Free A Taste of Paradise by Connie Mason

Sophia hugged the blanket tighter around her. Though no skin was showing, Chris’s penetrating gaze made her feel naked.
    â€œWhat are you looking at?”
    He dragged his eyes away. “I was picturing you the first time I saw you, wearing a satin-and-lace ball gown.”
    Sophia flushed and looked away. “Casper said he would return for the tub, but I doubt he can manage it on his own. Can you summon someone to help him?”
    Chris sent her a hard look, as if aware that she was deliberately changing the subject. “I’ll see to it immediately.”
    Sophia breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want Chris to think back to the duel. It would only bring back unpleasant memories.
    Chris took two steps toward the door, then swung around to confront her. “It’s not going to work, you know.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about?”
    â€œYour attempts to distract me when I venture too close to the past. Nothing you can say will ease the guilt I harbor over Desmond’s death.”
    He stormed out.
    Later, wearing clothes that smelled clean and fresh, Sophia went topside to bask in the sunshine. She was surprised when Mr. Blaine, Chris’s first mate, stopped to talk to her. They exchanged pleasantries for several minutes, and then he moved on.
    During dinner that evening, Chris mentioned the exchange. “What did Blaine say to you, Sophia? He’s quite taken with you, you know.”
    Sophia paused with the fork halfway to her mouth. “Mr. Blaine seems like a pleasant man. We exchanged but a few words. I seriously doubt he is interested in me. He was merely satisfying his curiosity.”
    She continued eating, doing her best to ignore Chris’s intense scrutiny. She wanted to cringe every time he looked at her as if he wished she were anywhere but on his ship.
    â€œThe air seems to be growing warmer,” she remarked.
    â€œYou’ll notice the difference more once we reach southern waters.”
    â€œHow soon will that be?”
    â€œAnother week, if all goes well.”
    Sophia finished eating and pushed her plate away. She cleared her throat, stared at her folded hands and said, “I think we should consider different sleeping arrangements.”
    Chris’s mouth flattened. “Whose bunk would you prefer sleeping in? Mr. Blaine’s, perhaps?”
    Sophia rose abruptly, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “What are you accusing me of, Captain? You and I aren’t even friends. So why are you acting as if you care?”
    Chris shrugged. “I don’t care, but since I’ve already told my crew that you belong to me, we’re going to continue sharing a cabin and a bunk. What we do or don’t do in my bunk is no one’s business. Whether you believe it or not, I will be immensely relieved the day you board a ship for your return to England.”
    He unfolded his large frame from the chair and headed out the door. “Take your time preparing for bed. I need to take a new reading to keep us on course.”
    That night set the pattern for many nights to come. No matter what argument Sophia used, Chris refused to sleep elsewhere. What really disturbed her was the fact that she enjoyed having Chris’s body beside her at night far too much. The only concession he made to her was rising before she did and leaving the cabin to her until he returned in the evening.
    As the days slid past, boredom set in, forcing Sophia to take note of those around her. Mr. Blaine spoke to her with increasing frequency. He often stopped and visited while she stood at the rail. Little by little, other crewmen dared to pass the time of day with her. A grizzled sailor must have noticed her restlessness, for he offered to teach her to tie knots in his spare time.
    Sophia eagerly accepted, spending long hours each afternoon sitting on a pile of ropes beside Seaman Mapes, learning his skills. Another sailor let her help mend a torn