CHAPTER SIX
Kenneth didn’t look up from the piano when Caine entered the bar. His music had transported him to a different place and time, and through his music, his deep love for his wife lived on.
Caine went to the bar counter and chose the corner stool. He watched the scene for a while, thinking about how his life had taken a hundred and eighty degree turn about two months ago.
Caine let out a heavy sigh when he thought of Sarah’s father, Mark. He had known Mark for years, but Mark was a very private person. He didn’t even know that Mark had a daughter, until Mark appeared at his doorstep one evening with Sarah in his arms.
“This is my daughter, Sarah. Please take care of her and raise her as your own, if anything happens to me.”
Caine bit down a curse. He should have questioned Mark further. Instead, he had just dismissed his friend’s words as a joke and invited him into the house for a drink. They chatted for a bit, but Mark wouldn’t tell Caine who Sarah’s mother was. Caine assumed that the girl’s mother had simply dumped the baby on Mark and taken off.
After a few drinks, Mark left with Sarah. And that was the last time Caine saw Mark alive.
A few days later, Caine found Sarah on his doorstep. The little girl was fast asleep in a box lined with blankets and there was some milk on her chin. She had been recently fed and was warmly clothed.
Caine rushed straight to Mark’s place but he wasn’t in time. He found Mark dead in his bed. His friend had overdosed on sleeping bills.
Mark had left a suicide note, saying that he was going to join Sarah’s mother. She never rose from the ashes, so I’m going to join her.
Could he have prevented Mark’s suicide? Could he have anticipated what his friend was about to do? Why didn’t he see that his friend was depressed? He should have asked more questions, probed deeper and made Mark tell him the truth.
But all the self-recrimination and guilt in the world would not bring Mark back. Mark had entrusted his precious baby girl to him, and Caine would honor his promise to his friend.
Caine immediately adopted Sarah, and frantically leaned all he could about taking care of a baby girl. His mother offered her help at once, and took care of the little girl while he was at work. Knowing his hectic work schedule, Amanda told him to leave Sarah with her during the weekdays. “But on weekends, you’d have to do your part,” she said. “You’re her dad now.”
Sarah came into his life two months ago. And everything changed. Sarah was the most important female in his life right now. He hadn’t looked at another female since.
Before he was thrust into parenthood, Caine dated on and off. But he knew that those women were really more interested in having a good time and being seen on the arm of one of the wealthiest, most eligible bachelors in the city.
Caine knew how to give a woman a good time. He would wine and dine them, and fuck them out of their minds. Maybe some of the women were hoping for more than a night of fun and mind-blowing sex, but one night was all he would give them. He would never allow these gold-diggers into his life. And more importantly now, Sarah’s life.
Caine’s eyes swept slowly across the room, and landed on a tiny woman sitting at the other end of the bar by herself. The petite brunette stiffened and her gray eyes widened a fraction when their gazes clashed. His heart and world stopped. There was just something about her, something both unique and familiar.
Her gray eyes were intense and intelligent, and she seemed to be studying everything and everyone around her with cool detachment. Including him.
The woman regarded him for an instant. Caine held her gaze, expecting her to smile coyly at him.
Instead, she blinked and looked away.
Caine stared at her with growing interest and curiosity.
Most women tried their best to catch his eye and hold his attention. They flirted with him and dropped not-so-subtle hints. They wanted him, or more accurately, they wanted what he could give them.
But this tiny brunette simply turned away with a bored expression. His striking good looks, expensive watch, designer suit, all the obvious evidence of his wealth, status and success made no impression on her at all.
Interesting.
And intriguing.
Caine was aware that his wolf had risen to the surface, and all his senses were heightened. The woman wasn’t wearing any perfume. Her natural scent was alluring, sweet, feminine and so exquisite.
Caine rose. The predator in him was engaged, and the hunter wanted to snare that delicious little game in front of him.
But she wasn’t a game.
He had been with many beautiful women, but his wolf had never wanted any of them. But right now, his wolf wanted this female. And his wolf wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Neither was he.