“I thought you might want to get out of this room for awhile. I’ve brought you Daniel’s hat and cloak. As long as you keep your head down, it should be safe to sneak above and watch the sun come up over the sea.”
“Are you serious?” Her entire face lit up, and he couldn’t resist leaning forward and touching her. He cupped her cheek with his palm, stroking the pad of his thumb along her jaw.
“I’m very serious. Besides, I have a surprise for you, and you need to come up top to see it.”
She tilted her face, pressing her smooth cheek more fully into his palm. “You’re so good to me. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll come.”
“Of course, I’ll come.” The deep, husky sound of her laughter ignited his blood even more. He shifted uncomfortably and prayed she was too innocent to notice his massive arousal.
“I’ll wait out in the passageway until you’re dressed. But remember, you have to be very quiet and pretend you’re Daniel. He hasn’t left his cabin much, so no one knows what he looks like.”
“I can do that.” He stood, and she grabbed his hand, squeezing tightly as though reluctant to let him go. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” His smile faded and he stepped away. Then he turned and left the room, wondering how on earth he was going to survive when her soft smiles turned to hatred.
* * * * *
Kate dressed hurriedly, donning the boy’s clothing she’d worn before and covering herself with Daniel’s cloak and hat. When she opened the door and stepped out into the passageway, Talon was waiting for her, his eyes sparking with humor in the dim light.
“I’d take your hand again, but it might cause more attention than we want.”
She choked back a laugh and followed him up the narrow ladder that led above. They crossed the pitching deck and went to stand at the rail in an out of the way spot toward the bow.
Kate took a deep breath of the salt-scented air. A soft wind kissed her cheeks and stirred her clothes. She wished she could take off the hat and let her hair blow free.
A few crewmembers stirred at their posts, but none of them were very close. She had the impression she and Talon were completely alone.
Of course, he always made her feel that way. When he was near, everything else tended to fade away.
He smiled and pointed out to sea. “Only a few more minutes now. That way.”
The sky was lightening in the east, and she held her breath, waiting for the day to dawn. The mere fact that Talon had woken her to share this with him made her resolve to stay strong crumble like a castle made of sand.
How could she possibly resist a man who watched the sunrise with such eagerness?
As if his thoughts mirrored her own, he shifted and moved a few inches closer. “I wish I could take you in my arms,” he whispered, his voice a mere breath of sound. “I’ve missed holding you.”
She turned to face him, her breath coming hard and fast. She wanted to tell him it had been difficult for her, too. That she dreamed about him constantly. Hot, wanting dreams that left her tired and edgy.
The image of his bare chest was branded in her mind. Sometimes, in the darkest part of the night, she imagined seeing even more of him. She imagined him naked and beautiful in the bed beside her.
“Shh,” he whispered. “It’s all right. I didn’t bring you up here to tell you that or make you uncomfortable. Just enjoy the sunrise and forget I’m even here.”
As if I could. Dutifully, she turned her face back toward the rising sun. The line between the horizon and the sea became more distinct by the moment, lightening to a thin strip of silver, then blazing all at once in ribbons of red and gold.
Heartbreakingly beautiful. Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked to clear them. The sun hovered for a moment, half visible, bobbing at the edge of the sea before rising in all its glory.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” They stood side-by-side, so close she imagined she could feel the heat of his big body. Then he sighed. “Well, we mustn’t stay much longer. But there’s one other thing I want to show you before I take you back down.”
Intrigued, she followed him to a sheltered place near the wheelhouse where he pointed out something that took her breath away. Rose bushes. A half dozen of them.
“I thought you might like to see how roses grow in Carolina.”
Kate couldn’t speak. The tears she’d managed to restrain before fell freely.
He frowned, glancing around to make sure no one saw. “Go back to your cabin. I’ll be right behind you.”
