Chapter 36

D REW HAD THE THREE MISCREANTS brought before him on the quarterdeck, the three he'd shared his cabin with after Gabby had taken the cowardly route and moved out of it. One of them had planted a fist in his face last week when he'd been sleeping. He'd never been able to guess which one had done it, nor had he asked, since he'd been in no position to retaliate or protect himself at the time. But that situation had changed nicely.

They each had their hands tied behind them. He made them wait nearly an hour before he approached them to get his answers.

He knew them by name now, after sharing the cabin with all three of them. Bixley looked wary about why Drew had had them brought up from the hold, but then Bixley was the last one he would suspect of having a reason to assault him when he wasn't looking, as it were.

Richard was wearing a cocky grin as usual. The Frenchman, if he even was French, which Drew suspected he wasn't, appeared not to have a serious bone in his body. He was always joking about something with his friends, including Gabby. That might have annoyed Drew; hell, it did annoy him.

Ohr was the enigma among them. He seemed to be close to Gabby, but he wasn't demonstrative. The man kept his emotions, whatever they were, strictly to himself.

Of the two, Drew suspected Ohr was the one who'd hit him. Richard was too happy-go-lucky. Nothing appeared to bother him; in fact, he reminded Drew a lot of himself. But Ohr was too serious. There was no telling what emotions simmered beneath his quiet demeanor. Drew intended to find out, though.

"What's this about, Captain?" Bixley asked in a nervous tone when Drew moved over to stand in front of them.

He didn't answer immediately. Suspense could make the men uneasy, which would benefit him. Besides, having the upper hand with these particular fellows was distinctly satisfying, so he was in no hurry to rush through the interrogation.

"Relax," he finally said. "I just have some questions for you. I merely have to determine which of you will have the answers."

"Sounds puzzling," Richard remarked.

"Probably just needs some sails fixed," Bixley put in. "And I'm the man for that."

"My sails are fine," Drew disagreed.

"Not fine enough for that storm that's a-brewing. I can smell it in the air."

"He's got eyes, Bix. He can see there is a storm heading this way."

"But he hasn't fixed those sails yet," Bixley countered. "They'll be ripped to shreds if—"

"Are you actually telling me how to run my ship?" Drew cut in incredulously. He'd wanted these three nervous about why he'd summoned them, but all they wanted to do was talk about the ship!

"We're sailors, Captain, same as you," Richard said with a grin. "If we see something wrong with a ship, we're not going to keep it to ourselves."

"I'll fix the damn sails," Drew replied. "Now answer me this. Which one of you planted your fist in my cheek last week while I was sleeping?"

Bixley started to laugh. "So that's what that bruise was from? Wondered about it. And here I'd been thinking ye tripped over yer blankets in the dark."

Drew wasn't the least bit amused. He moved to stand in front of the Irishman and said, "Shall we start with you, then, Bixley?"

"Start?" The man blinked and, his expression turned wary again.

"Why not?" Drew said. "It's called process of elimination. I'm sure you've heard of it."

"Ain't heard of it, and don't care to be in the front of the line to be experiencing it, either. It weren't me that punched ye in the dark."

"No?" Drew said calmly, then glanced at Ohr, then Richard, but those two were both wearing blank looks now. So he added with a sigh, "As I thought, we will have to find out the hard way, then."

The punch knocked Bixley down. Sprawled on the deck, he made no move to get back up for more.

Richard spoke up. "There's no need for that. If you want a fight, untie me. I'm the one you're looking for."

Drew nodded and signaled the men he had standing by to take Ohr and Bixley back to the hold. He was somewhat surprised. Perhaps there was more between Gabby and the supposed Frenchman than he'd thought.

Bixley grumbled at Richard as he was helped to his feet, "Speak up sooner next time, eh."

Richard winced and mumbled, "Sorry, Bix."

Drew studied Richard's handsome face as the other two men were led off. He felt anger rising up for what he was starting to suspect. What would stir up fighting emotions in the Frenchman? Drew had done nothing more to Gabby than kiss her a few times in England before he sailed. He'd wanted to do more, but she hadn't cooperated.

