The Pirate's Desire

by Jennette Green

  Words caught in her throat. She had, and too fiercely. “How…how could I miss a man as irksome as you?”

  His slow, soft smile befuddled her. She felt lost…bewildered by that unfathomable black gaze of his.

  Riel leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Not what she had hoped for, but it felt heavenly. His warm lips lingered, speeding up her heart so it pulsed through her body, making her short of breath. “I missed you, too, Lucy.” He released her. “Now, what have you been about while I was gone?”

  She immediately missed his touch, and that scandalous realization warmed her cheeks. “I must see about dinner. Mrs. Beatty must be warned to set another place.”

  * * * * *

  Later, after a hastily planned supper, for which Lucinda had asked Mrs. Beatty to prepare all of Riel’s favorite dishes, her guardian leaned back in his chair. “You know how to refresh a man, Lucy.”

  Lucinda’s cheeks warmed. “Thank you. I think.”

  He watched her, as if gauging her every response.

  She frowned, willing her cheeks to cool. “Must you stare at me in such a manner? It is rude, as you know.”

  “Is it rude to want to memorize every line of your face? It is all I could carry of you on my voyage.”

  What was he saying to her? Her heart beat faster. “Kindly do not play games with me, Mr. Montclair. Would you like dessert?”

  “I would like to walk in the garden with you.”

  “Now?”

  “Now.” He stood and dropped his napkin on the table.

  When she stared up at him, he held out his hand. “Are you coming?”

  She stood without his help. Her heart tripped dangerously fast. “Mrs. Beatty will not approve of us missing dessert.”

  “Will you not hold my hand, Lucy?” His gaze held hers.

  “Of course,” she said pertly. “Your wish is my command.” With a quick breath, she looked at the broad, tanned hand he held out to her. She slipped hers into his, and his warm, calloused fingers closed around hers.

  Heart bumping with questions, she accompanied him to the terrace, and then down the steps to the garden.

  “The blooms are gone,” he said quietly.

  “It is fall. A time of death and decay.”

  “Necessary before renewal.”

  “Yes,” she agreed.

  “But even amidst death, hope blooms.”

  Puzzled, she looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

  “Look.” He pointed, and then she saw the tender yellow bloom on Sophie’s rosebush. By rights, it was well past time for new blossoms. All the old ones had been deadheaded away. But this one furled open like the sun, infusing light and color and the hope of spring in the midst of the fall.

  Lucinda knelt and dipped down to smell its sweet fragrance. Tears gathered in her eyes as Riel knelt beside her.

  “Sophie and I planted this.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “It’s tenacious, just like she was.”

  His arms went around her and without a word, she crumpled into him. “Sophie’s not gone, Lucy,” he said, holding her tight. “I think that flower is to remind us, don’t you?” She nodded wordlessly. When she at last pulled back, he offered her a handkerchief.

  She dabbed her eyes and blurted, “I don’t want to lose you, too, Riel.”

  He tugged her to her feet, which was a more comfortable position than kneeling on the ground. “Have your feelings for me changed, Lucy? You don’t want to chase me off any longer?”

  Lucinda smiled and sniffed. “It never worked, did it?”

  “No. And it will not.”

  “Good.” She felt relieved, but then bit her lip. “When do you leave again?”

  “You already want to get rid of me?”

  “No! Truly, you are an impossible man with whom to have a civil conversation.”

  “I want the truth between us, Lucy.”

  The truth? She was scared to tell him the deepest truth in her heart. What if he didn’t feel the same way about her? And by rights, he shouldn’t. Hadn’t she caused him endless headaches over the past two years?

  All the more reason for her to take courage in hand and take the first step now.

  Slowly, she said, “All right. I’ll tell you the truth. You’ve done an exemplary job as my guardian. No one could have done it better.”

  “Really? Exemplary?” A smile tugged at his mouth.

  “Yes,” she returned, lifting her chin a fraction. “And if you are quiet, I will pay you more compliments.”

  Surprise lifted his brows, but he remained silent.

  “All right, then.” Lucinda searched her mind for the best words to convey what she saw in this man, and a little more of what she felt for him. “I look up to you…and not just because you’re bigger than me. Be certain of that. I’ve always respected you, Riel, much as I tried to fight you at every turn. You were a force to reckon with, and it maddened me, again and again, how right you were on almost every occasion.”

  She smiled. “I needed you to be reasonable and fair and strong, and you were. And I respected you for insisting that I heed your words. I knew you were looking out for my best interests all along, and I did listen, even though at times I kicked and screamed the whole way.”

  Something flickered deep in those dark eyes. “And now, Lucy?”

  Her heart caught in her throat. “Now…” She swallowed. “Now I have discovered no other man compares to you. You have quite spoiled me for all others, Riel Montclair.”

  A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Does that mean all others will leave the picture?”

  Her heart pounded unnaturally fast. “Yes. If…if you wish it.”

  “Lucy,” he growled, and tugged her close to him. “If I wish it? Yes, I wish it. You are all I’ve been able to think about, night and day, for the last year and a half.”

