" 'Tis on a hill at the far side of the island, a b.l.o.o.d.y fortress, walls, guards, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d even has the place surrounded by water." Gaelan's brow shot up. "A moat?" Ram smiled. "I nearly fell into it myself. 'Tis narrow, yet deep and hidden well by vines and bushes. He sleeps here." Ram pointed to the spot, then showed them the galley, parlor, stables, servant quarters, and everything else he'd managed to ascertain. " Tis the most strategic spot. He has the sea to his back; any ship as large as a sloop could anchor there." He rubbed his hand over his chin, frowning, thinking. Men waited patiently until he spoke again. "The warehouses are here at the wharf, and Whittingham's is here, just beyond."

"Is this privileged information, or can anybody listen in?"

Dane's heart slammed against the wall of his chest, and he jerked around to see that Tess stood in the doorway. Men leapt to their feet, overturning chairs and nearly the table in the process. Ramsey rose slowly, his 303.

gaze darting briefly to Dane.

"Evening, Lady Renfrew." He bowed from the waist, and the crew murmured their greetings.

"Sit down, guys, and call me Tess, Ramsey." Tess walked until she stood before Dane. "Hi," she said huskily, pushing a lock from his brow. "You look like h.e.l.l."

"A good evening to you, too, Tess." He smiled broadly, his eyes boldly roaming her softer parts as he lifted the brandy to his lips. He tried valiantly not to satisfy the need to smother every inch of her skin with kisses.

"Cut that out," she whispered a bit breathlessly, then gave him her back and peered over Aaron's shoulder at the map. "What's the plan?"

"I fear we have none yet," Aaron said, his gaze drifting over her flushed cheeks and freshly combed hair. So lovely she was.

"You looking to bust your way in or what?"

"Nay," Ramsey said. "We must get a look at the stores in the warehouse without raising suspicion, then find a way into this b.l.o.o.d.y house. I will do the former in the morning."

"What's so important about the warehouses?"

Ram glanced at Dane, and the man nodded almost imperceptibly. "We must discover how the goods are marked. Our ships sailing in this area have been attacked, yet the culprits have been careful to unload the stores before destroying the vessels. We found a poorly disguised crate with the Barstow's markings in a market in South Carolina. The goods are-"

"Being sold to the United States, so -in reality, we're buying back what we already own. You need to 304.

see the stuff on their property before it's remarked, right? For proof?"

Ram grinned. G.o.d, she was quick.

"And with the information in the pilot rudders, you can tie all that to Desiree's killer?" Ram nodded and saw Dane flinch at her words. "Well, every man or woman -' she added pointedly-"has a soft spot. Does this man have an Achilles heel you're aware of?"

"Women," Dane answered. "Young, wealthy, defenseless women." He leaned against the frame. "And jewels."

"The riches he stole, Tess," Ram cleared his throat, unused to the familiarity-"were solely in precious gems."

"Good Lord," she whispered, then cast a glance at Dane. "Jewels, huh? I take it you don't have any to entice this guy with?"

He shook his head. " Twas not only my sister's dowry, but a goodly portion of the wealth my father mined in India, he-"

"Can you buy some?" she interrupted.

Dane shrugged. "There are none to be had here, at least not enough of a fine quality or that I can afford to purchase."

"Not to mention the man would catch wind of it before we could act," Aaron added.

"Before / can act," Dane clarified, and his mates grumbled.

Tess's eyes widened. "You're going after him by yourself?"

"Of course! Without question. Twas my family he ruined and-what are you up to now, la.s.s?" Dane asked, his brows drawn tight as she suddenly swept 305.

into her rooms.

Tess immediately went to an ugly brown satchel and pulled out her yellow duffle. Dane had put it in there to be less conspicuous. She jammed her hand deep into the bag, slipping her fingers beneath the vinyl-covered cardboard that supported the bottom. She tore free the packet taped beneath, then returned to the sitting room. Standing before Dane, she pried up two bra.s.s tines, then opened the paper envelope. Men craned their necks to look as she leaned over the table and tilted the pouch.

Across the hastily drawn map spilled a fortune in colored marquis-cut diamonds.

"Is that enough?"

Some men cursed, others whistled quietly, yet all moved closer, gaping from the stones to her and back.

"Mother of G.o.d!" Dane whispered, picking up a gem the size of his thumbnail. "How did you come by such a treasure?"

The officers waited with breath held as she swung her gaze to Dane, Tess braced herself, straightening her spine and lifting her chin.

"I stole it."

"What?" everyone shouted. Dane fell into a chair.

"I wasn't after those." She gestured to the stones. "I broke into this building-"

"You were a thief?" Dane bellowed, appalled.

"No! Well, yes-for one night," Tess knew this was coming and struggled with how to put it so they could understand. "Sloane was about to give some damaging, ah, material on my friend Penny to the newspapers. Pen asked me to get it back." Tess shrugged. "It was hers anyway. h.e.l.l, Sloane even told me where 306.

to find the packet! I should have seen that coming because along with the incriminating stuff," she tossed a thumb at the gems, "was that little surprise."

Dane stood abruptly and paced a few steps. "A b.l.o.o.d.y thief!" He stopped and glared at her. "G.o.d's teeth, this is what you've been hiding from me?"

She planted her hands on her hips. "Look, Black-well, Sloane put those diamonds in there hoping I'd get killed for them! And I wouldn't even be here, except they saw me leaving. Pen and I traded places and I took her cru-ah, pa.s.sage on the Na.s.sau Queen."

