Page 84 of Blow Me Down
I made a polite bow, sweeping out my hand as I said, “Captain Amy, governor of Turtle’s Back, at your service.”
“What?”
I thought Corbin’s eyebrows were going to shoot off his forehead.
“Bart left. I’m in charge now. My, isn’t it late. I’m sooo sleepy. Mind if I spend the night here?” I asked, batting my lashes at him.
Corbin’s eyes went molten at my blatant offer, but he managed to restrain himself… somewhat to my dismay, although I knew it was smarter to get the talking out of the way before I investigated.—in an up-close and personal manner—just how healed he was.
“Come into my quarters,” Corbin said, grabbing my wrist and heading for a door under the quarterdeck. “I want to hear everything.”
“Me, too,” Holder said, following. “This promises to be the most entertaining thing I’ve heard since Corb tried to explain why he came back to the ship with bits of fig pudding stuck to his chest hair.”
My cheeks pinked a little as I remembered that wonderful night. Corbin was evidently remembering it as well, because he shot me a wicked look that had me wondering what sort of desserts a blockade ship routinely stocked.
It took the better part of an hour to explain the recent happenings, hindered as I was by almost constant interruptions in the form of questions from both men.
But answer them I did, and eventually they were in possession of as much information as I was.
“But why would he do it?” Holder asked, giving me a critical look. “No offense intended, Amy, but it’s not normal for a captain to promote someone over the head of his first mate.”
I shrugged. “I have no idea what his reasoning is other than what he said in the letter.”
Corbin glanced at it where it lay spread out on his desk, a half frown wrinkling his brow. “Leaving Amy in charge makes perfect sense to me,” he said slowly.
“She’s smart and competent and will do a good job as both captain and governor.”
I gave him my very best smile, warmed to the tips of my toes by his support.
What a perceptive man he was!
“But what I want to know is what this mysterious mission is that caused him to leave during the blockade.”
“No idea,” I said, shrugging. “I asked everyone I could think of, but no one had any clue.”
“It doesn’t make sense any more than his accusation that I stole his woman from him,” Corbin said, examining the letter again. He shook his head while reading it, tossing it down disgustedly. “I don’t know who he’s talking about. I haven’t stolen anyone. You’re the only woman I’ve been with in more than a year. He… er… Bart didn’t ever express any affection for you, did he?”
“No, he didn’t.” I raised my hands and let them fall in a gesture of utter bewilderment. “He’s never so much as flirted with me, at least not that I noticed. Holder has been more obvious than Bart. He’s ogled me openly, whereas Bart never looked at me twice.”
Holder stood up from where he was leaning over Corbin’s shoulder rereading the note. “The word you are looking for, dear lady, is appreciate. I appreciate, not ogle! My wife has specifically forbidden me from ogling.”
I crossed my arms under my breasts. Holder’s gaze immediately shot to where my breasts were smooshed up under the bodice. “Aha! See? You’re ogling my boobs right now.”
Corbin glanced up at his friend, then over to me, his eyes widening slightly.
“Great, now you both are ogling me.” I uncrossed my arms. My cleavage returned to its better-than-normal-but-not-as-nice-as-Jez’s state. Holder looked disappointed.
“The fact remains that there is no explanation for Bart’s unexpected departure,”
Corbin said, his gaze still on my chest. I pulled my shoulders back. He smiled.
“I have an idea, but it’s a bit of a stretch,” Holder said, pouring himself a brandy and taking the comfortable leather seat.
“Make yourself at home, mate,” Corbin said dryly, rising from the desk chair and coming to sit next to me on the bed. I leaned into his nonwounded side, enjoying the feeling of his body next to mine. Something about Corbin felt so comfortable, so right, it made me think of coming home after a long, unpleasant trip.
“Thanks, I will. About this idea I have… Amy, you said—oh, for God’s sake, woman, stop nuzzling him in front of me! You think I want to see that?”
“Sorry,” I said, without the least bit of contriteness as I pulled away from the irresistible lure of Corbin’s adorable earlobe.
