curving his lips once
again. Tautly he added, "If you would listen to what I say Nick, as
readily as you do everything Allen says, things would be much easier
between us. But that aside, I merely stated that fifteen was a little old for
the duties you perform. I probably should assign you to the ship's carpenter,
or perhaps you might be interested in training for a gunner's mate. Would you
like that?"
It
was what at one time she had longed for passionately, but now she was appalled.
She could not continue her masquerade in close proximity to the crew. The first
time she was unable to carry out a task that required only simple masculine
muscle the fat would truly be in the fire! Trusting that her face had not
betrayed her, she lifted her chin pugnaciously and said brazenly, "I would
like it above all things! Particularly being apprenticed to the gunner's
mate."
His
mouth tightened disagreeably at her brave words and the challenging tone.
Setting the glass down sharply, he replied acidly, "Well, you can forget
it! After five years I've grown rather used to your insolent efficiency!"
Unreasonably
angry at the fright he had given her, forgetting again as well the danger of
letting her ready tongue rule her, she placed her hands on her slender hips and
snapped, "You were the one that brought the subject up. I was merely
proceeding with my usual insolent efficiency!"
"Careful,
Nick," he said softly. "Don't push me too far or I'm likely to treat
you as you deserve."
Recalled
to her senses by the underlying menace in his voice, she dropped her eyes from
his and said expressionlessly, "I apologize, sir. If you'll excuse me,
I'll continue working on the cargo lists?"
The
lists she had been working on were still scattered over the desk, and after
pulling out a heavy oak chair, she sat down stiffly and began to write. She
found it an enormous effort to concentrate with Saber just a short distance
away. She was too distracted by his lean maleness and loose-limbed strength.
From the corner of her eye she could see one sun-browned hand playing idly with
a bit of twine that lay on the desk and she wished vehemently that he would leave.
She knew he was watching her, knew he was staring at her down-bent head; she
could feel it and the muscles in her neck tightened. Worse, she could have
sworn aloud when she noticed a slight tremble in her hand as she reached for
another slip of paper.
"Relax,
Nick. I won't bite, you know." His amusement was obvious and Nicole
gritted her teeth. Then once again forgetful of the role she played and ruled
by the fire in her hair, she shot him a venomous look.
He
grinned back at her, a mocking gleam in the amber-gold eyes. "Young Nick,
it occurs to me that in spite of five years' close association, we know very
little of each other. Now why is that do you suppose?"
Forcing
herself to reply calmly, she said stiffly, "I doubt that most captains are
greatly concerned with their cabin boys." Unable to control the impulse,
she added sarcastically, "All we have in common are dirty linens, slop
jars, and unmade beds—hardly exciting topics of conversation. There is little
to know about me as long as I perform my duties satisfactorily."
"But
you don't," he said darkly. "You're insolent and you dislike me—a
fact you make little effort to hide, I might add. Considering I took you to sea
at your very urgent request, I should think you would have a certain liking for
me." His voice hardening, he inquired, "But you don't, do you,
Nick?"
"I
didn't think my likes and dislikes were that important to you," she said
cautiously. "You have never commented on my attitude before and if my . .
." She hesitated a moment before saying, "Dislike was as apparent as
you seem to feel it is, surely you would have said something previously."
Boldly she finished, "I think, sir, you imagine things."
"Do
I, Nick? Did I just imagine the look you flashed my way not too many seconds
ago? And have I been imagining those baleful glances
again. Tautly he added, "If you would listen to what I say Nick, as
readily as you do everything Allen says, things would be much easier
between us. But that aside, I merely stated that fifteen was a little old for
the duties you perform. I probably should assign you to the ship's carpenter,
or perhaps you might be interested in training for a gunner's mate. Would you
like that?"
It
was what at one time she had longed for passionately, but now she was appalled.
She could not continue her masquerade in close proximity to the crew. The first
time she was unable to carry out a task that required only simple masculine
muscle the fat would truly be in the fire! Trusting that her face had not
betrayed her, she lifted her chin pugnaciously and said brazenly, "I would
like it above all things! Particularly being apprenticed to the gunner's
mate."
His
mouth tightened disagreeably at her brave words and the challenging tone.
Setting the glass down sharply, he replied acidly, "Well, you can forget
it! After five years I've grown rather used to your insolent efficiency!"
Unreasonably
angry at the fright he had given her, forgetting again as well the danger of
letting her ready tongue rule her, she placed her hands on her slender hips and
snapped, "You were the one that brought the subject up. I was merely
proceeding with my usual insolent efficiency!"
"Careful,
Nick," he said softly. "Don't push me too far or I'm likely to treat
you as you deserve."
Recalled
to her senses by the underlying menace in his voice, she dropped her eyes from
his and said expressionlessly, "I apologize, sir. If you'll excuse me,
I'll continue working on the cargo lists?"
The
lists she had been working on were still scattered over the desk, and after
pulling out a heavy oak chair, she sat down stiffly and began to write. She
found it an enormous effort to concentrate with Saber just a short distance
away. She was too distracted by his lean maleness and loose-limbed strength.
From the corner of her eye she could see one sun-browned hand playing idly with
a bit of twine that lay on the desk and she wished vehemently that he would leave.
She knew he was watching her, knew he was staring at her down-bent head; she
could feel it and the muscles in her neck tightened. Worse, she could have
sworn aloud when she noticed a slight tremble in her hand as she reached for
another slip of paper.
"Relax,
Nick. I won't bite, you know." His amusement was obvious and Nicole
gritted her teeth. Then once again forgetful of the role she played and ruled
by the fire in her hair, she shot him a venomous look.
He
grinned back at her, a mocking gleam in the amber-gold eyes. "Young Nick,
it occurs to me that in spite of five years' close association, we know very
little of each other. Now why is that do you suppose?"
Forcing
herself to reply calmly, she said stiffly, "I doubt that most captains are
greatly concerned with their cabin boys." Unable to control the impulse,
she added sarcastically, "All we have in common are dirty linens, slop
jars, and unmade beds—hardly exciting topics of conversation. There is little
to know about me as long as I perform my duties satisfactorily."
"But
you don't," he said darkly. "You're insolent and you dislike me—a
fact you make little effort to hide, I might add. Considering I took you to sea
at your very urgent request, I should think you would have a certain liking for
me." His voice hardening, he inquired, "But you don't, do you,
Nick?"
"I
didn't think my likes and dislikes were that important to you," she said
cautiously. "You have never commented on my attitude before and if my . .
." She hesitated a moment before saying, "Dislike was as apparent as
you seem to feel it is, surely you would have said something previously."
Boldly she finished, "I think, sir, you imagine things."
"Do
I, Nick? Did I just imagine the look you flashed my way not too many seconds
ago? And have I been imagining those baleful glances
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