Killian. “I insist.”
He debated refusing but nodded. “I’ll follow you. Run along.”
“Good.” She tipped her head to the side just a bit—enough for him to notice. Worry clouded her eyes. Instead of questioning him, she allowed Delia to pull her up the walkway.
Killian kept up behind her and accepted his fate—he’d either be found out by the ever-vigilant Freddie, have Delia realize who he was, or Sarah’s father wouldn’t buy the ruse. He said he’d help Sarah and vowed he’d see the mission through. Damn promises anyway.
Chapter Seven
He wasn’t acting like himself. Sarah kept from glancing back at Killian. She’d conned him into the mission, but she could tell he wasn’t happy. Something had spooked him. His normally sweet and controlled disposition wilted. Their plan couldn’t be failing—not yet. She refused to let them fail.
Once inside the house, Delia left Sarah and Killian alone in order to retrieve Sarah’s father.
“What’s troubling you?” Sarah murmured. She stepped into Killian’s personal space and stared into his eyes.
“I’m fine.” He raked his fingers through his hair. His gaze never settled on any one place.
“Planning to rob us blind?” she snapped.
“I had what I wanted but you insisted on being brought home.” Killian folded his arms, effectively shutting her out.
She wanted to say something and reassure him, but Delia, Frederick, Isaiah and her father entered the foyer of the house.
“My girl, you’re home. I worried about you.” Mr Moyer engulfed her in an embrace. “You must tell me about your trip and the young man who brought you back to me.”
“Why don’t we adjourn to the parlor?” Sarah said. She disengaged from her father and steered Killian into the side room. “This will be nicer.”
“You make me wait to see my beloved.” Isaiah followed her father, Nelson, into the parlor, but didn’t sit. His words might have sounded romantic to anyone else, but Sarah knew the truth. The only thing that mattered to Isaiah was money.
“Enough, Isaiah,” Mr Moyer snapped. “Be nice to our guest.”
“Who is this guest, then?” Isaiah notched his chin in the air. “We don’t allow riff raff in the Moyer House. Wait on the street and I’ll have the maid find you a crust of bread.”
“He’s not riff raff,” Delia exclaimed. “He’s the man who saved our Miss Sarah. He’s a hero.”
Sarah curled her arms around Killian’s tight bicep. “I’m very grateful to him. These awful pirates kidnapped me and then had the gall to leave me in the bay in a tiny lifeboat. It was dreadful.”
“When I spotted you in the bay, I knew I had to help.” Killian’s voice dropped an octave. “Can’t leave a lady alone in the world.”
“Peculiar.” Frederick narrowed his eyes. “You look familiar. Have you been in Norfolk long?”
“Only a few months. I’ve kept a low profile. If my father found out where I was, he’d be sure to haul me back to Boston.” Killian tensed, but his expression never wavered.
“Boston? What does he do?” Isaiah asked. “Trash collecting?”
“He’s a shipping baron. Moves things from place to place for a small fee.” The muscle in Killian’s jaw quivered.
Nelson put his hand in the air, keeping Isaiah behind him. “Thank you, my boy, for bringing my daughter home to me.” He placed paper money in Killian’s hand. “Here’s a crisp hundred dollar bill. I swore whoever brought her home deserved a hefty reward.”
“Thank you, Mr Moyer, but no thank you. I appreciate your kindness, but seeing her home safely is reward enough.”
“Truly.” Isaiah strolled around Nelson and clapped Killian’s shoulder. “Why don’t I see you out?”
“Isaiah,” Sarah snapped. She situated herself between the man she loved and the man she loathed. “We should give him refuge for the night. Dinner at least. He’s gone out of his way to assist me and deserves a kindness beyond money. The guest
He debated refusing but nodded. “I’ll follow you. Run along.”
“Good.” She tipped her head to the side just a bit—enough for him to notice. Worry clouded her eyes. Instead of questioning him, she allowed Delia to pull her up the walkway.
Killian kept up behind her and accepted his fate—he’d either be found out by the ever-vigilant Freddie, have Delia realize who he was, or Sarah’s father wouldn’t buy the ruse. He said he’d help Sarah and vowed he’d see the mission through. Damn promises anyway.
Chapter Seven
He wasn’t acting like himself. Sarah kept from glancing back at Killian. She’d conned him into the mission, but she could tell he wasn’t happy. Something had spooked him. His normally sweet and controlled disposition wilted. Their plan couldn’t be failing—not yet. She refused to let them fail.
Once inside the house, Delia left Sarah and Killian alone in order to retrieve Sarah’s father.
“What’s troubling you?” Sarah murmured. She stepped into Killian’s personal space and stared into his eyes.
“I’m fine.” He raked his fingers through his hair. His gaze never settled on any one place.
“Planning to rob us blind?” she snapped.
“I had what I wanted but you insisted on being brought home.” Killian folded his arms, effectively shutting her out.
She wanted to say something and reassure him, but Delia, Frederick, Isaiah and her father entered the foyer of the house.
“My girl, you’re home. I worried about you.” Mr Moyer engulfed her in an embrace. “You must tell me about your trip and the young man who brought you back to me.”
“Why don’t we adjourn to the parlor?” Sarah said. She disengaged from her father and steered Killian into the side room. “This will be nicer.”
“You make me wait to see my beloved.” Isaiah followed her father, Nelson, into the parlor, but didn’t sit. His words might have sounded romantic to anyone else, but Sarah knew the truth. The only thing that mattered to Isaiah was money.
“Enough, Isaiah,” Mr Moyer snapped. “Be nice to our guest.”
“Who is this guest, then?” Isaiah notched his chin in the air. “We don’t allow riff raff in the Moyer House. Wait on the street and I’ll have the maid find you a crust of bread.”
“He’s not riff raff,” Delia exclaimed. “He’s the man who saved our Miss Sarah. He’s a hero.”
Sarah curled her arms around Killian’s tight bicep. “I’m very grateful to him. These awful pirates kidnapped me and then had the gall to leave me in the bay in a tiny lifeboat. It was dreadful.”
“When I spotted you in the bay, I knew I had to help.” Killian’s voice dropped an octave. “Can’t leave a lady alone in the world.”
“Peculiar.” Frederick narrowed his eyes. “You look familiar. Have you been in Norfolk long?”
“Only a few months. I’ve kept a low profile. If my father found out where I was, he’d be sure to haul me back to Boston.” Killian tensed, but his expression never wavered.
“Boston? What does he do?” Isaiah asked. “Trash collecting?”
“He’s a shipping baron. Moves things from place to place for a small fee.” The muscle in Killian’s jaw quivered.
Nelson put his hand in the air, keeping Isaiah behind him. “Thank you, my boy, for bringing my daughter home to me.” He placed paper money in Killian’s hand. “Here’s a crisp hundred dollar bill. I swore whoever brought her home deserved a hefty reward.”
“Thank you, Mr Moyer, but no thank you. I appreciate your kindness, but seeing her home safely is reward enough.”
“Truly.” Isaiah strolled around Nelson and clapped Killian’s shoulder. “Why don’t I see you out?”
“Isaiah,” Sarah snapped. She situated herself between the man she loved and the man she loathed. “We should give him refuge for the night. Dinner at least. He’s gone out of his way to assist me and deserves a kindness beyond money. The guest
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