A Taste of Paradise by Connie Mason Read Free Book Online Page B

breeches stayed firmly in place. “I need a jacket.”
    â€œOne of mine, I presume.”
    Sophia returned to Chris’s sea chest, rummaging around until she found a jacket fashioned of thick wool. “Do you mind?” she asked, holding it up to her chest.
    â€œNot at all, but I have a better idea. I’ll ask Casper to loan you one of his. It will fit you better than mine.”
    Aware of where his gaze lingered, Sophia pulled on the jacket and buttoned it over her breasts. It nearly swallowed her in its enormous folds. “I’ll wear yours until Casper provides me with another.”
    â€œPity,” Chris muttered.
    Now that she was decently covered, Sophia’s courage returned. “What do you want?”
    Chris’s brows shot upward. “This is my cabin. This is where I take my meals and sleep.”
    â€œWhere am I going to sleep?”
    â€œYou’ll be sharing my cabin. I thought I made that clear.”
    â€œBe reasonable, Chris. You know that won’t work, for obvious reasons.”
    Sophia turned away lest he see her dismay. It wounded her pride that he thought so little of her. He’d been wild in his youth, she recalled, but sweet and endearing. He’d sworn she was the love of his life. Ha, so much for love!
    There came a knock on the door. Chris admitted Casper; he had brought their supper. The lad placed the tray on the desk and left immediately to fetch a bottle of port and one of his old jackets as Chris requested. Chris pulled two chairs up to the desk and seated Sophia with a flourish.
    â€œCook has prepared a veritable feast,” he said, pointing out the various dishes of meat and vegetables. “I hope you like chicken. We brought live fowl and a few goats aboard to provide meat for the duration of our journey. The fresh vegetables will only last a short time and the flour will grow weevils, so eat hearty while you can.”
    â€œI love chicken,” Sophia replied. He heaped her plate with succulent pieces of stewed chicken and vegetables and then filled his own. She caught him staring at her and sought to distract him. “Tell me about your ship.”
    â€œThe
Intrepid
is a three-masted, square-rigged schooner. She’s fast and dependable, and all mine. Though she carries twenty-four guns, we’ve rarely had to fire them. We can outrun anything afloat.”
    â€œHave you been a captain long?”
    Chris bit into a piece of chicken and chewed thoughtfully. “I bought the
Intrepid
three years ago. Before that, I served aboard her for two years as first mate. The captain wanted to retire, so I found the funds to buy her. ”
    â€œSo you’ve been plying the seas these past seven years.”
    â€œI enjoy the excitement.”
    â€œAre you carrying trade goods to Jamaica in your hold now?”
    â€œEnough questions,” Chris said. “Your food is getting cold.”
    Sophia bristled at his abruptness. Chris’s moods ran hot and cold. He hated her, yet he wanted her. He had disappeared from her life without as much as a goodbye. She might still be a member of Society if Chris had offered for her after the duel instead of disappearing and leaving her to face the scandal and her family’s wrath alone.
    â€œAre you ready now to tell me who or what you were running from, Sophia?”
    Sophia shook her head. “I’ve told you everything you need to know. Tell me about Jamaica.”
    â€œAh, Jamaica. After experiencing the golden warmth of the island, you’ll find the chill fog of England enormously unappealing. I did. That’s why I’m settling permanently on my newly acquired plantation. I’m going to raise sugarcane and distill rum.”
    The conversation was momentarily interrupted when Casper arrived with a bottle of ruby port and a woolen jacket. Chris thanked him, and he left immediately. Chris handed the jacket to Sophia, then popped the cork on the port while