Page 55 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars

“Come on,” she says softly, presumably seeing the shock I’m feeling reflected on my face, “you can do some more sketching. You’re better at drawing than me.”

I do my best to capture the skeleton of the giant moa on paper while she finishes cataloging some of the other bones, then begins tidying up.

“You didn’t actually tell me what you wanted to do tonight,” I say as she cleans the brushes.

“You’re right. I didn’t.” She gives me an impish smile.

“So you will come to dinner with me?”

She hesitates.

“I’m not here for long,” I tell her. “And I’d like to make the most of my time with you. I was winding Fraser up, obviously, about you coming over, but if you don’t want to go out, I could come to your apartment and cook you something that won’t set your mouth alight.”

That makes her laugh. “You like cooking?”

“Well, I don’t do soufflé or anything fancy. But I’m sure I could rustle us up some pasta.”

She continues washing the brushes, not saying anything.

“Elora,” I say.

She shakes the water off and dries her hands on the towel.

I get up and go over to her. “Hey,” I say softly, tucking a hand under her chin and lifting her eyes so she looks into mine. “You can say no. I won’t be upset.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then tell me what’s bothering you. You can talk to me.”

She nibbles her bottom lip. I drop my gaze to it and stifle a sigh. I want to kiss her, but I know I mustn’t. She’s worried I’m going to make a move on her. I feel a pang of disappointment that she’s so fearful. I have to reassure her that I’m not going to do anything like that.

“I’m not expecting anything,” I tell her. “I just want to spend time with an old friend. You’re like my sister, right? You’re safe with me, I swear.”

“I know,” she says immediately. There’s a touch of color in her cheeks. But she still doesn’t voice whatever’s on her mind. Instead, she says, “Okay, that would be fun. Do you want me to go to the supermarket for anything special?”

“Why don’t we go together? See what catches our eye?”

Her lips curve up. “Okay. I’ll just put these back in the boxes and we’ll get going.”

I help her pack everything away, feeling a tug deep inside at the knowledge that she seems so happy doing something so mundane as shopping in the supermarket. I want her to feel safe with me. I want her to start trusting men again. Not all men, as there are still vipers out there amongst the good guys. But I don’t like the thought of her remaining single for the rest of her life because she’s too scared to open up to someone. Maybe if I can show her that some of us are kind and decent, it’ll help her going forward.

Of course, it does mean that I have to be kind and decent.

They’re not two words I’d necessarily have used to describe myself. But I’m not really a pirate, right? I’m a bit like Robin Hood, a kind of well-meaning outlaw. I might have to get a tattoo to that effect. ‘It’s not the size of your shaft, it’s whether you can hit the bullseye,’ that kind of thing.

“Why are you smirking?” Elora says.

“No reason. You done? Come on then, let’s head out.”

Chapter Twelve

Elora

We walk around the supermarket like any other couple, looking at items and putting them in our basket.

“Why are you smiling?” Linc asks when we’re halfway around.

I shrug. “I’ve never done this before.”

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