Wrong Kind of Paradise (32 page)

nurse him back to health. Port Royal’s devastation continued for weeks after the earthquake, as disease

ran rampant.

The cemetery had been washed up during the earthquake and people were still finding dead bodies

around the city, even weeks later. Sadly, Angel feared Port Royal would never see its days of glory again.

Two thousand people had died during the disaster, including Bruno, the lieutenant, as well as most

of Blac’s crew. Rigo still hadn’t been found and the Serpent rested now in its watery grave, along with

hundreds of vessels. The only visible remains of the undersea graveyard were a forest of masts gouging

the surface of the waves.

Port Royal lay in silence, mourning the loss of her soul that breathed life into the tiny port. The town

remained deserted.

The night threaded weak moonlight into the room at the inn. Angel crossed her arms over her chest

and peered out the window at the harbor beyond. Moonlight flickered across the water, illuminating the

few ships in the harbor. Since the earthquake, there seemed to be a curse on the area and people were

afraid to be on the same island as Port Royal. Forget the fact that Port Royal lay on the opposite side of

the Harbor and Kingston was tucked safely on solid ground, and not adrift on a tiny spit of land.

Turning from the window, she glanced to the man in the bed. His breath echoed in the silence of the

room and remained her only companion. She crossed the room and perched on the bed. Lifting his limp

hand, tears surfaced as she kissed Blac’s knuckles. Aware of the terrible hollowness in her chest, she

sniffled.

I miss you, Blac. Please, wake up.

Tomorrow would mark her ninth day nursing him. Nine days without his smile. He showed signs of

improvement, but he’d yet to wake. Fear kept hope at bay, but she couldn’t shake it away. What if he

never woke up? Pain lanced her heart and squeezed. Life without Blac wasn’t an option for her.

Tears streamed down her cheeks and she lowered herself to her knees beside the bed, pressing his

hand against her face. “Stay with me,” she whispered. “I want to grow old with you and lounge on the

veranda on your isle of serenity. Grow old with me, Blac.”

Her voice cracked and she swallowed.

The door opened to reveal her father. He completely filled the doorway with his large frame. He

stuck his head in and gave a soft smile. “Time for your dinner.”

“I’ll take it in here, if you please.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You’ll do no such thing. You haven’t eaten a decent meal in days and

you’re wasting away. What do you expect Blac to hang onto, if you’re so thin he can barely see you? Now

go eat and put some meat on those bones.”

She didn’t move at first, and he entered fully with a determine look on his face. Angel shot to her

feet, still afraid of her father’s discipline. She eased around the bed and stood before him. Peering up into

his still handsome face, she placed a hand on his arm.

He opened for her and that was all she needed. He crushed her to him and hugged her tightly as only

a father could for a daughter in despair. He rocked her softly and kissed the top of her head. “I love you,

Angel. And so did your mother. But she would hate to see you like this. You must eat something. Where

did my beautiful vibrant little girl go?”

Angel squeezed her father’s waist and smiled into the crook of his arm as her head only reached the

top of his shoulder. All the years he’d walked her to her mother’s grave and told her stories of her vibrant

mother returned to her.

Logan released her and held her at arm’s length. “You’re such a strong woman now, much like your

mother. And you make a father proud, Angel.”

Angel choked and rushed back into his arms. After her tears abated, he set her away from him and

urged her out the door. “And don’t return until your little belly is stuffed full. And that’s an order.”

~*~

Blac’s eyes cracked open as light speared his eyeballs. He groaned at the pain. His head pounded

like a hundred thundering hooves and his stomach roiled as nausea assaulted him.

“It’s about time, old man.”

He recognized the voice. He squinted, trying to peer into the haze. Logan sat beside him in a chair,

his elbows resting on his knees.

He attempted to reply but couldn’t. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. He swallowed.

“We didn’t think you’d make it there for a second, but I remember how stubborn you are. I knew

you’d come around. But Angel, she’s been scared.”

Blac tried to jerk up, but ended up crashing back to the pillow. His head spun and lifted his head as

if that would stop it. “Where is she?”he croaked out.

“She’s taking a break to get something to eat. She’s been worried sick and hasn’t left your side until

today.” Logan grunted. “And I had to force her to do that. You’re not the only stubborn one.”

Blac’s grin faltered to a frown. Every muscle in his body ached and burned.

A dull burst of agony assaulted him at the worry she must have endured over him. He searched for

her as if expecting her to burst into the room.

“She’ll return soon enough.” Logan must have noticed him searching for Angel. “I knew something

like this would happen. I had tried to prevent it for many years.”

Blac peered up into Logan’s eyes. He’d aged. The lines fanning his eyes bore deep grooves and his

hair had grown much whiter over the last three years.

The only sign he bore of his capture was the cut on his forehead which would likely heal as a scar.

A constant reminder of the horror of these last few years.

Years of memories lingered between them, like a giant wall separating them. Blac could still

remember his first day aboard the Aberdeen and the fifteen-year-old boy who’d stood taller than most of

the grown men. As the youngest member of the crew, Blac had been petrified, but Logan’s quirky quips

had immediately made him feel at ease.

Logan’s half-grin spoke of his own memories and Blac nodded uncomfortably. The over-grown

pirate got to his feet and patted Blac’s shoulder. “Do you need anything?”

