By Bridgid

Here it was his birthday and where was he? He was out to sea, of course. At least she had one glorious night to reminisce about.

He was up and out the door before she even stirred. How the hell did he do that? She had the ears of a canine and the awareness of a cat from all of that Marine Corp training but Jack Aubrey could cast such a spell on her that her guard fell. She trusted him and that’s part of the reason why but he managed it. Trust is a foundation for comfort and Bridgid was never as comfortable as she was in his arms. It was hard to explain actually but it had a lot to do with not having to be in charge. He was commanding, a presence and the perfect mate for her. She’d never in her life relaxed until she fell in love with him.

This time he left her with a gift. He’d had a schooner commissioned to be built for her and when he returned with it they’d surely find some creative way to christen it. A bottle of champagne would be just the start of the ceremony and they’d likely share it on the bowsprit instead of cracking it over the hull. For now, Bridgid was left with the blueprints and a model that he’d carried in his pocket.

It did piss her off some. She didn’t want to be left alone so soon but she’d forgive him the moment she saw him. All she had to do was look into his sea blue eyes and any anger she harbored would be swept from her soul in the same way Jack Aubrey had swept her off of her feet.

When she finally got up and found his note she cried for a few minutes. She always cried when he left but no one knew it, not even him. Bridgid had bore the façade of a woman who’s only publicly shared emotion was one of stoic command. If she dare shed a tear in front of anyone she’d die, mortified. Only Jack had drilled through the walls around her being. "Damn him for that!"

She said that out loud but it only brought on a sob. She knew better. She knew that sailors went away. She also knew that sometimes they didn’t return.

He wasn’t going to war this time though. He was just going to accept delivery of her gift. Now she was left with the task of coming up with a name for the vessel, this ship which was the only woman competing with her for his attention. "Damn him for that!"

How could she say such a thing about the man she loved, the man who the very sight of took her breath away?

Bridgid closed her eyes and pictured him in her mind. His image was fresh of course but his scent was still around her too. She could smell the crisp sea breezes that filled his hair just like they filled the sails of a ship in the warm waters of the Caribbean. When she lowered her head she could smell the scent of bergamot on his pristine linen shirt mixed with the heat of male pheromones that danced on the coarse spray of blonde on his chest. His warm enveloping arms were there when she clutched herself and she could feel his strong thighs straddling her legs. His hugs were as all encompassing and they strummed every one of her senses. She could hear his voice vibrating off her very bones in the low sensual hum that he plied her with. The smile she managed was short. She was still alone.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it makes it hurt too.

As the sun rose to its apex she shook herself out of her reverie. She longed for a walk on the beach but Jack had taken the Rover, leaving her with no means to travel that far. She couldn’t even gaze the horizon for a sail and that only served to feed her sadness.

Maybe this venture wasn’t a good idea. Living so far inland was not conducive to the life of a devoted mariner.