Broken Dove (Fantasyland #4)(25)

“You need to be to your bed, Maddie,” he told her. “Not playing card games. In your state, you’ll fumble the cheat and pay the price.”

“But—” she began as he moved to push her gently toward the passageway.

“Bed,” he ordered.

“It’s annoying when you boys go macho,” she muttered.

He had no idea what she meant but this happened frequently, to him and all the men.

Sometimes they asked. Sometimes they didn’t. And sometimes when she answered, they still had no idea what she was talking about.

But whenever they asked, if they understood it or not, it was always interesting.

She didn’t protest further, looked around him as he guided her away, waved and called her goodnights.

She got the same in return.

He moved her into the passageway.

“This ship is a lot bigger than I would have expected,” she remarked as he pressed his fingers into the small of her back to move her before him.

“Mm,” he answered.

“It’s also way cool. I’m pretty much expecting Captain Jack Sparrow to jump out at any given time,” she went on.

He grinned, shook his head but said nothing.

She kept talking.

“And this would not be unwelcome. Johnny Depp is hot.”

Derrik stayed silent except for his chuckle.

They made the door of her cabin. There, she stopped and turned to him, lifting her eyes to his.

He no longer saw the Ilsa he’d known for years. The Ilsa his closest friend adored. The Ilsa who made them laugh in a dry way, not an exuberant one. Whose intelligence matched her husband’s, therefore she frequently challenged him and all of them to battles of wits, amusingly and wholeheartedly, just as she frequently won those battles (even against her husband).

No. Now he only saw Maddie, who was not one thing like Ilsa, except in looks.

She tipped her head to the side and shared, “I know I’m drunk.”

Derrik smiled down at her and replied, “You’re not drunk, Maddie. You’re drunk.”

She smiled up at him, the smile lighting up her whole face and he felt his heart thump harder.

“Okay, I know I’m drunk,” she agreed.

He shook his head, still smiling.

“And when you’re drunk, the truth comes out,” she informed him.

He turned his eyes to the ceiling and joked, “Gods, deliver me.”

She smacked his chest and he looked down at her just as she said, “I’m being serious, Derrik.”

He rearranged his features and promised, “You have my full attention, Maddie.”

She rolled her eyes.

When she rolled them back, her face sobered and she held his gaze.

Then she said, “Apollo wished for my return, my twin’s return, really, but in being that, he sought bringing me here. And he got it. Or, I guess, me. And then he didn’t want it, it being, well…me. And that sucks. It hurt and then being here all alone scared me. And depressed me. Because I’d been alone a long time. A really long time. Losing my parents because they turned their backs on me when I picked the wrong husband. Running from him because he hurt me.”

She sucked in a deep breath even as Derrik pulled in a shallow one at her words.

“But I know we’re getting closer to Lunwyn,” she continued. “So I wanted to make sure I said thank you, to you and all the guys for turning a bad situation into a good one.” She smiled a smile that wasn’t her normal smile. It was smaller, slightly forlorn, but still warm. “No, a great one. And I’m starting with you.”

His heart didn’t thump harder at that.

It warmed.

“You’re more than welcome, Maddie,” Derrik replied quietly.

Her smile got bigger and she whispered, “You’re the bomb.”

He’d heard that before, repeatedly. So he knew it was good.

“And you are very sweet,” he returned.

“I am,” she agreed cheekily and finished, “When I’m not beating your ass in tuble, that is.”

At that, he tilted his head back and laughed and when he again looked at her, he saw she was doing it with him.

She sobered again and said softly, “Thank you, Derrik.”

His heart warmed further and he lifted his chin.

She gave him another smile and a wink before she turned to her door.

He turned to the passageway but something she said registered, therefore he stopped and turned back.

“Maddie, just to say,” he called and she stuck her head out the door. “Apollo left before you to get his children to safety. You should not take that as him not wanting you here.”

The forlorn went back into her face as she shook her head and returned, “Oh, he doesn’t want me.”

Derrik turned fully to her and started, “That isn’t—”

But she interrupted him.

“It is, Derrik. He said it to my face. ‘Be careful what you wish for, you might get it. And not want it.’ That’s what he said. Word for word. I think that says pretty clear he doesn’t want me, don’t you?”

Derrik didn’t answer. This was because he was concentrating on the blood roaring in his ears.

“Anyway, I’ve sorted it all out,” she carried on. “I’ve been thinking on it and I have a plan. I’ll have a word with him when we get there and it’ll all be good.”