Damn these woman confused him! Both of them for that matter. After embracing the Captain that saucy island mermaid who wears too many faces to count was there with her hands in his hair. Was that affection or a softer boxing of his ears? But his question of her, as many as there were, at the time were overshadowed by the Night Bloom First Mate. Curses to her for that. First she gives him cold eyes and then she speaks of how precious a man is for the life he lives. He can not so easily be replaced. Really? Look at all the sailors in this harbor town. Lots of men on these shores. If men are so special why did she not like them? It seemed to Jax there were more helmsman about than books on numbers and starts written in such smooth details. Does she really believe he might be of value?
Yet this icy first mate did not appear to be a lying sort even when lies would be easy. She could have demanded, even within her rights, he replace the book. But instead she gave it to him. Lucky piece with maybe something left he gain.
She gave him the book. She asked nothing from him. She stood over him letting the sun farme her form just for him to view. Damn that sneaky conniving gut twisting woman. Was it her goal to torment him?
Then as quick as she cut the knife to his heart she commanded him to follow. To her cabin. To those books, to that room, to her alone again. He almost refused. Right on his lips he almost cursed her and screamed that he was fine and she had no right to play him this way. But the deck was full and she was the First Mate. He wanted to be on that ship even if it meant he had to suffer through her. Or maybe, truth of it all, because he had to do just that.
Jax thought for a minute how easy it would be to say something smart to help the ice sea witch find that meanness and disregard him again. He could tease and get a hidden chuckle from all the precious sea man who stood on deck watching. Oh there were swirls of words and taunts that swam about. But Jax held them back.
He stood and shrugged his shoulder finding that smile again. He would obey. Like the scolded puppy he would put his tail between his legs and follow her. But she best watch the hound at her heels because those little pups turn into useful dogs. Ha, Jax snickered at that thought and managed to move from his place behind to walk along side just as they both got to her cabin door.
“Mademoiselle,” he whispered and then cleared his throat, “I mean Doctor, First Mate. I have sometime of importance to discuss in fact. It seems I have stumbled into an unwanted invitation,” He smiled to her, “Not to your cabin, or course," he tried hard to let his face show his joke and yet he guessed she would not find it."but to a dance or some party tonight given by the Commander of this Port’s Post. He himself gave the invitation.” Not a lie, Jax was sure, just maybe a stretch of the truth. “I am not one to attend those types of affairs and yet to refuse would be slightly improper. But if you and the Captain would attend with me, all would go much better. And I am sure if you tell the Captain of the invitation, if you tell him instead of me, the hardship you endure during the affair will lessen.”
He offered her a small smile as if an apology, “I know two nights in my company will be a challenge for you and yet once at the party you can mingle and I promise not to water log your style.”
Jax reached ahead of her and opened the door to her cabin.