Page 34 of Scourge of the Shores
“Then consider the price free,” he said and sat back.
“Why?” she asked again. She was thankful he’d saved her a third time, but she wasn’t a fool. Robert wanted something. There was still a gleam in his eye.
Lucas stood beside her and crossed his arms.
“Aye, Jaymes, enlighten us,” Lucas said.
Robert slid a finger along his full bottom lip before shrugging. He addressed Danna. “Your tenacity and leadership have earned my respect, and I honor you as my fellow Pirate King, or my Pirate Queen, if you will.”
Her eyes locked with him. “I’ll never be yer Pirate Queen.”
Robert’s eyes glinted. “‘Course. Didn’t know if you’d want ‘King’ for a title.”
“King’s fine,” Danna retorted with narrowed eyes.
Robert chuckled. “Well, it looks like Danna Chadwick is back, and Captain Ervin, as you can see, she’s clearly not in love with me.”
Danna gagged as Lucas towered over the small table. He squared his shoulders to Robert while extending his hand. “Ye’ve earned my trust, Captain Jaymes. Don’t lose it too fast.”
Robert shook his hand. “Of course, big fella. Now, shall we eat? I’m hungry, and I saw some eggs over there,” Robert said, pointing to the stash of food on the shelf.
Lucas scoffed and shook his head. “Heal Danna, and all ye ask for is eggs?”
Danna leaned back. “A man from the seas never gets eggs.” She studied Robert and listened for anything unusual on the island, but all was well. “Ye trade an enchantment . . . for eggs.” A chuckle rumbled from her chest at the absurdity. “I don’t believe for a second, this is all ye want. But I’m willin’ to lay quarrels aside—for this mornin’, at least.”
A little later, the aroma of fresh eggs filled the tiny hut. Lucas and Robert helped Ma to the table. They rolled in some tree stumps to sit as well. Their knees bumped against Danna’s, but she looked up at Robert across from her, Lucas to her left, and Ma to her right.
The sea breeze drifted in through the open door. The sound of the waves, the clatter of plates, the soft chatter of conversation, the warmth of food in her belly—everything felt too easy. There were no voices calling orders. No scent of blood in the air. Almost too good to be true.
She traced the knots in the table with her thumb, resisting the pull of the moment.
She should have felt relief. Instead, it unsettled her.
“What be troublin’ ye, Danna?” Lucas asked.
Danna sighed, then shook her head. “Strange, ain’t it? A week ago, I’d have shot ye on sight.” She met Robert’s gaze. “Now, I’m thankin’ ye.” She pointed her fork at him. “And sharin’ a meal, no less.”
The words settled in her chest. She found herself enjoying Robert’s company, and he had saved her life. However, the motivation behind such an act worried her.
Lucas’s gaze flicked between her and Robert. Then he cleared his throat.
“If ye enjoy eggs and goat meat, Captain Jaymes, perhaps ye’d like to stay. Leave the pirate’s life behind.”
The words struck her harder than she expected. Stay? Robert?
Danna didn’t like how her heart reacted to that idea, as if it had a say in the matter.
She stiffened. Her fork stilled halfway to her mouth. Her grip on it tightened.
Robert? Stay? The questions rang through in her mind on repeat.
She forced her face to remain still, locking down the reaction before it could surface. Why did that hit her like a pistol to the ribs?
Her sharp glance darted to Lucas as she forced the fork to her mouth.
What had they spoken about while she was unconscious? Had Robert said he wanted to stay?
The thought made her stomach clench.
