Miss Minerva's Pirate Mishap by Maggie Dallen (to read list .TXT) 📗

in closer. “And I dare you to say as much to her face.”

Caleb glared down at her and Mr. Haversaw stepped between them. “I wouldn’t if I were you, Caleb. Miss Jones here gave me quite the fight the other night.” He rubbed at his shoulder as if it were wounded. “These Billingham ladies are clearly fiercer than they look.”

Minerva pursed her lips as she turned her gaze back to the twinkling eyes of her mystery man. “You are teasing again.”

He tilted his head to the side. “Now, why is it that you continue to say that as though it were a bad thing?”

Minerva did not answer. She did not care to admit just how much his teasing unsettled her. It was not as though she had too much pride or an oversized ego, but even so, no woman cared to be mocked by a handsome man.

Or any man, for that matter. But definitely not a handsome one.

She cast a quick sidelong glance in his direction. Not that he was so very handsome. He was attractive, of course. It was an empirical fact that he had pleasing features and warm brown eyes. But he hardly had Roger’s good manners, nor her would-be suitor’s elegance and poise.

Caleb made a low noise that Minerva could only assume Mr. Haversaw was able to interpret because he gave the other gentleman a nod, and he and Minerva watched the behemoth follow at a safe distance behind Abigail and her army.

That left them alone.

Well, they stood on a busy sidewalk. But mainly alone.

“Shall we?” She gestured toward Abigail who was leading the children up the steep hill leading to their home. “My sister and I do not have long before we need to be back for tea.”

“And yet you stole away just to see me,” Mr. Haversaw said lightly. “I am touched.”

“Don’t be.” She shot him a withering stare which made him grin. “This was not a social call, Mr. Haversaw—”

“No? Then what was this, exactly?”

She hitched her lips to the side. He was teasing again, the dratted man. “You might have fooled my father into believing your intentions here are good, but I do not trust you, Mr. Haversaw. How can I when you do not even use your real name?”

His brows arched in response to the accusation, for which she had no proof, yet she knew to be true. But he did not protest or make excuses and for that she was glad. It was bad enough he’d lied, but if he were to stick to those lies now she would never forgive him.

Not that she planned to forgive him. The man had basically accosted her the night before last, after all.

Her heart slammed against her ribcage at the memory. She wished she could say the feeling that had her heart pounding was fear.

“Truth be told, Min. I am glad you found me. I would very much like your assistance with my current investigation.”

Minerva turned to him in shock. She ignored the fact that he’d not only used her given name—she’d have to thank Abigail for that particular intimacy—but her nickname. No one but her closest friends and family called her Min. But that was not the most shocking part, and she forced her mind to focus on what truly mattered. “You want my help?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Why?”

“Because I know you to be brave, I believe you to be exceptionally clever—”

“Are you teasing again?” She frowned as doubt warred with burgeoning excitement.

He ignored that. “And most importantly, what you said back there...” He nodded toward the tavern.

She blinked. “What did I say?”

“You pointed out that you are familiar with everyone in this town, and I’d imagine you know every man at that fort, from the lowliest deckhand to the highest-ranking officers. Am I correct?”

She didn’t stop to think. “Yes,” she said. “I am well acquainted with everyone in this town and at the fort.”

He smiled and for a second, all reason fled. His smile was disarmingly charming. Broad and sincere, it made his eyes crinkle at the edges and turned those sparkling dark eyes into something outright mesmerizing. “Then you are perfect for this mission.”

She blinked, his words drawing her back to reality. “What mission?”

He glanced around them, at the officers who passed by with curious looks and to Abigail and her lot who were gaining ground and leaving them behind. “Later,” he said. “I shall explain everything if you meet me later.”

She wanted to say no. She dearly wished she could say she wasn’t tempted. But that would be the boldest lie she’d ever told. For she could not deny that her heart was pounding with excitement at the thought of helping him capture this smuggler.

She should say no. Refuse him and leave him to his adventures.

Instead, she looked him boldly in the eye. “Where would you like to meet?”

Chapter 7

Caleb leaned against the trunk filled with antiquities that they’d intercepted. The pirate and his crew had escaped Marcus and his men but at least Marcus had gotten this much. He jabbed the toe of his boot into the side of one of the trunks as he crossed his arms and eyed the shoreline in impatience.

They’d walked away no closer to knowing the whereabouts or identity of this new ringleader, but they had gotten the loot and, most importantly, the missive from mainland with instructions on where to meet.

Just not whom.

He peered at the fort as though he might be able to suss out the lowlife by sheer will.

“She ain’t coming,” Caleb said from behind him. “The girl probably got spooked and decided to bail on this plan of yours.”

Marcus shook his head. “You don’t know Miss Jones. Minerva.” He smiled as he rolled the name on his tongue like aged whiskey. “Min.”

My Min.

He straightened in surprise at the stray thought and shoved it aside just as quickly.

“I might not know the lass, but neither do you,” Caleb said. “Do you really think you can trust her?”

Marcus nodded.