Dane looked at the diamonds. / wouldn't be here, repeated in his head.

"Are you saying you wouldn't do the same if a friend needed you?" she asked, inclining her head sharply toward O'Keefe.

Eyes shifted to see how he'd answer.

"The la.s.s has you there, my friend," Ramsey said quietly.

Dane's shoulders slumped, and he rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze moving between Tess and the gems.

"Are you offering those stones?"

"Sure. Why not? I can be the bait to-"

"Never." Dane shook his head slowly.

"But I could get inside, then help you."

" Tis preposterous to even consider the-"

"You said he likes jewels-"

"Tess -!" His voice grew steadily louder.

"-And I can be as helpless as he wants."

"d.a.m.n you, woman!" He took a step, itching to shake her. "I will not hand you over to the wh.o.r.eson, and that is the end of it!" They stared, green ice bat- 307.

tling with silver fire, and Tess knew he wouldn't relent.

"Okay, fine. You lost your chance to get this guy where it hurts." Tess leaned over the table and scooped up the gems, pouring them into the packet. "Me no help, you no diamonds." She marched across the room, opened the door to the hall, and walked out. Dane, Ramsey, and the officers stared at the open door, then Dane bolted like a pistol shot.

"Come back here, woman!"

"Go to h.e.l.l, Blackwell."

He flew down the stairs, Ram, Gaelan, and Aaron not far behind. Several pairs of eyes followed her as she ran through the common room and out the door before he could stop her. He shoved aside chairs and people, quickening his step.

"Sweet Christ. You cannot expect me to endanger your life, too!"

He was several paces behind her, yet she didn't stop. "But you'd gamble with yours regardless of the hazards."

" Tis different. I'm a man." He overtook the division between them, and just as he reached her, she lifted her skirts and took off.

"Try again, Blackwell. That doesn't wash."

People paused to stare at the handsome couple arguing in the streets.

"Come with me to the inn before I'm forced to carry you back. Now, Tess," he demanded.^" 'Tis not safe!"

"Safe!" She stopped abruptly, and he nearly slammed into her. "You're the one so h.e.l.lbent on revenge, you can't see what will happen to the rest of us if you're killed. Go ahead! Do it!" she shouted. "Let this b.a.s.t.a.r.d waste your b.u.t.t. If you don't give a c.r.a.p 308.

about your life, than why the h.e.l.l should I?" She turned and ducked down a side street. "I'm used to being alone," she muttered under her breath.

He heard and followed. " Tis why you've hidden from me today. Because I have threatened this little coc.o.o.n you've made for yourself." His inescapable conclusion made Tess slow her steps.

"I care for you, Dane. Maybe too much." Her throat swelled.

He met her stride. "Care? Tis a weak word, la.s.s. I care if my breeches are clean."

She halted, facing him. "What do you want from me?"

He spread his arms out. "Have I demanded a thing?" His gaze locked with hers, and Tess knew he wouldn't come right out and say it.

"What if I get sent back into my time?" She choked on her torment.

" 'Twill not happen." His words were sharp with pain as she gave voice to his fears.

"It might, and we couldn't stop it!" Her eyes misted, her heart beating out her panic.

"I will," he challenged, covering the s.p.a.ce that separated them. "With the last drop of my blood." Swiftly he caught her about the waist, gathering her close. "Your century gave you up, Tess, tossed you into my arms, and I mean to keep you." His mouth crashed down onto hers, his lips hard and slanting as he mashed her to his body. I'm losing her, he thought, and deepened his a.s.sault. Flames licked where their bodies touched, searing their blood. A heady steam rose around the pair as he devoured her lips, begging what he dared not ask of her: a promise to stay with him, to 309.

live in his time.

"Let me help you, Dane," she whispered breathlessly against his mouth, and he shook his head. "Dammit! Don't you know how much you mean to me?" she cried, squeezing his biceps. "Don't you realize by now I'd do anything for you!"

His fingers dove into her hair, tilting her head back. "Anything, Tess?"

"Yes," she insisted, tears glistening.

"Then marry me."

Tess stared into eyes pale as sea foam, turbulent, and knew she had to make her decision now or lose it all. Her time or his.

"Aye," she breathed on a sigh.

Dane stole it, kissing her until he felt her legs buckle, then abruptly spun her about so she could see they stood in a churchyard and that a man in brown robes was coming toward them.

She looked back over her shoulder, eyes wide. "N-n-now?" she sputtered.

Dane didn't give her the chance to ponder overlong on the matter, and with a hand at the small of her back, gently nudged her toward the friar.

"Get Duncan quickly," Ramsey ordered from somewhere off to the side. "He won't want to miss this!"

310.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE.

Tess's thoughts spun chaotically as Dane spoke to the old friar. Married? Now? This minute? She gulped, turning a pleading look to where Ramsey was leaning against the crumbling stone gate, but the man was no help, folding his arms over his chest and chuckling quietly as if he were laughing at some joke only he was aware of. She returned her attention to the ancient priest. Bobbing his head with approval, the friar waved a hand toward his chapel, sandaled feet shuffling as he led the way.

"Haven't you ever heard of an engagement?" Tess whispered out of the side of her mouth.

Dane smiled, prodding her along. "I have you this close to an altar, love, and will not give way to chance."

"'Fraid I'd turn tail, huh?"

"Aye."

"Gee. You could have said no."