“Some water would be nice.”

Logan nodded and crossed to the door to open it. He turned back to Blac. “I will be forever grateful

to you for saving Angel’s life, Blac. You’re debt is paid in full.”

Then he was gone. Blac realized that while he hadn’t actually said the words, Logan had forgiven

him. And given them his blessing.

~*~

Blac stood on the veranda and watched the sun set. Fully recovered now, he waited on Angel to

enter the room. He’d sent a message that had only said
I need you
.

The door banged open and stuck into the wall as she burst into the room. “What is it? Are you all

right? Are you feeling sick again?”

He chuckled as she raced to him and searched his body, peered into his eyes, looking for some sort

of ailment. He clasped her hands and drew her within the circle of his arms. “I’m fine. I was hoping you’d

watch this beautiful sunset with me.”

She paused, clamped her mouth closed and then a wide smile spread across her features. “Of

course, I would be delighted.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. They stood thus until the sun hung by its

last thread. The slightest sliver of orange darted across the darkened sky when he finally faced her. “I

have something to say...I mean I wish to speak to you.”

“What is it?” Her wide eyes proclaimed her fear.

He smiled and dropped to one knee, opening his palm. “I have this gem...you see. I found it years

ago on my island and have stored it away, never really thinking anything about it. But now...” He clasped

her palm in his other hand and brought it to his lips. “I would like to get it carved into a wedding ring,

Angel. For you.”

Tears brightened her eyes, though they’d yet to fall. The opened O of her mouth expressed her

shock, but she dropped to one knee beside him to accept the gem. Their foreheads bumped together as they

ogled the jewel. “What is it?” she whispered.

“It’s called Caribbean amber. It is a prehistoric resin, mined from the hills. It’s normally a pale

yellow or dark brown.”

“Then why is it sort of blue?”

Their cheeks brushed. “It’s a rare blue-tinted amber that is colored by volcanic gas.”

“Oh, how lovely!” She peered up into his face and warmth spread through him. Her tiny palm

settled over his heart. “I cannot wait to start my life with you as Mrs. Barclay.”

He laughed and scooped her up into his arms. Still on their knees in the middle of the veranda, they

kissed under the fading light of the sun. They sank to the floor and with their heads together finished

watching the last displays of light disappear from the sky, knowing they would have a lifetime of this

together.

The sunset finished the ceremony with the tiniest crack of light rimming the horizon in honor of the

day he’d asked her to marry him. Angel turned in Blac’s arms. A slight breeze fluttered the blonde ringlets

away from her face, and Blac couldn’t keep the grin from his face.

Married.

He was married.

Was he really married?

Angel whipped around as the wind caught her fluttering, white skirts and tossed the bouquet behind

her to an entire throng of pirates and seamen who, instead of catching the bundle of lilies, all took a step

away.

Angel glanced behind her at the bundle of lilies nestled in the sand and burst into laughter. Her face

glowed with happiness.

He chuckled. Was he married? Hell yes, he was married. Happily so.

Blac laughed and hugged her close.

She stepped away from him and withdrew a cutlass from beneath her skirts. Where the hell had that

come from and how had she put it there?

“You never answered my question, Barclay,” she whispered, striking a stance.

“Oh? Which one?”

“Do you wish to take up where young Eric left off, which is on the ground with my sword at your

throat?”

Then she did the damndest thing. She waggled her brows at him and whispered, “
En guard?
”

Blac burst into laughter, grabbed the sword, and flung it before hefting Angel over his shoulder.

Life would never be dull with the Hell’s Angel. It might be the wrong kind of paradise, but it was heaven

nonetheless.

~The End~

About the Author

Suzie still believes in happily-ever-after and after growing up reading classic adventure literature

like Treasure Isle, Gone with the wind and watching classic westerns like Gunsmoke, Lonesome Dove,

and Bonanza Suzie knew what she wanted to do with her life. She brings the action of thrillers to

historical romance with steamy love scenes and a pace that will leave you breathless!

From Castles to cowboys there's something thrilling on every page. Take a deep breath and join

Suzie on a journey into her happily-ever-after.

During her rocky teenage years writing became an emotional outlet for her and it wasn’t until she

had married and had children that writing as a profession became an option.

After a very long divorce she again finds herself climbing that rocky path of life and has learned to

live by a single quote: “Obstacles are placed in our path to determine whether we really wanted

something, or just thought we did.”By Dr. Harold Smith.

Suzie looks forward to each new obstacle.

She lives happily-ever-after with her new beau, three boys and one little Shitzhu named Peppy

Le’Pew in NC. One day she plans to retire and sail along the east coast an adventurer to the end.

The Devil's Defiance ~ Book Two of the Devil Ryder Series

Coming in the fall of 2011

New York City Lawyer Garret Ryder takes the law into his own hands when a vicious killer gets

away with murdering his family. Nothing will stop him from delivering the justice denied him by the law

he vowed to uphold. But when the killer kidnaps a judge’s daughter, his childhood sweetheart, he must

decide if any price is too high to exact revenge.

San Antonio socialite Sophia Maria Osbourne doesn’t trust easily. With a dirty politician and a

blackmailing judge for a father, she learned not to rely on anyone but herself. But when her father’s shady