Tiger Eyes

by Kimberly Nee

  “Yes. That would—”

  “Diego?”

  Gabby’s reply died on her lips and her arm froze before making contact with him. A tall, slender woman with skin the same reddish color as Finn’s and flowing dark hair paused at the top of the walkway, her eyes perfectly round as she stared at Diego. Her pink and lavender skirts billowed on the breeze as she stood there, arms folded over her chest, top lip pulled between her teeth.

  His arm lowered as he turned to face the woman, and Gabby's gut kinked as he said, “Adeline.”

  A hint of color rose in Adeline's copper cheeks. Gabby waited for her to move, waited to see what she’d do next. Her heart skipped a painful beat when Adeline closed the distance between them to hug Diego. Her arms wound about his neck, and much to Gabby's chagrin, she pressed her body flush against his. Adeline's voice was mellow as she said, “Thank the Lord you’ve come home safely.”

  Black spots rose before Gabby's eyes as Diego closed Adeline in his arms. But to his credit, it was a brief embrace, then he dropped his arms and stepped back. “Truer words were never spoken.” He cleared his throat. “You look well.”

  Adeline seemed reluctant to break contact with him, as she slid her arm through the one he’d offered Gabby.

  “Fiona said you were hurt, that you have a terrible wound on one leg,” Adeline said, and Gabby gritted her teeth at the soft purr laced through her words.

  “I was, but it’s healing nicely now. Gabby—”

  “Oh, you must let me take a look at it.”Adeline interrupted, tugging him away from Gabby, toward the walkway. “You know Ebere taught me so many remedies for wounds.”

  “That isn’t necessary. As I said, it is fine.” He glanced over at Gabby over one shoulder, and though he smiled, a hint of color along his cheekbones suggested Adeline’s determination to steer him away from her. “And I have Captain Markham to thank for that.”

  Captain Markham. Gabby gritted her teeth again. It was entirely possible that was the first time he addressed her with such formality, and she didn’t know what to make of it. She didn’t like it, though. Of that she was certain.

  Adeline halted her tugging, and slowly turned to stare at Gabby. Her dark eyes were what could only be described as unfriendly as they flicked in her direction. “Captain Markham?” she repeated, with just enough disbelief in her voice that Gabby wanted to cuff her upside the head.

  “Gabriella Markham,” she replied evenly. It wouldn’t do to let Adeline see how much her presence disturbed her. No. Far better to act as though she wasn’t at all troubled by it. “Captain of the Galatea.”

  “Captain of the Galatea, you say.” Adeline peered around her, obviously scanning the harbor for Gabby’s ship. Then, she leaned back and her expression could only be described as smug. “And yet you come into port on the Serena. Interesting.” There was no question in her voice, only slightly veiled sarcasm. She beamed up at Diego, tucking her arm through his. “Come. You need a good meal and a soft bed.”

  “Addy, I—”

  “I’ll not hear any protests,” she told him pertly, wagging a teasing finger at him as she all but tugged him toward the gangplank. “And I’m certain Gabriella—”

  “Gabby.”

  Gabby didn’t know why she interjected so sharply, but it seemed to have struck a nerve with Adeline, whose sickly-sweet smile wavered and dark eyes narrowed. “Gabby will understand. You did tell her about us, didn’t you?”

  “Tell her about—”

  “Oh, but I don’t suppose you would have had much chance to. I can’t imagine the two of you discussing something of so personal a nature. Be that as it may…” Her voice faded away as she all but dragged Diego off the Serena.

  As the couple descended the gangplank, Gabby slowed. St. Phillippe lost a bit of its original beauty. A melodic laugh rang out and Gabby scowled. She didn’t know exactly what Adeline meant to Diego but she did not like her. Not one bit, and it unsettled her to feel that way at all. She had no claim on Diego, especially now that they had returned to civilization, but the mere thought of Adeline placing a fingertip on Diego’s arm was enough to make her want to throttle the woman blue.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Gabby sat in the smoky taproom of the Black Swan tavern, glaring at any man who dared let his gaze wander in her direction. She felt foolish, sitting there in her prim little gown, and three men already bore bruised ears as a result of thinking her gown made her fair game for a bit of pawing. There was little she could do, though. She had nowhere else to go. And as her gold remained in an account in Jamaica, there was little she could do about her clothing, either. She had barely enough on her person to let one of the small rooms above the tavern and buy herself a drink.

