by Sandy Loyd
Lucas’s expression didn’t change as he held Parker’s gaze, causing him to squirm a bit.
“I need no conscience, Lucas,” he finally said with a self-deprecating laugh. “I’ll not deny my attraction.” His gaze roamed over the water. “But I’m not some green boy without control who can’t hold the lure at bay. I’ll keep my needs in check. You have my word.”
“Good. Then you agree it’s best to avoid contact as much as possible.”
“Avoidance might be a little difficult, given such close quarters. I refuse to hole up in my cabin because you chose to take on passengers.”
“When you put it like that, it does sound unreasonable. Just don’t be alone with her. Use either Jacques or me as a buffer.”
“I don’t believe this.” Parker’s amused laughter carried in the steady breeze. “I’m a grown man, Lucas. I have no need of chaperones.”
“Why do you think mothers are so intent on them? They know more than their daughters.”
“Is my word not enough?”
Lucas heaved a heavy sigh. “I mean no insult.”
“Then why do I feel insulted?” Parker’s chin inched higher. He couldn’t expel the indignation from his voice. “Have a little faith in my honor.”
“I do have faith, but I have a feeling there’s more to this than meets the eye.”
“You’d take me to task for a simple attraction?” Now his tone was curious.
“You didn’t watch the two of you together last night. The best way to describe the situation is an explosion about to happen. I intend to keep the fuse from being lit is all.”
“You’re worrying over nothing.” Dismissing his brother’s concerns with the wave of his hand, Parker scoffed, “You put too much meaning into a mere attraction, one easily kept in check. She’s simply a female, and though lovely, she’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“That puts my mind at ease.” Lucas’s expression belied his comment.
Parker chuckled. “Why all this concern over a passenger?”
“Geoffrey Collingswood placed the two women into my care. His brother is one of my biggest clients and wields power in shipping. I’ve spent years building a good relationship with the duke and I have no intention of insulting him by not taking care of his brother’s charge.”
“Now you see why I dislike men of power. They use it to make others’ lives uncomfortable.”
“In this instance you are wrong.”
“I doubt that.” Parker shook his head. Lucas was too trusting and didn’t understand about such men as he’d dealt with for years. “They’re all users. Men like Sterling, men without honor.”
“Markham Collingswood is an honorable man, which is exactly the distinction that makes me want to please him.”
“I’ve yet to meet an honorable man of wealth,” Parker exclaimed sardonically.
“You’re wealthy,” Lucas shot back, his back going ramrod. “By your own admission, are you telling me you aren’t honorable—that I can’t trust your promise?” He reached for his pipe.
Parker’s lips curled into a snarl. “No, you twist my meaning.”
“Men should be judged by their actions, not their titles or wealth, or for that matter, their lack of them.” He lit his pipe. “Which is how I judge Markham.” He blew the words out in a puff. “Although an aristocrat with means, he’s never treated me with anything other than respect and dignity. I enjoy our working relationship and have no intention of letting anything destroy it.”
“You think something happening between Miss Layton and myself would cause a rift?”
“Don’t you? Tell me you wouldn’t feel put out with someone who would seduce Catherine?”
Parker raked a hand through his hair and sighed. “Point taken.” He’d kill anyone who took advantage of his baby sister. Despite the fact she was no longer a “baby,” but a woman reaching her twenty-fourth year, both he and Lucas were still protective of her. A sheepish grin spread across his face. “I’ll steer clear of the lady while on this ship. I give you my word.”
“I’m counting on it.”
“So when’s breakfast?” Parker asked, changing the subject. “I’m starved.”
Lucas grunted. “Jacques is below. Go down and ask him.”
“You’re not coming?” He pivoted, searching his brother’s face.
“Not yet. Hillman doesn’t relieve me for another hour, but I’m ready for a cup of coffee.”
Parker left to find Jacques, who was busy cooking when he poked his head in the galley.
A ready smile lit the chef’s face. “Bonjour, Parker. Your breakfast is almost ready. Go! Sit! I bring it to you.”
