“I’d be delighted.” Vivian gathered her sketchbook and charcoals and linked her arm through Jack’s. “Lead on, Captain.”
He ushered her into the Nobile Room, a cabin adjacent to his captain’s quarters. A long wooden table dominated the room, used by the ship’s officers to dine or discuss navigation and strategy. It was the only cabin aboard ship quiet enough for discussion, but still considered a public space.
“Good day, sir.” Johnny jumped to his feet from where he had been sitting in the corner, shining a pair of boots.
“Johnny, good. Will you tell Cooke to prepare lunch for two? And some tea to warm you up?” he asked Vivian.
“Yes, please.”
“Right away, sir.” Johnny hurried out.
“Blast!” Vivian tried to undo the knotted ties to her cloak.
“Here, let me see.” He stepped in front of her, removing her hands and deftly untying the knot. As he swept the cloak off her shoulders, his fingers brushed along her collarbone. Sweet Jesus, her skin was so soft. He jerked back his hands—he had no business noticing the softness of her skin or that the sun had kissed it with tiny freckles.
Vivian’s sea-green eyes widened, and she inhaled sharply. Perhaps the unexpected heat that flared between them took her by surprise as well? They stood there for a long moment. Then her tongue flicked out and wet her bottom lip with its pink tip. Jack’s desire went from a flare to an all-out inferno. What would those lips taste like?
He turned away with a shaky breath and hung her cloak on a hook by the door. “Shall we get started?” He pulled out a chair for her at the dining table.
“Certainly. I guess first describe what style you were thinking about for the house?”
Jack sat at the head of the table in his usual seat and stretched his legs out.
“In my imagination, the house is two stories high with balconies that wrap around the front and two sides. I have the perfect spot for it all picked out, on top of a hill so it will catch the ocean breezes. The rooms will have tall ceilings and great big windows leading out to the balconies so the wind can blow through. The front entrance will face the forest and the road coming in, but the back of the house will face the ocean. That is where I will have the bedrooms and my study so every morning I can enjoy the view as I lie in bed.” He glanced up, embarrassed to realize he was rambling. Vivian sat hunched over, sketching furiously.
“What if you put a courtyard in the middle like they do in Spain? That way you’d have a private outdoor space to enjoy mealsalfresco?”
Jack thought about it. “Yes, I like that idea. Maybe a fountain in the courtyard.”
“Yes, I love it.” Vivian’s pencil flew over the page. Jack leaned over to watch the courtyard come to life under her skilled hand, complete with fountain and tropical foliage. They spent a pleasant couple of hours thus, exchanging ideas back and forth about windows and archways. Johnny and Cooke brought in lunch, but he barely noticed the two as he and Vivian discussed plans for his home.
A hard rap at the door sounded, interrupting them. Kelly appeared in the doorway. He glanced back and forth between Jack and Vivian. “Sir, the weather’s made a turn for the worse. It is shaping up to be a real squall. We need you on deck.”
Jack looked out the square windows at the far end of room, and true enough, a storm raged outside. How had he not noticed? The answer was right there in front of him. This woman was the devil’s distraction.
“I’m coming.” He pushed up from his chair. “Miss Jamieson, it would be best if you retire to your cabin, check on your companion, and hunker down. I’ll send someone to let you ladies know when it’s safe to come out.” He gave a curt nod, grabbed his coat, and marched out the door leaving Kelly to follow.
As they headed up the stairs, Kelly asked, “What were you and Miss Vivian doing?”
“She is helping me sketch out plans for my new house. Why?”
“Well, all of us are right fond of Miss Vivian. She is a fine girl. I don’t want to hear there’s been anything untoward going on.”
Jack stopped in his tracks. What the hell? Chastised by his crew? As much respect as he had for his bos’n, he was still the damn captain of this ship. He turned to glare at the older crewman. A scowl graced Kelly’s face, his beefy arms crossed in front of his chest. There was real concern in his eyes.
Jack sighed. “Not that it’s any of your business to be telling me what to do or not to do, but nothing untoward is happening to Miss Vivian. She is safe with me.” Sadly, this needed to be true. He promised Jamieson to deliver her to London with her virtue intact. Despite his years of privateering and espionage, he liked to think he was still a gentleman of his word.
****
Alone in his cabin, Vivian wandered about looking for clues about the very private captain. It was a large room; along with the sizable dining table along one wall, stood a desk with nautical maps spread out over the entire surface. The desk stood underneath a row of windows, against which the rain beat. She shuffled together her sketches and tucked them into the desk drawer.
Along a third wall were two comfortable wing chairs with a small side table between. And on that wall, another door, which must lead to the captain’s private cabin. The very masculine room reminded her of her father’s quarters on his ship theTitania.
Even though they were several weeks into their journey, she still didn’t know much more about the captain than she had when she first stepped aboard. He was stern and well respected by his loyal crew. She’d had no luck gleaning any information from them while playing cards. The Captain acted so formal with her and Gabrielle, but she observed him occasionally relaxed and smiling while talking with Smith at the helm. And she’d seen him be patient and kind while showing Johnny how to tie off the lead ropes properly. He radiated authority and control, which just made her itch to discover what lay underneath.
He had been avoiding her, until today. While listening to him talk about building his house, he’d lowered his walls a bit. He sounded so wistful. Perhaps he craved some solitude away from his responsibilities? Hard to tell. She walked around the room, running her fingers across the smooth wooden surfaces. Everything in this cabin related to running the ship; no mementos collected from his travels, no paintings or personal items at all. She stopped at the door to his private cabin. Dare she enter the lion’s lair?
Just then the ship pitched violently. Thrown to the floor, she slid a few feet across the polished planks. Well, if that wasn’t a sign…She scrambled up and rubbed her sore arse. Best go check on Gabi; she might be frightened by the growing storm.
