Maid for a Magnate(27)

"We can't seem to function in normal life."

Will's forehead rested against hers as he let out a sigh. "Trust me,  Cat. I've fought too hard to get you back. I'm going to fight just as  hard to keep you."

Catalina prayed that was true, because all too soon she was going to  have to reveal the final secret between them if she wanted a future with  this man.

* * *

Cat lay on the deck sunbathing in that skimpy bikini, which was  positively driving him out of his mind. Right now he didn't give a damn  that the radio was beyond repair or that their phones weren't getting a  signal. For two days they'd made love, stayed in bed and talked,  spending nearly every single moment together.

Perhaps that's why he was in such agony. He knew exactly what that lush  body felt like against his own. He knew how amazingly they fit together  with no barriers between them.

Will couldn't recall the last time he'd taken this much time away from  work. Surprisingly he wasn't getting twitchy. He'd set his plan into  motion a couple months ago for Rowling Energy and it shouldn't be too  much longer before everything he'd ever wanted clicked into place like a  perfectly, methodically plotted puzzle.                       
       
           



       

Will folded his arms behind his head and relaxed on the seat opposite  Cat. But just as he closed his eyes, the soft hum of an engine had him  jumping to his feet.

"Do you hear that?" he asked, glancing toward the horizon.

Cat sat up, her hand shielding her eyes as she glanced in the same direction. "Oh, there's another boat."

Will knew that boat and he knew who would be on board. Good thing his  brother hadn't left to go back to training for football yet because that  meant he could come to their rescue. Which was what he was doing right  now.

"Looks like our fairy tale is over," Catalina muttered.

He glanced her way. "It's not over," he corrected. "It's just beginning."

As James's yacht closed the distance between them, Will slid his shoes  back on. "Stay here. I'll wave James to the other side of the dock where  the damage isn't as bad. And I'll carry you on board once we're  secure."

Cat rolled her eyes and reached for her wrap draped across the back of  the white sofa. "I can walk, Will. My ankle is sore, but it's much  better than it was."

Will wasn't going to argue. He'd win in the end regardless.

As soon as James was near enough, Will hopped up onto the dock and made  his way toward the other end. By the time James came to a stop, Bella  was at his side, a worried look etched across her face.

"Coast guard has arrived," James said, coming up behind his wife.

"I figured you'd come along sooner or later," Will replied.

James took in the damage to the dock and the yacht. "Damn, you've got a  mess. That must've been one hell of a storm. It rained and there was  some thunder and wind in Alma, but no damage."

"Let me go get our things," Will told his brother. "I need to carry Cat, too. She's hurt."

"Oh no," Bella cried. "What happened?"

"I fell."

Will turned to see Cat leaning over the side of the yacht. "You're supposed to be sitting down," he called back.

"I'm fine. I will need some help off this thing, but I can walk if I go slow."

Will shook his head. "I'll carry her," he told his brother. "Give me a few minutes to get our personal stuff gathered."

Once they transferred everything Will and Cat needed to his brother's  yacht and Will carried a disgruntled Cat on board, they were ready to  head out. The trip back to Alma was filled with questions from Bella and  James. Their worry was touching and Will actually found himself loving  this newfound bond he and his brother shared. This is what he'd been  missing for years. This is what their grief had torn apart after their  mother had died. But now they were slowly making their way back to each  other.

"I wasn't quite sure which island you went to," James said as they drew  nearer to Alma's coastline. "I went to two last night and had to start  again today when I couldn't find you."

"Did you tell anyone what was going on?" Will asked.

"No." James maneuvered the boat and pulled back on the throttle. "Bella and I are the only ones who know where you were."

Will was relieved nobody else knew. He didn't want to share Cat or  their relationship with anyone just yet. He wanted to bask in their  privacy for a bit longer.

"Dammit," James muttered as they neared what was supposed to be a  private dock where Alma's rich and famous kept their boats. "The damn  press is here."

"What for?" Cat asked, her eyes widening.

"There were a few reporters here when I left earlier," James stated as  he steered the yacht in. "They were speculating because Will's yacht had  been missing for a few days and they knew a storm had come through.  They asked me where you were and I ignored them."

Will groaned. So much for that privacy he'd been clinging to. "Don't  they have anything better to cover? Like the fact Juan Carlos is going  to be crowned king in a few weeks? Do they seriously have to focus on  me?"

Cat's eyes remained fixed on the throng of reporters and cameras turning in their direction.

Will crouched down before her seat and smoothed her hair back from her  face. "Ignore them. No matter what they say, do not make a comment.  They'll forget about this by tomorrow and we can move on."

Her eyes sought his and she offered him a smile. "Ignore them. That I can do."

Will stood back up and offered her his hand. "I'm going to at least put  my arm around you so you can put some of your weight on me. Anyone  looking will just think I'm helping you."                       
       
           



       

"I'll carry her bag," Bella offered. "I'll go first. Maybe they'll  focus on James and me. I can always just start discussing my upcoming  fund-raiser for my foundation next weekend. I'm okay with yanking the  reporters' chains, too."

Will couldn't help but laugh at Bella's spunk. She was the perfect match for his brother.

As they made their way down the dock, Will kept his arm secured around  Cat's waist. James and Bella took the lead, holding hands as they wedged  through the sea of nosy people.

The reporters seemed to all start shouting at once.

"Where have you been for three days?"

"Was your yacht damaged by the storm?"

"Were you stranded somewhere?"

"Who is with you, Will?"

The questions kept coming as Will tried to shield Cat from the press.  The whispers and murmurs infuriated him. Seriously? Wasn't there other  newsworthy stuff happening in Alma right now? Dammit, this was one major  drawback to being a wealthy, well-known businessman. And if he thought  for a second he could have any privacy with Cat now that they were back,  he was living in a fantasy.

When he heard someone say the word "staff" he clenched his jaw. He  wouldn't respond. That's what they wanted: some type of reaction. He  heard his father's name and for reasons unbeknownst to Will, the  gossipmongers were starting to piece things together rather quickly.  Where the hell would they have seen Cat? On occasion his father would  allow a few press members to attend certain parties thrown by the  Rowlings if there was a charity involved. Cat had been James's maid,  too, though.

Will groaned as he kept his sights on his brother's back as the  foursome pushed through to the waiting car in the distance. They  couldn't get there fast enough for Will.

"Is your mistress a member of your family's staff, Mr. Rowling?"

The rude question had Cat stiffening at his side. "Keep going," he murmured. "Almost there."

"Wasn't she working for your brother?"

"Is she on Patrick's staff?"

"How long have you been seeing your father's maid?"

"Weren't you just engaged to your brother's wife?"

"What does your father think about you and his maid?"

Will snapped. "This isn't like that. You're all making a mistake."

Catalina's gasp had him jerking his gaze toward her. "Dammit," he  muttered beneath his breath. "You know that's not what I mean."

Those damn words echoed from the last time he'd said them to her. And  this time they were just as damaging when taken out of context.

Easing back from his side, Cat kept her eyes on his. "I'm not sure,  Will. Because only moments ago you said ignore them and you said we'd  take this one day at a time. We've only been back in Alma five minutes  and you're already referring to me as a mistake."

Will raked a hand through his hair. From the corner of his eye he  spotted James and Bella standing close. For once the reporters weren't  saying a word. They waited, no doubt hoping to really get something  juicy for their headlines.