She lifted her eyes to meet his. “Who says I was cheating?”
He chuckled and closed the distance between them, bending his lips to her ear. “You hid it well with all your flirting, but don’t think you can fool me.”
After a shaky breath, she took a step back. “I sometimes worked at the tavern in Tortuga.”
“Your father let you?” He frowned as he imagined all the men she would have used the same tactic with. How many laps she’d graced.
“He didn’t like it.” She stared out over the bay, where theTempestandRed Sirendocked. “I would sneak out when pirate ships were in town and go to the tavern to listen to their stories. The owner let me help on busy nights.”
Her shoulders rose and fell and her gaze turned distant. Growing up as a high bred girl on the island could not have been easy. He cleared his throat. “Well, I am grateful for it.”
She spun, eyes wide. “You are?”
His lips curved. “Because of you, I got more information than I could have hoped for.”
“So, you’re not mad at me?”
“Am I upset you disobeyed me and got yourself in trouble? Yes. But you proved an invaluable asset tonight with your… skills. In light ofthat…” He extended his hand. “I’m willing to call a truce, if you are.”
Her lips curved and she set her hand in his. “A truce.”
He ignored the heat of her palm and forced a stern look over his features. “That means no more deceptions.”
“So, no more sneaking aboard your ship?” A slight pout twisted her mouth.
“Especially that.” He hadn’t released her hand yet and tugged her closer.
Her brows lifted, but she followed his pull, her intoxicating scent washing over him. Jasmine. He hadn’t been able to place it earlier with the immense distraction of her on his lap. His gaze traced her lips, dropped lower to where her blouse barely contained the swells of her breasts.
“Isaac!”
Christian’s voice cut through the charged silence and he dropped her hand, coughing to clear his thickened throat.
“There’s a party being thrown, right now, in honor of the fallen sailors. There’s sure to be survivors in attendance.” Christian jogged over. “Oh, hello, Miss Montclair.”
As if it were the most normal thing to see a woman dressed the way she was.
“If we hurry, we can still make it and interview survivors. Will make our job a whole lot easier.” His friend’s gaze raked over the two of them. “Of course, we’re going to have to change. All of us.”
Chapter Fourteen
Thank heavens forAbigail. Specifically, Abigail’s dress.
While Samantha quickly twisted Josephine’s hair up, she stared out the window. Two times now she’d been warned to not tempt fate. She pulled her key free and rubbed her thumb over the skull. Each time she replayed the old man’s words in her head, the hairs on her neck lifted. What did it mean?
She shivered, even though the heat in the cabin bore down on her. For all her talk about destiny, it seemed she should have worried about fate instead.
“What’s that?” Samantha nodded toward the key.
Josephine tucked it back below the delicate lace trim of her squared bodice. “Just an old relic I won from a pirate.” She’d swapped the ribbon for a yellow one that matched her dress.
Samantha grinned. “I’ll have to hear the story sometime.” She pinned the final locks of Josephine’s hair into a loose chignon. “You look ravishing. Leave it to Abigail to choose the absolute perfect dress for you.”
A grin tugged at Josephine’s lips as she took in Samantha’s empire dress, the blue silk shimmering in the lantern light. “Speaking of ravishing, I can see why you favor that color.”
With a scrunched nose, Samantha smoothed the dress. “I despise the constriction of skirts. They sure aren’t handy if you need to climb into rigging or sneak out of a window. And they are especially cumbersome if one has to fight.” She winked. “I’msure you understand.”
A blush heated Josephine’s cheeks. Samantha had been absolutely delighted when she’d seen Josephine return wearing her clothing. “Have you truly fought before?”
