Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato

strong jaw.
    She glanced up to meet his gaze. It got her hot with exasperation how he endeavored to best her in their encounters, always with a confidence to overshadow hers. Make no mistake, she wasn’t foolish enough to believe she was a match for the likes of a privateering war hero. No, what got her dander up was the little boy inside who enjoyed watching her fluster. Well, not this time. Lorena had plenty of experience with little boys, and she saw through their games.
    “If you’ve lured me here simply to bait me again, I shall leave,” she announced.
    He chuckled, eyes bright, and removed his hat. The heat and sunshine had dampened his brow, and his sandy hair clung to his forehead where the brim had been resting. She found his shaggy hairstyle to be more roguish than fashionable, and yet it seemed to complement him.
    “Not at all,” he said. “I realize the inconvenience of meeting me privately, so I thank you for coming. The truth is, I have no excuse for my behavior in the shipyard except to blame my high spirits and an eagerness to make your acquaintance. As a lady, you were undeserving of my forwardness. For that, I beg your pardon. Also for any ill manners I may have shown the evening I dined in your home. Your identity took me by surprise, to say the least.”
    He regarded her humbly. In his eyes shone a sweetness of expression.
    “I accept your apology, Captain.” Lorena felt warmth in her cheeks. “As for myself, I am ashamed of the way I ran off. I was frightened. I thought—”
    “You made the wise decision. I did not offer my name, and you had no idea what sort of man you were dealing with. I take full responsibility and pray Drew does not bear me any ill will. Perhaps you could help me in that respect. He is such a fine lad. It would please me greatly if we three could become friends.”
    Lorena contemplated him a moment, surprised by his request. “How is it, Captain, that a famous privateersman, a man both feared and respected, displays such amazing tenderness towards a child? Most men do not concern themselves with little ones, finding them more nuisance than not. But not you, sir. Why, your face fairly glows whenever Drew is near. One minute I find you an arrogant fellow and the next quite surprisingly . . . sentimental.”
    She watched him absorb this information, his expression grave, then thought better of herself and said, “Forgive me. I speak too personal.”
    “Nay, I respect your honesty. May you always feel this free to share your opinion. Which makes me wonder myself how a refined young lady finds the courage to be outspoken. It seems we are like most people whose characters are more complicated than what first appears on the surface. It takes time to get to know the heart of the person within. And is that not what we are doing here? Getting to know one another? In which case, it would please me greatly if you’d call me Brogan.”
    This pleased Lorena also. “Very well . . . Brogan.”
    He brightened. “Then we can be . . . friends?”
    “Indeed. The three of us.” There was gaiety in her voice and a lightness in her spirit. “You shall enjoy getting to know Drew. He’s a delightful child. A good boy . . . most of the time.”
    The captain chuckled. “I’m sure I shall, and I look forward to a closer acquaintance with you, as well. Speaking of which, something has been puzzling me since our first meeting.” At her quizzical look, he asked, “For what reason does a beautiful young lady sit dozing in a shipyard before the dawn?”
    Lorena had not been dozing so much as waiting upon the Lord. But how to explain her unease, as though she was being warned, when she did not understand the danger herself?
    Instead, she told Brogan the tale of her cranberry tarts. How, as soon as she had finished baking them, she’d headed for the marsh and its cool breezes. She told him of the tarts’ disappearance, of how Drew, her father, and Temperance had gobbled them up