She reached up to touch his cheek as he had just done to her. “One day you will have to trust me, Caleb.”
His smile softened to something tender and sad. “It is not you I don’t trust. I just...” He cleared his throat. “I don’t know how a man like me could be so lucky.”
“It’s not luck,” she shot back. “It’s love. And I can’t imagine why a man with patience and kindness and passion and a serious talent for writing wouldn’t be loved.”
His chuckle was low and so intimate she felt it like a fire in her belly. He turned his head to kiss her palm. “Have patience with me, my beautiful angel. I’ve never been so thoroughly loved before.” He leaned down to kiss the tip of her nose. “And I’ve never been in love either.”
She smiled. “Then we’ll learn together, shall we?”
He squeezed her tight. “Luckily for me, you are an excellent teacher.”
“Aren’t I, though? Just look at how well you can read and write thanks to my tutelage.”
He laughed at her dry tone. “I’ll never live that down, will I?”
She shook her head. “Never.”
He squeezed her so tightly that her feet dangled off the ground. “Well, Caleb?”
Their faces were nearly even now. “Well, what?” he teased.
She pursed her lips in feigned irritation. “I’ve kept up my end of this bargain. I left for London and I came back to you—”
He crushed her to him with a growl. “And I should like to see you try to leave me again.”
“Certainly not.”
“I hope you’ll stay by my side always.” He kissed her softly. “Miss Abigail Jones, will you make me the happiest pirate alive and be my wife?”
She beamed up at him as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. “Nothing in the world would make me happier.”
“This means you’ll be stuck with me, you know,” he said, a grin tugging at his lips and ruining his warning tone.
“Oh, I’m counting on it,” she said with a laugh.
He kissed her again, and he might have kept on kissing her if the front door hadn’t opened, spilling out a handful of excited, chattering children.
With one last kiss he grudgingly let her go. “There will be more of that later.” He scowled at the children who she knew he secretly adored. “Much more.”
“I don’t doubt it, my love. And the best part?” She reached for his hand and gripped it tight. “We never have to be apart again. We’ll have the rest of our lives together.”
He squeezed her hand as the children clamored for her attention. “The rest of our lives,” he murmured. “Somehow I don’t think even that will be enough.”
She leaned in close as her father and Hattie came out to join them again, no doubt fully ready to celebrate this latest engagement. “I do love you, Caleb. With all my heart.”
He kissed the top of her head as Polly reached for his free hand. “I love you more than anything in the world, Abigail Jones.”
Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed the story, reviews are greatly appreciated. Be sure to catch Sally’s story next in Miss Sally’s Unsuitable Soldier: https://books2read.com/u/47lJ6L
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Miss Sally has never run from anything...except love. Luckily, her soldier is up for the chase.
Of all the Jones sisters, Sally is by far the most practical. Thanks to her interest in medicine, she's found her purpose in caring for the wounded and the sick in their small seaside town. Unlike her younger sisters, Sally has no interest in ballgowns and fêtes, which is why she's not exactly thrilled when she's summoned to play nursemaid to the Earl of Elwood. But the old man has made it clear—he's hosting a house party, and she's expected to attend.
If only assisting the earl didn't entail socializing with the guests. If only those guests didn't include the earl's youngest son. If only that son wasn't a handsome and charismatic soldier...
But alas, Sally can't avoid the incorrigible Sebastian. Thanks to him, she finds herself enjoying her time at the great manor far more than she'd intended. But someone really ought to make Sebastian see that their time together is dangerous. The earl doesn't approve of their burgeoning friendship, and neither would the ton.
Only Sebastian seems unaware of what a disastrous match they would make. Though, to be fair, not even Sally realizes how scandalous a connection she might be. Not at first, at least. Not until she uncovers the truth about her family. But can she resist when Sebastian sets out to prove that what they have is more than just friendship? He seems to believe that what they have together can stand any adversary. Even pirates.
If you missed the prequel novella that kicks off this series, you can read it for free in the full-length, standalone romance A Lady’s Luck. If you missed Minerva’s story, that can be found in Miss Minerva’s Pirate Mishap.
About the Author
MAGGIE DALLEN IS a big city girl living in Montana. She writes romantic comedies in a range of genres including young adult, historical, contemporary, and fantasy. An unapologetic addict of all things romance, she loves to connect with fellow avid readers. Subscribe to her historical newsletter at http://eepurl.com/dgUNif or her contemporary newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bFEVsL
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Also by Maggie Dallen
Bluestocking Battalion
Miss Minerva's Pirate Mishap
Miss Abigail's Beastly Beau
Miss Sally's Unsuitable Soldier
Crazy Crush
Tall, Dark, and Nerdy
Too Nerdy to Handle
The Man, The Myth, The Nerd
Dashing Lords
A Rake's Redemption
A Duke's Distraction
A Gentleman's Gamble
Falling
