“Even Gabby?”
“Gabby is whatever she wants you to think she is,” Richard replied cryptically.
Drew snorted. “Which means?”
“That if you want to know about her, you should be asking her, not me.”
“Then let’s get back to you and your blasted reason for attacking me.”
“Sorry, can’t oblige you, Captain. I’ve been sworn to secrecy. How about you just accept my apology and leave it go at that?”
“How about you satisfy my curiosity before I beat it out of you?”
“Have at me, then. I don’t betray my friends.”
“You’re saying she’s just a friend?”
“You thought otherwise when she was thinking about marrying you?”
That word “marrying” in reference to him actually had Drew taking a step back. The very thought of marriage made him shudder. But he was finding it hard to believe that Gabby had entertained those thoughts. And, in fact, Richard could be feeding him a pack of lies just to throw him off track.
But he was still curious enough to ask, “Did she tell you that?”
“I’ve said too much already,” Richard rejoined. “I’m saying no more.”
“So it wasn’t jealousy that had you attacking me?” Drew persisted.
Richard snorted. “You don’t listen too well, Captain. She’s my best friend. Whoever she ends up marrying will be fine with me, well, as long as it’s not you.”
“Then youarejealous!”
“No, I just don’t like what you did to her. I tried to give her some excuses for it, but I didn’t really believe any of them m’self.”
Drew ground his teeth together. He was so frustrated at the moment, it was a wonder he hadn’t knocked the pirate on his ass yet. But then it occurred to him…
“I got her drunk to try and seduce her, but my blasted brother interrupted us, so I didn’t get very far. Is that what this is all about? Did she think something else happened while she was tipsy?”
Richard shrugged. “She never mentioned that, so I’ve no idea.”
“Whatdidshe mention?”
“Nice try, Captain, but that secret is going with me to the grave. So have at me or send me back to the hold, because this conversation ends now either way.”
Richard was taking it for granted that Drew wouldn’t lay a hand on him. His confident tone said as much. Drew should have disappointed him, if for no other reason than to get rid of the frustration he was currently feeling over learning next to nothing from this futile exercise. But he let him go. He was going to have to take this subject up with Gabby instead, obviously. But she wasn’t exactly in an appeasing frame of mind either, so she would probably just make his frustration a lot worse.
He should have just put her in the hold with her crew. It was no more than she deserved for trying to steal his ship. But she’d given him more pleasure than he’d expected when he found her sleeping in her cabin that night, an experience he couldn’t get out of his mind.
God, that had been sweet, but making love to her had its drawbacks, too—in particular, that that one time with her should have been enough for him, but it wasn’t. With every other woman, once was just fine. He revisited his many sweethearts merely for convenience, not because he was eager to see them again. But with Gabby, he wanted more. Despite his guilt.
And that was another thing that perplexed him. Who would have thought a damned pirate would turn out to be virginal. That still amazed him. But it was kind of sweet, too, that he was the first man for her. Another new experience for him, though, because it certainly wasn’t something he looked for in his women. Just the opposite. He preferred women with a good deal of experience. They knew the game, and that marriage wasn’t one of the prizes.
Had Gabby really thought about him for a husband? He smiled and shook his head. He was going to find out.
Chapter 37
THE STORM THAT HAD BEEN THREATENING ALL DAYarrived that afternoon with a vengeance. Gabrielle had been hoping that it would just blow away, or at least thatThe Tritonwould outrun it, but neither occurred.
In the middle of a violent torrential onslaught was the one time she didn’t like being on a ship. Actually, ever since she’d lived through that hurricane that struck the islands, she didn’t like rainstorms no matter where she was. But being at sea added an extra element of danger. Sinking.
