Kitty: Bride of Hawaii (American Mail-Order Bride 50) Read Free Page B

Not the sickness. That was passing. It rejected the currents zinging through her body from Warren Castle’s touch. He was a dangerous man. Because for the first time in her life, she knew what true attraction was.
    And she was engaged to another.
    He smiled at her, but she couldn’t recall what he’d said. “I’m sorry. I think I should go lie down.”
    “Of course. I’ll escort you.” He tucked her hand into the crook his arm, not bothering to ask her permission.
    She didn’t mind though. As much as it unnerved her to touch him, she didn’t think she’d make it to her cabin without assistance. “Thank you. I don’t know how I’ll repay your kindness.”
    “There is no debt.”
    He said the words easily, but there was always a debt to be paid. She just didn’t know what it would be.
    At her door, he turned her to him. “Would you care to have dinner with me?”
    Her heart raced at the invitation.
    “I know our options are rather limited aboard the ship, but we could have some friendly conversation all the same.”
    Is that what he wanted? Friendly conversation? How could her body light up from his touch while he seemed unaffected?
    She took a deep, calming breath. She was engaged, but friendly conversation was permissible, especially when they were stuck aboard a ship anyway. “Sounds lovely.”
    His brown eyes searched hers before he smiled. “I’ll meet you back here in an hour.”
    She closed herself in her doll-sized cabin, pacing the sparse floor and panting against her corset. The muffled booted steps from the men above echoed in her room, reminding her she wasn’t alone.
    She knew what this was, what she felt for Warren. But it was wrong. Completely wrong. She’d given her word to marry another man. She had no right to desire him.
    But as she closed her eyes, she saw only Warren Castle. He was attractive, wealthy, and kind. Just the type of man who would have been suitable, if…
    Her hand fisted at her waist, cutting off that train of thought. She’d gone years without loathing her illegitimacy. She’d acclimated to her life, to her future. She didn’t begrudge her half-sibling the life she could have had if her father and mother had been married. It was the way of life. And truth be told, she was lucky her father had cared enough to take responsibility for her and place her in a good school. She’d be nowhere without her education.
    Yet in this moment, she resented her lot in life. She resented the fact that she wasn’t worthy of a man like Warren Castle. She could fulfill the duties of a wife to a man in such a position—the Highwood School for Young Ladies had taken care of that—but it was all impossible.
    She sunk to the pallet mattress bolted to the wall. What was she thinking? She might be stirred up about Warren, he’d been nothing but kind toward her, but she would not repay that kindness by mooning over him and lamenting her life. Both were silly.
    Buck up, Kitty.
    Her chin notched up as she marched to her washstand. She’d dine with him tonight. They would have a friendly conversation, and then she wouldn’t see him again beyond passing him on the deck. Their journey to Hawaii could take up to two weeks. Warren— Mr. Castle , she forced herself to think of him as—would be busy.
    And once they docked in Hawaii, she’d never see him again.
    She forced a smile to her face and ignored the sick churning in her stomach at the thought of never seeing him again. It was a silly attraction. Nothing more. She’d get over it, and she’d marry Mr. Banner.
    Fairy tales didn’t happen in real life.
----
    W hen Warren wanted something in life, he went after it. No matter the cost. No matter the time consumption.
    For the first time in his memory, he wanted something, or in this case someone, and there wasn’t a thing he could do about it. Timothy Banner was a good man whom he’d known most of his life. Warren wouldn’t steal away the man’s bride.
    But the desire was there. Kitty