Pirate's Promise (Sentinels of Savannah #5) - Lisa Kessler Page 0,65
worked.”
Immortal. She still felt the same, but nothing would ever be the same.
She stared out the porthole at the ocean, envisioning the future. She could visit every continent, defend her country without threat of death, but she caught herself replaying Char’s words. She had lifetimes to love her pirate.
She turned to Greyson, but before she could form words, he stood and retrieved the cup. “It’s done.”
She caught his wrist. “Greyson, wait.”
He met her eyes. “Don’t.”
She let go of him, hating this distance growing between them.
“I’m fine.” A forced smile curved his lips. “Guess I just got used to having someone to…love.” He walked to the door and glanced back at her. “Don’t worry. It won’t happen again.”
His words stabbed her heart, choking her with regret. As his footsteps faded in the distance, she stared down at her newly healed hands. A tear dripped down onto her skin. Immortality lay ahead of her like an empty, barren desert.
What the hell was she doing?
…
Greyson took the stairs two at a time.
After stashing the Grail back in the back of the gun safe in the armory, he headed straight into the galley. He needed something to fill the gaping hole Aura had just scooped out of his chest. Food might have to do.
The two long tables were empty, but One-Eyed Bob was at the prep station next to the industrial oven.
He turned around as Greyson came in. “Hey, mate.” His smile faded as he studied Greyson’s face. “What’s wrong?”
Greyson glared out the door toward the stairs. “I’ll be fine. Just need to finish this job and get my share of the money. The sooner the better.”
Bob poured some fresh kettle chips onto a plate, dusted them with salt, and brought them over to Greyson. “Ready to put Aura behind you?”
“I know what yer up to, ye salty old bastard.” Greyson rolled his eyes and took a bite of a crunchy chip.
It was still warm and fucking delicious. It didn’t solve anything, but Bob’s food was a bright spot in a hurricane of shit.
Greyson grabbed another chip, pointing it at the one-eyed pirate across from him. “Don’t plant any of your matchmaking seeds in my head. I’ve got enough problems without giving her any more rope to hang me with. I didn’t escape one noose to end up in another.”
“I’m not planting anything.” Bob popped a chip into his mouth with a shrug. “I’m a cook, not a farmer.” He swallowed and added, “I’m here if you need an ear to listen, though.”
Greyson shook his head, taking another handful of chips. “Nothing to say. She drank from the cup, and she’s doing her job. We’ll get the sword. She’ll lock it up, and I’ll never see her again.”
The thought of never seeing her again hobbled him, and saying the words out loud gutted him. How had she gotten under his skin? She’d entered his life like an angry gale-force wind and somehow had become the air he needed to breathe.
Bob shrugged, munching another chip before dusting the remainder with more salt. “Seems to me in this age of computers and cars and planes, it wouldn’t be tough to see her again. If ye wanted to, of course.”
Greyson glared at Bob. “Not so simple. She’s married to her job. I’d only be in the way.”
Bob adjusted his eye patch with a smirk. “She probably worked really hard to get where she is. Maybe she’s scared she’ll lose it.”
Greyson frowned. “I’d never make her choose. She knows that. I said as much.” Or at least he thought he had. “Doesn’t matter. She doesn’t love me anyway.”
He hadn’t meant to allow that last bit out. He jammed another chip into his mouth before more feelings spilled out. What was happening to him? Fucking heart.
“Did she tell you that?” Bob reached across the table, giving Greyson’s arm a swat. “What better way to keep her life in order, right? Now you won’t go making her life messy. Smart lady.”
Greyson’s brow furrowed. “What the fuck are ye talking about?”
“Have ye ever talked to Aura about her life?” He shook his head. “I have. She doesn’t have one, mate. Her work is her life. It’s who she is, or who she thinks she is, at any rate. You can see it in her eyes when we’re all in the galley for meals. She’s an outsider looking in, but she wants to come inside, Greyson. She’s afraid to ask or even dare to wish that she could have what you have.”