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

in a grin and his breath tickled the sensitive skin on her neck. “Oh, Min, if wanting you to come away with me is selfish, then I am a selfish cad,” he said. The words seemed to be torn out of his throat. “And if you want me to stay then I am even more selfish because I will do it.”

She pulled back. “But your family. Your secrets.”

He gave his head a shake, frustration clear in his eyes and so very relatable that she felt it in her soul. Wants versus needs versus duty. “I can take precautions,” he said. “I can be careful.”

She gazed into his eyes and her heart stopped. He meant it. He would do that, just to be with her, but she could see the agony there as well—the moral conundrum of placing his loved ones in harm’s way.

He would do that for her...and it would kill him.

She swallowed a lump in her throat. And all so she could stay here, with her father who did not understand her, and her sisters who no longer needed her. The thought had her dropping her head onto his shoulder, tears pricking the back of her eyes.

Her heart felt as though it was breaking because there seemed to be no right answer. Would it be selfish to go?

Yes. Of course.

But it would be even more selfish to ask him to stay. Of that, she was certain. She lifted her head and met his gaze. “I could not ask you to do that.”

He opened his mouth but she lifted a hand to his lips to stop him. “You would not be able to live with yourself if you placed your family in harm’s way.”

He looked as if he might protest but then his shoulders fell, and he let out a rough exhale.

She dropped her hand. “I am right, aren’t I?”

His smile was sad, and it made her heart clench in her chest. “And you say you don’t know me,” he chided.

Her answering smile was bittersweet. “I know that you place your loved ones above all else, just like I do.”

His answer was a grunt of acknowledgement. “So where does this leave us?”

“Back where we started, I’m afraid,” she said, her voice lighter than she felt. Lighter than she could ever feel again, she suspected. “You must leave, and I must stay.”

As she said it, her fingers clenched his collar as if she could make him stay or hold on so tight that he might take her with him.

Traitorous body.

Rebellious heart.

“I don’t want to let you go.” His voice was little more than a growl and she shivered, clamping her mouth shut to keep from saying something silly. Then don’t.

She shifted. “I came out here for a reason, you know.”

He nodded, a sigh making his chest rise and fall against her side. “I suppose you expect me to set you down now.”

His mock irritation made her smile. “It would be easier to catch the smuggler with the use of my own two feet.”

He made a hmph noise that made her laugh. He did not, however, try to warn her off. He didn’t say a word about how she ought not to have come out here or how she would be better off inside.

Oddly enough, that warmed her more thoroughly than any cloak ever could.

He trusted her to be her own person, to make her choices, and even if she chose danger, he did not try to stop her.

She drew in a deep breath, the sea air tasting of open spaces. This man’s affectionate gaze felt like a whole different kind of freedom. “Shall we find ourselves a smuggler?” he asked, offering an arm as though he were going to lead her onto the dance floor.

She took it with equal dignity. “We shall.”

Chapter 11

Truth be told, all Marcus truly wished to do was sweep this young lady off her feet once more and carry her off to his ship.

But he’d meant what he’d said. He wasn’t giving up on her. On them. Not yet.

But first thing’s first. He led her down to the shore where the cave’s entrance in the distance remained deserted.

Caleb, he knew, was perched near the overhang of the cliff, ready to pounce upon their prey as soon as he revealed himself.

Eddleston, no doubt. Poor chap likely got in over his head with the wrong crowd. But if he was smart enough to spill the real smuggler’s secrets then he’d walk away unscathed, Marcus would make sure of that.

He glanced down at the little warrior on his arm, so dignified and graceful as she traipsed along beside him in search of a smuggler. His chest did something odd. It seemed to tighten and expand at once from seeing her here at his side...from imagining what it would be like to have her at his side always.

“Min—” He stopped short when a sound along the cliffside above cut through the wind and the waves.

“Was that...?” Minerva turned her face up to his, her eyes alight with excitement.

Not fear, he noted with some amusement.

He nodded to confirm he’d heard it, too. As one, they stopped and waited.

There it was again. Just above them on the cliffside. A rustling sound and a voice, little more than a murmur. The thrill he always got before a confrontation had him tensing, bracing for impact as if someone would break out of the shrubbery above and leap down to tackle him.

He tipped his head toward the place where they’d heard the motion, and Minerva nodded.

A lady who not only lit up in the face of danger, but who seemed able to read his mind. Marcus stole a moment to grin down at her. Surely this was a woman after his own heart.

In fact, he was certain she was the woman of his heart.

He glanced up as the noise continued.

But there’d be time enough to convince her of that after this was done. Right now, he had a smuggler to apprehend and question. Glancing