Read Online Course of the Heart by Cam Dawson - Free Book Online Page B

had warmed as the day passed, she never shed her sweat suit. There was just no way to get warm. She had clung to Drew’s side in the early morning for a long while before sensing his discomfort and moving away. He’d told her to stay close to him as long as she wanted. Was he only being considerate of her feelings?
    All day she fought the need to get close to him. Not in a sexual way, but more in a big brother/father way. Something, anything to feel safe. Thinking back, she could remember only a short period of her recent past when she had felt safe, and that was from the time she’d first jumped onto Drew’s boat until the attempt of the pirate to rip her legs apart.
    It had never occurred to her that piracy was still alive, especially so close to Florida’s coastline. How could this be? And how had Drew been so ready for the attack? She had been dead asleep when the pirates came bursting into her stateroom. She hadn’t given a thought to this type of invasion. It had never entered her mind. When the door had flown open that morning, she remembered how Brad had shown up at the hotel, and thought it was him.
    She shook the thoughts from her head as she prepared a meal. The thought of eating was repulsive, but she knew Drew would probably be hungry. As she finished and was preparing to bring the food on deck, he stepped down the ladder, pulling the hatch closed behind him and latching it.
    “Kind of chilly out there tonight.” He made his way to the galley sink. With a short squirt of water, he lathered his hands and then dried the soap from them without rinsing. “Might want to eat below tonight.”
    He glanced back to the hatch. “I’m so sorry I didn’t think of latching it last night.”
    “Forget it, Drew.” She placed tuna salad before him. “It never occurred to me either. I guess I was over confident that Brad couldn’t find us. I had no idea anyone else would want to—”
    “It’s okay,” he said, as she sat at the table across from him. “We won’t be hearing from those guys again. Believe me, there’s plenty of boats out there for them to pillage. I doubt they come back here. I think it will be a pride thing to them. The quicker today fades from their memories, the better.”
    Still in her sweats, Samantha shivered. She rubbed her hands together nervously. “Please, eat. I’m not hungry tonight. Besides, I nibbled while I was fixing dinner.”
    “It looks good.” He picked up his fork and dug in. “I don’t know how you can make tuna so delicious.”
    “You don’t have to say that.”
    “I mean it.” He shoveled more into his mouth. After he swallowed, he grinned. “Can’t you tell?”
    She struggled to allow his humor to calm her, but it was no use. The boat shifted and she flinched.
    “It’s okay,” he murmured, reaching for her hand. “It’s just the wind. Believe me, I can tell the difference between the wind and when someone pays us an uninvited visit.”
    “I’m sorry.” His hand was both warm and reassuring. “I’m still a little jumpy.”
    “It’s all right.” He wiped his mouth, then took a long pull from his beer. His brows drew down as he studied his food, chewed for a few seconds and then looked directly into her eyes. “You’re sleeping in the master stateroom tonight.”
    She couldn’t hide her reaction. The apprehension must have shown on her face.
    “Relax,” he said softly, never letting go of her hand, although she withdrew instinctively. “You’re safe with me. I never thought I’ve ever say that to a woman, believe me, but you’re sleeping close to me tonight. You can wear those sweats if you want. In fact, I’d sleep better if you did, and I promise to keep my distance. And if I do something stupid in my sleep, just whack me on the head and tell me to stop.”
    She broke into a smile, ignoring her uneasiness.
    His big blue eyes widened. “What? What’d I say?”
    “Nothing.” Strangely, she would have never thought an offer to sleep