Stormy Persuasion by Johanna Lindsey

Author:Johanna Lindsey [Lindsey, Johanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Historical Romance
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

Judith dressed for this excursion in her ship’s togs, even braided her hair to make sure it didn’t get in her way during the climb. She’d also left her shoes in her cabin, thinking bare feet would allow for better purchase on the rope rungs. But when she stood by the rope ladder and put her hand on it, she couldn’t take that first step. She didn’t have to look up to find out how high that crow’s nest was. Were the answers she wanted really worth such a daunting climb? The ladder wasn’t even steady! It was swaying so much it moved right out of her loose grip.

She stepped back, changing her mind, only to see Nathan drop down to the deck next to her, which explained why the ladder had been swaying.

“Didn’t actually think you’d take me up on my suggestion of a tryst in the crow’s nest, darlin’.”

She was relieved he was on deck instead. “Now that you’re here we—”

“Come on.” He took her hands and placed them on the ladder and moved in so close behind her that she had nowhere to go but up. “I have the watch tonight and I can’t do my job from down here.”

She glanced back. “Then why did you come down?”

“Did you really think I’d let you make this climb alone?”

Actually, she’d expected to have to climb up herself and had assumed he wouldn’t even know she was there until she arrived up top. But he must have been watching for her.

He added, “And miss a chance to be your hero and catch you if you should fall—into my arms?”

He’d just added a teasing note to his gallantry. She wondered if he was embarrassed to show her he had this chivalrous side. But she started climbing. She wasn’t the least bit nervous now, not with him behind her. And he didn’t touch her again, probably afraid it might startle her into slipping—until they reached the nest and she felt his hand on her derriere, giving her a push to get her over the edge.

The crow’s nest was shaped like a big tub. Some nests were just flat platforms, some were mere rounded frames, and others were rounded and made of solid wood with planked sides such as this one.

“I’d already volunteered for the watch tonight, or I wouldn’t have put you through the ordeal of climbing that ladder,” he said as he followed her over the rim.

She stood up and gasped softly at the view. “Oh, my.”

The full moon tonight looked so much bigger from up here and was incredibly beautiful. Not long over the horizon, it was still quite huge. Seen from this unobstructed vantage point, with its wavy reflection off the water, it was breathtaking, even highly romantic. She got her mind off that thought rather quickly and turned to Nathan.

But he was still gazing at the moon. “This is why I took the watch when it’s not one of my duties.

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