Romancing the Pirate (33 page)

Without bothering to answer, Blake let himself out.

Alicia traced her parents’ names on the wooden headstones. Though there was only one mound, as her father’s body was lost at sea, at least there were two markers. Her father’s life wouldn’t be forgotten.

“You did beautiful work on them, Sam.” Alicia struggled to stand and gratefully accepted Sam’s help. Though it had taken her a while to show, she’d made up for it and was now big with child.

“I enjoyed doing it. Just as I was glad to fashion the cradle.”

Alicia grinned. “It’s pretty.”

Sam rubbed Alicia’s belly. “How has it been?” she asked.

Alicia shrugged. “As expected. Charles’s wife has been a godsend, though. She answers all my questions, and she’s passed me clothing and blankets for the baby. She told me where to find that rocking chair I have in the nursery and she’s also agreed to help look after the baby while I work with Charles.”

“Aidan wasn’t too much for you?”

“He’s wonderful, Sam. We got a chance to really know each other. I’ll miss him when he leaves with you.”

“You could always come with us to St. Kitts.”

“This is my home, Sam. I can’t leave here any more than you’d want to leave St. Kitts.”

“I know.” She smiled sadly. “But I can’t imagine not being around to see your child grow.”

“It’s lucky you make fast ships,” Alicia said as she took Sam’s hand. “You can get here quicker.”

“And I plan on visiting often,” Sam said.

Alicia leaned her head on her sister’s shoulder. “I hope so.”

Then, without warning, Alicia shivered. It was like the day of Jacob’s funeral when she’d felt the intensity of a stranger’s glare. Of course, that had turned out to be Blake. Alicia gasped, spun.

There he was. Her knees shook as her eyes drank in his presence. His dark hair was long and loose, framing a face that was carved in her memory. Except in her memory his eyes weren’t like the banked fire in the blacksmith shop. In her mind they weren’t blazing at her in anger. He’d never looked more like a pirate. Though she knew it was too late, she placed both hands over her belly.

Blake couldn’t believe his eyes. He’d told himself, as he’d run to the house, that it couldn’t be. Alicia couldn’t be having his child. And when he’d first arrived, she’d had her back to him and had looked exactly as he remembered. But then she’d turned and he’d seen the roundness of her belly, knew she couldn’t have much longer and felt as though someone had shot him in the chest. He strode toward her, cut a glance to Samantha when she tried to step in front of her sister. Alicia stopped her with her hand.

“You were going to keep this from me?” he asked when he found his voice.

“Yes.”

The fact that there was no hesitation, no remorse in hiding his child, made Blake livid. He had a right to know, dammit! He took two steps closer and ground his teeth when she raised her chin and looked at him defiantly. He barely noticed when Samantha slipped away.

“Why?”

“You should know why, Blake. I can’t live at sea and I wasn’t going to make you give up your dream. I certainly didn’t want to spend the rest of my life watching you gaze hungrily out to sea the way your father did.”

His gaze kept dropping to her belly, which she kept guarded with her hands. “And so you took the decision away from me?”

“Yes. I had no doubt that if you knew I was carrying your child, you’d do the right thing and marry me. But I never wanted you with me out of obligation, Blake. That’s why I didn’t say anything in St. Kitts.”

A sharp stab hit him in the forehead and he pressed his hand to the pain.

“Was our child ever going to know about me, or were you planning on keeping that a secret as well?”

She crossed her arms above the bulge of her stomach, a stomach Blake ached to touch.

“The child was going to have your name, Blake.”

“And what about me? How can you think of giving my child my name, while at the same time denying me a chance to know him?”

Alicia’s eyes gleamed with tears. “Do you think that was a decision I came to lightly?”

“How should I know?” Blake roared. “You never bothered to discuss it with me.”

“Then let me tell you,” she answered. “It was the hardest damn thing I ever did. I didn’t set out to lie to you, but when was I supposed to tell you? When you were yelling at me for not wanting to be a privateer’s wife? When you were accusing me of being manipulative? You tell me, Blake, when was I supposed to tell you I was pregnant?”

He rubbed his forehead, where an incessant throbbing was making it hard for him to think.

“I had a right to know.”

She exhaled heavily. “Yes, you did. But I had a right to protect my heart. I’d rather know you’re out at sea happy than miserable with me.”

Blake scoffed. “Happy? I wouldn’t go that far.”

Alicia winced suddenly and pushed at the side of her belly. Blake was instantly at her side.

“What is it?”

“He’s stretching and it hurts. Here, feel this. I think it’s his foot.”

