Romancing the Pirate

by Michelle Beattie

  It was almost as though the man wasn’t done with them yet.

  They found Luke and Samantha at the breakfast table, lingering over coffee and biscuits. The yeasty smell filled Alicia’s nose and brought her back to a time when she’d come from the shop with Jacob and they’d walk into a house that smelled of fresh-baked bread. Lord, but she missed Jacob and Anna, she thought with a tug of sadness.

  “Good morning,” Sam said, greeting Alicia with a hug that dispelled her melancholy. Sam squeezed Blake’s forearm, walked by them, and took two plates and cups from the cupboards. She poured them coffee and placed biscuits onto plates.

  “We have news,” Alicia said.

  “Oh?”

  “Nate’s been busy. A boatload of men came ashore claiming they’d been taken by Steele, that Sam Steele was back.”

  Squawk. “Sam Steele. Sam Steele.”

  Luke grinned. “That didn’t take long.”

  “Nate’s done his job.” Blake’s gaze turned to Luke. “Now it’s your turn.”

  Lewis wasn’t fooled. He knew exactly what Samantha and Luke were up to, strolling the beach together hand in hand as though they didn’t have a care in the world. Somehow they’d gotten someone else to pose as Steele, and while word of Steele’s return still rang up and down the harbor, Lewis knew it for what it was, a ploy. Something to get him to back down.

  Well, he thought, using his hat to fan his face, which also helped shield him should Samantha look to her left and see him, they were in for a surprise.

  Lewis Grant had no intention of backing down. Not until he’d gotten what he’d come for, not until he succeeded where his father had failed. And he knew just what he needed to do in order to accomplish it.

  “Alicia, stop pacing. Luke’s with Samantha and it’s midday. They’re perfectly safe.”

  Alicia stopped at the back door, grabbed the latch, and clung to it. Sam and Luke had left the house nearly an hour ago, so she’d be seen by as many people as possible and thereby dispel any suspicion that she could be Steele. Alicia had spent most of that time walking around the table, to the door and back again, and a few times up to her borrowed room to fetch something she didn’t need. And despite what Blake thought, her pacing had little to do with Sam and Luke’s safety.

  They’d both been pirates. Surely if anyone knew how to take care of themselves, it was Sam and Luke. But she’d let Blake believe that was the reason for her restlessness. Until now.

  She pressed a hand to her quivering stomach and turned to the man she loved. He was sitting at the table, one ankle resting on the opposite knee. He’d tied his hair back, allowing her eyes to take in all his face from the strong angles to the shadow of his beard.

  “There’s something I need to tell you,” she said. She stepped to a chair and grasped the back of it. His gaze followed her hands, then met hers.

  “What is it?”

  Alicia opened her mouth but, Lord help her, she didn’t want to say the words. She bowed her head, hating the cowardice that kept the words from being said but she didn’t know how to begin.

  “Alicia?” She heard his foot drop to the floor, which propelled her into action. She once again looked into his eyes.

  “Blake, I can’t leave with you.”

  He paused a moment. “Do you need more time with Samantha? I could spare another day or so if I had to.”

  That he was willing to give her more time, despite his desire to get back to sea, brought tears to Alicia’s eyes. Why, she wondered, did things have to be this way? She’d finally found a man who loved her, who treated her as she’d always hoped to be treated, and there was no future for them. She closed her eyes as a tear slipped out.

  “Sunshine,” Blake said and his chair scraped the floor as he stood.

  Alicia jumped back, hurriedly wiped her tears. “Don’t, Blake,” she pleaded. “Don’t come any closer.” If he touched her now, she’d lose what little courage she had.

  Squawk. “Don’t come closer. Don’t come closer.”

  His forehead creased into a frown, his eyes darkened. “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “I can’t … I’m not that strong.”

  “What are you talking about? You’re one of the strongest people I know.” He took a step toward her.

  “No!” Alicia held her palms up. “Don’t. Stay over there.”

  Blake rubbed his forehead. “Why?”

  “I just … I realized …” She took a deep breath and released it all at once. “My life is in Port Royal.”

  His frown deepened and he went still. “What are you saying?”

