The Pirate & The Adventurer & The Cowboy

rehash old times."

    Jack toyed with the plastic stir stick that had come with his latte. He eyed Margaret thoughtfully for a long moment. "You've changed," he said finally.

    She cocked a brow, amused. "Everyone does."

    "I suppose. You like the writing business?"

    "Love it. But that's not what you're here to talk about, is it?"

    "No." Moorcroft took a sip of the latte and set the cup down on the small table. "My information says Cassidy came to see you this week."

    Margaret shrugged. "Your information is good. He was here Thursday night. What does that matter to you?"

    "He wants revenge, Margaret. You know him as well, if not better than I do. You know he always gets even."

    "He's already had his revenge against me. You were there that morning. You heard him tell me to get out of his life."

    "But now he's back, isn't he?" Jack's mouth twisted. "Because he never got his revenge against me. He kicked you out of his bed but there wasn't much he could do to me."

    Margaret felt her cheeks burn at the blunt reference to her relationship with Rafe. "Why should he want revenge against you? I was the one he thought betrayed him."

    Moorcroft's eyes narrowed. "Ah, but you betrayed him to me, remember?"

    "Damn it, I didn't betray anyone. I was caught in the middle and I did what I had to do."

    "The way he saw it, when the chips were down, I was the one who owned your loyalty. He was right in a way, wasn't he? But he didn't like that one bit, Margaret. I think he saw me as the other man in your life."

    "You were my employer, nothing more. Rafe knew that. Tell me something, Jack, did you really lie to him about us?"

    Moorcroft shrugged apologetically. "Cassidy was out of control that morning. He thought what he wanted to think, which was that you felt loyal to me not only because you worked for me but because we'd been involved in an affair."

    Margaret shook her head in sheer disgust. "You did lie to him."

    "Does it matter if I let him think what he was already thinking? The damage had been done. He'd already thrown you out and he knew he'd lost Spencer to me."

    "So you decided to take advantage of the situation and gloat over your victory."

    Moorcroft smiled cryptically. "I'll admit I couldn't resist the chance to sink the knife in a little deeper. Two years ago Cassidy cost me a bundle when he wrecked a merger I had set up. I owed him."

    "And I just happened to get caught in the middle this time."

    "You probably don't believe this, but I'm sorry about what happened, Margaret."

    "Sure. Look, let's just forget this, all right? I've got better things to do than talk over old times."

    "Unfortunately I can't forget it." Moorcroft leaned forward intently. "I can't forget it because Cassidy hasn't forgotten it. He's after me."

    "What are you talking about?"

    "This isn't just a business rivalry between that damned cowboy and me any longer. Because of you it's turned into some kind of personal vendetta for him. A hundred years ago he would have challenged me to a showdown at high noon or some such nonsense. But we live in a civilized age now, don't we? Cassidy's going to be a bit more subtle about his vengeance."

    Margaret stared at him. "What in the world are you talking about, Jack?"

    Moorcroft sat hunched over his latte, his hazel eyes intent. "He's up to something, Margaret. My sources tell me he's got a deal going, a deal that could directly affect Moorcroft Industries. I need to find out what's going on before it's too late. I need inside information."

    "Sound like you've already got information."

    "Some. I don't know how much I can trust it."

    "That's your problem, Jack."

    "Look, Cassidy always plays his cards close to his chest but after what happened with you last year, he's more cautious than ever. Whatever he's working on is being kept under very tight security. I have to find out what he's up to, Margaret, before it's too late."

    "Why are you coming to me about this? I don't work for you any longer, remember? I don't work for anyone except myself now. And I like it that way, Jack. I like it very much."

    Moorcroft smiled. "Yes, I can see that. You look good, Margaret. Very good. I know you're out of the scene and you want to keep it that way, but I'm desperate and I need help. That business between me and Cassidy last year?"

    "What about it?"

    "That's all it was until you got involved. Business as usual. Cassidy and I have tangled before. Bound to happen. We're natural competitors. But after