Either the Lord missed his prayer, or the men missed the Lord’s promptings, because the clamor built like last time. Only last time he’d longed to kiss Mary—just not in public.
“Kiss her! Kiss her!”
Jim slammed his eyes shut. Everyone was pressuring him, shoving him in the wrong direction. No more. No more.
Two small hands rested on his upper arms. “Jim?”
He opened his eyes.
Quintessa gazed up at him, all dewy-eyed and beautiful. “You have my permission.” Her invitation couldn’t be any clearer.
Or any less welcome. How many years had he longed for a moment like this, but now he didn’t want it. He didn’t love Quintessa. He loved Mary, and he’d do everything in his power to win her heart. If she rejected him, at least he’d know he’d chosen the bold but prayerful route.
Voices rose all around him. “Kiss her! Kiss her!”
Quintessa gave him a sly glance. “What are you waiting for?”
Jim settled a firm but kind look on her. “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
“You can’t?”
“Come on, Mr. Avery! Kiss her like you kissed that brunette last time.”
Oh no. Jim groaned.
“Brunette?” Quintessa asked.
His face heated up. He didn’t want to involve Mary or cause trouble between the ladies. When he came home again, when he spoke his mind, there would be plenty of trouble, but he’d be there to deal with it. Not now, not when he was about to ship out.
Quintessa’s fingers tightened on his coat sleeves. “Who was she?”
“Just a friend.” That was true, especially since the kiss meant nothing to her.
“A friend?” Quintessa’s eyes widened into green pools. “Not Mary?”
How could he lie? “It didn’t mean anything to her. These fellows were acting up like this, and she only did it to shut them up.”
Quintessa eased back. “You kissed Mary, but you won’t kiss me?”
Countless emotions arced through her eyes—the indignation of a beautiful woman unaccustomed to rejection and the pain of a woman who had been betrayed by a man she’d loved and trusted for years.
Her dismay, the clamor of the sailors, everything acted like a funnel, but he resisted and set his heels.
Jim took both her hands. “Thank you for giving me a chance. I’m honored, and I appreciate it. But it isn’t working between us, and it never will.”
“Isn’t working? What do you mean?”
Jim clamped his lips between his teeth. This would require a long and emotional talk he didn’t have time for right now.
Regardless, he couldn’t give her false hope. “I have to leave, but we’ll talk when I return.”
Her mouth thinned into a sharp red line. “Talk?”
“Good-bye, Quintessa.” He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead.
Before she could respond, he marched away and up the gangplank.
Good-natured jeers from his shipmates bombarded him, groans of disappointment, offers to take his place. Mitch Hadley made a crack about his eyesight and his manhood.
