Marooned with a Millionaire Read Online Free

him. But she deplored violence, and guns, so she settled for a direct verbal assault. “Well, I wish I would’ve brought my little dog, Toto. I would’ve sent him into attack mode. For protection, of course.”
    His frown deepened. “You don’t need protection from me, I assure you.” He held up his gun. “I’ve never had to use this before, but it’s necessary when you’re out to sea alone. Unfortunately, I just wasted all my bullets.”
    She laid a dramatic hand across her forehead. “For a minute there I thought you might put your poor disabled boat out of its misery, or use it on yourself in a moment of desperation.”
    â€œYou thought wrong.” He angled toward her and studied her long and hard. “What you did a minute ago, chasing after me knowing I was armed, wasn’t a very smart thing to do. For all you knew, I could’ve meant to harm you.”
    â€œYou could’ve done that by not saving me earlier, but you rescued me anyway. So I figured you wouldn’t murder me, even if you did massacre Bessie.”
    â€œBessie?”
    â€œMy balloon. And that wasn’t too smart, either.”
    â€œIt’s an inanimate object, Dorothy.”
    â€œAn inanimate object with propane tanks, Ahab. You could’ve blown us back to Kansas.”
    He hinted at a smile, but it didn’t form all the way. “You’re right. I wasn’t thinking.”
    â€œAnd I wasn’t exactly thinking when I rushed at you knowing you had the gun. I only knew I didn’t want you to hurt yourself.”
    He took a step closer. “Why?”
    A weird question. “Because everyone deserves to live, even if they are a bit cranky.”
    He took one more step. “Cranky?”
    She couldn’t exactly back up without being obvious, and for some reason she didn’t really want to. “Yeah. Cranky. Not that you don’t have a reason to be a bit put out.” She studied her bare feet, unable to look at him directly, not with him so close that she could count the whiskers on his chin and the character lines around his assessing eyes. “I’m sorry. Really I am. I do appreciate everything you’ve done for me and Hank.”
    â€œHank?”
    She raised her gaze to his and smiled. “My baby.”
    He looked as though she’d announced she intended to birth a skunk. “You call your baby Hank? For God’s sake, why?”
    â€œMy father’s name was Hank. He died almost two years ago. I’ve never known a stronger, kinder man.”
    Lizzie saw a glimpse of guilt in Jack’s eyes beforehis gaze dropped to her belly. “Then you know it’s a boy?”
    â€œNo. I only confirmed the pregnancy this morning, so it’s too soon to tell.” And what a way to celebrate the news, stranded with a sullen sailor. “But I hope it’s a boy. Not that I don’t like girls. I’ve just always gotten along better with men.”
    His features mellowed, from staid to a tad less stoic. “That’s good to know considering I’m a man, and you’re a woman, and we’re going to be spending a lot of time together. In very close quarters.”
    Had that really sounded like a sexy, sinful guarantee? No way, Lizzie thought. No how. Not her and him. “Then we’re really—”
    â€œStuck. Together.” A slight smile surfaced. “You and me, babe. Until someone happens to come along.”
    First princess, now babe. He had a lot to learn about her dislikes, and she was more than willing to teach him. “I am not a babe, and doesn’t anyone know where you are?”
    Any inkling of a smile disappeared from his face. “I haven’t talked to anyone for a year, except for a few people in port, and now you.”
    A year? Had he been without a woman for a year? The prospect that her virtue might be in peril momentarily crossed Lizzie’s mind, and