Jaxon was taken aback. What kind of relationship did she have with her father if he wasn’t someone she could have a conversation with? “He must have loved you a great deal to protect you like that.”
All Charlie could think of was how he had told her he was disappointed with her after her last brawl. “He wouldn’t have if he knew my part in the fire,” she said softly.
“You don’t know much about parents.”
“I wasn’t going to take the chance.” During the months that followed the fire while she had lived in the orphanage, she understood then how truly alone in this world she would be without her father. That terrifying feeling was back. She might be an adult, but she knew so little of the world. Her life aboard the Arcadia had been safe and predictable. Now those old misgivings crept back to the forefront of her mind.
“So, you’re having nightmares about the fire the night your father died. Do you think you’re having them because your father went to his grave not knowing or because he’s in heaven now and he knows everything?”
“You give too much meaning to tonight’s nightmare, Captain Bloodworthy. Tis just one more time for me to have that dream. I have dreamt about that fire hundreds of times before. Maybe it was because I showed you my scar earlier. Maybe sleeping in the hammock in an unfamiliar place reminded me of my first night on our ship. Perhaps I dreamt it, because I haven’t dreamt about it in a few weeks and the time had come to dream it again.”
He remembered the way she jumped out of the hammock and the expression on her face and he knew she had told him what she really thought had brought on the dream.
“Take my bunk. I’ll sleep in the hammock, just in case that’s the reason.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “I’m not going to take your bunk.”
Jaxon wondered just how stubborn Charlie was. Her toughness, her inability to allow herself to be vulnerable was both appealing and frustrating. He thought about what she said about using an opponent’s size against him and knew he had to use her strength against her.
“I understand,” he said stepping towards her. “You’re afraid. I mean, that bunk is big enough for two, and you’re afraid if you slept there, I might climb in bed with you.”
“I’m not afraid of you or that bunk,” she said bowing up.
You should be, he thought with a grin.
“You’re all mouth, little girl.”
Charlie didn’t know which was more insulting; being told she was all mouth or being called a little girl.
“Indeed.” Charlie padded over to the bunk and climbed in. She moved towards to wall. “I’ll leave you room,” she said challengingly, and turned her back to him.
A charge of excitement shot through her at her daring, but knew she wouldn’t sleep a wink until Jaxon was sound asleep in the hammock. Criminy! What if he actually got into the bunk with her!
“Go to sleep, Charlie. I’ve got more work to do before I turn in.”
Jaxon chuckled out loud and wondered if she would always be so easy to manipulate. Her strength was her weakness.
Jaxon stayed in the hammock less than fifteen minutes before he decided he had no chance of actually sleeping in it. Silently, he padded in his uneven steps across the room to his bunk and slipped under the covers beside her. With trepidation, he wrapped his arm around her waist. It was better she discovered he’s there now while he’s awake than in the middle of the night when his brain was sleep-muddled.
“Couldn’t sleep in the hammock?” she asked quietly. Her words were spoken lethargically as though she were on the verge of sleep.
“You were having another nightmare.”
“I wasn’t asleep,” she informed him. “I really don’t mind sleeping in the hammock.” She lifted up as if to get up, but he held her in place.
“I really don’t mind sharing the bunk if you don’t.”
“I’m not going to be your mistress,” she said turning her head towards him.
“I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”
Charlie turned back to the wall and closed her eyes. She had heard stories of unmarried men and women sharing a bed, but usually the man was sewn into the sheet. Of course, all the stories sailors told included how the girl cut him out in the middle of the night and sewed him back up before her parents came in the next morning, or how the girl was so ugly, she was never in any danger to begin with. She knew she shouldn’t be there with him, but other than having his arm at her waist he didn’t seem to be threatening her in any way. Besides, he was injured and she could protect herself.