"This is a simple matter," she said. "I just need to stand there looking angry and coerced to prove Damon completed his mission. Once he gets the location, we leave. What could go wrong?"
"The tavern could be full of bloody pirates, that's what," James said.
Drew chuckled. "A handful, maybe. Lacross won't leave too many of his men sitting idle for months waiting for Damon to show up, if he even stationed any there. But we can go in before Damon and Jack enter to check the place out, pretend to be customers, and be on hand to protect Jack. But not you, James. You would be recognized."
"We will need to go in with just Reeves's ship," Boyd mentioned as if the plan were already agreed upon. "All of our ships arriving at once would be a red flag-in case there are more pirates there. And we should probably go in the morning. The tavern might be too crowded tonight."
"Nathan has a small stable here," Drew added. "Some of us can ride to the tavern and be there before Damon and Jack arrive."
"And I'll go with Damon and Jack as escort," Jeremy said. "I can look the part of a pirate if need be. The tavern keeper won't know the difference."
"I will as well," Anthony said, then smirked. "Father and son pirates." James rolled his eyes at that because the two still looked so much alike, but Tony added, "You denied me the last fight, which ended up not being one. You're not keeping me from any more, old boy."
"Then it's settled?" Damon asked.
James nodded. "I'll sail with you and stay out of sight. But I'll be close by if I'm needed. And you will protect my daughter with your life. I hope we understand each other?"
"Perfectly," Damon said.
No one in the room doubted that James had just issued a polite death threat.
Chapter Forty-Five
A PRETTY MOON was shining on the water and the breeze was warm on Jacqueline's cheeks as she stood on the balcony of Gabby's old room, which she'd been given for their brief stay. The yard had a green lawn and a few palm trees, but the lawn didn't extend far before the beach started. The house was small, local in design with its open, airy rooms, although most of the furniture was English. Warren and Boyd had rowed back out to their ships to sleep in their cabins. James and Anthony were sharing Nathan's room for the night. She wondered if Jeremy and Damon were sharing a room, or if Damon had one to himself.
She was considering asking one of the servants when she saw Damon below the balcony, walking across the lawn. He wasn't looking for her window and appeared to be in a pensive mood. "Psst!" She tried a few times to catch his attention. When he looked up, she signaled him to wait. She yanked on her britches, pulled on her boots without stockings, tied her nightgown around her waist, and climbed over the balcony railing to hang from the bottom of it before she even thought to look if there was anything to give purchase for her feet. But then she felt his arms go around her legs and she let go, twisted about, and slowly slid down his body to the ground.
She started to laugh but his mouth cut her off, and that kiss was incredibly voracious, setting off all sorts of delicious sensations inside her. It felt like years since she'd touched him, tasted him, when it had been only a few days, but it hadn't been enough then and it certainly wasn't enough now when she needed so much more. So she didn't object when he took her hand and they started running away from the house along the grass bordering the sand.
He didn't slow down until the ships anchored by the house were far from view. No watch was likely to have been posted on any of them this far up the coast. It was still nice to feel a little isolated. The beach was empty, illuminated by a bright moon, and the air was balmy on their cheeks. They strolled, hand in hand, on the sand for a while. Jack felt so happy and kept stealing glimpses of Damon's handsome face.
///
"I didn't think I was going to see you alone before the battle," he said. "We'll be sailing directly to it as soon as we get the location tomorrow."
"I doubt it will take long. There are enough armed ships in my father's fleet that you can probably sink whatever island Lacross is on."
He chuckled. "Not quite sink, but your father decided against bombarding the base because he wants to deal with the pirate personally. The cannons will only be used to blast an opening if there are any high walls."
"That gives them warning. They could scatter."
"But not escape. It's a new base, might even still be under construction-unless Lacross found another ancient fort to fortify."