'Hey, hey,' Dandy grumbled. 'That sweater's wringing wet. Think I'd meddle with one of Luc's possessions? Come on, now, be a good little girl and let Dandy get you undressed and into bed.'
She opened her eyes wide to search his face and see him clearly for the first time. She saw a broad, grizzled man in his fifties with a head which looked as ft if had been carved out of concrete and then weathered by wind and sun. His skin was mahogany, lined and wrinkled, his eyes a light grey. His hair was grey and sparse. His mouth was wide and strong. His ears stuck out at angles from his head. Lissa saw humour, calm self-confidence, kindness in his face.
She relaxed in his hands and Dandy went on taking off her clothes. He might have been a child's nurse. He didn't seem to see her body and he talked reassuringly as he worked.
'You get some sleep now and in the morning we'll be away on the tide. Joe's bringing you some nice hot cocoa-made with tinned milk, I'm afraid, but you won't mind that, will you? That'll help you sleep.'
'I couldn't sleep,' she said drily. 'Not with Luc ashore and in danger.'
'Now just you let us worry over Luc. I told you, the devil looks after his own. Luc will be fine.'
'You don't know,' she cried miserably.
Dandy was folding her like a baby into a warm cocoon of quilt. 'Dandy knows everything,' he told her, grinning down at her. 'All you have to do is remember that and you'll fall asleep like a baby.'
Someone moved behind him and her glance flicked to the newcomer. He grinned at her, winking. 'That's right, miss. Dandy is as close to omniscience as you're likely to meet this side of the pearly gates.'
Dandy offered to cuff him. 'This is Joe,' he told Lissa, removing the mug of cocoa from the young man's hands and handing it to her.
She smiled weakly at Joe and got a grin back. Joe went out and Dandy patted her head, his huge hand light on her hair. 'Drink your cocoa and get some sleep,' he said, going out.
She leant up on one elbow, the folds of the quilt draped around her, and sipped the steaming chocolate drink. There was a thick skin on the top of it, but she was so cold she did not care.
Fortune had nestled down on the bunk beside her feet, snuggling under the quilt. He was asleep, giving whining little snorts from time to time, his nose pushed against her bare feet.
The yacht swayed on the water and a bell somewhere chimed softly. Lissa looked up at the porthole. Luc would still be playing poker. How long would it be before Chris knew she had gone? Would Luc have time to get away before it was discovered?
He hadn't told her what he meant to do. He hadn't told her anything very much, and what he had told her was lies, she thought. Stockbroker… Dandy had roared at the very idea, amused by Luc's lie.
Lissa wasn't amused. Why had Luc told her that? To soothe her and reassure her?
She felt a cold shiver of dismay as she faced her own future. She had voluntarily given herself into the hands of a man who had lied to her, a man with a background as troubled and murky as Chris. Luc was just as dangerous, just as unscrupulous, just as amoral. He was a pirate, a professional gambler, and she had been crazy to trust him.
Finishing her cocoa she put down her mug and lay back in the bunk. She watched the swaying lamp above her, her eyes following that slow pendulum intently.
How could she sleep? She was torn between fear for Luc and anger with him.
Her eyes were heavy and her brain moved slowly, trying to sort out what she could do, unable to think clearly about anything.
She was growing warm at last and she felt her tense muscles beginning to relax as heat crept over her body. There wasn't a sound from anywhere on the yacht. Were all the men asleep? How could they even consider sleep when Luc was in danger? She turned on the pillow, yawning. She couldn't possibly sleep. She couldn't, possibly.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Lissa stirred, still fathoms deep in sleep, but disturbed by several things which had only just begun to penetrate her drowsy mind. The scent of bacon drifted around her, the delicious odour of coffee. She moved under the warm quilt, her nose wrinkling.
Someone laughed and her lids flew open. Sunlight struck across her unguarded eyes. She blinked, shifting in the bunk, and became aware of a difference in the movements of the yacht.
She sat up, giving a stifled cry, and then stared in disbelief as she saw the tall figure lounging on the end of her bunk.
'Luc!' The sight of him sent a wave of sick relief through her. His lean dark face was expressionless as he watched her and her smile vanished as she realised something else.
She was naked, the quilt having dropped back from her body as she sat up. Colour flared into her face. She grabbed the quilt and wound it around herself with a shaking hand.
'Slept well, did you?' Luc enquired silkily, watching her with open amusement,
'I think there was something in that cocoa,' she accused, and saw his mouth twitch at the edges.
'Dandy thought you'd be better off asleep,' he said in half admission.
'He had no right to do that!'
Luc shrugged, his wide shoulders moving easily under the cotton sweater he wore.
Lissa took a long, painful breath. 'What happened last night?'
'I played poker,' he drawled. Getting off the bunk, he moved away and turned with a tray in his hands. 'Your breakfast,' he said.
'I couldn't eat anything! Tell me what happened last night, Luc.'
He came across to her and placed the tray across her knees. Lissa glared at him. 'How am I supposed to eat it like this?'
'You can't,' he agreed. 'You'll have to come out of your cocoon.' His eyes glinted teasingly at her. 'I don't mind watching.'
Her cheeks burnt. 'Will you please find me some clothes?'
Luc grinned at her, but went over to a chest and came back with a loose, very large white sweater. He tossed it to her. 'This do?'
'Please turn your back,' she said with dignity.
'Shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, aren't you?' he asked softly.
'Please,' she muttered.
He shrugged and swung away. Lissa hurriedly dragged the sweater over her head. The tray rocked alarmingly. She sat up, safely covered, and Luc turned to survey her. His grin made her flush increase.
'Ten sizes too big, but you look very sexy in it,' he informed her.
'The yacht's moving,' she said, ignoring that remark.
'We've been under way for hours. We thought we'd let you sleep until we were safely out of reach of Brandon 's pursuit.'
'Are we?' she asked nervously.
'We are,' Luc nodded. His eyes probed her face. 'Sorry? Or relieved?'
She looked down at the tray, trembling slightly.
'Eat your breakfast while it's hot,' Luc urged.
Lissa began to eat, her stomach protesting hungrily at the delicious scent of the food. 'Tell me what happened,' she said with her head bent.
Luc strolled to the porthole and looked out. 'I told you I'd beat him hands down and I did.'
'You won a lot of money?'
'He plays too wildly. He started off quite cool, but he went to pieces towards the end.'
Poor Chris, she thought, shuddering.
'I took him apart,' said Luc, his voice silky.
'Don't,' Lissa whispered through trembling lips. Tears pricked at her eyes and a salty taste filled her mouth.
'Tears for Brandon?' Luc asked in a hard, sarcastic voice, 'If you'd stayed you would have shed them for yourself.'
Huskily, Lissa said: 'Whatever he's done…'