.

So she remembered his words. He hadn’t been himself that night. Then again, he hadn’t been in a beautiful woman’s home in quite a while either. His encounters tended to happen at hotels or at his place. The leaving was too awkward otherwise. His instinct was to make his exit as soon as the act was over. And that didn’t pose as much of a problem when it was at his apartment. Maybe because it was his territory and there was no need to try to choose a time frame. He left that up to the woman. As long as she left. So far, it hadn’t been an issue. The women he chose to spend time with were just as anxious to keep things simple and fluid. It was easier that way for both of them.

He spooned a teaspoon of sugar into his cup and stirred it, ignoring the familiar pang that occurred whenever he thought too much about the past. About his part in the failure of his marriage.

“What about you?” she asked. “Any siblings?”

“Nope. I’m an only child.” He smiled. “And my parents are both alive and live here in Seattle.” No need to tell her about Grace. Or Janice. Or the divorce. Theirs had been a fairy-tale wedding—without the fairy-tale ending.

Madeleine touched the picture frame again. Maybe it was just a nervous habit. Or a way to ease the discomfort of having him in her office.

But why would it make her uncomfortable?

She hadn’t completely gone back to the stiff demeanor she’d adopted every time he’d seen her in the past. She still seemed incredibly warm, including the deep red curls, which were now very much loose and free around her head and neck. He remembered twining one around his finger two nights ago in her kitchen, just as his eyes had dropped to her lips. Thank goodness she’d read her text or he would have kissed her right then and there. To hell with knowing who she was. She’d been affected as well. He’d seen it in the dilation of her pupils as he’d stepped closer. If not for her sister, the night might have ended very differently.

Thank goodness for small miracles. He took a bracing sip of his coffee, watching her. “Are you going to the staff meeting?”

She glanced at her watch and then blinked. “I didn’t realize it was almost that time. Yes, I’m going. They’re discussing budgets and I want to make sure my department is covered.” She took a drink of her own brew. He noticed she took it black. The coffee was dark and strong, just how he liked it.

“Mind if I go down with you? My budget doesn’t work quite the same way as the other departments, but I still like to make sure I know what’s going on.”

“That’s right. You do concierge medicine.”

Surely she already knew that. Because he sure as hell had already known what department she worked in the second that cat head had come off.

Why would he think she knew anything about him? Was it a hit to his ego that someone might not know who he was? Maybe he should find out.

“Did you know it was me in that hotel lobby, Madeleine?” He took another deep pull on his coffee.

“It’s Maddy.” Her glance flitted away, her cheeks turning pink. “And, yes, of course I recognized you.”

Maddy. It fit her. Then again, so did her full name. It was as if she had more than one personality wrapped up in that cute little body. He sat back and crossed his foot over his knee. He also liked that she wanted him to use the shortened version of her name, although he had no idea why.

And why had she blushed? Maybe she hadn’t liked being caught in a vulnerable moment, like during her asthma attack. Who could blame her? He wouldn’t have cared for being in that position either. “Does Roxy have asthma as well?”

“No. She’s as strong as an ox. Healthwise, anyway.” Madeleine said it with a twist to her mouth that made him wonder. Did she consider herself lacking in that area?

There were still things about her that intrigued him.

Just then there was some kind of commotion in the hallway. A patient emergency?

He set his coffee down and started to get up when something hit the door to Maddy’s office, causing it to shudder.

“Hey, wait! You can’t go in there.”

Kaleb was on his feet in an instant, heading to the door. Someone—a man—stood right outside, looking behind him at whoever had yelled. Kaleb flipped the lock, just as the doorknob twisted from the outside. His senses went on high alert.

“I said stop!”

“What is it?” Maddy stood, gripping the wooden surface of her desk with both hands.

“Call Security. Now.”

Her face turned white, but she picked up her cell phone and pressed the keys.

Kaleb turned back to the door, just as the man planted a hand on either side of the small rectangular window. Something glinted in one of those hands.

Things moved in slow motion. Maddy’s voice asking someone to send help. The man staring into the office. Crazed eyes zeroing in on Kaleb and then something behind him. Kaleb’s head swiveled to look and found Maddy. The phone fell from her fingers onto the desk, her face filled with fear.

And recognition.

* * *

“Oh, my God! Matthew!”

Maddy couldn’t believe what she was seeing, even as her ex-husband’s mouth tightened into a straight line.

“Open this goddamn door, Madeleine!” The rage in his voice made her take a quick step back. Her calf caught the chair behind her and she stumbled, falling into the seat.

Matthew raised his hand, pointing something—oh, God, a gun!—and then she was hit with a force that felt like a truck, knocking her sideways out of the chair. Every bit of breath left her body as she slammed to the ground. The glass in Chloe’s picture frame shattered into a thousand pieces as it landed beside her.

Pressure against her chest made it hard to breathe and impossible to move. It took her a second to realize it wasn’t from taking a hit from a bullet, but from the man who was on top of her, his body over hers as he kept her pinned down behind her desk.

Matthew was here. In the hospital. And he had a gun.

Chloe! Where was Chloe?

She struggled against Kaleb’s weight, needing to get up.

Her phone! It was about ten feet away from the desk. She scrabbled for it, trying to turn sideways so she could drag herself toward it.

“Kaleb, oh, God, please, get off me!” The need to get to her daughter and make sure her ex-husband hadn’t somehow found her gave her almost superhuman strength.

“Wait. Just wait.” He pinned her wrists and held her down, even as she wrenched against him with all her strength.

A loud bang sounded and the glass in her office door sprayed everywhere, stinging her cheek, the noise a thousand times louder than the glass in the picture frame had been.

The muted shouts she’d heard earlier amplified, becoming horrifyingly real.

Matthew was trying to get into her office. Screaming obscenities, demanding she open the door.

A second or two later, a sharp report reverberated the air around her, the echo seeming to go on forever.

Kaleb stiffened.

Had he been hit?

Then it stopped. All of it. Matthew’s voice was silent, although she heard screaming and crying in the distance. She lay there, still struggling to breathe, a familiar band tightening across her lungs. She tried to say something to Kaleb, to ask him if he was okay, but the words came out as a strangled cough.

She tried again. Another hoarse cough.

Not now. Oh, please, not now.

Kaleb lifted off her—very much alive—but she was too involved in her current struggle to breathe to let him know how glad she was.

“Stay here.”

No. She had to get to Chloe. As Kaleb went to the door, she crawled toward her phone, sucking down what little air she could as she went.

She turned the phone over. Broken. The cracked screen was dark and empty. Panicked tears formed, and she tried to get up, but she still couldn’t catch her breath.

Then Kaleb was back beside her. “Where’s your inhaler?”

She pointed at the bottom drawer of her desk. She couldn’t do this. Not now, when Matthew could be anywhere. She had to get to Chloe.

“Don’t move.” Keeping his eyes on her, Kaleb found her canister and handed it to her. She pumped the medicine into her mouth, pulling it into her aching lungs.

It took a few seconds for the bronchodilator to work its magic.

“Where...where is he? Is—is he gone?”