The Captain of All Pleasures (Sutherland Brothers #1)(20)
Author: Kresley Cole

He found her openness refreshing. “Because I will beat your father regardless. Iwant to defeat your father,” he explained simply.

She nibbled the corner of her lower lip and looked lost in thought. “I don’t know if I believe you. But if you’ve told me all you know ” She stood to go, taking one last large swallow of whiskey before setting the glass down.

Derek wasn’t about to let her leave yet. Though he admired her strong will, when she’d touched his face tonight her aloof facade wavered, her defenses breached, if only for a second. But it was at that instant that she became irresistible to him.

This was not going at all as planned. She was insane to think she could handle this man. Nicole wasn’t daft—she’d known she could only have a measure of success in managing him if he was intoxicated, and she’d definitely not foreseen any problem in the “Sutherland gets drunk” variable. Yet here he was, facing her without a hint of a slur or any dimness in those piercing eyes. He looked as if he could see right through her and tell all her secrets.

If he was telling the truth, then she hadn’t received much of a lead. Worse, it would mean he’d already done what she’d come to ask for. She didn’t believe he was deceiving her; he would want to defeat her father.

Given the circumstances, she thought a retreat would be best. As she walked past him to her cloak, she took a last look at his face, a face so striking even with the angry mask he always wore. He looked like a fallen angel, cold and cruel, but with a lingering shadow of what he’d once been. The shadow was what was driving her crazy .

Stop gaping at his face. Thank him and leave. “Sutherland, I—”

“There’s more ,” he promised in a lower, rumbling tone. She tried to convince herself that he meant more information, but failed. When he reached out and gently ran the backs of his fingers down her face much as she had done to him, she didn’t turn away.

He was about to say something, but scuffling noises and a woman’s raised voice sounded from the deck. She could sense tension radiating from him, and he turned abruptly to the door. He halted before he left. “Nicole,” he said as he pinned her with those silvery eyes, “do not think of leaving this room.”

When the door closed, her legs went shaky. She’d been a coil of nerves, craving to be kissed again so much that she’d forgotten her true purpose for coming here.

Wait, what was my true purpose? To manipulate and spy. Oh, yes.

She hadn’t expected such an opportunity to move about his ship, and she knew she should take advantage of it. Normally she wouldn’t even pause to think, but the warning in his eyes bore some weight in her decision. When he’d looked at her and commanded her, he’d had no inkling of doubt that she’d do as he told her. Otherwise he would never have left her alone.

His mistake. And one she’d capitalize on. She cracked open the door to reconnoiter, but then she glimpsed the face that matched the woman’s voice, and her heart inexplicably sank.

The creature heatedly gesturing in front of Sutherland was exquisite. Flawless features, dressed like a fashion plate. Nicole fought the urge to look down at her own clothes, knowing she’d find thin legs encased in worn-out breeches. Strangely, her throat grew tight as she watched them, knowing he had some kind of history with that beautiful woman.

Why was she surprised? This was Sutherland, the rake who probably had a bevy of women admirers. As she took in the jet hair and voluptuous figure of the woman, she knew he’d easily choose that vision over her. Although some strange emotion stabbed at her, she steeled herself. Exhaling a loud breath, she peeked out one last time before sprinting on the balls of her feet to his cabin down the companionway.

Entering his room, she averted her eyes from the bed and rushed to his desk. She rifled through the drawers and found everything she’d expected, but nothing to help her. Then she spotted an unmarked file wedged in the back of a drawer. As she delved into its contents, her expression of excited anticipation disappeared, and her face darkened. The file contained lists of goods he’d ordered to be donated on Boxing Day to the Families of Lost Sailors Charity and to the handful of orphanages in the waterfront area.

Charities and Sutherland? The donations were staggering. If he were in straits, the last thing he’d do would be give to charity, and not even the fashionable ones at that. She knew that Chancey, curse that blasted Irishman, was right about Sutherland.

Nevertheless, she was on this ship, and she would search every inch she could. Nicole didn’t know what she would be looking for—she’d know it when she found it, she reasoned in a cavalier manner. Apparently, the liquor was beginning to hit her.

From the deck, Sutherland’s scathing tone with the woman trailed down to Nicole, and a small smile broke across her face. That he didn’t seem to like the woman took some of the sting out of seeing her.

As Nicole moved through the rest of the ship, she found that his clipper was in impeccable condition, his sailors’ quarters immaculate, and everywhere from his cabin to the forecastle was marked by cleanliness. His ship was just as ordered as her father’s obsessively well maintained vessel. Which really made her want to hate Sutherland.

She trailed a lazy finger on the wall as she made her way into the storage area. She decided she had to be drunk, because she grew distracted, dreamy even, as she thought about Sutherland. What would a captain like him feed his crew? He’d probably spend extra money to get them good rations.

She wouldn’t know what kind of semi perishables he’d outfit the ship with since they wouldn’t be loaded until the last minute, but she did see with a downcast shake of her head a generous stock of spirits. If Nicole didn’t know he was in a race, she’d think he was trading the stuff. Not that she could talk, she thought as she bumped lightly into the wall.

Then, with eyes gone wide and a quick intake of breath, she spied a cluster of thick iron water casks in the corner of the hold. She experienced immediate jealousy. Her father still used wooden casks, and frustration gripped her from knowing that Sutherland’s crew would have much fresher drinking water than her own. She walked over to inspect the layer of condensing silver barrels and knocked on the closest one, enjoying the sharp, metallic sound.

He had so many advantages over them. But that would make the win that much sweeter, she assured herself as she turned—and collided with Sutherland’s unyielding chest.

“Going somewhere?” he ground out, as he gripped her arm and hauled her out of the storage hold. Slamming the door behind him, he raked his eyes over her. “What the hell were you doing down there? And do not think of lying to me!”

Think think! How long had he been standing there? “I lost my way back from the head,” she replied in a credibly even tone.