The Pirate's Desire by Jennette Green

years at sea, perhaps you would know the basic proprieties.”
    A smile flickered across his straight mouth. “Perhaps you would be so good to teach me.”
    She met his steady, amused gaze, and a disturbed flush warmed her cheeks. “I am sure your dearth of knowledge is too abysmal to remedy.” She glanced pointedly at the ledgers. “May we begin?”
    Riel slid a ledger before her. “I believe I understand how your father set up his books. Mine are not too different. Look…” He launched into an explanation of debits and credits and payments and income that left Lucinda’s head reeling. Clearly, Riel relished the task before him, for he spoke with passion. It also became evident that he possessed a quick, precise mind.
    Lucinda was sharp—she’d been one of the top students at Miss May’s School for Young Ladies—but this was too much, too fast. Her mind soon glazed into a state of panicked bewilderment. She didn’t like it. She was in over her head, and she didn’t understand what he was talking about.
    The only thing she grasped was that simple addition and subtraction seemed to be involved—thankfully, a skill she’d mastered. But as far as setting aside monies here and there, and totaling them all up so they didn’t exceed the budget…it was too much.
    “Stop,” she said faintly.
    Riel glanced at her. A frown twitched his brows together.
    With a shaky hand, Lucinda closed one of the books. “That is enough for today.” She made to get up.
    “Lucy?” His warm, calloused fingers curled around her wrist, gently stopping her flight. “What is wrong?”
    Tears swam in her eyes. “Are you trying to confuse me on purpose?”
    “No.” He appeared genuinely taken aback. “Perhaps I have gone too fast. Sit down, and we will start again.
    Lucinda pulled her wrist free and edged away from her chair. “I think not. I…I think perhaps I’m not ready to learn right now.”
    “I am sorry.” Now he stood, too. “Perhaps I was mistaken, thinking you’ve helped your father with the books before?”
    Drat it, a tear hovered on her lashes, ready to plummet down her cheek. “I have never seen a ledger in my life.” The admission cost her a great deal of pride.
    “I am sorry,” he said again. “Please sit. We will start again, but slower this time.”
    With reluctance, she slid back into the chair. Clasping her fingers together in her lap, she leaned forward to pay close attention to every word Riel said.
    To her relief, first he explained what the different lines and columns meant on each page. From there, he taught her rudimentary accounting principles, so that when the clock chimed an hour past, Lucinda was surprised to discover she was beginning to understand…at least a little…what the ledgers were all about.
    “That’s enough for now.” Riel closed the books. “Aunt Sophie will arrive soon. You will wish to refresh yourself.”
    “Of course. Thank you for being so patient with me.” The words of appreciation escaped before Lucinda could censor them.
    Riel’s dark eyes met hers. “You are welcome, Lucy.”
    He was much closer than she’d realized, and faint warmth stained her cheeks. His arm brushed hers as he gathered up the books. Her heart beat faster, and she watched his broad shoulders shift as he put the books to the side. Rays of sunlight filtered through the lace curtains and cast the blunt angles and planes of his face into fascinating textures of tan and bronze. Riel was a handsome man.
    Hastily, she gained her feet and swept for the door.
    “Lucy.” His deep voice stroked like velvet over her jittery nerve endings.
    Affecting a calm nonchalance, she turned back.
    “If you are interested, I will continue to teach you the books each morning until I leave. I do not think, however, that you will be ready to keep the accounts while I am gone.”
    “Mr. Chase won’t be happy to get the job back.”
    “You can learn from him. Or, if you prefer, you can wait until I return, and I