Page 86 of Hush Darling

Looking through her lashes, she gave him a half grin. “Maybe I’m a pirate at heart.”

She’d certainly stolen more than he’d willingly given. “Perhaps you are. But such a charming name would never work on a pirate. We’ll have to think up something a little more threatening.”

Her grin stretched. “Like what? Red-Handed Wendy?”

He thought of how she’d stolen his knife. “We’ll call you Red-Handed Jill.”

Her smile faltered. “Why Jill?”

“Why not?”

She shook her head, and her frown deepened. “Tell me why you chose me.”

“I chose you because I wanted you.”

Again, she shook her head. “I know you’re purposely not telling me something. This wasn’t about me. Not initially. This was something else. Something personal. Was there a Jill?”

“No, there was no Jill.”

“Then why would you call me Red-Handed Jill?”

He tsked. “My enemies call me Black Jack. When I was a child, my mother used to sing a nursery rhyme about Jack and Jill.” Why was he telling her this? He only had a handful of good memories of his mother, and they were his. “I was trying to be clever. It was a stupid thought.”

“No, it’s not stupid. I know that nursery rhyme.”

“You do?”

“Yes. Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown?—”

“And Jill came tumbling after.” He smiled at the strange nostalgia a few short words could create. “Fitting, as I suppose I was your downfall.”

“What if you were my savior?”

He looked away. “I’m no one’s savior.”

“Did you take me because you wanted to hurt Peter? Did he do something to you?”

“It’s safest to leave our secrets in the shadows, darling.” He craved telling her the whole truth, but feared her loyalties might lie with his brother. “Why would you think my taking you has to do with Peter?”

“It felt like revenge.”

Something cold settled in the pit of his stomach. “All of it?”

“No. In the end, it was only about us. But in the beginning, it was clear you wanted to send a message.”

“What if it was revenge?”

“It might have started that way, but I think you’ve changed your mind.”

“How so?”

She shrugged. “I can’t explain it. I just have this feeling that you would think it rude to use me that way.”

He chuckled at her logic. “I used you all night.”

“For yourself.”

She was right. Initially, he’d wanted to use her to send a message. Now, he didn’t even want to share the thought of her with Peter or any other man. She was his and his alone. “I’m glad he never had you.”