  “I’ve told you how much I love the shop, that it’s where I belong. And now your father’s given it to us. It was his dream for his children to take it over.”

  Blake inhaled sharply, ran his hands over his face. They fell heavily to his sides and smacked against his thighs.

  “You know why I left Port Royal.”

  “I do, but he forgave you. He said so in the letter.”

  Blake shook his head. “That doesn’t change anything. I can’t walk into that house and that shop like nothing happened, Alicia. It’s because of me that Eric isn’t there. I feel the guilt of that every day. It would be tenfold if I were in Port Royal, surrounded by memories.”

  “Eric’s death was an accident. And if anyone is to blame, it’s Jacob. He’s the one who sent Eric along.”

  “It doesn’t change the facts. Eric’s dead; they all are. Besides, I don’t belong there. I’ve never made a secret of that.”

  “No,” she agreed, feeling the despair creep inward like a thick blanket of fog. “You haven’t.”

  His mouth thinned. “Why did you agree to marry me if you don’t want to be with me?”

  “I never thought you’d want to continue privateering with a wife on board. Look at the battle we had. You lost four men, Blake. Did you actually envision us living a life fraught with danger?”

  “I can take care of you. I’d never let anything happen to you.”

  “Not intentionally. But some things are out of your control. The battle we had when my memory came back was awful. When it was over and silence had descended, I had no idea if you were dead or alive. In my head I saw the night I lost my family, but in my heart I pictured the same happening to you. I can’t live with that fear. I already lost one family at sea, I will not lose another.”

  “You don’t have a family in Port Royal either.”

  “I have Charles and I have the shop.”

  He flinched. “Are you saying you’d give up what we have for a blacksmith shop?”

  “How is that so different from what you’re doing? Do you love your ship more than you love me?” She sighed. “I thought when you proposed that we’d go back to Port Royal and run the shop together.”

  “Where the hell did you get that idea?” It was his turn to pace, swirling the air with his irritation. “I never once said that.”

  “I know. I just assumed.”

  “Hell,” Blake muttered, stopping his pacing long enough to shoot her a confused look every few seconds.

  Squawk. “Bloody hell. Bloody hell.”

  She waited for him to say more but all he did was grumble under his breath, rub his eye, and pace. Finally he stopped, and when his gaze met hers, it was stormy.

  “I already had to make this choice once, goddammit.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m not asking you to make it again. I know where your heart is, Blake, just as I know where mine lies. I’m not asking you to stay with me, nor will I use any machinations to force you into it.”

  His eyes narrowed and his ragged breathing filled the room.

  “You’re letting me go?” he repeated. “Well, how bloody generous of you.”

  Squawk. “Bloody generous. Bloody generous.”

  “Blake—”

  “No.” He stepped back, away from the hand she held out to him. “Don’t.”

  He shoved a chair against the table. “You shared your body with me, pro
fessed your love, and agreed to be my wife. Yet you’re walking away? At least my father was up front about his demands. He never promised me one thing while all along he was planning something else entirely.”

  Alicia jammed her fists onto her hips. “Do I want you to stay with me? Yes! But I won’t have you hating me for it either. I watched Jacob stand on that beach every day, saw the hurt in his eyes, and felt his sorrow. I don’t want that for either of us. I don’t want to be the reason you’re miserable and I don’t want to be reminded every day that a part of you regrets the decision you made to stay.” She pressed a hand over her heart. “I love you too much for that.”

  “You love me?” he spat. “You agreed to marry me and now you’re telling me if I want that marriage, I have to give up a part of my soul. What kind of love is that?”

  “That’s not what I’m doing! I told you that you didn’t have to choose.”

  “The hell I don’t!” he argued. “If I want a life with you, it has to be in Port Royal. Isn’t that right?”

  Alicia stammered. She wasn’t explaining this right. She was doing this for him, couldn’t he see that? How could he not know how much it was killing her to let him go?

  “You make this sound as if it were part of some elaborate lie to trick you. I’m no more at fault for assuming you’d stop privateering than you are for assuming I’d go along with you.”

  “That doesn’t change where we are, does it?” he hissed. “I told you, time and again, that you were too young for me. I tried to stay away from you, but you kept at me until I gave in, until I believed we had a future together. If you’d left me alone, we wouldn’t be in this fix!”

