Iron Seas 03 - Riveted

How horrid of me to make light of injuries that must have been painful.”
    He shrugged. “And long ago.”
    Was he dismissing the topic or her apology? He didn’t seem distressed, but rather uninterested in discussing himself—and examining her features as if interested in her . Well, if he wanted to know what sort of woman she was, he was soon to learn that she had difficulty letting anything go without proper resolution.
    “Whenever it happened, I am sorry for my words now,” she said. “I’m often told that I don’t possess any proper sensibilities, but that doesn’t excuse—”
    “Who tells you this?”
    “Everyone,” she said ruefully, and the stranger laughed before subjecting her to a considering look.
    “If you wish to make amends,” he said, “eat supper with me now.”
    That was not an offer she expected to come from someone with manners. Not offended, but incredibly surprised, she shook her head. “Pardon? I believe I misheard.”
    “Share a meal with me at the inn,” he said unmistakably, before softening his expression with a smile. “I wouldn’t take advantage of a woman’s obligation to me, but I have no choice. If you leave this evening, I’ll have no other opportunity to enjoy your company, and I want to know you better.”
    The intensity of his gaze deepened as he spoke, as if the entirety of his being had focused on gaining her consent. Annika stared up at him, uncertain how to respond. She’d have liked to spend more time with him, too. She wanted to know why he chased volcanoes, and what had possessed him to come to her aid—and there was nothing that forbade her from sharing a meal with someone. But her instincts were ringing, and she couldn’t ignore the alarm they raised. She had been propositioned before. She’d been flirted with before. This was…different. Though she couldn’t have articulatedwhy she felt the need to be wary, Annika was certain that this man wanted something from her—but not company, not courting, not even to share a bed.
    “I’m sorry,” she said, feeling very stiff. “The captain has asked that we all return to the airship early, so that we’re aboard before the storm hits.”
    He nodded, but she saw the clench of his jaw, the frustration that suddenly shadowed his expression. Annika continued her brisk pace. The stranger remained at her side, but as they crossed from the cobblestones onto the wooden docks, the rumble of lorry engines and the shouts of the stevedores made further conversation impossible. Annika walked in silence, her thoughts in tumult. Perhaps she’d been mistaken? Perhaps she was only wary because his offer had been so unexpected. Perhaps she’d just insulted him again.
    If so, nothing could be done now. With relief, she reached Phatéon ’s mooring station. The cargo lift had been raised against the side of the airship, but the ladder hung down to the docking boards.
    Annika stopped and folded her umbrella before turning to the stranger, who had tilted his head back to look up at the airship. She had to tilt her head back to look at him . Oh, he was quite tall—and so close. Rarely did Annika feel small, but standing next to him, she did. “Thank you again.”
    His gaze lowered. Though his smile had not returned, she thought he seemed pleased. Satisfied, perhaps. “You travel aboard Phatéon ? I’ve heard that she’s a fine ship.”
    “Yes.” She caught the rope ladder, steadied it. “Very fine.”
    He nodded. “I will leave you, then. I wish you a safe journey, miss.”
    “I wish the same for you.”
    Politely, he touched his hat—and stood, waiting…for her to climb safely aboard, she realized, and felt silly of a sudden. All this way, he had only been helpful. It had been kind of him to stay withher until he’d made certain that she’d arrived at her destination unharmed. It had been kind of him to offer a meal.
    Still, Annika sensed his gaze on her as she climbed the ladder—and could not shake the feeling that the stranger hadn’t gotten what he wanted, and that he wasn’t done with her. That she would see him again, that he would be waiting for her in Bergen…or somewhere else.
    But perhaps that was only her imagination.

Chapter Two
    For twenty years, David Kentewess had searched for his mother’s people. He’d finally found one of them.
    The small woman ascending Phatéon ’s ladder didn’t physically resemble his willowy mother in any way, but her unusual, burred accent had been the