Danielle raised her chin. “He and my father became political rivals. My father had been spreading the word through his lectures and writings that Baptiste was corrupt.”
“You’re certain Baptiste killed him?”
“I was standing in the doorway and saw him shoot and kill Pere.”
Cade clenched his jaw. “Danielle, I’m sorry.”
Danielle stared at the table, her eyes unfocused, remembering. “‘This will be our little secret,’ he said. And then my mother was arrested for murder. No one believed a small girl’s word over such an important politician’s, especially not when the accused was English.”
“But the Black Fox did other things, struck other places.”
Danielle paced away from him. “I had to keep from seeming as if I was after Baptiste. I never knew the papers would begin following my stories. I never expected to be famous because of it.”
Cade shook his head. “If you were the Black Fox, why did Grim allow me to buy the map?”
“I believe that’s when he began to suspect you were on our side. Until then he didn’t know whether you were one of the turncoats, what with your sudden return to England. He wanted to see what you would do with it.”
“I was never a turncoat,” Cade ground out.
“Of course you weren’t.” She returned to his side. “Cade…” she finally whispered. “I’m waiting.”
His head snapped to the side to face her. “For what?”
“For you to tell me you’re happy to see me, that you…” Her voice trailed off and she looked away.
He searched her face. “Can I trust you, Danielle?”
“You can trust me, Cade. And I finally realize that I can trust you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard you. When I jumped from the ship. I heard you say you love me.”
A barely perceptible nod was his only answer.
“Did you mean it?” she asked. “Do you still love me?”
He paced away and scrubbed his hand through his hair. “I don’t know how to love, Danielle.”
She held out a hand toward him. “Neither do I, but I’d like to try … with you.”
The hint of a smile touched his lips. He turned back to face her. “Are you saying you love me?”
“If you’re saying you love me.” She stepped toward him and trailed her fingertip up his chest to tug at his cravat.
He crushed her to him and took her mouth in a fierce kiss. “God, yes. I love you madly and I’m never going to let you go.”
“Good,” she replied as they tore at each other’s clothes. “Because I’m never going to let you go, either.”
Cade pushed his fingers into her hair. “You’re going to have to make a decent man out of me and marry me.”
Her eyes widened. “Marry you? I don’t know how to be a wife.”
“That’s perfect because I’ve no clue how to be a husband. We’ll learn together.” His shirt half off and his breeches unbuttoned, he fell to his good knee. “Will you marry me, Danielle LaCrosse?”
She opened her mouth to reply.
“Wait, before you answer, you should know that I’ve been given this exceedingly annoying title of sir by the prince, and I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather share it with. Rafe cannot stop teasing me about it.”
Her eyes widened even farther. “If you’re a sir and we marry, that would make me … a lady?”
“My lady.” He stood again and pulled her into his arms.
“What will we live off of?”
“Didn’t Grimaldi tell you I was an official privateer for many years? Privateering is a lucrative business.”
“Is it?”
“Very. I don’t intend to stop my work on his majesty’s behalf. You should join me on the high seas, mademoiselle.”
She opened her mouth to reply when Cade interrupted, “Wait. Your name is Danielle LaCrosse, isn’t it?”
She laughed. “You have to ask?”
“I wasn’t expecting you to be the Black Fox, either.”
Danielle nodded. “I suppose you have a point. Yes, my name is truly Danielle LaCrosse.”
He spun her around in his arms. “Then, marry me, Mademoiselle LaCrosse, and make me the happiest man on earth.”
“What will Rafe and Daphne think of having a maid in the family?”
“They’ll be delighted. Daphne will have her hair arranged for life. And you heard Grim. The four of us are his best spies. We can all go on missions together. Who would ever suspect a family of spies?”
“I suppose you have a point.” She laughed. “Daphne was extremely forgiving of my deception. She said she’d grown used to such surprises, having fallen in love with a spy herself. She also told me I may come and visit Mary and Mrs. Huckleberry whenever I like. Apparently, Mary and Trevor are close to announcing their own engagement.”
“Is that a yes?” Cade asked, bending down and kissing her neck.
“Yes, you ridiculously handsome man. I will marry you, but first, let’s study something else.”
He continued kissing her neck. “Like what?”
“Like what husbands and wives do in bed.”
“I’m all for it.” He kissed her ear. “I have something new to show you.”
