Free Happily Ever After by Tanya Anne Crosby

raised.
    “I see,” he said, and refused to beg. “Speaking of
what’s appropriate,” he told her, changing the topic, “I hardly think your beau
is going to appreciate the fact that you are alone on this ship...” With me, he
almost added. “... in the company of so many men. Have you thought of that?”
    Her chin jutted toward him, though her glance was
suddenly wary. “Are you telling me your men cannot be trusted?”
    “We aren’t barbarians if that is what you’re
asking, Mizz Vanderwahl... though your kind often likes to think so.”
    “My kind?” She drew back at that, taking offense,
and probably rightly so. Jack knew he was being unfair, but years of fighting
the system had left him slightly rankled and ill-tempered—something he
usually managed to overcome, but not when faced with Sophia Vanderwahl, the
fiancé of his nemesis.
    “About that favor?” he prompted, changing the
subject.
    She narrowed her eyes at him. “You have a lot of
nerve, insulting me and then asking for favors. The answer is no, whatever it
is! Now if you don’t mind leaving me to the comforts of my state room,” she
said haughtily, and turned, dismissing him to rummage through an open bag.
    Jack allowed himself a moment’s appreciation of
her pert little backside, then, knowing they had reached a standoff, he
conceded. “Suit yourself, princess.”
    She whirled to face him, standing abruptly once
again, smashing her head. “Don’t call me that!” This time she didn’t yelp, only
rubbed her head, but her eyes flared with anger.
    The devil on his shoulder jabbed him. “If the shoe
fits…
    She rubbed her head harder, looking beautifully
indignant. “You know, I really don’t think I like you, Mr. MacAuley! Not at
all!”
    “Don’t worry,” he assured her, “It’s mutual.”
    But he
wanted her.
    He didn’t have to like the woman to feel desire for
her. The proof was in his trousers, firmer now after their encounter.
    He left her, closing her door behind him, and
couldn’t help but smile at her fit of temper that followed. He heard her
through the door though she tried to muffle her scream. More than he should, he
enjoyed pricking her anger. She was far too easy a target, and he concluded
that there was more to Mizz Vanderwahl’s trip to the Yucatan than she was
willing to let on.
    The question was what .
    Whatever it was, Jack was certain of one thing...
Penn was at the heart of it, and it wasn’t that Sophia Vanderwahl missed him.
He didn’t take her for the type to chase a man about even with a ring on her
finger, and she’d already admitted they were not lovers.
    No, there was more to the story, and Jack intended
to find out exactly what it was.
    He determined to keep a close eye on Miss Sophia
Vanderwahl, and if Penn had put her up to spying for his own gain, Jack was
going to make him regret ever having tangled with him.
    As would his golden-eyed fiancée as well.
    In the meantime, since Sophie had refused his
favor even before hearing it, he was going to have to find someone else to cook
for them since they seemed to have accidentally left Shorty behind.
    How long did it take a man to say goodbye to his
gal, anyway?
    It was just as well that she hadn’t heard him
out... He tried to, but couldn’t quite picture Sophia Vanderwahl with an apron
on and standing behind a lit stove. He could see her better sitting on a throne
with a yapping mutt in her lap.
    Damnable woman! She was too distracting by far.

     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 6
     
     
    You have the most delightful hands, dear girl!”
    Harlan Horatio Penn III writhed under gently
caressing fingers. He had taught her well, he thought with some pride, and felt
only remotely guilty for not remembering her name.
    He
couldn’t be expected to remember anyway; their names weren’t made for the
American tongue.
    He
turned to admire her dark skin and features, and she caught his expression and
smiled. How wonderfully intuitive she was! He smiled in