  A tankard of rum sat ignored on the scuffed and scratched bar before her. She wasn’t in the mood for rum. All she wished to do was go to her rented room and go to sleep. Unfortunately, with all of the noise generated from the Black Swan’s patrons, sleeping would be nearly impossible.

  Besides, she was far too angry to sleep, and didn’t know who made her angrier—Diego, the dark-haired, sloe-eyed wench who threw herself at him, or herself for letting any of it trouble her to begin with. Why should she care? Diego was nothing to her, wasn’t he? What happened on the island was because they both thought they were going to perish there. What happened in her cabin? That was anger-induced passion. Nothing more and nothing less.

  “Evenin’, love.”

  She sighed at the rumbling English voice in her ear. Twisting about on her stool, she glared at the burly, balding, doughy-faced sailor grinning wildly at her. “Go away.”

  “Buy ye a drink?”

  “I think not.”

  As she twisted back away from him, a meaty hand clamped down on her shoulder. “Come now, love. I been at sea a long time. Yer the loveliest lass in this dung heap and I jus’ like to be friendly, see?”

  She glared at the hand on her shoulder, then at the man to whom it was attached. “Take your hand from my shoulder unless you wish to draw back a bloody stump.”

  “Ain’t ye a spirited wench?” His fingers bit mercilessly into her shoulder, dug painfully into the muscle. “I like ’em wi’ a bit o’ fire in them.”

  “Leave the lady be.”

  Gabby stiffened as Diego’s low growl wafted over her left shoulder. Nonetheless, the sailor didn’t seem inclined to be so easily deterred. “’Ere now,” he sputtered, narrowing his eyes as he stared up over Gabby’s head. “The lady’s wi’ me.”

  Diego shoved the sailor’s arm, knocking his hand from her shoulder. “I beg to differ.”

  Gabby glared up at Diego. “I am not with either of you.”

  She slid down from her stool and left the two men to scowl at each other. She didn’t wait for the fight to break out, but wound her way through the crowd, stopping only to cuff one man who thought it would be great fun to slap her firmly on the bottom. That finished, she made her way out into the balmy night.

  The Black Swan was on the western side of the harbor, where docks gave way to beach, and she kicked off her slippers to bury her feet in the still-warm sand. The water lapped quietly at the shoreline as she sank to the soft sand and wrapped her arms about her drawn-up knees.

  In the distance, ships bobbed on the gentle waves and the marketplace was quiet, the vendors having retired for the night, their canopies drawn until morning. As the darkness thickened, lights glowed through the rising hills of trees, exposing villas she hadn’t noticed in the daytime.

  It was a clear, beautiful night, with a spangling of stars overhead and the full moon left a glittering trail on the water. It reminded her very much of Jamaica and why she simply wanted to leave. She had to return to London and learn the fate of her ship, to let her brother know she was alive and well.

  “I wish I could but close my eyes and wish myself home,” she muttered, her eyes stinging with surprised tears.

  “You aren’t the only one. I think your friend would like to simply wi
sh himself somewhere as well.”

  She sniffed, swiping at her eyes as the sand shifted behind her and Diego sank down beside her. He made no move to touch her, but mimicked her position, only resting his forearms against his knees. In the pale moonlight, he was half-bathed in , but she didn’t want to admire it this time, didn’t want to see him that way.

  “What do you want?” She stared out at the light-tipped black water. She didn’t want to look at him. It hurt too much, despite her constant reminders to herself that she didn’t care about him.

  “I looked all over the harbor for you earlier. What happened to you? Why didn’t you come with me?”

