Page 106 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

“Naugh unless ’tis recent. He didn’t know its location before we escaped the Nassau harbor.”

“What are we going to do?”

“There’s too many men to fight our way oot. When the boat stops at the location, I’m asking—no, begging—ye to jump home.”

“I won’t do it. This is my mission.”

“Wasyer mission. Please, Jen, yer vessel’s small enough to call onto the ship. I want ye to be safe.”

“I’m not going to jump and leave my friends behind.”

He ran a hand over his hair, felt the braids, and cursed in Gaelic. He stomped around a few times, swore again, and stomped some more. His anger warmed the room. He finally stopped and pulled me out of the chair and into his arms. He pressed his lips on mine, and his emotions flooded me. Worry. Fear. He had totally let me in. With his shields down, for the first time, I felt him.

I pressed against his hard chest, pushing him away when all I really wanted to do was pull him in. “Stop. I understand you’re worried about me, but I can help you.”

“You cannae.”

“You need treasure, right?”

His skeptical dark eyebrow raised a few inches.

“If you don’t come up with some treasure, Vane will kill you and take over theSea Storm. Probably kill Max and Rowan and anyone who doesn’t join him.”

“Yer reminding me of my fate, Sunshine. How is this helpful?”

“What if I know where there’s a treasure chest full of gold, silver, pieces of eight, and random pirate booty?”

“I’m listening.”

“If we’re a day away, we’ll arrive at night. What if we steal the gold and dump it overboard so you have something to show Vane?”

“Jen,” His face lit up, and he kissed me hard. “That’s bloody brilliant.”

“Don’t look so surprised. I have good ideas.”

“Where is this treasure chest?” He glanced around the room like I might have it hidden in a corner. He looked at the chest against the wall. “Not that one. It’s filled with stolen clothes and my wedding dress.”

He grimaced at my last words.

“I’ll tell you where the treasure chest is, but only if you stop telling me to leave.”

His jaw clenched, and for a moment, I didn’t think he’d relent. “I’m concerned for your safety.”

“I’ll be concerned for my own safety.”

He came forward, wrapping me in his arms. “Even though ye never do what I ask of ye, I love you.”

“You mean demand of me, and I’m doing my job.” I wasn’t convinced he’d keep me in the treasure-hunting loop, and until I was, I’d hold on to my secret.

“I know ’tis hard for ye to trust me.” He ghosted his lips across my cheek, pressing gentle kisses down my neck, pausing at the healing cut from Vane.

“Vane cut me, but I’m fine.”

“’Tis hard for me to trust ye can take care of yerself.” He kissed my cut so gently an unintentional whimper of desire escaped my lips.

“I guess both of us need to tackle the hard things.”

He ran a hand up my back stroking the little curve of my neck he knew was my weakness. “What weel it take for ye to tell me where the treasure chest is?”

---