“Is coffee ready? I’d like a cup. Also, I’ll take one to Lucas.”
Jacques pulled out two tin mugs, nodding to a pot on the stove. “Merci. Tell Lucas I did not forget him, I just got a little behind. Twenty men all hungry at the same time makes me late.”
“If it tastes as good as it smells, the wait will be worth it.” Parker poured two cups and then headed back out. After delivering the coffee to Lucas, he entered the officers’ dining room.
Movement at the table caught his attention. He stopped short and then grinned. The sight of the prim and proper Miss Layton eating her breakfast like a lady to the manor born evoked more than an urge to smile. The petite blonde, dressed in a blue and green muslin gown, had the appearance of a wild, uncultivated garden on a summer’s day, not a complete contradiction to the hoyden so vehemently decrying her intentions last night. Yet this lovely creature was like a breath of fresh spring air and watching her thus, a sliver of attraction slid into his consciousness.
Damn if the little minx didn’t unsettle him. He stood silently eyeing her unobserved for a moment, trying to decipher why such lustful thoughts had run amuck in his brain ever since he’d first spotted her. Pushing the thoughts aside, he strode into the room. “Good morning. You’re up early.”
Startled from her daydreams, Penny glanced up. “Good morning.”
“I trust you slept well?”
“I slept wonderfully well.” She smiled brightly. “Thank you.”
“So I see.” Both her melodious voice and engaging, shy smile grabbed at his insides, twisted his gut, and sent another zing of heat through his blood. Taking a deep breath, he willfully banished the need she so easily elicited and walked steadfastly toward her. He pulled out a chair and sat across from her, bound and determined not to let this bit of fluff get under his skin. “You look well rested.”
“You’re too kind. And you?” When his eyebrows shot up in question, she bestowed on him another beautiful smile. “Did you sleep well?”
“Oh, er yes—” He cleared his throat. “Very well.” The soft, accented words, along with her animated smile tugged harder on his willpower. Unable to stop himself from responding to both, he added, grinning like a fool, “Sailing does appear to agree with you.”
“Yes, it does.” She nodded.
“Ah, a seasoned sailor. How refreshing. Most young ladies hate being out on the water.” Another jolt of lust hit him as her grin turned impish, almost playful, right before his eyes.
“Not me. I love sailing. So far, this trip has been an adventure.”
Parker had purposely looked away, but he couldn’t keep his gaze from returning to her face. Not after that statement. “So, you’ve an adventurous nature?” The question just spilled out, as if his mouth had a will of its own.
“Of course.” Penny chuckled, clearly enjoying the exchange, her manner becoming more mischievous. “Weren’t you listening last night?”
“Yes, but then you were talking about childhood games, not adult adventures,” Parker teased, lacking the desire to stop the conversation from leading into more dangerous territory.
“My adventures do tend to get me into trouble, especially lately.”
“Do they?”
She nodded, not seeming to realize the sexual implications her words wielded. “I’ve always loved adventure. It�
��s why I’m traveling to America. The fact that I’m older hasn’t changed what I love.”
“I see. So now you love adult adventures?” His eyebrows rose as he awaited her reply.
Suddenly her confidence disappeared. With eyes narrowed and lips pursed, she studied him. Her wary expression amused him. She’d obviously caught the seductive quality in his voice and somehow understood she now broached uncharted territory.
“Of course,” Penny said with renewed certainty a moment later, surprising him. “This entire voyage is an adventure I mean to savor.” Her chin edged a notch higher. “You doubt me?”
“No.” Parker sucked in a gulp of air, impressed she hadn’t backed away from the challenge he’d thrown out, in fact threw out one of her own. He coughed and hastily wiped the incredulous expression off his face. The enticing lady naively spouting off about adult adventures was intoxicating enough, but when he spied the daring gleam in her eyes accompanied with a smile that had suddenly become too dangerous, he almost spilled his coffee.
