He parked the truck and killed the engine. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
No. But for tonight, she would be. For him.
“Yeah.” She forced a smile. “Sorry I’ve been so quiet.”
He took her hand as they approached the Sea Dog. Their fingers laced together like they’d been a couple for years. Lifetimes.
Colton met them at the gangplank. “Welcome aboard.”
“Thanks, mate.” Drake turned to steady Heather as she stepped off the gangplank and onto the deck.
“Thank you.” She looked up at Colton. “I’m not much of a sailor, but can I help with anything?”
He grinned. “As I understand, this is your first time sailing.”
She chuckled, shooting a glare at Drake from behind her dark glasses. “You outed me?”
Colton shook his head. “You’re our guest tonight.” He gripped Drake’s shoulder. “We are going to need to borrow our ship’s carpenter to get out to sea. It takes every hand to sail this gorgeous wench.”
“I won’t be long, love.” Drake chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Remember Keegan? He’s behind the wheel. I’ll meet you there after we drop the sails.”
Heather nodded and stepped back out of the way while Colton started shouting commands. A generator roared, coming to life as the capstan turned, lifting the anchor from the bottom of the riverbed.
Drake and Greyson bumped fists and rushed to the rope lines, climbing them like they were a steady ladder instead of a bouncing death trap. Drake’s shirt clung to his chiseled frame like a second skin, accentuating every strain of heaving his body weight higher up the mast. It would’ve been a huge turn-on if she wasn’t so worried he might fall.
“No worries, lass.” Colton nudged her shoulder. “Even if he fell, he’d be healed before you could call a doctor.”
God. For a moment, she had forgotten all about the Grail and immortality. She nodded, her attention still focused on Drake. “Thanks for the reminder. How often do they fall?”
“They don’t.” Colton shook his head. “Before we plundered the Holy Grail, falling from the mast was a death sentence. You learn to grip the ropes like your life depends on it.”
Drake straddled the beam at the top of the sail as the Sea Dog slowly moved away from the dock.
“Anchor’s clear!” someone shouted behind her.
Colton tipped his head back and yelled to the men on the masts. “Make sail!”
Drake scooted along a beam a few stories above the deck, untying the bindings. He looked across at Greyson and nodded, then at the same time they dropped the main sail. The heavy black canvas plummeted down with a snap before it caught the wind. The ship lurched forward, groaning as she gained speed.
Heather walked across the deck to where Keegan stood behind the wheel, unable to watch Drake make his way back down the lines. Immortal or not, surely it would hurt if he fell. Either way, she couldn’t turn off the worry for his safety, so she’d do the best to distract herself.
Keegan glanced her way with a crooked smile. “Good to see you again, lass.”
“Thanks. And thanks for sailing the ship on such short notice.”
“Any excuse to put wind in our sails.” He winked. “We’re pirates, remember?”
She grinned, sneaking a peek up at Drake again. “Oh, I remember.”
It didn’t escape her notice that none of Drake’s crew gave her appearance a second look. Maybe after being alive for over two hundred years, nothing surprised them anymore, or maybe as pirates and outcasts, they understood her better than she ever imagined.
“Good to see our carpenter smiling again.” Keegan pointed over at Drake. “Since we lost the original Sea Dog, we…lost him, too.”
She looked over at Keegan. “Did Char drink from the cup? She’s your girlfriend, right?”
“My fiancée. And yeah. She took a swallow.” He raised a curious brow. “Why do you ask?”
Heather shrugged. “Just wondering, I guess. It must be tough for you and your crew to ever have long-term relationships. Mortality gets in the way, right?”
Keegan adjusted his grip on the wheel, his gaze locked on the horizon. “Can’t speak for the whole crew, but a few of us have found love.”
“I don’t want to live forever.” She tipped her chin up, Drake coming in and out of focus as she blinked back unwelcome tears forming in her eyes. “I also don’t want to hurt him.” She turned to Keegan again. “Eventually, I’m going to break his heart. The only question is when.”
A muscle jumped in his cheek while his eyes remained on the horizon. “If you’re looking for relationship advice, I’m the wrong pirate. Until Char, one-night stands were my specialty. Not much of a relationship counselor. You should talk to the cook. One-Eyed Bob loves meddling where he’s got no business. You’ll make his night.”
Heather chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Drake dropped onto the deck and headed straight toward her. “My mate Keegan kept his hands on the wheel, right?”
“Fuck off, Drake. You sent her over here,” the pilot teased.
“That I did.” Drake slid his arm around her waist. “I want to show you something.”
Being near him, even in silence, inspired a peace and acceptance in her soul that she’d never known. How could she be contemplating walking through life alone again?
He led her to the bow of the ship and positioned her in front of him, his hands gripping the railing on either side. The wind stung her cheeks, filling her lungs with salty air as the ship cut through the calm waters. Ahead of them, the heavens painted the sky in purples and pinks and reds. Breathtaking.
His lips brushed her ear as he whispered, “Thank you for sailing with me. I built most of this ship with my own two hands, but this is the first time I’ve ever had someone to share it with.”
She leaned back in to his chest. “You have your whole crew.”
He wrapped one arm around her waist, his big hand resting protectively over her belly. “That’s not what I mean. My crew is all the family
