Wrong Kind of Paradise (13 page)

somewhere,” he said. “I’m assuming Port Royal, but I’ve had no confirmation yet. The ship just off the

coast is probably Angel’s crew since I invited them here.”

“When did that happen?”

“Just before we left port with Angel in tow.”

Rigo nodded. “So what about the feisty fellow we have locked away?”

Blac stalked the room. Somehow it seemed much smaller than he remembered. “He’s the

lieutenant’s superior officer, a man who has access to the information I need to get Logan back.”

“But I thought this is what Logan wanted.”

“He did. But for some reason, the lieutenant broke the agreement and came entirely too early.

According to the deal, we had another two weeks before Logan’s arrest. Charles broke that agreement for

a reason...and I have to find out why.”

Rigo nodded. “You think he’s got ulterior motives?”

“I know he does.” Blac ground his teeth in remembrance. “This isn’t the first time I’ve run into his

family. I know their tactics and their history...and their slates have never been clean. Something doesn’t

fit, and I think Angel is the key. Charles jumped on the chance for me to capture Angel. Now I just have to

figure out why without getting caught and getting us all killed.”

“But the lieutenant thinks you work for him.”

“Indeed.” Blac grinned. “I never said playing both sides was easy.”

“So what’s next?”

Blac shrugged. “I’m really waiting on the information Angel’s crew can gather. If we can learn

where Logan is being held, we can figure out how to free him. But first I need to drop Angel somewhere

safe. Her father made arrangements for her grandfather to take custody of her. After Angel’s crew arrives,

I’ll probably head to Barbados. That way I’ll know she’s safe and well taken care of.”

“And after that?”

Blac tapped a finger on the polished desk. “Then we find Logan and figure out what the hell the

lieutenant is up to.”

Rigo scooted off the settee and tossed Blac his empty glass. “That’s easier said than done, old

man.”

Blac leapt forward and barely caught the tumbler.
Killing my quartermaster isn’t an option.

Unfortunately, I still need him.

“Indeed.” Blac’s tone grew a little cooler as he set the goblet on the desk. “But I owe the man more

than my life and I owe the Worthington family a little retribution of my own.”

~*~

Gulls dipped and soared along the pink and blue horizon like white snowflakes fluttering to the

earth below. Angel sighed.
Beautiful
. Waves lapped at her feet and she knelt to pick up the shiny blue

shell buried in the sand.

A tiny, dark hand crept into her palm and squeezed. Zaiena, Baina’s youngest sibling, clasped her

hand and smiled an adorable, toothless grin at her. The surf broke against the shore and the wind teased

Angel’s face. She grinned down at the girl. “Thank you.”

“You feel better now?”

Angel nodded. “Absolutely. You have a wonderful knack for bringing happiness to people, Zaiena.”

The six-year-old smiled. “Aye, my mother said the same thing.”

The inlet behind the house wasn’t large enough for a ship to sail into, but it was secluded and

serene. It cut sharply into the isle and took less than an hour to walk to. It was perfect.

“Where did you learn English? You speak so well.”

“My sister taught me some...and Blac taught me better.”

Angel chuckled. Leave it to Blac to correct a little girl’s speech. Everything must be perfect for the

man. Must she be perfect too?

Heaven forbid he married a woman twelve years younger than him. That would really put a kink in

his perfect life. She almost snorted. He simply couldn’t let things happen naturally, the way they were

supposed to. He had to plan every god-forsaken moment of his life.

She and Zaiena continued their trek down the beach until the cove opened up to expose the vast

ocean beyond. Everything about this island felt like home, except for its master. Sadly, he did everything

in his power to keep her at arm’s length, and she missed him.

Angel turned toward the path that led to main house and stopped to pick an orchid. She smelled its

fragrant scent and frowned.
This would never be home
.

She would have to harden her heart against not only Blac, but her growing love of this isle.
This

wasn’t home
.

