He kept his face flat, calm, but the reminder jolted through him, cold as steel. This mild flirtation was one thing, and if it kept her on his side, it was an active, useful part of his plan, but he shouldn’t be enjoying it.

The feeling twisted, like a dagger to the belly. Was that guilt? Gods, he shouldn’t be feeling guilty about his plans for her. She was a pirate. He was a pirate hunter, and he’d been perfectly honest about the fact from their first meeting. She should know better than to trust him.

Hells, after what he’d done, everyone should know better than to trust him.

He took a deep breath. “You assume the bounty is only for your capture or death. Imagine the reward for bringing such an infamous pirate into the fold, for making her the crown’s tame privateer.”

She shot him a look, teeth bared for a second. “I may be a privateer, but I’ll never be tame.” Her shoulders were squared, her breaths deep. “I am my own, no one else’s.”

Blinking, he surveyed her again. He’d touched another nerve. He didn’t expect someone who seemed so open and carefree to have hidden nerves to touch. “Sensible,” he said with a nod. “It’s probably best not to trust too easily.”

It’s probably best not to trust me.

She laughed, its volume not out of place here in the bustling streets of Nassau as it had been in Governor deLacy’s ballroom. “Sensible! That’s the first time I’ve ever been called that.”

Grinning, he shook his head. “I can imagine.”

Her eyes widened, and she grabbed his arm, angling them towards each other. “My word, have I cracked a smile on the face of the dread pirate hunter Blackwood?”

Damnation, she had. And he hadn’t even intended to do it as part of his efforts to win her over—it had just happened. He straightened his expression. “It was only a mild grin, don’t get too excited.”

She clapped him on the shoulder, smiling as they strode on. “I’ll still take it as progress. We’ll make a pirate of you yet, Knigh.”

“Knigh?” He’d been promoted to first names now?

“Blackwood’s too many syllables.” She shrugged. “Plus, I probably shouldn’t say it around here, since you have such an appalling reputation.”

“Fine, Vee.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Vee?”