The Pirate Read Online Free PDF

aphne was a bit unsure of herself this morning. Her “alarm” last night had been for naught and she felt very foolish. The rest of the team didn’t censure her and they all still remained on guard. Daphne and Bob were still planning to send a message to Paul as soon as they received permission from the captain.
    Bob was seasick and asked her to wait a few hours before they went to use the radio and contact Paul. She wondered if he was having second thoughts now that it was daylight. She was. With the heat of the sun on her shoulders and the fresh air in her hair, she didn’t believe there was any threat to them.
    This trip, which had seemed the answer to so many of her problems, now just seemed foolish. Her intent to help impoverished children didn’t feel silly to her. Even at home she had always done that by making sure her practice treated kids from all income levels. What worried her was the desire to have an adventure so she wouldn’t feel like the left-behind woman anymore.
    No matter that they hadn’t been attacked by pirates last night, she knew that Laz was up to something. And this morning, as she jogged through the crates lining the deck of the tanker, she tried to clear her mind. Her iPod Shuffle was cranking out Black Sabbath and Trick Daddy but her mind wasn’t going any further than the bridge of the ship.
    She was tired of being lied to by men. And though Laz didn’t come right out and lie to her, he hadn’t exactly been honest with any of them either. He was a pirate. That was the only explanation that she could come up with. Why else would he be beckoning men onto the tanker in the middle of the night?
    She slowed to a walk to do her warm down and sensed someone behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see Laz. She turned off her iPod as he approached.
    â€œMind if I join you?”
    â€œI guess not.”
    â€œThat’s not very gracious. I must have made a bad impression last night. How about I make it up to you?”
    She shook her head. How could she admit to him that his impression had been fine until she’d spied on him from the gangway? “You were charming, as I’m sure you know.”
    â€œCharming?” he asked, arching one eyebrow at her. “Well, that’s promising.”
    â€œIt’s your tanker so I guess you can do what you want,” she said, not wanting him to read too much into her allowing him to join her.
    â€œBut I still want to respect your space,” Laz said.
    â€œPlease sit down,” she said.
    He sat down next to her and the first thing she noticed was that he smelled good—a mixture of soap and mint. She took a deep breath.
    â€œHow many more days until we arrive at our destination?”
    â€œMaybe a day,” Laz said. “The seas have been calm and we are making good time.”
    â€œThat’ll be great,” she said.
    â€œAnxious to get to doctoring?” he asked.
    â€œYes, I am,” she said. “I don’t know if I can really explain it without sounding stupid but I feel like I’m half-alive when I’m not working.”
    â€œThat makes sense. Being a doctor is more than a job—it’s a calling. Not many people are lucky enough to find that.”
    â€œDid you?”
    He shrugged. “I think so. What I do is a necessary evil but I’m very good at it.”
    â€œWhat you do? Captaining a tanker isn’t evil, Laz.”
    â€œNah, I guess you’re right. It’s just that compared to being a doctor captaining a tanker isn’t all that glamorous a calling.”
    Daphne looked at him. He still had that aura of danger that surrounded him, but there was sincerity to his words.
    â€œWe are all called to do something different. All those different parts make up the whole.”
    â€œVery wise.”
    She started laughing. “My son said that to me before I left.”
    â€œSo he’s smart like you?”
    â€œAnd