  She sighed. “I thought it might be a bit crowded, what with Adeline so firmly attached to your hip. Besides, you made it quite clear whose company you preferred.”

  His sigh was long and heavy. “I apologize for that, Gabby. She caught me by surprise.”

  She bit back the dry bark of laughter stabbing her in the throat. “A pleasant surprise, judging by your response.”

  “Again, I was surprised.”

  “Really? Surely you’ve become accustomed to women throwing themselves at you. They have for as long as I’ve known you.”

  “Not quite that way, they haven’t.” Laughter tinged his words.

  “You aren’t at all amusing,” she continued staring out at the calm water, wishing her insides were as calm, “and I do wish you’d go away.”

  “I’m sure you do. And I don’t blame you.”

  “That is quite big of you.”

  “Adeline was married to one of my crew. He was killed in the wreck.”

  “And that’s how a widow mourns her husband? By throwing herself at another man?” She was insulted on behalf of Adeline’s husband and turned toward Diego, ignoring the pang she felt as her gaze fell upon him.

  “Theirs wasn’t a happy marriage. But he offered what I wouldn’t.”

  “I see.” Adeline’s greeting made a bit more sense, at least. She apparently still carried a torch for him. That made it no easier for her, Gabby, to witness, though. “She is the one you told me about. And now, you can be with her again. It is obvious that she has been waiting for you.”

  He didn’t reply, and his silence spoke volumes. The silence stung as much as any confirmation could, and she pressed her lips together as she turned back to the water. “I said, now you can be with her again.”

  “I heard you. But I’m not with her. I waited for you, but you never got off the ship.”

  “I went back below. It seemed to me you wish to be with her, so I thought it best to leave you alone. Adeline made it quite clear that was what she preferred.”

  “Adeline was under the impression that I was returning to her. Not that I simply returned.” As he spoke, he shifted over the sand until his shoulder bumped hers.

  “And why would she think that?”

  Again, no reply. She bit back an exasperated sigh. “I hate when you ignore questions you don’t want to answer, Diego. It’s a habit that has always driven me mad.”

  “Very well,” he sighed, “I suppose I will have to let her know that is not the case.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she’s not the one I want, Gabby.”

  Her belly fluttered at that low rumbling growl, but she swallowed hard, bracing herself for the flood of ache that would accompany her next words. “That is a shame. You should want her. She seems perfect for you.”

  “The trouble with that,” he began, easing his arm about her, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder, “is that I find the women who are perfect for me bore me to tears. I far prefer the one who is a terrible match for me. The one who fights me, and does so with a passion few women possess.”

  Her throat squeezed shut. “Diego, don’t.”

  His lips brushed her temple. “Why? I speak true, Gabriella. You are the only one who fires my blood and infuriates me and drives me mad.” His voice lowered with each word, until all she heard was a faint growl. “And I want you back in my bed. Now.”

  Her eyelids grew heavy at his seductive purr, but she fought it off as she wriggled away from him. “I do not belong there. And I have no desire to revisit the past. Now, please…leave me be.”

  “Gabby.”

  She pushed away from him, and rose to brush the sand from her backside. “No, Diego. I am not traveling that path. Not again.”

  “Gabby—”

  She stepped back as he reached for her; the sand’s squeak mocked her as she stumbled to avoid contact with him. “No. We both agreed that what happened on the island was a mistake. What happened in my cabin on board the Serena was also a mistake, and quite possibly an even greater one.

  “Now you are home, and there’s a woman here who obviously loves you. That’s the woman you should be with.” Her throat squeezed tight on her again and she jerked around to look out at the water. The last thing she wanted was for Diego to see her giving into a pathetic display of emotion such as crying. But the tears burning her eyes couldn’t be helped, or halted.

  “I think I am quite capable enough in deciding who I want.” Irritation spiked the edges of his growl. “And the last thing I need is anyone telling me otherwise. Not you. Not Finn. Not Iñigo.”

  “Finn?”

  She stole a sidelong glance up at him. He nodded, his arms folded over his chest. “Finn. She sent one of the Serena’s men to fetch Adeline when we first pulled into port. She means well, but she’s a bit too pushy for my liking.”