She would remind herself of that every day if needed. Guarding her heart wouldn’t be as easy as

she’d first imagined. How could this push and pull relationship ever be anything but the chaotic mess it

was right now.

He wanted her. But just her body. He missed her, but not enough to change his mind about her.

The breeze blew the simple, white, square-necked shirt off her shoulder. It was just a tad large, but

Baina had been nice enough to let her borrow some clothes. The woman was much taller than Angel, so

the brightly-colored red and yellow skirt billowed about her bare feet. She actually enjoyed the feel of the

cotton skirt more so than she did her cut-off breeches, which surprised her. She felt feminine in it and yet

it offered enough free movement to be comfortable.

Zaiena dropped her hand and raced ahead of her to catch up with her brothers. Angel smiled. How

nice would it be to have children and watch them play. Maybe Blac’s children.

A dark-headed child with her blue-green eyes.

Her fingers clenched snapping the stem of the orchid in two. She glanced down and sighed. An ache

settled over her body, so strong she almost stumbled. She had to forget about Blac. He didn’t want her.

Like he said, her hopes were only little girl fantasies. Wishful thinking.
Wasn’t it?

Zaiena’s laughter drifted to her and she dropped the orchid in the sand. Like her dreams of a

happily-ever-after, the flower lay broken and wilting in the sun.

Angel strolled further down the beach until the sun hung on the edge of the horizon. A strong gust of

wind whipped at her hair, and she peered out over the vast expanse of blue. She saw no signs of a storm.

That’s when she saw the dot just to the south-west of her. She squinted to be sure. She wished she had her

spy glass but yes...it appeared to be a —

Ship.

~*~

Brilliant golds and reds streaked across the sky and contrasted brilliantly with the azure sea. Blac

stood at the end of the dock and waited for the rowboat. He’d seen the ship on the horizon hours ago and

had ridden Obsidian down to meet them, taking the long way.

He hadn’t seen Angel all day. According to Baina, she’d gone for a walk.
Good, one less

distraction for him.

Rigo had joined him on the ride down. “Do you think Angel will behave until we finish this?”

He dismounted. “Probably not.”

Had she seen the ship yet? And as if on cue, the patter of feet hitting the boardwalk made him turn

about. “Speak of the devil,” he said and walked the horse toward her, meeting her halfway. “Good

afternoon, my Angel.”

Her disheveled hair fell around her shoulders and she hiked the skirt to her knees. She’d yet to drop

the skirt.
I will definitely have to work on her etiquette.

Despite her lack of propriety, the sight of her undid him. Everything about her sent his pulses

pounding and his blood churning. One look at her weakened his resolve, and his imagination grew more

robust and lustful every day. He wanted to run his hands over her smooth flesh and feel the warmth of her

against his body. Resisting the temptation to touch her became more difficult and even now, he yearned to

take her in his arms to prove to her just how much of a man he still was.

She panted, her chest rising and falling heavily with her run. “Do not patronize me, Blac.” She

pointed toward the cove. “That is my ship.”

“Your ship? I disagree.”

She shook her head. “Our ship, whatever, that’s my crew.”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“What the hell is my ship doing here?”

He grinned. “Feisty today, aren’t you?”

She slammed her jaw shut and her tiny fists jabbed into her sides. “What is going on? And don’t try

to change the subject.”

He chuckled. “How about this...a truce?” He reached out and stroked her soft cheek. “If I promise to

come to you in a while and tell you everything, will you let me conduct my business without interrupting?”

She frowned.

But she didn’t say no.
Progress
. He pressed further. “I won’t do anything else until I have come to

talk to you, Angel. I promise.”

She glanced from him to the rowboat, then back again. “All right, if you promise to let me see Bruno

and Max.”

“I would never keep you from your family.”

She eyed him warily for a second before heading back toward the path. The sway of her hips

beneath the bright-colored skirt drew his attention and his mouth went dry.

