Page 57 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

My heart did a double-dutch. We had a ride to theSea Storm, to Marco.

A group of men waited by a long rowboat. I recognized the giant hunky guy from the tavern. After telling us to wait a few feet away from the boat, the boatswain spoke with the giant.

Was the giant the captain of theSea Storm? He seemed to make all the decisions, and he looked very captain-like. All hard lines, strong jaw, and muscles. Lots and lots of muscles.

“That man belongs on the cover of a romance novel.” Ace gave a nod toward the giant. “One of those bodice rippers where the pirate captain sweeps away the fair maiden, and she falls madly in love with ’im, then ends up traveling the world.”

The captain didn’t look sick. “Didn’t the man in the tavern say the captain was ill?”

Before Ace could reply, the giant summoned us over. He looked down at me with those odd blue eyes. Eyes that would make a girl’s heart zing around like a pinball dropped in a Plinko game, but my heart already had too many men assigned to it, so I looked away.

“Are ye the healer?” The giant’s deep voice radiated romance hero, for god’s sake.

“Yes.” I jutted out my chin and nodded confidently, my lying eyes finding his again. They really were a beautiful shade of blue.

He looked at Ace, then back at me. “Are ye married?”

Married? Why was everyone asking me if I was married? What kind of question was that?

“No. Not married. Never married. Not even engaged for real.” I held up my naked ring finger.

His dark brows knitted together in an agitated confusion.

“Have ye bedded many?”

What did he mean by many? “I don’t think that’s any of your?—”

He turned to leave without me.

“No!” I shouted after him. I mean, how many was many, right? My inner voice held up her hands and began ticking off her fingers.

He stopped and turned back around, taking me in. “Why do ye want to boardSea Storm?”

“I-I-I enjoy healing men of the sea. They need my skills so far from land with no proper doctor.” Healing men of the sea. Mental head slap. I sounded like a canned tuna salesman.

“She’ll do.” He motioned for the men to escort me aboard the rowboat.

She’ll do? The nerve. Two of the men grabbed my arms and lifted me into the boat.

Ace was left standing in the sand.

“Wait!” I leaped to my feet, rocking the boat. “My manservant must attend me.”

Ace’s mouth dropped open. The giant turned to me. “Only you.”

“He can—” I struggled for a reason to bring Ace. Maybe Marco needed help in the galley. I’d never known Marco to make a meal. For cripes sake, he had a standing order at the local deli. How was he feeding an entire crew?

“He’s my—lucky cook.”

Ace stifled a squeak.

Everyone turned and looked at me.

The giant scrubbed his beard. “I need a cook.”

“You do?”

“Aye, my cook was taken from me. Bring him aboard.”

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