“Aye, and He showed me how ugly revenge was.In truth, he showed me many things.”
Pell approached and clapped him on the back.“Finally.”
“Hallelujah,” Moses added.
Soot scratched his head.“Well, I’ll be a pickled sardine.”
Gabrielle, shock still flashing from her eyes, turned to Soot.“God loves us all, Soot.I know you’ve wondered that of late.”
Huffing, the master gunner turned to leave.“Too much talk o’ God in a pirate’s cabin fer me.”
They all laughed as he headed out the door.
“I best check on the wounded.”Moses nodded toward Cadan and left.
Fingering his cross, Pell kissed Matthew on the head.“And I have a ship to steer.”He winked at Gabrielle before he, too, marched out, closing the door behind him.
Leaving Cadan alone with Gabrielle.
Her eyes searched his as she gave a sad smile.“I know you fought Damien only for the treasure and your revenge, but still, I owe you a great deal for saving my son.Thank you.”She turned to leave.
Cadan grabbed her hand.“Stay, Gabrielle.Please.”
Chapter 37
Gabrielle should leave the captain’s cabin.Immediately.She should not be here alone with this man, not when every inch of her longed to stay, not when her heart swelled at the very sight of him, at the very sound of his deep voice, at the look of love pouring from his eyes.She sailed upon dangerous seas, and if she turned to face him, she feared she’d go down in the storm.
Father, help!This was her weakness—love, marriage, family—but she knew God’s plans were the best.Yet how could those plans include a man, apirate, who wanted none of those things, who, despite his recent mention of God, had denied Him over and over?
Hear him out, Daughter.
Closing her eyes, she turned to face him, and instantly regretted it, for he still wore no shirt and his muscles, tight from his recent battle, rolled and bunched across his chest and arms and rippled down his belly.Dark hair hung in strands to his shoulders, stubble lined his chin and jaw, one bloody bandage was tied around his left arm while another circled his waist.He looked every bit a vicious pirate captain, a man who would kidnap a woman for treasure.Yet…something in his eyes, in the way he looked at her defied all that.
“Yes, Captain?”
Yawning, Matthew stretched out one arm and opened his eyes, gurgling, drawing both their gazes.
Smiling, Cadan approached, and the most surprising thing happened.Her son reached out his chubby hand toward him.
“May I?”Cadan held out his hands.
Gabrielle stared at him, frozen, unable to form a rational thought.But before she could make sense of it, she handed him to Cadan.
The pirate, all muscle and strength, nestled Matthew against his mighty chest as if the child were made of cotton.Cooing, Matthew smiled up at Cadan and continued to run his little fingers over the stubble on Cadan’s chin.
If the sea turned to chocolate and the clouds to whipped cream, Gabrielle couldn’t be more shocked.In truth, all she could do was stand and stare at the affection drifting between this enigmatic pirate and her son.Swallowing a burst of emotion, she fought back the tears burning behind her eyes.So, Cadanhadbeen the one to care for Matthew in her absence.She’d not thought it possible, this man who commanded a ship of cutthroats, who was an expert swordsman and even better at sea battles, a man who loathed children.Or so he’d said.
Cadan eased a finger over Matthew’s cheek, and her son grabbed hold of it with his tiny hand and clung to it, refusing to let go.
The ship rolled over a wave and Gabrielle reached for the desk to steady herself while Cadan maintained his balance with ease.
“I see you have bonded with my son,” she managed to squeak out.
“We spent some time together, aye.”He smiled back down at Matthew.“He’ll make a good pirate one day.”
Gabrielle raised her chin.“He will do no such thing.”
Cadan chuckled, then moved to a teakwood chest perched against the bulkhead and laid Matthew inside.
