The Pirate & The Adventurer & The Cowboy

I think you enjoy annoying me, Kate."

    "Careful, you're getting paranoid."

    "I'm not so sure about that. Sometimes I almost have the feeling I'm being tested in some way."

    Kate's eyes widened in astonishment. "Good grief, what a weird thing to say. You really are paranoid." But she sensed some blundering masculine insight in his accusation and wondered silently what was happening to her.

    Jared smiled again and held up his palm. "You're probably right. Let's call a truce, okay? The food will be here any minute and I'm hungry."

    "So am I. I did some more snorkeling this morning and it gave me an appetite."

    He eyed her warily. "About the snorkeling lesson yesterday. Can I assume you're not holding a grudge?"

    "Just because you faked that fall and then dropped me into the sea? Heavens, no. Why would I hold a grudge over a little thing like that?"

    "Beats me. It wasn't as if I didn't have grounds for revenge or anything. But some women aren't as fair-minded as you are. David took pains to point out to me what a good sport you were about the whole thing."

    Kate laughed softly, beginning to relax. "All right, I'll admit you might have had grounds for revenge. I shouldn't have ducked out the night of the masquerade without saying anything. I should have told you I'd changed my mind."

    Jared grinned. "That's probably as close to an apology as I'll get, so I'll take it and be satisfied." He started to say something else and then paused as a knock sounded on the front door. "Ah, there's dinner. Let's see how creative the kid is."

    David, with the help of the resort's restaurant staff, had outdone himself. The Brie-and-sun-dried-tomatoes appetizer was followed by impeccably fresh fish cooked in parchment and a beautifully arranged plate of exotic tiny sautéed vegetables. It was all lavishly served by a waiter who couldn't seem to hide his delight as he went about his duties. It was obvious the staff was enjoying the entire event.

    When the excellent Chardonnay had been served, the linen napkins unfolded and the candles lit, the waiter bowed himself out the front door. Jared waited until he was gone, then he lounged back in his chair and looked across the table at Kate.

    "You realize, of course, that this will be all over the resort by midnight, if it isn't already?"

    "Uh-huh."

    "Certain assumptions concerning our relationship will be made."

    "Probably."

    "Just thought I'd warn you." Jared nodded once and raised his wineglass. "Here's to us and the month we have. Let's not waste it, Kate."

    Kate felt her insides tighten, but at the same time a thrill of anticipation was soaring through her. She looked into Jared's silvery eyes as she obediently raised her own glass and the poignant sense of familiarity nearly overwhelmed her. "To us," she whispered.

    "Why don't you tell me how you go about writing a book?" Jared suggested when the toast was finished.

    "All right. If you'll tell me how you go about running a resort."

    "It's a deal."

    To Kate's surprise, it was suddenly easy to talk to him. The conversation flowed so effortlessly now. She felt lighter than air, caught up once more in that dangerously seductive certainty that she knew Jared far more intimately than could possibly have been the case.

    When they had polished off the white-chocolate-and-macadamia-nut dessert, Jared got to his feet. He reached down to grasp Kate's wrist and drew her up beside him. "Come on, I want to show you something."

    "Not your etchings, I hope."

    "I think you're going to find this a lot more interesting than etchings. And I want you to remember I thought of this angle all on my own. David didn't have anything to do with it."

    "Where are we going?" Kate asked as he led her down the hall.

    "To my study."

    Not his bedroom. Kate wondered at the sense of wistful disappointment she felt.

    When Jared opened the door into a book-lined room, she stepped inside and gazed around with deep interest. "Very nice."

    He released her wrist and went over to a glass-fronted cabinet that housed several very old leather-bound volumes. On one of the shelves was the black dagger Jared had been wearing the previous evening.

    "What are those?" Kate's attention was instantly captured by the sight of the old books.

    "Some journals, business papers and a ship's log belonging to Roger Hawthorne plus a diary that his wife, Amelia, kept."

    Kate's eyes widened in astounded delight. "Are you serious?" She flew across the room to stand in front