  She struck her chin up. “I don’t regret that, not for one moment. What we shared means everything to me.”

  He sneered. “Sure. It means so much that you can walk away.”

  “I wanted to be your wife, Blake. More than anything.”

  “And I believed you,” he rasped, his eyes tortured. “That was my mistake.”

  Alicia gasped, her eyes stung with tears.

  “Save them,” he warned with a pointed finger. “They can’t undo the damage that’s been done here.”

  The door swung open suddenly and Sam strode in, followed by Luke.

  “Oh,” she said, stumbling to a stop. “We’ll just wait outside.”

  She turned to grab Luke’s arm but Blake moved faster.

  “Don’t bother,” he said, his hard gaze slapping Alicia. “We’re finished anyhow.” He turned to Luke. “What time do you want me on the ship?”

  Luke looked from Alicia to Blake. “I want to get there before he does. Come early.”

  Blake nodded. “I will.”

  “And come armed,” Luke added.

  Blake nodded. “I’d planned to.”

  And without another look or word to Alicia, he stepped out of the door and out of her life.

  Twenty

  Evening couldn’t come fast enough for Blake. With Nate and Vincent gone, and his crew enjoying the last of their time onshore, the Blue Rose had been painfully quiet all day. Blake had been left with far too much time to think and too many memories to haunt him. He couldn’t take a step anywhere on his ship without seeing Alicia standing there. He’d heard her voice in the breath of wind that swirled between the masts, and when he’d leaned over the gunwale, it wasn’t the sea he smelled, it was oranges.

  Every breath he took hurt, a pain he’d only ever felt once before. When he’d carried Eric’s body home.

  Now he’d lost yet another person he loved. He’d been so sure he’d finally found someone who understood him, understood his tie to the sea.

  What he hadn’t expected was to find a woman who made him feel complete, only to have her turn away. Turn away and rip his heart out in the same swoop.

  “She knew who I was, dammit,” he reasoned, slapping his hand against the side of his ship. The gull that was perched down the gunwale from where Blake stood ruffled its feathers and took flight. Blake watched the bird glide over the gently rippling bay as though it hadn’t a care in the world.

  Then, because he couldn’t stand his own company any longer and it was close enough to the time to leave, Blake gathered his weapons, climbed into the boat, and rowed toward shore. Joe, Aidan, and Luke were waiting for him.

  “I see you’re prepared,” Luke acknowledged, nodding his head toward the pistol and sword that Blake carried.

  Blake couldn’t help grinning at Luke’s arsenal. Luke’s sword hung from his side; he had two pistols tucked into his sash and a musket in each hand. Luke ran his tongue around his teeth, clearly enjoying himself.

  “It’s been a while, mate. I’m looking forward to this. In fact, you don’t need to come at all.”

  Blake shook his head. “I want to be there. This isn’t only about Samantha. He threatened Alicia as well.”

  “Fair enough. Joe and Aidan will row us there. That way there won’t be any boats tied alongside to scare him off.”

  “And if he’s watching us now?” Joe asked.

  Luke shrugged. “I trust he’ll be greedy enough to come anyway.”

  Blake helped push the longboat out, chuckling at the extra arsenal that lay in its bottom.

  “How will we get back?”

  “I’ll light the lantern at the bow when we’re finished. Joe can come get us then.”

  The row across was made quickly and soon the boat tapped the Freedom’s side. Luke went first, the chains around his neck jingling as he stepped out and climbed on his ship. Blake was right behind him. Joe and Aidan passed the extra weapons up to Luke before climbing onto the deck.

  “Are ye sure ye don’t need me to stay? Aidan can take the boat back.”

  Aidan glared at Joe.

  “Thanks, Joe. But we’re all right.”

  “Best watch yerselves, then. We don’t know who this is, or how far he’ll go to get what he wants.”

  “Let me tell you just how far I’ll go,” a voice said from the quarterdeck. The hatch slammed open and four huge black men, all carrying pistols, stepped onto the deck. Luke spun around at the same time as Blake, weapons raised and ready. Blake’s eyes cut to the man who walked easily off the quarterdeck. His head spun at the reality.

