“That’s good. Should mean we track him down quicker once he comes out of hiding.”
A shiver passed over her. “I hope you’re careful, Lieutenant. You’re the only person I’ve ever met that intentionally seeks Thorne out.”
He shrugged. “If not me, then who? I’ll do it so others won’t have to.”
“A noble sentiment. But sentiments alone do not win battles.”
All traces of amusement faded from his face. “The truest statement I’ve heard all day.” He tapped a finger against his forehead. “This is what wins battles.”
She arched a brow. “Good looks?”
His grin returned and a flush of warmth traveled through her. “That, among other things.”
Her laugh echoed into the night. “I see subtlety is not a strong suit of yours.”
“You’d be surprised.” He held her gaze. “As much as I would like to stay and let you inflate my ego further, I’d best get going. Silas, my first officer, will be worried if I don’t return soon. I’d rather not disturb the town with a detachment of navy men marching through the streets looking for me.”
Though she wanted to protest, she nodded. “I’m glad to have metyou, Lieutenant.”
“And I, you.” His eyes flickered toward the still-open door, then back to her with a quiet intensity. Her breath caught as he stepped forward and took her hand in his.
While she marveled at the warmth of his fingers clasped around hers, he lifted her hand and pressed his lips behind her knuckles. Then he released his hold, leaving her staring at the spot where his touch had seared her.
“Goodnight, and goodbye, Miss Montclair.”
Chapter Three
Damp sand grippedthe soles of Isaac’s boots, the hush of the night tide still cloaking the shore. A sliver of sun crested the palm-lined ridge behind the harbor, streaking the sky with thin bands of golden light. Already, heat clung to his neck, heavy and incessant as though the island were trying to hold him back. He folded his arms tight against his chest and scanned the harbor. Beyond the bobbing masts and taut rigging of docked ships, theTempestwaited—sleek, formidable…and far too idle for his liking.
They should be underway already, heading north to chase the next whisper of Thorne’s whereabouts. Instead, they lingered here, wasting precious hours on cargo they didn’t need. The crisp brine of the Caribbean carried on a soft breeze, one that barely stirred the flags drooped above the water. Dockworkers moved with sluggish rhythm, calling to each other in a muddle of languages as crates scraped against the gangplank of a wide brig docked beyond theTempest. The steady clamor grated against the stillness in him, tightening the knot already wound in his chest. Silas and his men should have returned by now.
A burst of laughter rang out from the merchant ship as someone dropped a crate with a splintering crash. Isaac’s jaw tensed. He dragged a hand across his face and strode toward the docks, the sand crunching underfoot. This—restless waiting, straining against the leash of his obligations—this wasn’t why he’d joined the Navy.
He was built to move. To hunt. To act on instinct.
And yet here he stood, like a ship run aground.
“Let’s take on some cargo. It’ll give us extra funding for the mission.”Silas’s suggestion had seemed so reasonable when darkness still cloaked the island and the crew stood idle waiting to sail.
He came to a stop and stared into town with narrowed eyes. How long could it possibly take to procure a few crates of rum and sugar on a spit of land hardly wider than a cannon shot? The longer they delayed departure, the more the island worked its way under his skin—its heat, its ease, especially its distractions.
Unbidden, the curve of a smile flashed across his mind, and his heart gave an erratic thump as memories of the governor’s beautiful daughter pressed for his attention. With a scowl, he shook the thoughts free. This wasn’t the time to indulge in daydreams about a woman. With a steadying breath, his eyes traced the bluffs beyond town, scanning for any sign of progress, any hint of the cargo’s arrival.
A flicker of movement on a hillside caught his eye as a woman climbed a narrow path alone. Deep green skirts clung to her hips, the color vivid against tanned skin where the morning light caught the bare line of her shoulders. She moved like she belonged to the island, barefoot and radiant, a basket slung over one arm, bright flowers tucked behind her ear. Dark hair streamed behind her in a breeze he could not feel. She paused and turned, as if she felt the weight of his gaze, and his breath caught.
Miss Montclair.As if his very thoughts had conjured her. He blinked, half expecting the vision to dissolve into mist.
It didn’t.
After a wistful glance toward theTempest, she continued, swinging her basket next to her. Isaac stood quiet as she neared the top of the hill. He took an involuntary step toward her before catching himself. It would be foolish to follow. Irresponsible. Silas could return at any moment, and he needed to be ready to sail the moment the cargo arrived.
Yet, he couldn’t draw his eyes from her retreating form. The path she followed curved inland, the same direction his first officer hadtaken earlier with a group of sailors to visit a sugar mill. Isaac shifted his weight as she vanished from view, swallowed by the trees. His jaw tightened. He could walk a short way. Just far enough to check. If he happened to find Silas—and a reason for the delay—all the better.
His boots left shallow prints in the sand as he climbed the beach and made his way to the trail. The sun pressed higher overhead, heat soaking into his shoulders as he followed the narrow path toward the ridge. Behind him, the familiar harbor sounds fell away, replaced by the hush of the hillside and the dry rustle of palm fronds above.
Isaac reached the crest of the hill and paused. The path split with one well-worn branch following the land as it flattened into a lush valley, the distant silhouette of the sugar mill rising against the hazy sky. The other fork of the trail wound steeply upward, disappearing into thick jungle and rocky outcrops. Miss Montclair strolled just ahead, basket swaying at her side. A few bright blossoms peeked over the rim with what looked like a folded blanket resting beneath them. She didn’t hesitate as she began the steep climb of the rugged trail. His gaze travelled up the wild mountainside. This was no simple run for errands. Curiosity drove him forward and he hurried her way. A loose stone shifted beneath his boot and tumbled down the slope with a sharp clatter.
She spun, eyes flashing. They softened a moment later as she recognized him. “Lieutenant! Are you following me?”
