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"Go home and do what? Squander your fortune and talent on dirt far?"

"Go home and take care of my own family Go ho, Gray leaned against the wall He knew Joss wouldhis brother out ofjust to convince hi to cut off his incoreed But he needed Joss, if this shipping concern was to stay afloat He’d worked too hard, sacrificed toopartner, it all would have been in vain

"Stay away frohed "We’re on the same ship I can’t help but be near her I’ll not proirl seeive you ain Satisfied?"

Joss shook his head "Give end you’reher first" Gray worried the edge of his thue, now that you suggest it"

Joss shot him an incredulous look

"With some other lady, on soesture "I’ll not bed her You have reat sacrifice, because it is I’d have her in two, three days at the most, I tell you"

"Once again--not a"

"For God’s sake, Joss, it’s a joke What do you want, an apology? I’ht?"

Joss shook his head and flipped open the logbook "No, you’re not"

"Yes, I a the truth He kneas being an ass, but the joking was easier than honesty For all his teasing, he hadn’t kissed her hand with the intent to seduce, or to judge if she tasted as sweet as he’d dreaers for one reason only Because they were tre, and he’d wanted theesture he thought it wise to repeat The girl did soain "I’ Miss Turner’s hand" He crossed to stand opposite his brother’s chair "I’ Bains Hell, I’ll even say I’reat enerate father, and I’enerate half brother"

Joss looked up sharply

Gray said, "I’m sorry Mara died"

Joss looked back down

Gray sat down across from him "But I’m not sorry I made you the captain of this ship, Joss Joss" He waited until his brother aze "You’re the only one I can trust I need you to command this ship, and I’ll not jeopardize that in any way I won’t counterain I’ll stay out of any disputes" He fanned his fingers out over the blotter and recalled the slender width of Miss Turner’s waist Then he closed his hand into a fist "I said I wouldn’t pursue Miss Turner I won’t"

Joss snorted

"Damn it, I wish one of these days you’d learn to trust me"

His brother looked hiive ry Suddenly, ravenously hungry

A near brush with disaster could do that to a woman

She followed the stairs down into the belly of the ship Hadn’t Stubb alley was down here so at the bottom of the stairs, she propped one hand on the ladder to steady herself Her heart throbbed in her chest The air was too thick Her breaths were shallow, and she was faint with hunger

She’d co

If only he weren’t so infuriating and so solicitous, all at once One or the other, she kne to resist, but insolence and charm made a potent brew indeed The way he’d soothed her concern with rough fingers, even as his words teased The way he’d guided her with a light touch at the sers so tenderly … they could have been in an elegant ballroo to dance a quadrille

By all evidence--his fine attire, cultured accent, proud bearing, the rare flash of politesse--Mr Grayson was a lish society, but delighted in doing just the reverse For a , perhaps he would understand