“Really?” She closed her eyes and pressed herself against him, shuddering a little.
“Yes. Do you trust me?” Cade asked.
“Hmm. I’m not sure.” She giggled. “General Grimaldi gave me some excellent advice once.”
Cade’s lips moved to her ear. “Oh, really, what was that?”
Cade lowered her to the bed, flinging off the last of her clothing. “Then it’s a good thing I’m not a pirate.”
Thank you for reading Never Trust a Pirate.
I hope you enjoyed Cade and Danielle’s story.
This was such a fun one to write. I adore a black sheep paired with an unpredictable heroine!
I’d love to keep in touch.
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And look for the next novel in the Playful Brides series
The Right Kind of Rogue
Available in November 2017
From St. Martin’s Paperbacks
ALSO BY VALERIE BOWMAN
THE PLAYFUL BRIDES
The Legendary Lord
The Untamed Earl
The Irresistible Rogue
The Unlikely Lady
The Accidental Countess
The Unexpected Duchess
THE SECRET BRIDES
Secrets of a Scandalous Marriage
Secrets of a Runaway Bride
Secrets of a Wedding Night
E-NOVELLAS
The Unforgettable Hero
A Secret Affair
A Secret Proposal
It Happened Under the Mistletoe
(Also featured in the Christmas Brides anthology)
Praise for the spectacular Playful Brides series by
VALERIE BOWMAN
THE LEGENDARY LORD
“A sweet and fulfilling romance.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Graceful writing enlivened with plenty of dry wit, a charming cast of secondary characters, and a breathtakingly sexy romance between a perfectly matched couple make Bowman’s latest addition to her Regency-set Playful Brides series another winner.”
—Booklist
“The words funny, smart, sensual, and joyous come
to mind when readers pick up Bowman’s romance.”
—RT Book Reviews
THE UNTAMED EARL
“Bowman delights with a humorous tale that could come straight out of a Shakespearean play. The charming characters are well developed, their cock-eyed motivations are clear, and the plot moves quickly, wrapping readers in an enchanting romance.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Valerie Bowman’s stories sparkle with humor and her characters are absolutely adorable. The Untamed Earl is an engaging and romantic love story.”
—Fresh Fiction
THE IRRESISTIBLE ROGUE
“Bowman’s novel is the complete package, filled with fascinating characters, sparkling romance, and a touch of espionage.”
—Publishers Weekly
“With its lively plot, heated sexual tension, surprising twists, engaging characters, and laugh-out-loud humor, Bowman’s latest is another winner.”
—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars, Top Pick!)
“You will find no greater romantic escapade.”
“The story is filled with humor, a twisting plot, and vibrant characters that have become Bowman’s hallmark. The chemistry is near-perfect, and the will-they-won’t-they back-and-forth is exactly what romance readers want; the simultaneous tale of deceit, revenge, and espionage makes it all the more rewarding.”
—Sarah MacLean, The Washington Post
THE UNLIKELY LADY
“Bowman keeps her prose and characters fresh and interesting; her book is an entertaining renewal of a classic plotline and well worth reading.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Rich with fully developed characters and a plethora of witty banter.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A definite must-read!”
—San Francisco Book Review
THE ACCIDENTAL COUNTESS
“Bowman is one to watch.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Readers will take the well-drawn, likable characters into their hearts, enjoying every moment of their charming love story as it unfolds in unexpected ways. Simply enjoy the humor and tenderness.”
—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars)
“Merry, intelligent, and wholly satisfying. The plot is elaborate, and Bowman handles it with grace to spare.”
—USA Today
THE UNEXPECTED DUCHESS
“Smart, witty, sassy, and utterly delightful!”
—RT Book Reviews (4½ stars, Top Pick!)
“Engaging characters, snappy banter, and the judicious infusion of smoldering sensuality will have readers clamoring for the next installment in this smart and sexy series.”
—Booklist (starred review)
“A fun, smart comedy of errors and a sexy, satisfying romance.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Valerie Bowman grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of historical romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her mini-schnauzer, Huckleberry. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS. Valerie loves to hear from readers. Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and visit her online at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com, or sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Epigraph
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Also by Valerie Bowman
Praise
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
NEVER TRUST A PIRATE
Copyright © 2017 by Valerie Bowman.
All rights reserved.
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St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / May 2017
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