“Not when they’re spoken with such fervency,” he said, backing away from temptation. He shook his head to extricate other reckless thoughts that wouldn’t budge. Maybe his brother’s idea of providing a buffer wasn’t such a bad one. Retreating further, he asked, “So, where is your lovely companion this morning?”
“Mindy’s not so adventuresome. She’s suffering from a bout of mal de mer.”
“She’s not coming to breakfast?”
“Oh, you needn’t worry. Once she finds her sea legs, she won’t hate sailing as much.”
“Too bad she won’t be joining us.” Parker sighed. Would his mind ever shut off? Looking at Miss Layton now, his most prominent thought wasn’t about poor Miss Bowers, but about how quickly he could wipe that elfin smile off her face with kisses.
He closed his eyes, praying for restraint. He hadn’t been attracted to a female in a long while. Had never felt an attraction this strong after such a short time, and here he sat across from the one person he now wanted and couldn’t have. He stifled a laugh. What irony!
Jacques burst into the room just then carrying two hefty plates of food. He placed one in front of Parker and took the other to the empty spot next to Penny and sat.
“Busy morning. Now I eat.” He picked up his fork. After a few minutes, he stopped eating. “Is something wrong?”
“Hmmm?” Parker met his questioning gaze.
Jacques pointed to his food with his fork. “Eat. If you do not, I will be insulted.”
“Don’t want that. I love your cooking and would never jest about it like Lucas does.”
“That is precisely why I will feel insulted.”
“Sorry,” he said. “I was lost in thought.”
“Ah! Thinking about the pretty lady.” Turning to Penny, he presented a dazzling smile. “I shall eat at the table every morning if I have such charmante company.”
Penny’s blush slid up her face, clearly not immune to the charming man. Then she flashed a warm smile and replied in fluent French, “And I could get used to such charming company.”
“Vous parlez français?” Jacques’s delight came out in every word.
“Oui, monsieur.”
The two then carried on a lively conversation in French, excluding Parker, even though he spoke the language well enough to catch on. At first, he was relieved. But after watching the beguiling minx so obviously enjoying Jacques’s flirting, he swallowed annoyance with a big gulp of coffee. Did they have to appear so wrapped up in each other? For the rest of the meal, he surreptitiously kept his attention on the two, silently fuming while tamping down the desire to smash a fist into Jacques’s face. And because too many of the same unwanted ideas ran amuck in his brain, he quickly finished his meal.
“If you will excuse me,” he said, rising. “I think I’ll go and keep Lucas company.”
“You aren’t leaving?” Her question had a disappointed note to it.
“I’m surprised you even noticed,” he said more abruptly than he’d meant.
Jacques chuckled. “Est-il jaloux? Ah, he is jealous. Because you find me so charmant.”
Parker snorted. “’Tis obvious she has no discriminating taste if she finds you charming.”
“Mademoiselle?” Jacques asked, pulling Penny’s attention from Mr. Davis’s swift departure.
“Sorry,” she murmured. “He seemed annoyed.”
“Bah! Do not worry about Parker. It is true. He is jealous, and I am quite charming.”
The Frenchman was teasing her. Penny smiled and sighed. This trip was turning into something she hadn’t expected. A grand adventure. The captain’s fascinating brother was the catalyst. He intrigued her, especially now, after this breakfast. A look that had accompanied the man’s quick grin in the brief moment just after he’d sat down flashed inside her mind. She’d detected a moment of uncertainty in his arresting blue-gray eyes. That small glimpse of doubt was enough to make her feel comfortable in his presence. She had no reason to believe she couldn’t deal easily enough with Mr. Davis, despite her inexperience with such dashing men. After all, she’d been dealing with Gerald Knightsbridge’s unwanted attention for the last eight months.
