being off-loaded onto wagons. A long line of crewmen snaked around one of the warehouses as the sailors waited impatiently for their pay, talking loudly of the exotic Oriental delights they intended to sample as soon as they had money in their pockets.
Their ribald suggestions did not penetrate the haze of Erin's preoccupation as she maneuvered the buggy through the crowd to the main building. Spotting Storm's Japanese assistant out in front, she slipped quickly from the seat and went over to inquire as to his whereabouts.
"Captain Davin is on the wharf, miss. One of the ships that just came in was damaged in a storm last night. He is inspecting it."
Erin hesitated a moment, wondering if she shouldn't simply wait for him in his office. Unsure of how much longer her courage would last, she rejected the idea. If her sudden arrival angered him, so be it. Compared to the risks she was already running, that seemed little enough to worry about.
Oblivious of the sailors' curious looks, she strode purposefully toward the docks, her long skirt swirling around her slender body and her glorious ebony hair gleaming in the sunlight.
When she caught sight of Storm, she stopped, the determination that had propelled her thus far abruptly draining out of her. He had just pulled himself up onto the dock after diving to check on the damage beneath the ship's waterline.
Stripped to the waist, his buckskin trousers clinging to his big, muscular body, he looked like a magnificent bronze sculpture come to life. Diamond droplets shone against his massive shoulders and hair-roughened chest. As he spoke with an older man, he tossed his head back, sending a shower of water from his thick, sun-streaked hair.
Erin took a ragged breath. Panic flared on the edge of her mind. What on earth was she doing? How could she consider agreeing to his demands when she knew she had no defenses against him? To allow him to get any closer to her than he already had would be the height of folly. His uncompromising maleness was an iron-hard wall against which her softness would be battered unmercifully.
She turned shakily, torn between the need to go and the almost intolerable desire to stay. But the decision proved not to be her own. Storm caught sight of her and reacted instantly. He took a quick step forward, his hand lashing out to seize her arm in an implacable grip.
"What a pleasant surprise, Erin. Surely you didn't intend to go off without seeing me after having taken all the trouble to come out here?"
His mocking tone stung her. Lifting her head proudly, she glared at him. "I would hardly wish to be accused of disturbing you when you are so obviously busy."
A rueful grin touched his hard mouth. "You always disturb me. I've given up trying to deny it."
The admission of her ability to unsettle him surprised her. But not the swiftness with which he recovered his equanimity. "Dare I hope that your presence here means you have decided to accept my offer?"
"It might be better termed a demand," Erin said stiffly.
Storm shrugged, his gaze wandering over her so intently that it took all her willpower not to turn away. "Call it what you like. The terms stand. If you have come to try to negotiate a different arrangement, you are wasting your time."
"It never occurred to me to attempt anything so futile. You made your requirements quite clear. However, I do wish to be sure you understand mine."
A quizzical glance prompted her to continue. "If I agree to.. . . live with you, you will return my ships to me and facilitate the purchase of cargoes for them. Is that correct?"
"It is."
"When those cargoes are ready, you will make no attempt to prevent either the ships or me from leaving Japan?"
Picking up his shirt, Storm pulled it on before answering. "If that is what you want. You understand, however, that it will take several weeks to purchase the goods you want?"
"Yes, I just wanted to be certain that you would not attempt to keep me here any longer."
"Do
Their ribald suggestions did not penetrate the haze of Erin's preoccupation as she maneuvered the buggy through the crowd to the main building. Spotting Storm's Japanese assistant out in front, she slipped quickly from the seat and went over to inquire as to his whereabouts.
"Captain Davin is on the wharf, miss. One of the ships that just came in was damaged in a storm last night. He is inspecting it."
Erin hesitated a moment, wondering if she shouldn't simply wait for him in his office. Unsure of how much longer her courage would last, she rejected the idea. If her sudden arrival angered him, so be it. Compared to the risks she was already running, that seemed little enough to worry about.
Oblivious of the sailors' curious looks, she strode purposefully toward the docks, her long skirt swirling around her slender body and her glorious ebony hair gleaming in the sunlight.
When she caught sight of Storm, she stopped, the determination that had propelled her thus far abruptly draining out of her. He had just pulled himself up onto the dock after diving to check on the damage beneath the ship's waterline.
Stripped to the waist, his buckskin trousers clinging to his big, muscular body, he looked like a magnificent bronze sculpture come to life. Diamond droplets shone against his massive shoulders and hair-roughened chest. As he spoke with an older man, he tossed his head back, sending a shower of water from his thick, sun-streaked hair.
Erin took a ragged breath. Panic flared on the edge of her mind. What on earth was she doing? How could she consider agreeing to his demands when she knew she had no defenses against him? To allow him to get any closer to her than he already had would be the height of folly. His uncompromising maleness was an iron-hard wall against which her softness would be battered unmercifully.
She turned shakily, torn between the need to go and the almost intolerable desire to stay. But the decision proved not to be her own. Storm caught sight of her and reacted instantly. He took a quick step forward, his hand lashing out to seize her arm in an implacable grip.
"What a pleasant surprise, Erin. Surely you didn't intend to go off without seeing me after having taken all the trouble to come out here?"
His mocking tone stung her. Lifting her head proudly, she glared at him. "I would hardly wish to be accused of disturbing you when you are so obviously busy."
A rueful grin touched his hard mouth. "You always disturb me. I've given up trying to deny it."
The admission of her ability to unsettle him surprised her. But not the swiftness with which he recovered his equanimity. "Dare I hope that your presence here means you have decided to accept my offer?"
"It might be better termed a demand," Erin said stiffly.
Storm shrugged, his gaze wandering over her so intently that it took all her willpower not to turn away. "Call it what you like. The terms stand. If you have come to try to negotiate a different arrangement, you are wasting your time."
"It never occurred to me to attempt anything so futile. You made your requirements quite clear. However, I do wish to be sure you understand mine."
A quizzical glance prompted her to continue. "If I agree to.. . . live with you, you will return my ships to me and facilitate the purchase of cargoes for them. Is that correct?"
"It is."
"When those cargoes are ready, you will make no attempt to prevent either the ships or me from leaving Japan?"
Picking up his shirt, Storm pulled it on before answering. "If that is what you want. You understand, however, that it will take several weeks to purchase the goods you want?"
"Yes, I just wanted to be certain that you would not attempt to keep me here any longer."
"Do
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