Page 15 of Escaping Pirates
“Maybe he would like me better!”
“Maybe he wouldn’t!”
“Girls, girls,” Captain Harsh cut in smoothly. “Is that the way you want to behave in front of your suitor?”
Blossom immediately contorted her face into the sappiest expression I’d ever had the misfortune to behold. She curled her lips back and wrinkled her nose as she attempted a smile that looked more akin to a wolf baring its fangs. Sugar pressed a hand to her ample bosom and fluttered her eyelashes.
“Whatexactlywould be required during these two hours each day?”
“Dancing,” Blossom cooed.
“Asking me aboutme,” Sugar added.
“And me!”
“We would have nice dinners together.”
“And watch the moon rise!”
Harlan folded his arms across his broad chest. “What’s in it for me?”
Captain Harsh took an aggressive step forward and reached through the bars to grasp the front of Harlan’s shirt, but he didn’t flinch. “You get to keep your life,boy,” he snarled, shaking him slightly. “That’s a fine proposition.”
Harlan twisted away so the captain was forced to let go of his shirt. “But the expectations are still ambiguous at best,” he said, responding much more calmly than I had when myso-called dealhad been offered. “What end result are you hoping for? How long will this arrangement continue? Am I to be locked in the brig anytime I’m not entertaining your daughters, or will I be expected to serve as a part of the crew in some capacity? What repercussions are there if I refuse?”
“Hold your questions!” Harsh roared. “What is this, an interrogation?”
“If we intend to enter into a contract, then yes, I’m entitled to know the duties expected of me and what I can anticipate in return.”
Blossom whipped a fan out of her waistband, flicked it open, and fluttered it under her nose. “Oooh, I do love a man who knows how to negotiate!”
Sugar snatched the fan from her sister’s hand. “That’s mine, you nitwit!”
Blossom put her fists on her hips and stuck out her tongue. “Well you’re a…you’re an oxymoron!”
Harlan raised an eyebrow, and I turned my head to hide my smile.
Blossom flipped her hair so it whipped Sugar across the face, who spluttered and swatted it away. “Daddy,” Blossom began, linking her arm with her father’s, “just give him a contract. It would make me happy, and I like the idea of us coming up with what we want him to do and including that.”
“Yes, Daddy!” Sugar swung on his other arm. “We can write it up today. Right now!”
Captain Harsh tapped his boot on the floor and tugged at his braided beard. “I suppose if it pleases you girls…”
“Oh, yes, Daddy, yes!” they both chanted, bouncing up and down with excitement.
The captain’s steely gaze snapped over to Harlan. “Here’sthe new deal. My girls and I will write up a contract, and you can sign it or die.”
The girls beamed, then Blossom clapped her bony hands together. “Let’s hurry, Daddy, and we can have it ready so I can have a date with…wait, what’s your name?”
“Harlan,” he supplied in a numb voice.
“What a dreamy name!Harlan.” Blossom sighed and flashed her cringey leer of a smile Harlan’s way before she tugged her father toward the door. “Let’s draw up a contract! Do you think we can include shoulder massages?”
“If you get one, I want one too! Or foot massages,” Sugar squealed. “Daddy, you’ll put that in, won’t you?”
“I don’t want him getting too familiar with you girls,” Harsh began, but the rest of his sentence was cut off as the door clicked shut.
Harlan’s mouth uselessly flapped open and closed, just like a fish out of water.