  “I am?” A smile of pure wonder bloomed. “Truly?”

  “Yes, you minx. You got under my skin from the first.”

  “Are you sure you didn’t want to flay into my skin?” she asked slyly.

  He smiled, and glanced down at the rosebush. “When I see that yellow rose, it reminds me of you.”

  “Of me? Because of the thorns?”

  “No, Lucy. Because it is beautiful, like the sunshine you pour into my heart.”

  Riel thought of her like sunshine? “But what about all the maddening things I’ve done to you?”

  He smiled. “The spice. But you are sweet underneath it all. The way you cared for Sophie all those months, and the way you care for me, and helped me to forgive myself…” His fingers brushed her cheek. “You make me feel whole, Lucy. You make me feel hope.”

  Lucinda didn’t know what to say, but a soft, sweet emotion burgeoned inside her as she looked up at him.

  Riel took her hands in his. “Lucy, I love you. That’s why I wouldn’t let another man have you. It’s true. I scared all of your suitors away, although I didn’t realize it until later. I wanted you all for myself.” He watched her, his gaze vulnerable, as she had never seen it before.

  She drew a shaky breath of pure joy. “Riel, you pirate,” she whispered. “You stole my heart a long time ago.”

  Incredulity, followed by quiet, intense joy flickered across his features. “You love me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then you will marry me?”

  “Of course I will!” She managed to smile. “Although what I’ll do with a bossy man like you, I don’t know.”

  “Love me, chéri?”

  Lucinda flung herself into his arms. “I do love you, Riel, with my whole heart.”

  It felt heavenly to be in his arms. After a moment, Lucinda’s lips curved against his jacket. “I think Father and Sophie are pleased, don’t you?”

  “I think this was your father’s plan all along.”

  Lucinda grinned. “He was a clever man. I’m glad he put you in my life—irksome though you have been from time to time.”

  “I do everything because I love
you.”

  “I know,” she said softly. “And I love you, too. I want only to be close by your side, from now to forevermore.”

  His eyes glinted down at her. “You don’t think that will be dangerous?”

  “I count on it,” she said cheekily. “I can think of nothing more exciting than our passionate battles.”

  His black eyes burned a smoky color. “I promise you their resolutions will be most satisfying.”

  Her cheeks flamed. “Riel Montclair!”

  “You do not want it?”

  Her face flamed hotter. “I do. But you are a wicked, wicked man to suggest such things to my maidenly ears.”

  He chuckled, and drew her close against him so they touched at every point possible. “How soon will you be my wife, Lucy? I have waited far too long already.”

  Daringly, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “In two weeks, when I turn twenty? Will that be soon enough, my wonderful, honorable guardian?”

  He shook his head. “Not nearly, my sweet Lucy.”

  She grinned. “Perhaps then tomorrow, my wicked pirate.”

  “Then a pirate I must be.”

  “I knew it from the first.”

  “As I knew you were a beautiful spitfire.” Riel kissed her at last, slowly, thrilling her to her toes. “But I did not suspect you would steal my heart.”

  She smiled up at his handsome face, so very close to her own. Joy blossomed in her heart. “I love you,” she whispered.

  Never would either of them be alone again. Somewhere in heaven, she knew Sophie and Father were smiling.

  “And I love you,” Riel murmured. “Forever.” He sealed his new promise to her with a kiss.

  The End

  Acknowledgments

  I deeply appreciate the many people who have helped make this book possible. First, I’d like to thank my editor, Lori, for catching a number of typos, and for her brilliant idea to fix one plot point, when I was absolutely stuck.

  Also, I am so grateful to my beta readers for taking the time (and on a time crunch this time around) to read and provide valuable feedback on this book. Suzy, McKenna, Betty, Briana, Kristy, and Jen, thank you so, so much! Each of you brought fresh, unique insights that I had never considered before. This book is so much better as a result of your help.

  And always, thanks to my wonderful husband, Dale, who supports me and believes in me, no matter what. I am blessed beyond measure.

  And to my wonderful kids: You work so hard, and you are so talented. I am so proud of you. Reach for the stars. Don’t let anything stand in your way.

  About the Author

  Jennette Green has always had a passion for writing. She wrote her first story over thirty years ago, and her first romance novel, The Commander’s Desire, was published in 2008. It was awarded “Readers’ Favorite Hero for 2009,” and has received “Top Pick” and “5 Star” accolades from a number of review sites. Other books by Jennette include Her Reluctant Bodyguard, a Christian romantic suspense novel, and Ice Baron, a science fiction romance, packed with action and romance. These books have received awards such as “Top Pick,” “Recommended Read,” and “Reviewer’s Choice Award” from popular review sites, and Ice Baron placed third in the science fiction category in an international ebook competition.

  Jennette loves to travel with her husband and children, and particularly likes long walks along the ocean, dreaming up new stories.

  She loves to hear from her readers.

  Drop her a note at:

  jennettegreen@jennettegreen.com.

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  www.jennettegreen.com