Wrong Kind of Paradise Read online

  and this isle, he wanted to watch his children grow into adults. He’d convinced himself it was too early to

  think of things like that, but now he was faced with reality. He wasn’t getting any younger.

  Blac sighed and propped his booted feet on the desk. He had to get Angel married. That, at least, he

  could do. He’d promised Logan he’d protect Angel and he would. Then he could work on getting Logan

  out of the British prison and hopefully eke out a little revenge on the lieutenant while he was at it. Until

  then, he would avoid Angel like the plague and dump her cute little derriere off at her grandfather’s house

  as soon as possible.

  “You look like you’ve just tussled with the wrong she-cat.”

  Rigo sauntered to the cupboard and fixed himself a brandy. Blac ran a hand over his face and when

  he peered up, Rigo handed him a glass. Nodding his thanks, he took a sip.

  I have. And this time she may have won.

  Blac shrugged and scowled.

  “Round one to Angel?”

  Heat shimmied up his neck into his face. Damn, was he that obvious? Blac shot a narrow-eyed glare

  at his quartermaster. “Don’t you have something to do?”

  Rigo stopped in a dramatic pause, appearing to consider the words, and then shook his head. “No,

  not at the moment. You gave me the week off, remember?”

  “Not my first mistake.”

  Rigo chuckled. “So, what are you doing in here all by your lonesome?”

  Why lie? Rigo would figure it out anyway and would just goad him for his weakness. “Brooding,

  until my unwanted visitor showed up. What do you want?”

  Rigo laughed and flopped onto the settee. “You know...these things are really comfortable. No

  wonder women like them so much.”

  “Are you insinuating something with that comment?”

  Rigo glanced up, his dark Spanish eyes filled with mirth. “Not at all, old man. Just wanted to drop

  in to let you know the lookout spotted a ship. It’s still quite a ways off-shore but I thought you’d want to

  know.”

  Old man. Even my crew thinks I’m old.

  He sighed. “Thanks.” A ship? That meant Angel’s crew would have left shortly after the Revenge

  had. Had they found out something so soon?

  Rigo swallowed the rest of the amber liquid in his glass and set it on the table. “So what is the

  plan? I’d love to be able to help out once in a while, but it’s hard when I’m uncertain what our goals are.

  After all, two years ago, someone forgot to inform me we were supposed to escort Miss Angel back to

  her grandfather’s. I probably would have been better prepared for her trickery had I realized the

  situation.”

  Rigo was right. Blac had completely bungled everything by keeping it a secret from everyone who

  should’ve known. And this was the result he must live with.

  Blac stood and made his way to the window. His island seemed a little lonely suddenly. Or is that

  just me?

  Life on this island no longer held as much appeal as it had years ago. Now it seemed desolate.

  Dreary. Despite the beauty all around him, everything seemed a little colorless.

  He whirled back to Rigo, refusing to look close into that part of his life. “The lieutenant has Logan

  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.
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  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
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  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?”

  Max shook his head, but Bruno didn’t move. He motioned something with his hands and Max said,

  “He thinks it should be her choice.”

  Blac sighed. “Whatever her grandfather has done in the past, he can offer her security. I was to set

  sail as soon as the Serpent was ready to drop her into her grandfather’s care two years ago. That’s what

  Logan had wanted then, and why shouldn’t we want the same thing?”

  Bruno scowled. He wasn’t convinced, obviously. Blac sighed. “She’ll inherit her mother’s dowry,