Drake Restrained(22)

"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."