  “Lewis?”

  “Miss me?” Lewis asked, looking smug as he stood beside his men, who, as far as Blake could tell, had no necks to speak of.

  Luke didn’t move his head, nor his weapon.

  “Blake, who is this?”

  Lewis spoke before Blake could answer. “Allow me. My name is Lewis Grant. I believe your lovely wife knew my father, Oliver Grant. In fact,” he added with a laugh when Luke growled, “I believe they knew each other very well.”

  From there, it all happened in the blink of an eye.

  Luke and Blake cocked their pistols. Joe lunged for the weapons at his feet. Aidan screamed a warning.

  A shot pierced the air.

  “Aidan!” Joe yelled.

  Luke spun around. Blake’s stomach fell to his knees. Luke dropped his weapon and raced to the boy, who lay deathly still and pale on deck. Blood stained his shoulder.

  “Son,” Luke said, placing a hand on his uninjured shoulder. “Aidan!” he yelled.

  Aidan’s eyes fluttered open. Luke’s heavy sigh matched Joe’s. His hands pressed against the boy’s cheeks, lingered, then moved to his shoulder. He untied his sash from his waist and the pistols clunked to the deck.

  “You’ll be fine, son,” Luke promised.

  “Step away from him, Bradley,” Lewis ordered.

  “He’s hurt,” Luke answered, not moving from Aidan’s side.

  Blake saw Lewis nod to one of the men he’d come with. The man lifted his musket. Blake ran to Luke, yanked him upright.

  “What the blazes? Let go of me, man!” Luke demanded as he shoved at Blake.

  Blake held fast to Luke’s arm, pulled him closer, and spoke low. “He threatened Samantha, Luke. If something happens to us, who’s to stop them f
rom going after her and Alicia?”

  Luke’s mouth tightened, but he nodded and stopped struggling. Blake let him go. Luke turned to Joe, pushed the sash closer with the toe of his boot.

  “Keep pressure on it, Joe.”

  “Aye,” Joe agreed.

  “Tell me, Bradley. Did you show this much concern when my father lay dying at your feet?” Lewis asked. Unarmed, save for the group of men that had his back, Lewis strode casually toward Luke. He stopped when they were nose to nose. “Should I show you the same mercy you showed him?”

  “He deserved everything that happened to him,” Luke growled.

  Blake’s breath knotted in his chest. What the hell was Luke doing? They couldn’t afford to be stupid, dammit.

  But Lewis only laughed. “Luckily, Bradley, I agree with you. Still,” he said, reaching down and taking Luke’s weapons from the deck, “I suppose it should be a son’s duty to avenge his father’s death.”

  “I didn’t kill him.”

  “Nor, I’m sure, did you mourn him.”

  Blake cringed. Don’t say it, he begged silently. Please don’t say it.

  Luke’s lip curled. “I danced over his body.”

  “As I thought,” Lewis said, turning from Luke.

  Blake released the breath he’d been holding. But it was premature. Using one of Luke’s own pistols, Lewis spun around and brought the weapon down hard across Luke’s face.

  Luke’s head shot back from the force. He staggered, one hand on his cheek and the other searching for support. Blake reached for Luke. He dropped his hand when Lewis’s cold gaze met his. Luke fell to his knees.

  Lewis looked from his men to Blake. Blake understood and made no further move. If he did, Lewis wouldn’t hesitate to hurt him as well, or rather, one of his men would. Blake wouldn’t risk it. He knew they were in trouble, and it was going to intensify once Lewis realized they hadn’t brought any gold along.

  They had hoped to come early, to catch the blackmailer unaware and instill enough fear, or pain, into him that he’d go back where he came from. With Nate posing as Steele, there was no real threat to Samantha’s freedom any longer. Coming here tonight had really been more about taking a stand and letting whoever it was know that Luke and Samantha, and by association, Blake and Alicia, wouldn’t lie down when they were threatened. They’d been prepared to do battle, but they hadn’t anticipated that there was more in play than greed. They certainly hadn’t planned on being caught unaware. From the moment they’d stepped on deck, they’d been at a disadvantage. And with Luke and Aidan hurt, the disadvantage was growing at an alarming rate.