At the end of the path, she met Zaiena and the two clasped hands. Something tugged at his heart. She

was crawling under his skin and bombarding all the places he’d believed hidden for so long now. He

would have to reinforce those battered walls before they crumbled. To allow her in would be folly when

soon he must let her go.

Hardening his heart, and whipped back around just as the dinghy docked. The surf battered the

beach and the screech of the sea gulls rent the stillness. Max and Bruno leapt from the boat and headed

toward him. Max gave a formal nod and shook Blac’s hand. “Barclay, good to see you again.”

Bruno nodded but made no move to shake hands.

“Always a pleasure, O’Reilly.” Blac waited as Rigo handed the reins of the extra two horses to

Max. They mounted and Blac led the way down the docks toward the trail. “Did you fare the trip well?”

“We ran inta a squall, other than tha’ we had fair winds.”

The small talk continued until they reached the house. Blac escorted them into the dining room and

the four men settled into the straight backed chairs. Baina served parsley, oven-baked perch and thin

slices of ham cured in juniper berries with apples. Dandelion leaf soup with chervil and chives, and

mangos for dessert.

Blac picked up the knife. “So let’s discuss business, gentlemen. Tell me what you found?” He

sliced through the fish and took a bite.

Max frowned. “How do we know yer going ta keep yer word, mate?”

Blac sighed. “I didn’t betray Logan. He’d already planned his surrender months before. We — he

and I — had planned to tell everyone that evening. Including Angel. But the lieutenant broke the

arrangement and betrayed our trust.” Blac set down his knife and sighed. “Look I can’t make you trust me

or even believe me...but we have Angel to think about because Logan can’t. Now do we argue over who

is right or do we take a risk and trust each other to get the job done?”

Max stilled for several moments. Blac feared he was about to tell him to go to hell. But he slumped

in defeat. “Logan is mae best friend, mate, and Angel is like a daughter to us. All of us.” He indicated

Bruno and outside the window to the ship in the cove. “Whether we get Logan out of tha’ stinkin English

prison or not, doesn’t matter. Makin’ sure Angel stays safe is our first priority. And I know ye’ care for

them both.”

Bruno leaned forward, and his palm slapped the table.

“Aye, but make no mistake, Barclay, if’n Angel gets hurt, we’ll hunt ye down like the rat ye are and

feed ya tew the sharks.”

Blac nodded. “Fair enough. Now what did you learn?”

“Logan is being held in Port Royal, his trial is set for the end of the year.” Max sipped his wine.

The clang of the glass against the china made him grimace. “This isn’t me forte’, mates, I’d much rather be

eatin’ bread and cheese aboard me ship.”

“Aye.” Blac agreed with a nod. “Understandable, Max, however Baina prepared this delightful

dinner and I hate to waste it. Tell me about the lieutenant. Was he anchored in port?”

“Aye,” Max said. “But I did hear tell of him leaving for a few weeks to visit his father.”

“Did you send him my message?”

“Aye,” Max said with his mouth full. “The ransom is set ta take place in a fortnight.”

“Good. Just enough time to take Angel somewhere safe.”

Max raised a brow. “And where might tha’ be?”

“To Barbados to meet her grandfather. I think she’ll be safe enough there, and between the rest of

us, we can get this nasty business of ransoming her father out of the way ourselves.”

He set his napkin on the table. “Which brings me to another matter...I’d like you to pick your best

men and temporarily join my crew until we get this done. I think it would be better for Angel if you and

Bruno were there. She trusts you. And I am hoping you will help me convince her that it would be in her

best interest.”

Bruno shook his great head. Max interpreted for Blac. “He thinks the old viscount be a hateful man.

And he be right. The man disinherited his own daughter.”

Blac sipped his wine. “I think we all want what’s best for her. And I don’t think her presence on the

ship during a ransom that could potentially go wrong would be wise. Do you?”