Page 40 of Storm over the Caribbean
Did I ever mention how sexy my husband is while plotting the downfall of his enemies?
Luckily, he has lots of those.
Just then, something occurred to me. My eyes narrowed.
“And that plan just so happens to allow you to safely stash me away in a high-security hotel while you and some hired muscle go gallivanting around looking for pirates. How very coincidental, isn’t it?”
He didn’t look at me, instead choosing to focus on the business documents in his hands. “I have no idea what you could possibly mean, Mrs Ambrose.”
“I’m sure you don’t.”
I scrutinized the expression on his face closely. Not an easy thing to do, but after years of experience, I had learned to read things that weren’t there.
“You obviously intend to lock me up in some safe place. Putting aside for the moment whether or not I’llletyou—you have everything planned out. You intend to deposit me in a secure location, then gather intel, gather your forces and crush the pirates in one blow. There’s no reason to think that plan won’t work. So…” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why is it you still look as if you’re expecting some disaster to strike us any moment?”
“I am not quite certain. Everything should be fine. Everything should go perfectly. And yet…” Eyes narrowing infinitesimally, he scanned the deck of the ship. “I can’t help feeling like there is something I have missed.”
“Mr Rikkard Ambrose, scared by a merefeeling?” I put a hand on my heart. “Oh goodness gracious! What is the world coming to?”
Leaning forward, my dear husband speared me with an icy glare. “I couldn’t say. But I have a good idea whatyouwill be coming to once we reach our destination. And a bedroom.”
“Oh dear.” Instead of retreating, I leaned forward until we almost met in the middle. “Is that a threat, Mr Ambrose, Sir?”
“Not a threat, Mrs Ambrose. A promise.”
He held my gaze for a moment longer—then forced himself to turn away and resumed scanning the ship. I frowned.
“Still worried?”
He glanced at my belly.
“Always, Mrs Ambrose. Always.”
“Don’t fret.” Reaching out, I patted his shoulder. “I’m sure everything will be all right.”
That was when, in the distance, a bolt of lightning flashed, and thunder rumbled, announcing the approaching storm.
I glanced at Mr Ambrose, who was glowering at me with fierce intensity.
“Um…oops?”
***
“Oh boy. That’s quite the view.” Biting my lip in worry, I gazed out of the porthole at the raging waves outside the yacht—the yacht which, right now, was wildly swaying from side to side. And the storm wasn’t even truly here yet. That much was clear from the towering clouds of darkness in the distance.
Was this what Mr Rikkard Ambrose had been worried about?
If so, there might be more to male intuition than I’d thought.
“Don’t worry.” A familiar pair of arms slid around from behind me, encircling me protectively. “Do you think my men would have let you rent this ship if it were notperfectlysafe? I may not always be watching you. But I willalwaysmake sure you are safe.”
I could have pushed him away. I could have told him that I didn’t need his protection. Except right now, I didn’t really feel like it. Instead, I placed a hand on top of his, where it rested over my bulging belly, and leaned back against him.
“I know.”
Like that, we stood there for some time, basking in each other’s warmth, watching the storm roll by outside. After a while, the swaying of the ship started to feel almost soothing.
That feeling ended abruptly when I heard a slamming sound from above, and Mr Ambrose abruptly went stiff behind me. And not in the fun way.
