Savior

Chapter 10

-xx-

When the pair finally woke up, Cate dared to check the clock on the bedside table. 10:05. The red lights glared in her direction. In a panic, she jumped from the bed, in route to the bathroom to get ready to head off to her appointment at her sister's salon.

Derek watched from the bed amused, as she circled back through the bedroom to grab a pair of shoes. She noticed his expression and sighed. "Good morning, baby," he said as he propped himself up on the pillows.

"Good morning," she replied, walking towards him. Cate planted a kiss to his lips. "I would love to stay for coffee, but I'm going to be late and my sister is going to kill me."

He smirked as he stood from the bed. "I thought your appointment wasn't until noon."

"I have to stop for coffee," she replied, "And then I have to pick my dress up."

Derek enveloped her in his arms. She squealed and tried to escape his grasp. "You're not going without a proper morning kiss." She beamed as he took her lips with his. Cate wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her from the floor.

"You're bad," she warned as he placed her back to the wood floor. "Bad news, Mister." Derek could only smirk in her direction. "I have places to be and you make me want to stay here forever."

Derek let her start to pull away as he ran his fingers down her arm to her hand before taking her hand in his. "I would never do that," he teased.

Cate fought the butterflies in her belly that multiplied at his touch. "Derek," she paused, caught up in his intense gaze.

He placed a hand to her cheek. "I can pick up your dress." He stepped closer to her. "Grab a coffee in the lobby." He let go of her hand to take her by the waist. "Tell your sister it was my fault you were late."

The brunette brushed her hair out of her face. "You are trouble." His lips were on her neck. "D," she sighed. "I really need to go."

Cate got to the door of the bedroom before turning to look at Derek over her shoulder.

The confidence exuding off of that man was enough to make most women blush. His sweatpants laid low on his hips, and her eyes traced every inch of his impressive abdomen.

Cate threw her cell phone on to the dresser next to her. "Fuck it." She crossed the room towards him. "Make me late, but make it worth it." Her crystal blue eyes lit up as he picked her up to place her on the bed.

-xx-

"Thanks for showing up, Cate," her sister scolded as she slid through the door to the salon. The younger brunette blushed. "Jesus, you're blushing like a school girl."

Cate walked into the salon with her head bowed. "Sorry. I thought you wanted to live vicariously through me." The two laughed. "I'm sorry I'm late. I got a little held up."

"Oh, you were help up for sure." Jackie took the coffee her sister offered her. "Where the hell is this from?"

Cate smirked. "The coffee shop in Derek's apartment building." She pursed her lips together to contain the smile that was fighting to break free. "It's actually not that bad."

The older sister shook her head. "Is it fun?"

The brunette took a seat in her sister's stylist chair. "Fun?" She scoffed and placed her coffee on the counter. "I'm 34, Jackie. It's not supposed to be fun anymore."

The look on Catherine's face was all that her sister needed. This woman was head over heels for the man who saved her life. If it wasn't coincidence that Derek re-emerged in her life, she didn't know what was. But the two seemed crazy happy and that was all that mattered to Jackie.

"Besides," Cate started. "He's met you and Mom and hasn't run. He's a keeper."

"Or crazy," Jackie retorted. The two laughed. "He better be treating you right."

Cate smiled at her sister in the mirror. "Or what? You'll jump him?" she asked, jokingly.

"Me?" Jackie couldn't contain her laughter. "This is why we have two older brothers, Cate. I don't have to lift a finger."

-xx-

Cate unlocked the door to Derek's apartment a few hours later, with her hair and make up ready for the Gala. Hours spent at Luxe Beauty Bar, the salon her sister owned always called for a few glasses of champagne as the color set in her hair.

Derek had her gown hanging in the living room from the curtain rod and there was a small navy blue gift bag sitting on the table. As she stepped into the living room to inspect the bag, Derek popped up in the doorway. "Hey baby," he greeted.

She peeked over her shoulder at the man behind her. She fought to catch her breath when she saw him in his black dress pants and white dress shirt. "Hey yourself." Derek crossed the threshold into the living room. "Look at you."

He beamed, spread out his arms and did a small turn for her. She giggled in approval. Derek picked up the bag from the table and handed it to her. "Your aunt told me you already had earrings picked out for tonight, so I thought you may need a little something else."

Her eyebrow rose in suspense as he handed her the bag. She pulled out a jewelry box and opened it to reveal a diamond lariat bracelet. Cate's jaw dropped as she pulled the piece of jewelry from the box. "Derek," she looked up at him, a grin taking over his face as her mouth remained opened. "This is beautiful. Thank you."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Beautiful piece for a beautiful woman," he replied, earning a bright smile from Cate. He watched her run a manicured finger over the stones, her smile never breaking. "You need to go get ready," he reminded her.

Cate nodded before kissing him again. "You are too much, Derek Morgan."

He grinned and winked at her. "This is only the beginning," he promised before sneaking out of the room.

The brunette ran her fingers over the delicate stones, never once losing her smile.

-xx-

"I just want to feel sexy for one night." She sighed as she stepped out of the fitting room in yet another dress that she did not love.

Derek shook his head from his spot on the couch. "You could be wearing a paper bag and still be the sexiest woman in the room."

Cate took one last look into the full length mirror in the closet. She was wearing a Monique Lhuiller gown from her aunt's shop; it was a gorgeous navy blue and a combination of a lace gown with tulle overlays that accented her natural waist line. Her heels were the same shade of navy though they were unseen under the bottom of the gown.

She corrected the positioning of the tulle shoulder draped over her left shoulder. From the simple diamond teardrop earrings to the bracelet from Derek, she was ready to go. Her sister did her hair up with a French braid framing her face and leading into a low bun to show off the back of her dress. Cate let her sister go to town with her makeup as well with a subtle smoky eye and her signature pink glossy lip.

Cate smiled at her reflection before leaving the bedroom. Once her heel hit the floor in the kitchen, Derek turned around to see her standing in the entry way. "Wow," was all he could mutter as he took her in.

"Are you going to stand there and gawk, or are you ready to go?"

Derek took a few steps across the kitchen and placed a hand to her waist. "You are absolutely stunning." Her cheeks broke out in a blush.

"Thank you," she mumbled, lost in the sight of him dressed up. She knew she loved him in jeans, but the way those dress pants fit him made her want to stay home. "You clean up nicely," she replied as he pecked her lips.

Derek reached around her to grab his jacket from the chair behind her. "I cannot wait to see what you have on under that dress later."

Cate flashed him a grin as she started towards the door. She grabbed her clutch from the table by the door. "Who said I have anything on under this?"

-xx-