The Pirate by Katherine Garbera Page A

semen.
    â€œYou are a beautiful woman,” he said.
    â€œNot really,” she said. She looked in the mirror every day and though she wasn’t a dog, she knew “beauty” wasn’t a term that anyone would use to describe her.
    He held his hand out to her and helped her to sit back up. He bent over, handing her shirt to her. She pulled it back on, feeling a bit awkward as she slowly redressed herself. She still had her running shoes on, she realized, as she struggled to get her shorts and underwear on over them.
    Laz didn’t do anything but lean against the door and watch her and she did take a certain comfort from that. No matter that she wasn’t Angelina Jolie. When Lazarus looked at her, he saw a woman who was beautiful.
    She finally had her clothes to rights and went over to where he was. She put her head against his chest and stole a little strength from him, because Laz had already proven that he wasn’t the kind of man who could be intimidated or scared and she wanted that. She hoped that their lovemaking had meant something to him. It had to her. It was another stage in her metamorphosis from half-living to fully alive.
    â€œI’ve got to get back to the bridge,” Laz said.
    Daphne straightened away from him. “Bob and I are going to try to radio our families. Our cell phones aren’t working very well. Is that okay?”
    â€œWhy do you need to radio them?”
    What could she say? That she suspected him of being in league with the pirates who plagued the sea here? No, of course not. Besides she didn’t know what she thought about Laz anymore. She just knew that she needed to talk to her boys.
    â€œI miss my sons,” she said.
    â€œHow many do you have?” he asked.
    â€œTwo. They aren’t babies but still I am used to checking in with them every day. And I want to make sure they are okay.”
    Laz rubbed his hand over his chest right where her head had been resting a minute ago. “I guess I can’t say no to that. You have my permission.”
    â€œThanks, Captain.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.”
    He opened the door and she watched him walk down the hallway. She wondered if this was the last time they’d be alone. This was a big tanker and he had a lot of responsibilities on the ship.
    She wanted his mind on the safety of the ship. Did that mean she trusted him?
    Given her track record with men, trusting Laz was a pretty big deal. She had no idea if she could trust him or not, but she did know that she was no longer uneasy about what he was doing last night. Still she had questions.
    And she knew she’d get answers from him soon enough.
    â€œDaphne, there you are,” Bob said, coming up behind her. “Are you okay?”
    â€œYes, why do you ask?”
    â€œYou look like you have a rash on your neck. I have some special soap that should help. “
    She flushed even more deeply, realizing that the marks on her neck had to have been left by Laz. “Thanks, but I’m fine. When I run my skin gets splotchy. It should be back to normal soon.”
    â€œGlad to hear it. Are you ready for the radio room or do you want to clean up first?”
    Considering she could still smell Laz on herself, she opted for a shower, telling Bob she’d meet him in a few minutes in the galley. It was where their team had taken to hanging out. Being up on the deck of a tanker was different than being up on a cruise ship’s deck.
    Daphne took her time in the shower and then dressed slowly. She stared at herself in the mirror as she finger combed her thick curly hair. Brushes and combs just made her look like Medusa, according to her kids.
    She didn’t know what she was searching for in the mirror. It was still her face. She looked the same. Not like a woman who was on the cusp of a huge change.
    Changing was something she thought she was past. For the longest time she’d looked in the mirror and saw a woman who