Richard grew uncomfortable under the extended scrutiny and finally said in a sharp tone, "What? It was just one bloody punch."

"I wouldn't have guessed you," Drew said now that he and Richard were alone.

Richard grinned. "Neither would I, if you must know. It was an impulse, quite unplanned."

"Why?"

Richard shrugged. "Felt you deserved it and more."

Since Drew felt nothing of the kind, he snarled, "You want a piece of me? Let's hear the reason."

"Are you joking, man? After what you did?"

That took Drew by surprise and brought forth a thoughtful frown. "I know what I've done recently, but we're talking about last week when I was a prisoner in chains unable to do anything other than stew."

"I told you, it was just an impulse."

Drew didn't buy that, but he gave Richard a thoughtful look. "Why do you pretend to be French?"

The man just grinned wider. "Why do you assume I'm not just because my speech might change a bit occasionally? Maybe I'm a Frenchman who grew up in London."

"Maybe you're a liar."

Richard shrugged. "What difference does it make, eh? We all pretend to be something we're not."

"Even Gabby?"

"Gabby is whatever she wants you to think she is," Richard replied cryptically.

Drew snorted. "Which means?"

"That if you want to know about her, you should be asking her, not me."

"Then let's get back to you and your blasted reason for attacking me."

"Sorry, can't oblige you, Captain. I've been sworn to secrecy. How about you just accept my apology and leave it go at that?"

"How about you satisfy my curiosity before I beat it out of you?"

"Have at me, then. I don't betray my friends."

"You're saying she's just a friend?"

"You thought otherwise when she was thinking about marrying you?"

That word "marrying" in reference to him actually had Drew taking a step back. The very thought of marriage made him shudder. But he was finding it hard to believe that Gabby had entertained those thoughts. And, in fact, Richard could be feeding him a pack of lies just to throw him off track.

But he was still curious enough to ask, "Did she tell you that?"

"I've said too much already," Richard rejoined. "I'm saying no more."

"So it wasn't jealousy that had you attacking me?" Drew persisted.

Richard snorted. "You don't listen too well, Captain. She's my best friend. Whoever she ends up marrying will be fine with me, well, as long as it's not you."

"Then you are jealous!"

"No, I just don't like what you did to her. I tried to give her some excuses for it, but I didn't really believe any of them m'self."

Drew ground his teeth together. He was so frustrated at the moment, it was a wonder he hadn't knocked the pirate on his ass yet. But then it occurred to him…

"I got her drunk to try and seduce her, but my blasted brother interrupted us, so I didn't get very far. Is that what this is all about? Did she think something else happened while she was tipsy?"

Richard shrugged. "She never mentioned that, so I've no idea."

"What did she mention?"

"Nice try, Captain, but that secret is going with me to the grave. So have at me or send me back to the hold, because this conversation ends now either way."

Richard was taking it for granted that Drew wouldn't lay a hand on him. His confident tone said as much. Drew should have disappointed him, if for no other reason than to get rid of the frustration he was currently feeling over learning next to nothing from this futile exercise. But he let him go. He was going to have to take this subject up with Gabby instead, obviously. But she wasn't exactly in an appeasing frame of mind either, so she would probably just make his frustration a lot worse.

He should have just put her in the hold with her crew. It was no more than she deserved for trying to steal his ship. But she'd given him more pleasure than he'd expected when he found her sleeping in her cabin that night, an experience he couldn't get out of his mind.

God, that had been sweet, but making love to her had its drawbacks, too—in particular, that that one time with her should have been enough for him, but it wasn't. With every other woman, once was just fine. He revisited his many sweethearts merely for convenience, not because he was eager to see them again. But with Gabby, he wanted more. Despite his guilt.

And that was another thing that perplexed him. Who would have thought a damned pirate would turn out to be virginal. That still amazed him. But it was kind of sweet, too, that he was the first man for her. Another new experience for him, though, because it certainly wasn't something he looked for in his women. Just the opposite. He preferred women with a good deal of experience. They knew the game, and that marriage wasn't one of the prizes.

Had Gabby really thought about him for a husband? He smiled and shook his head. He was going to find out.