Badlands by Seleste deLaney Page A

again. “How…how did anyone know I was even here?”
    He started to shake his head. Then he stopped. He couldn’t pretend he didn’t know. “The telegraph.”
    “What telegraph?” Her body went rigid in his grasp.
    So he told her about the extra charge to the ship’s account. “I didn’t think much of it beyond being angry someone would spend the money and not own up to it.”
    “And now?”
    He squeezed his hands into fists, afraid of hurting her further with his anger as the faces of his crew flashed through his mind. “And now, it means someone on my ship not only betrayed my trust but wants you dead.”
    They discussed it in low voices. Every name came up, and each one was summarily dismissed.
    “None of them have any reason to hate you.” Spencer wanted to get up and pace. His blood was boiling and he couldn’t quiet his mind. Yet he couldn’t bear the thought of not having Ever in his arms.
    “Henrietta does not think very fondly of me.”
    “Not enough to kill you.” He couldn’t believe that of Henri. She was too focused on propriety and her status. Ever didn’t threaten her in any way. Of course, Ever wasn’t a threat to anyone on the crew.
    They batted around ideas deep into the night when sleep finally overcame them both. Ever’s head rested on Spencer’s chest, her brace lying across his stomach. His arms wrapped around her as if she would disappear if he didn’t hold on to her for all he was worth.

Chapter Nine
    The jostling of the ship woke Ever. She lay tangled in Spencer’s embrace. As much as she wanted to stay there, holding him and reveling in the knowledge that there was no other woman—only her—she knew the time had come for duty once more. Assuming, of course, they were actually in Philadelphia. She tried to slither out of his arms, but he pulled her tighter.
    “It’s going to be a while before we’re cleared to disembark.”
    Ignoring him, she pushed up until she hovered over him. “How can you be so calm? We might not even be in Pennsylvania, much less Philadelphia.”
    He jerked his chin toward his porthole. “Every place I’ve docked has a different view. Trust me, if nothing else, we’re exactly where we intended.” When she didn’t lie back down, Spencer rubbed the back of his neck. “I suppose we need to figure out our next move.”
    Ever eased from the bed, stretching muscles sore from too much tension and time in close quarters over the last few days topped by the clockwork fight. “That is simple. You obtain the paper that gives you ownership of the Dark Hawk and I find Princess Laurette at the university. We return here and take her home.”
    “And you’re willing to fly with someone who tried to have you killed?”
    Now that she’d finally given in to her crazy feelings for Spencer, she didn’t want to let him go. More than that, though, she knew there was no point in looking for another ship. “Yes. If only because there is no way I can be certain of finding alternate passage that is any safer. I trust you to get us back. I would not trust anyone else. At least here, I know to be on my guard.” She knew her reasoning wasn’t completely sound, but if anything happened to her, she was sure Spencer would guard Laurette with his life.
    “Is everything black and white to you?” He tugged off his shirt, muscles flexing as he pulled on a clean one.
    She allowed herself a brief moment to appreciate the way his muscles rippled and moved, like the grace of a mountain cat. “No. Some things reveal themselves in so many colors they blind me to how wonderful they are.” She stepped behind him and rested her chin on his shoulder. “I will never understand what this is between us.”
    He turned and brushed her lips with his. “Do you really want to?”
    She caught his eyes and sank into their subtle shades of gray. “No, but I would enjoy surviving long enough to try.”

    They stepped from the ramp onto the dock, the wood slats and brass rail gleaming