Page 98 of A Pirate of Her Own

“Stanley!” Kristen shouted.

The smith paused and glanced over his shoulder. A slow smile spread across his face. “Kristen, my love,” he said before burying the metal piece back into the coals. He placed the tongs in a bucket of water and pulled his large leather gloves from his hands.

“Oh, my…goodness!” Serenity whispered.

He was gorgeous. Incredibly gorgeous.

His chest bare, she could see every well-defined, bulging muscle and vein. He looked like some half-naked mythic god emerging from battle.

Not even what she’d seen of his back had prepared her for coming face-to-face with this perfect piece of maleness.

He had a beautiful face with laughing blue eyes and wide dimples that cut deep moons into his cheeks.

“Stanley,” Kristen said as if immune to his looks. “I’d like for you to meet a friend of mine. Serenity James. Serenity, this is Stanley Fairhope, the most handsome man ever born.”

Stanley gave a charming smile that showed off his two huge dimples. “And still it wasn’t enough to get you to marry me,” he said with a wounded sigh. “Why, you would never even allow me to call on you.”

Kristen rolled her eyes.

Stanley turned to Serenity. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss James.”

Serenity couldn’t speak.

His smile grew wider. “Take your time. Women do that a lot around me.”

He glanced back to Kristen. “Except for that one. I never could get more than a ho-hum out of her.”

“As ifIwould add to your overgrown ego. Besides, I know the real you, and you’re not half as charming as you think you are.”

He snorted. “Do you talk to your husband this way?”

“Absolutely. It’s why George married me and it’s whyyoucan’t forget me.”

He shook his head. “I know you didn’t come all this way to pester me. Nor did you bother me for a friendly visit. Tell me, squirt, what’s the latest scheme you’re going to try and get me to take part in?”

Kristen grinned like the cat about to take the cream. Joining her hands behind her back, she rocked back and forth on her feet. “Very well, Stanley. I want you to court Serenity.”

His stunned look was almost comical, but at least it gave Serenity back her tongue.

“This is ridiculous, Kristen. Morgan would never believe that this man would be interested in me.”

Stanley cocked an eyebrow. “Morgan Drake?”

“You know him?” they asked in unison.

“Aye, I owe the man my life. I was on board the first English ship he attacked as a pirate.”

Serenity frowned. “Then how is it you owe him your life? I thought he took no prisoners.”

“No, ma’am, that’s not true. He whipped the English like the dogs they were, but he was kind to the rest of us who had been forced to serve them. Brought some of us here, while some stayed on board and became part of his crew.”

“Oh, drats,” Kristen’s aggravated voice intruded. “Then he would know who you are. It’ll never work now.”

“Nay,” Stanley corrected. “I doubt he’d remember me. It’s been at least eleven years. I was only fourteen and he wasn’t much older.”

Her face brightened. “Oh, good. Then he’ll have no idea who you are.”

“I doubt it.”

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