Desire In His Eyes by Kaitlin O'Riley Read Free Book Online

scratch the surface in describing Juliette Hamilton. Irritated that she seemed to have gotten under his skin so quickly, he kept his mouth shut.
    “Did you find out what she’s after in New York?”
    Harrison shook his head. “She won’t admit it, but it has to be a man.”
    “The crew thinks she’s here because she met you in London and fancies herself in love with you,” Charlie muttered, failing to hold back the awe in his voice.
    Harrison scoffed at his first mate’s remark. “No, it’s definitely not me she’s in love with, I promise you that. Besides, I hardly saw her in London.”
    Charlie gave him a questioning glance, one bushy eyebrow arched high. “You stayed at her family’s house though, didn’t you? Perhaps more happened than you realized.”
    Harrison stared at Charlie. “You really think that’s the truth? That I somehow bewitched this poor girl and led her on and now she’s set on following me across the ocean? Is that what you truly believe?”
    “No. No, of course not.” Charlie had the good grace to look chagrined. “They were all saying it, but to hear you tell it, it doesn’t sound very feasible after all.”
    “Well, believe me, I had absolutely nothing to do with Juliette Hamilton’s decision to leave London, except for the fact that I unwittingly provided her with an opportunity to escape. Which it seems I now must pay for,” he grumbled.
    “Are you going to keep her in your cabin?”
    “Where else would you suggest I put her, Charlie? In with the rest of the crew?”
    Charlie laughed, a big booming laugh. “The fellas wouldn’t mind that at all, I’ll tell you.”
    “No, I imagine they wouldn’t at that. If she weren’t Lucien Sinclair’s sister-in-law, I’d do it. Or I swear I would have tossed her shapely bottom overboard by now.”
    “If I know nothing else about you, Harrison, I know you would never do something like that to a lady!” Charlie challenged him.
    “You’re right,” Harrison admitted without hesitation. “But I’ve thought about it enough.” He’d recently thought about doing other things to her as well, but those were better left unmentioned in front of his first mate.
    “Why isn’t she cleaning the deck?”
    “She’s having her lunch in the privacy of my cabin.” Harrison thought for a moment. “But I’m not sure it was a good idea to have her scrubbing the deck anyway. She was too much of a distraction for the men.” And for me , he admitted to himself. The sight of Juliette Hamilton’s pert derriere swaying in those men’s breeches as she was on her hands and knees was a little too much for any man to bear.
    “Aww, they need a little fun, Harrison. Let ’em enjoy the view for a while. No one was bothering her.”
    Harrison felt oddly put out at the thought of his men enjoying the view of Juliette’s rear end, even though he had quite enjoyed the sight himself. And he did not even want to think about just how much he had enjoyed kissing her.
    Juliette was trouble all right.
    “No, Charlie.” He shook his head. “I was trying to teach her a lesson, but it was a bad idea to begin with. Though she should have something to occupy her time and to keep her from distracting the men. I need to find something else for her to do to earn her keep.”
    “Well, you had better find it quick.” Charlie pointed toward the stern of the ship. “There she is now.”
    Harrison was stunned to see Juliette Hamilton climbing the rigging of the mizzenmast with Robbie Deane and a few of the other men helping her along. God help him, but she was a sight to behold. With her black hair whipping in the breeze, her elegant arms and long legs in her men’s trousers moved gracefully up the length of rigging. She was incredible, moving quickly and easily, higher and higher. What did she think she was doing? How high up was she planning to go? Had the woman no fear? Or good sense?
    And how the hell did she get up there in the first place?
    Torn between