Captain's Paradise Read Online Free

he’d dressed her in the night before, and she changed with relief. The evening gownshe had worn had been ruined by the saltwater; she felt no regrets at losing it, but she wished now that she had been wearing a bra.
    Still, she acknowledged wryly to herself, it hardly mattered. After all, Michael Siran had stripped her naked. The realization made her a bit self-conscious, and she pushed the feeling away only with effort.
    She went slowly up on deck, finding herself on a relatively small cabin cruiser. The sun was still low in the east, and she saw no other ships near them. As far as she could tell, they still headed in the direction of Miami. The inboard motor started as she stood gazing around, and she made her way toward the small bridge. She paused only once, catching sight of an old-style life preserver hanging beside the cabin door. The name of the boat was stenciled on the white doughnut shape, and it made her pause in more ways than one.
    Black Angel
.
    Great. That was just great. Robin wasn’t overly suspicious of omens, but it struck her with achill that she was involved in a dangerous situation, partnered with a stranger she hardly trusted, and aboard a boat named for the angel of death.
    She blamed the chill on her still-groggy state, squared her shoulders, and went on to the bridge. He was at the wheel, gazing ahead with a slight frown. She took the opportunity to study him unobserved, unsettled to discover that she was abruptly aware of her heartbeat again. There was something compelling about this man, something that kept her gaze on him like iron filings on a magnet. Tall, lean, and hard, he reminded her again of a storm, caught in a moment of stillness, like lightning in a photograph. It was hard to breathe suddenly, and she fought off the sensation with determination.
    “Are we going to Miami?” she asked.
    He glanced at her, the brief look taking in her change of clothing without comment, then looked ahead again. “Yes.”
    “Why? The yacht wouldn’t have sailed toward a congested port—”
    “There’s someone I have to get in touch with.”
    Robin waited, but he didn’t elaborate. She stifled impatience, beginning to realize that this man wasn’t going to be very communicative. “Who?”
    For a moment it seemed he wouldn’t answer, but then he said, “Someone who may be able to tell us something.”
    At least he had said “us,” she thought. “You mean something about the yacht I was on?”
    “Possibly.”
    Robin folded her arms beneath her breasts and leaned back against the doorjamb. “For instance?”
    He glanced at her again, one eyebrow rising. “You sound annoyed,” he noted dryly.
    “I am annoyed. I’m not just along for the ride, you know.”
    After a moment he said, “You lost the first bout with these animals; sure you want to try for two out of three?”
    Robin kept her voice even with an effort. “No, I don’t want to do that. I want to beat them thistime. I don’t want them
in
jail, I want them
under
it. I asked for your help, I didn’t ask you to do this alone. I can—”
    “What can you do?” he interrupted. “Can you handle a gun?”
    “If I had to, I’m sure I could.”
    “If you had to? Life or death, you mean?”
    “Yes, I suppose that’s what I mean.”
    “And when will you make up your mind about that?”
    She frowned at him. “About what?”
    “About when this becomes a life-or-death situation.” He didn’t wait for her to respond. “You were kidnapped, drugged, beaten, and shot at when you tried to escape. Now you intend to look for those same men and put them away for the duration of their natural lives. Needless to say, they won’t accept that fate meekly. They may decide, given the chance, to shoot at you a bit more. Is that when you plan to shoot back?”
    “If it comes to—”
    He swore roughly. “Little fool.”
    Robin stiffened. Angrily she said, “You haveno right to say such a thing! You don’t know anything about me or my