The Captain of All Pleasures (Sutherland Brothers #1)(19)
Author: Kresley Cole

“That’s fine,” he said vacantly. Jeb walked out of the cabin with a bounce in his step and a large smile cracking his old, bewhiskered face.

Derek had never shared the consuming excitement his sailors enjoyed when about to set sail on a long route. He always thought the long trips a lesser evil for a man who belonged nowhere.

He’d at least been more involved in the past. Now all he could think of was Nicole. Even knowing she was Lassiter’s daughter hadn’t diminished his want of her.

He took a book down from a glassed-in shelf while he waited impatiently, but after rereading the same page four times, he tossed it aside. Just as he thought she might not show, Jeb knocked on the door.

“Cap’n! The visitor’s ’ere.”

He called permission to enter, and Jeb bustled in. “You didn’t tell me it’s the girl that strolled outta ’ere the other mornin’ bold as she pleased,” he chided with a sly smile. “I put her inside and ordered ’er to stay put.” His brows drawn together, he admitted, “She got a bit sassy with me.” Derek could only imagine how Nicole had reacted to that command.

When he entered the room, he saw she hadn’t taken a seat. Instead, she was inspecting the seascapes attached to the walls.

He walked toward her, and when he was directly behind her, she said, “These are excellent, Captain Sutherland.”

“I didn’t know you were a lover of art.”

She turned to him with a curiously self-deprecating expression. It vanished as her hand shot up to his bruised face, which had colored more deeply since the morning. She feathered the tips of her fingers over his bruised jaw, and he just managed to prevent himself from closing his eyes. Uneasy, he stiffened. At once, she pulled her hand away.

“It’s nothing,” he said in a gruff voice. “I assure you I’ve had worse.”

She blushed furiously. Her touching him had been impulsive. “I’m sorry you two fought,” she said in a crisper tone as she stepped back from him.

“It would’ve happened sooner or later.” His words were tight as he watched her nonchalantly remove her cloak to reveal her unconventional attire—trousers and a fitted blouse that did nothing to hide her attributes.

It appeared to him that she had taken extra care with that splendid hair of hers. It was twisted in an elaborate style, and he could more easily see the golden strands threaded throughout. Piled atop her head, it made the rest of her form seem fragile and small.

Though she seemed so slight, she’d been soft. Soft when he’d come across what had to be the most beautifully shaped breast he’d ever held in his life. Shrugging away that too-appealing memory, he asked in a voice gone husky, “Can I get you something to drink?”

“Oh, I’m not supposed to—” She stopped, then said, “Yes, I think I would like one—whatever you’re having, please.”

He was having whiskey—neat—but he didn’t think that’d do for the slight girl, so he added water to hers before handing it to her. “I have some questions for you.”

“And I for you,” she replied. “But I’d like to hear yours first.”

“Very well.” He moved to a chair and motioned for her to sit. She tucked a leg under as she sank into the plush settee facing him.

She took a drink, not a dainty sip but a good draw. He nearly chuckled at her watering eyes and convulsive swallowing. It was strong liquor, and since she was obviously a novice drinker, he was impressed she’d kept from gasping aloud or coughing.

When she recovered a bit, he asked, “Who were those men following you?”

As she recalled that night, her face turned fierce. Not afraid any longer, just very angry. “They’d broken aboard the ship. I stumbled onto them,” she replied with a sharp look in her eyes. He thought she studied him, as if trying to see how her words affected him.

When she gathered he wasn’t satisfied with her abrupt answer, she added, “That’s all I can say.”

He sensed that was all he’d get on the subject, so he asked, “Why were you in the Mermaid the other night?”

She brought the glass to her lips to drink again, then said, “I heard my father was going there to get some information.”

“Nice way to put it.”

She looked surprised before bowing her head as if hiding a grin. But when she looked up, her brows were knitted, and she appeared annoyed. “Then weren’t you there for information also, Captain Sutherland?”

He almost grinned, but admitted, “I was there because I was too drunk to know better.”

Her eyes widened. She hadn’t expected that answer.

“I hadn’t realized what kind of place it was either,” she commented with a bright blush.

He liked the way she blushed. She had such vivid coloring, he wouldn’t expect her to blush prettily, but she did. He found himself asking in an admiring tone, “Why haven’t I seen you before?”

She stared at her glass and answered, “I’ve been away.”

“Away?”

She raised her face again. “Oh, here and there.”

Derek’s lips tilted in a hint of a smile, but he knew it wasn’t a pleasant sight. So she guarded her past? Smart girl. “Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”

She took another deep pull from her glass. “I didn’t know what kind of man you were. You might have hurt me just to spite my father—I couldn’t be sure.”

“Yet you came here tonight?”

She nodded while pushing a stray curl behind her ear. “I need to hear what you have to say. I want Father released . I didn’t feel I had much choice.”

He knew little, and certainly not anything that could overtly benefit her. He’d just wanted her to come tonight.

He sat back and said, “I will tell you what I know. I did drop the charges against your father. In fact, I went to the constabulary personally to make sure he was released. The constable told me he had evidence of other crimes on Lassiter—”

“That’s not—”

“I thought the man was lying,” he said. “I don’t believe there are other crimes.”

She looked relieved, which was strange. Why would she care what he thought?

“I was uncomfortable with the fact that your father wouldn’t race because of my night with you. I tried several methods to get him released,” he explained vaguely. “I will say that from the way I was turned down, the person who is responsible is in a position of power or threw a considerable amount of money at this problem.”

After a pause, she said, “Say you were in my position, and desperately wanted someone you cared about released. Who would you target for this? And what would you do?”

Two thoughts came to Derek at once. One, he didn’t have someone he cared about. Two, she was asking his advice, and he liked that she hung on to his words.

“If I had to, I’d say it would be a peer, someone of my rank or higher. Someone with a great deal of money, who has a stake in this race.”

“Why shouldn’t I think you did it?”