The Pirate & The Adventurer & The Cowboy

say?"

    "He said he didn't want to ever find out."

    "How very wise of him."

    "Huh?"

    "Never mind. Ready to give me my snorkeling lesson?"

    "Sure. I've got all the equipment. You can leave your towel and stuff here on the sand." David bent over to scoop up two masks. Then he glanced down the beach. He straightened almost immediately and waved. "Hey, look, there's Dad. Hi, Dad."

    Kate deliberately quashed the little shiver of awareness that went through her as she turned her head to watch Jared stride toward them over the sand. He was barefoot, wearing a pair of faded, low-slung denims and a white cotton shirt. His hair was brushed straight back from his forehead and gleamed in the morning light.

    He might be wearing jeans this morning, but he looked as much like a buccaneer as he had last night in full costume, Kate realized. She wondered what would have happened if she'd found the reckless courage to wait for him after the ball. But at the last moment she had known she was not ready for that kind of risk. Facing the Sharp Arnies of this world was one thing; getting involved with a man like Jared Hawthorne was a whole different kettle of fish.

    "Good morning, Kate." Jared's slashing grin was a cool challenge. "How did the self-defense lesson go?"

    "It went great," David said before Kate could respond. "I can deck Sharp Arnie now, just like Ms Inskip did."

    "A chilling thought," Jared murmured, his silver eyes meeting Kate's over the top of his son's head. "Enjoy yourself last night, Kate?"

    "Very much." Aware of Jared's intent gaze, she picked up the towel and draped it over her shoulders; the ends covered her breasts.

    "I was just curious. You disappeared so quickly someone might have gotten the impression you had gotten bored."

    "Not at all."

    "No? Then perhaps you just lost your nerve?" Jared smiled thinly.

    "It was after midnight and I was tired. Just call me Cinderella." Kate felt something within her rise to his blatant challenge.

    "I can think of better names."

    "You're right. Calling me Cinderella might imply you're Prince Charming, and we wouldn't want a case of mistaken identity here, would we?"

    "Prickly." Jared shook his head ruefully. "Even at this hour of the morning."

    "Say, Dad, you want Ms Inskip to show you some of her self-defense tricks?" David asked, impatient with the conversation going on over his head. "She knows all kinds of stuff."

    "Are you kidding? You think I want to end up like Sharp Arnie?" Jared demanded.

    "Ah, come on, Dad, let her show you. You won't hurt him, will you, Ms Inskip?"

    "Oh, I'd be very gentle," Kate promised, her sense of humor getting the better of her. "But I'm sure your father has more interesting things to do this morning than take a self-defense lesson from me, Dave."

    Jared's eyes glinted in the sunlight. "Well, I guess I can spare the time to take one short lesson. I have a feeling you know all sorts of tricks, don't you, Kate?"

    "Lots and lots," she assured him blithely.

    Jared nodded. "I thought so. Including a very good vanishing act. All right, show me something really clever."

    Kate saw the taunting laughter in him and was suddenly determined to replace the masculine amusement with respect. She stood facing him, her arms relaxed at her sides. "We'll keep this nice and simple. With all this soft sand, nobody will get hurt. Go ahead, Jared, pretend you're, uh, assaulting me."

    "Whatever it takes." Jared didn't hesitate. He walked straight toward her, his hand outstretched to grab her wrist, his silvery eyes alight with mischief.

    At the last second Kate wondered if she was being set up, but it was too late to retreat. She glided forward, reached for his arm, pivoted smoothly around and tugged hard just as she had been taught.

    It was a textbook throw; much too easy, in fact. Jared came off his feet with no resistance at all and wound up flat on his back in the sand. He groaned once, closed his eyes and did not move.

    " Dad ." David rushed forward and fell to his knees beside his father. "Dad, are you okay? Ms Inskip, is he all right? What's wrong with him?"

    Kate's satisfaction transformed into instant concern. She hurried forward and knelt down beside Jared. "I don't know. I didn't hurt him. He just took a light fall. I wonder if he hit his head on a rock or something under the sand."

    She reached over to check the back of Jared's head and knew she had made a bad mistake when she felt iron fingers circle her wrist. Too late she