She shuddered, remembering that last night, before the earl had been called away, noting a definite distinction. Lord Knightsbridge scared her, was always finding ways to caress her, and such attention never failed to make her skin crawl. There was nothing scary in Mr. Davis, or his attention. In fact, quite the opposite. At dinner, and then again this morning, his attentions stirred a heat she’d never before encountered. No, the only frightening element in his fiery gaze was her reaction, making her feel anything but afraid. Truth be told, she felt more alive around him, tingly all over, giddy even, and she had every intention of enjoying these new sensations.
It had been much too long since she’d actually felt anything other than fear. In six months she’d be a married woman. Why not flirt and enjoy her freedom while she waited for Geoff? Though Mr. Davis was too handsome for words, nothing would come from a little flirting. He wasn’t her beloved Geoff, and she was no simpering fool. She could handle him. In the last year she’d discovered she could handle just about anything.
Jacques’s mocking laughter followed Parker as he made his way to the wheelhouse on the top deck. The sound didn’t ease his frame of mind. If anything, it added fuel to his ire.
“What cat scratched your back?” Lucas asked, eyeing him thoughtfully.
“Instead of warning me off, you should’ve saved your warning for Jacques,” Parker snapped.
“He’ll behave.”
“Oh? You warn me but not him?” His mouth tightened.
“If it makes you happy, I’ll warn him off too.” Lucas puffed on his pipe as his gaze returned to the water. “But like I said, there’s no need.”
“No need?” He rolled his eyes and snorted. “He’s down below flirting outrageously with a naive girl. He’ll have her eating out of his hand in no time.”
Lucas chuckled and lifted a brow. “What’s the matter, Parker? Jealous? If I didn’t know better, I’d say the woman has you twisted up inside and my warning was justified.”
“That’s not it.” His spine straightened.
“Oh? Then what is it?”
“I just don’t want that Frenchman getting fresh. She does need protecting.”
Lucas threw back his head and laughed. “Now you see why I avoid passengers. They’re too much trouble and definitely not worth the money.”
Parker fisted his hand and glared, resisting the urge to plow one into him.
“All right.” Still grinning, Lucas nodded. “I’ll protect her from Jacques and he’ll protect her from you. How’s that?”
“This is not a joke,” he said, almost growling. “I’ll even concede you were right to worry about my intentions, as the attraction she stirs is a strong one, but I’m not about to let another take liberties either.”
Luc
as’s smile faded on a sigh. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation. Jacques is toying with you. We agreed last night. He’s to keep her occupied and out of your way. If you feel there’s impropriety, then I’ll speak to him. But I must confess, he’ll only be more amused.”
“That bastard,” Parker hissed as his brother’s words sank in. His grin was quick. “I should’ve known.”
“Aye, you should have. And if she didn’t consume you so, I’m sure you would have.”
Parker shot his brother a contrite look. “You’ve made your point. I’ll keep my distance.”
“Good. Finally I can relax. And since I see Hillman heading this way, I think I’ll do just that. I need a little shut-eye and I don’t have time to worry about you and your fixation.”
“Go and sleep. You’ll have no need to worry anymore over me or my fixation.”
~~
Days turned into a week. The weather cooperated and graced them with clear blue skies and steady winds. The ship progressed, but not quickly enough for Parker.
True to his word, he’d stayed away from the enchanting Miss Layton as much as he could. The only time he allowed himself in her presence was during meals or when on deck with the distraction of activity or seamen surrounding them. Those times proved the hardest to endure, because the fascinating woman would hold them all spellbound with stories of her adventures with her two friends in their younger years. She’d have them laughing and jesting in no time. Most of the men, including him, were half in love with her, yet all stayed within the bounds of propriety. If someone said or did something she disapproved of, she had a way of cutting him to the quick with a word or a look.
Parker was no more immune to Miss Layton now than that first night and went to great lengths to avoid her. If he happened to find himself alone with her, he’d offer an excuse and leave. He’d long grown accustomed to the steady arousal he felt around the lovely lady, easily hiding the desire ever present and humming through his system. Still, every now and again, a yearning would overtake him and he’d have to fight harder to ignore the stirrings, especially if she happened to catch him secretly watching her.