Her Gentleman Pirate (High Seas & High Stakes Book 2) by Tamara Gill Page B

slapped his chest but undulated against his hardness, loving the fact he now called his quarters their quarters. “Of course not. Whatever gave you that impression?” He laughed and shook his head. Over the last few weeks, a closeness had formed between them. One that she’d not thought possible, especially with how they were thrown together in the first place. With Stephen by her side, Arabella felt free, more herself than any other time she can remember. There were no rules with him, no must and must not’s in life.
    “You have a certain look in your eye, one where I believe you’d like nothing more than to take me somewhere private and do wickedly naughty things to me,” he grinned, a devilish light in his eyes.
    “No I do not. You’re simply imagining things. Now come, we’re getting closer to the coast and I need to change into appropriate clothing for a woman.” Not that she’d like to change out of her breeches, loose fitting shirt and jacket. Never had she ever been so comfortable in clothing in her life. The fact she could get about with ease and with little fuss was liberating.
    “Of course. Lead the way, my dear. Any excuse helping you change.”
    Arabella laughed. “You’re incorrigible.” But she pulled him along with her in any case.

    T hey anchored late in the afternoon, just as the sun started to disappear behind darkened clouds to the west. It was only a short boat journey to the quaint town. Thatched roofed homes and walls that were made of wood and plaster ran along the foreshore a little back from the beach. Children scooted about playing, some people walked along the cobbled streets entering a few stores that sold particular goods. A highly polished carriage was being unhitched and unloaded at the Boar and Hound Inn. It was a lovely location, very English and welcoming.
    Arabella followed Stephen up a side street off the main thoroughfare and was surprised to see an old woman standing on the street beside a cottage door smiling at them. He jogged toward her and picked up the lady and spun her about, laughing. Arabella stopped and just watched. From the love and jovial exclamations the woman was making, she gathered his important business was seeing his mother or some relative.
    Stephen gestured for her to join them, and her heart squeezed that he would include her in this. The older woman was a lovely lady, very welcoming and happy to see her son. Introductions were performed and they took afternoon tea with his mother. Arabella considered the lady’s perfect manners and impeccable speech which seemed at odds to her sons employment. Again she wondered who Stephen really was and what his history had been. Something told her he wasn’t only just a pirate.
    They weren’t able to stay long much to her surprise. Stephen had other business at the inn, but he promised his mother he would visit again and discuss all that was necessary then. Arabella bid farewell, but was unsure as to what Stephen had meant. What was necessary with his life and what did it have to do with his mother?
    A short time later, they walked into the taproom of the inn. Arabella looked about while Stephen organized a private dining chamber. The room was dim, with a burning fire that sat directly across from the bar. Stephen threw orders about like a seasoned gentleman of the ton , and once more Arabella was struck by how commanding, autocratic he was. Their weeks together had brought them close in every sense except in the one way that mattered most to her. Who was this man? What had happened in his past that he now sailed the high seas for a living?
    He was still a mystery. She knew nothing of his past, of his life outside the captioning the ship or what he’d like to do in the future. And today with his mother only confirmed her suspicions he was hiding something.
    But what? And why?
    The innkeeper, an elderly, rotund man led them off into a little room that had a roaring fire and a beautiful view of the seaside