Cross His Heart by Ruth Ryan Langan

Author:Ruth Ryan Langan [Langan, Ruth Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Ruth Ryan Langan
Published: 2015-07-09T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Slowly, ever so slowly, Kendall opened her eyes. She was lying in her bunk. Glancing down quickly, she was relieved to discover that she was fully dressed, still wearing the blue angora sweater and jeans. The only things missing were her deck shoes. She couldn’t recall how she got here. She could remember sitting at the top of the stairs with Neal. She recalled being held in his arms.

Neal must have brought her to her cabin. She covered her face with her hands as she realized what that meant. He had to carry her here. How did he manage to get her up into her bunk in this tiny, crowded space? With gritted teeth, she realized how she must have looked, sound asleep, in his arms.

She sat up suddenly, and her head swam. Gripping the edge of the bunk, she moaned. The sea must be very rough. The boat was tilting to one side. She felt that if she let go of the railing around her bunk, she would fall off. Sinking back against the pillow, she groaned in humiliation. Now she was remembering all too painfully just what had gone on the night before.

On the beach she had kissed him wantonly, letting herself believe that she had every right to his love. How could she have allowed herself to get caught up in such a fantasy, indulging in silly dreams, tingling at his mere touch?

In extreme agitation, Kendall lowered herself from her bunk and searched the floor for her shoes. How could she face him this morning? She wanted to hide away somewhere for the rest of the voyage.

Finding her shoes set neatly beside her bunk, she stepped into them and made her way to the deck.

No longer was their vessel snug in the calm harbor. The anchor was up, and the windjammer was skimming the ocean waves. A brisk, fresh breeze whipped her hair about wildly. Topside in the wind, her head felt much clearer.

Kendall noted that only Captain Josiah Elms was about. Neal must be still sleeping. Relief flooded through her. She would have time to gather her wits about her before facing him.

“Good morning, Kendall,” Josiah Elms called.

She smiled a greeting and walked toward him. “Would you like me to start the coffee?”

“Yes. That would be fine.” While he lit his pipe, he studied her through the swirl of smoke. “Did you have a nice time last night?”

Kendall looked away for a moment, not trusting her voice. When she looked back at him, he was still watching her.

“Yes,” she said simply.

“Have you known Neal long?”

Josiah seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time fiddling with his pipe.

“No. Not long.”

“Neal Thomas is a fine man,” the captain said.

Kendall made no reply. It was too painful to speak of Neal or think about him. She had to get through one more day in Neal’s presence, and then they would part company.

After an awkward pause, Kendall said, “Well, I’ll make that coffee.”

As she hurried down the steps, her head began to ache from all the troubling thoughts tumbling about in her mind.

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