The Pirate & The Adventurer & The Cowboy

assessingly for a moment and then climbed slowly down from the cage, jumped to the back of David's chair and hopped onto the table to investigate the remains of the papaya.

    "What the hell do you think you're doing, you old pirate? You know you're not supposed to be on the table. Get away from that plate or I'll sell a few of your tail feathers as souvenirs to the tourists."

    "Wanna bet?" Jolly picked up the papaya in one claw and began to nibble delicately.

    "It's always nice to know who's the boss around here." Jared got to his feet and started clearing the table. "Why do you think she ducked out after the masquerade ended last night? I was sure she'd be waiting for me. After the way she responded under that tree, what the hell else was I supposed to think? She wanted me every bit as much as I wanted her, and I know it. I think. Who can figure women? Especially a lady commando with two whole weeks of self-defense training under her belt. Maybe she just got off on proving she could turn me on. I'll tell you one thing, pal. If that's the case, I'm going to put a stop to her game real quick."

    "Wanna bet?"

    Half an hour later, Jared stood in the open expanse that was one wall of his office and gazed down at the glistening white sands of the cove. From here he could see a smattering of early risers, some with scuba and snorkel gear and some dressed for strolling. At the far end of the beach he saw the two people he was looking for. David was standing on one foot, lashing out toward an invisible target with the other. Kate, dressed in a green maillot, was standing nearby, coaching the boy.

    Jared didn't bother to take his gaze off the pair when someone knocked on the office door. "Come in."

    The door swung open. "Morning, Jared," the colonel said as he walked into the room. "A fine day, isn't it?"

    "Yeah." Jared frowned as he watched Kate demonstrate another quick, striking kick. "But then it always is, isn't it? Come here and watch this, Colonel."

    The colonel walked over to stand beside Jared. He peered down into the cove. "Ah. The redoubtable Ms Inskip, I presume?"

    "Who else? She's teaching Dave some mishmash of judo and karate."

    "The sort of thing she used on Sharp Arnie?"

    "Right."

    "Nice technique," the colonel observed.

    "Too stiff. She needs to loosen up, be more flexible."

    "Are we talking about her self-defense skills or something else?"

    "Forget it." Jared watched in silence for a few more seconds. "I wonder how she is at baking cookies? Five will get you ten she can't even boil water."

    "David doesn't seem concerned with Ms Inskip's possible lack of culinary talents. He appears to be enjoying himself immensely."

    Jared narrowed his eyes. "He couldn't wait to get out there on the beach this morning to take the lesson.

    "He's becoming quite fond of Ms Inskip."

    "I know."

    "You don't sound pleased by the prospect," the colonel said.

    "She'll be gone in a month."

    "That would depend, I suppose, on whether or not she had a reason to stay." The colonel moved over to the desk. "I brought last night's receipts and a couple of bar and restaurant requisitions that need your signature."

    Jared didn't turn away from the scene in the cove. "Leave them on the desk. I'll take care of them later."

    "Have plans for the morning, do you?" the colonel inquired with a polite tilt of his bushy brows.

    "My son is going to give Ms Inskip a snorkeling lesson. Thought maybe I'd supervise."

    "Excellent idea." The colonel beamed.

    Kate stood, feet planted wide apart in the sand, hands on her hips, and studied David's form with pursed lips. The boy made two more kicks before she nodded in satisfaction.

    "Good. You've got the hang of it now. Watch your balance. Balance is everything. It's what gives you the advantage. My instructor said almost everyone is off balance most of the time. The trick is to make use of that fact."

    David grinned and kicked out one more time. He accompanied the kick with a loud shout. Then he looked up at Kate. "Think I could take Sharp Arnie now?"

    "People like Sharp Arnie are best avoided rather than confronted," Kate said. She ruffled his hair affectionately.

    "You didn't avoid him. You clobbered him."

    "I was under a certain amount of stress at the time. The smart thing to do would have been to hand over my wallet and run."

    "You wouldn't run from anything, I bet. You're like my dad. I asked him this morning if you could take him in a fight."

    Kate blinked. "What did he