  It made sense now, how Adeline had come to be at the harbor so shortly after their arrival. Though she probably shouldn’t be surprised, she was nonetheless and that dry laugh broke free. “I should have guessed as much. She does hate me, doesn’t she?”

  “I don’t think she hates you. At least, not as much as she hates the idea of my not wanting Adeline.” He reached up to rake his windblown hair away from his face. “You don’t know the story of how Finn and Iñigo met, or how they finally married, but it was quite complicated. She was a slave, you know.”

  “No. I didn’t.” She shrugged. “And frankly, I don’t care overmuch, either.”

  “Perhaps you don’t, but it explains a bit behind her motivation.” He refolded his arms. “Not only was Finn a slave, but a runaway slave as well.”

  Gabby only half-listened. What did she care about Fiona Sebastiano? The woman made her hatred painfully obvious, and the last thing Gabby was interested in was the woman’s past. Perhaps not smothering her rising yawn would get that across to Diego.

  He ignored it, though. “Her owner tracked her down here, of all places, and brought her back. Death awaited her, and would have claimed her, if not for Adeline’s help. In offering us assistance, she put her own life in danger. And that is how she came to be here.

  “You’d only been gone a short time, as I told you before.” His voice grew quieter, more faraway. She turned to find him still staring out over the glittering water as wistfulness slid into his words, “And I was a miserable son of a bitch. She was there. It was convenient and it simply…happened…”

  A pang of jealously nipped at her heart, her mouth going dry. “Simply happened?”

  He cast a quick glance at her. “I thought she might put you out of my mind. She didn’t. Nothing did.”

  Her belly flipped over at the slow, low pull of those words, and she forgot about ignoring him. His voice deepened more than normal, wrapped all around her like thick, black velvet. No matter what, the mere sound of his voice would always be enough to make chills run riot along her spine, would be enough to make her blood feel just that much thicker, just that much hotter.

  “Diego—”

  He cut her off. “Adeline made no secret that she sought a husband, and I merely shrugged off her hints. When she finally came right out and said it, I made it very clear I did not want a wife. Or rather, I did not want her as my wife.”

  He swung about to face her, his eyes glittering like black opals in the low light. “I did, however, wan
t you. And if you want the truth, sweetheart, I still do.”

  Her heart fell into the pit of her belly to send up a sickening splash that brought a sour taste rising to her mouth. Trying not to feel anything was more difficult now. Much more difficult. “How do you want me, Diego?”

  “Does that matter?”

  She nodded.

  “You ran away once, Gabby. How do I know you’ll not do so again?”

  That stung. Still, she managed not to wince. Of course his question lingered. It always would and she could hardly fault him. Her word, should she be so inclined to offer it, was meaningless to him.

  Her heart thudded a dull beat against her ribs as she shook her head slowly. “I’m afraid I have no answer for that.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a rough breath. Then, opening his eyes once more, he said, “You should have let me die on that island, Gabby. Hell couldn’t be any more painful than you walking out again would be.”

  “I need to go, Diego. I need to return to England and let William know I am alive and well. I cannot do this now, because you have grown nostalgic over a woman who no longer exists.” The lump in her throat was almost too large to swallow, but she managed, adding, “I’m sorry. I so wish things could be different.”

  He stepped up to her then, and caught her face between his hands before she could stop him. “I love you.”

  The pit of her belly fell away and the sudden rush of her heart almost made her feel ill. “No.” It took every bit of will to keep all emotion from her voice, to keep it calm and detached. “You love the idea of loving me.”

  His fingers tightened on her, almost bit into her jaw, into her cheeks. He didn’t answer, but leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss into her forehead. Then, without another word, he released her and strolled back toward the Black Swan.

  She watched him as he disappeared beyond the dunes, and even after he was out of sight. Every instinct shouted at her, screamed at her to run after him, to throw herself into his arms and wrap all around him, just as Adeline had done on the Serena that morning.