She grabbed his hand and placed it over her belly, where a small bump was pushing outward. He circled it, amazed, then it disappeared. For a moment he lost his breath.

“Do you know if it’s a boy?” His heart fluttered at the thought.

“There’s no way to know but I prefer to call the baby a he rather than an it.”

“How soon until we know?”

Alicia smiled and he’d never seen anything so beautiful in his life.

“A month or so.”

Blake’s head went light. “I think I need to sit down.” Mindful of the fact that they were at a grave, Blake moved away from the mound and was relieved when Alicia followed him. He helped her down before he sat beside her.

“Why are you here, Blake?”

“I heard about the attack.”

“Well, as you can see, I’m fine.”

“And I made a decision about my half of the blacksmith shop.”

She eyed him warily. “I don’t have the money to pay you your share.”

“I don’t want money. I’m not selling my share. I’m keeping it.”

“Why? You hate it.”

He shook his head. “No, I don’t. I realized that when I thought it was gone. When Captain said Port Royal had been attacked, I had to come. I had to see if you were all right. But what I hadn’t realized until I arrived, until I opened that heavy door, was that a part of me had also been worried about the shop.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I thought if I was here that I’d dwell on the fact that Eric and my father are gone, but when I walked into the shop, it was as though they were there. There are so many good memories tied to the shop, Alicia, and while I can’t bring either my father or Eric back, I can honor them by being there.

“You went looking for your past, Alicia. You needed to know where you came from and who you were. Perhaps I had to leave for the same reason, to learn who
I
was. I know the answer now. The shop isn’t only my past, it’s my legacy.”

Alicia had to blink away the tears. If Jacob could see his son now.

“You love the sea, Blake.”

His eyes latched onto hers. “I do, but it alone can’t make me happy. I learned that these last months. You were gone, Nate and Vincent were gone. I love the water, Alicia, but I realize that I love the shop as well. And more than anything in this world, I love you.”

Her heart jumped, and Alicia had to fight to keep from doing the same. She’d never doubted Blake’s love and she’d seen his eyes when he’d felt the baby. But it would take more than that to make a life together.

“Living here won’t make you happy, Blake.”

“Yes, it will.”

“What about your ship?”

“There’s always a need for merchants to run supplies. If you’ll agree, I hope to do that now and again, no more than once a month, and we’ll run the shop together the rest of the time. What do you think?”

“I think …” She stumbled on a sob. “I think it sounds fantastic.”

Blake smiled and wrapped her gently in his arms. He found Alicia’s mouth waiting for him and he kissed her deeply and thoroughly. There’d be time later for gentleness; for now he simply couldn’t get enough. He plundered her mouth, drawing soft moans from her throat. Her hands tangled in his hair and he nipped at her lips with his teeth. He stroked her tongue with his, knowing he’d never again let her go. When he was breathless, he took her hands. Pride be damned, this was what he wanted and he’d beg her forgiveness if need be.

“You already have my heart, Alicia. Take my name as well and be my wife.”

Tears streamed down her face, and from nearby he heard a sniffle—apparently Samantha hadn’t gone as far away as he thought she had.

Alicia’s heart had never felt so full, and as though the baby knew, it began to move in earnest, letting his desires known. Luckily, they were the same as hers.

“You’re sure? This isn’t out of some sense of responsibility?”

He frowned. “I’ve been damn miserable since you left. Granted it’s taken me a while to figure it all out, but I knew before I even saw you again that it was going to take more than a ship and the sea to make me happy. For a time it had, but not once I met you. I need
you,
Alicia.”

His eyes melted as he looked at her stomach. If she hadn’t already loved him, she would have tumbled then.

“I need both of you.”

Alicia placed both hands onto Blake’s stubbled cheeks. His brown eyes were wet with emotion as he looked into hers. She saw no reason to make him wonder any longer.

“If it’s a boy, I think we should call him Daniel Edward Jacob.”

He bowed his head, and when he lifted it again, she had to wipe the tear from his cheek.

“And if it’s a girl?”

“Helen Anna Samantha. That all right with you, Sam?” she asked, knowing full well her sister had heard every word.

Sam nodded, wiped her eyes, and this time she disappeared into the house.

“Is that all right with you?” she asked her soon-to-be husband.

Blake drew her into his arms, pressed a kiss to her head, and held on for life. Never again would he let her go.

“Whatever you want, sunshine,” he answered. “But there’s something you should know, though, before we get married.”

“What’s that?”

He grinned. “I think there is a little pirate in me after all.”

She tossed her head, laughed. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”