The Pirate & The Adventurer & The Cowboy

who it was that stood at the front desk. When he saw Jared, he blinked a little nervously. "Oh, it's you, boss. Sorry, I was just checking something on the computer. We had some last-minute bookings."

    Jared leaned his elbows on the polished desk and waved a twenty in front of the desk clerk's nose. "Forget the last-minute bookings, Jim. I want to place a last-minute bet."

    "Uh, sure thing, boss. Whatever you say." Jim smiled weakly. "What exactly did you want to bet on?"

    "The same thing everyone else around here is betting on: whether or not Ms Inskip leaves with Hank this afternoon."

    The clerk had the grace to turn red. He cleared his throat with a couple of coughs. "How did you want to place your bet, boss?"

    "I've got twenty that says she won't be on the plane."

    "Yes, sir. Twenty it is." The clerk leaned forward conspiratorially. "You know something the rest of us don't?"

    "Of course not." Jared smiled grimly. "I just feel lucky."

    "Hey, Dad, where have you been? I've been looking all over for you." David dashed down the hall and skidded to a halt as Jared walked into the house. The boy looked worried.

    "I ran out to the strip for a few minutes. Had to talk to Hank." Jared ruffled his son's hair.

    "You didn't take Kate out to the strip, did you?" David demanded, thoroughly alarmed now.

    Jared scowled. "No, I did not take Kate out to the strip. Why?"

    " 'Cause everyone knows she's mad at you and we're all afraid she's gonna leave on account of you yelled at her. It'll be all your fault if she goes, Dad."

    "I did not yell at her. And where did you hear about her being mad at me?"

    "Everyone says so. Hey, it's not because of that bet you and I made about her cooking, is it? Is she mad because we did that?"

    "No, it's not because of the bet. Kate doesn't even know there was a bet. And if the subject comes up I want it clear that it was all your idea."

    "You're the one who said she probably couldn't cook," David reminded him. "You bet me a dollar she couldn't, remember?"

    "Yeah, but you're the one who suggested we con her into fixing dinner so we could find out for sure. You are also the guy who won a buck off me because she could make pizza. I'd appreciate it if you would not forget your part in all this."

    David chewed his lower lip. "She'd probably really get mad if she ever found out, huh?"

    "Yes," Jared said, "I think she would be very mad."

    David sighed. "She sure made a great pizza, didn't she? You said she'd probably burn it, but she didn't."

    "Pizza is probably the only thing she knows how to cook. I don't think Ms Inskip is the homey type."

    "Anyone who can make good pizza can probably make lots of good stuff."

    "Maybe," Jared agreed cautiously.

    "Think she'll leave the island because you yelled at her?"

    Jared lost what was left of his patience. "I told you, I did not yell at her, and no, Kate's not going to be leaving the island. Not today, at any rate."

    David's expression relaxed instantly. "That's great. In that case, I'm going to win another buck."

    "I should have guessed." Jared swore under his breath but without much heat. "You'd think everyone around here could find something more interesting to bet on than the status of my love life."

    David's gaze widened with interest. "Is that what you have, Dad? A love life?"

    "Had. Past tense."

    Jared went into the kitchen and dug a cold beer out of the refrigerator. Then he walked out onto the veranda, dropped onto a lounger and started wondering how he was going to get his love life back. It was amazing how fast a man could get used to having a certain prickly little broad around.

    Kate packed and unpacked her suitcase three times before sinking dejectedly onto the bed. She knew she ought to leave on the afternoon flight. If she had an ounce of self-respect, not to mention common sense, she would get off the island. She could not possibly stay here after what had happened this morning.

    It amazed her to think she had spent years fantasizing about pirates. Having met one in the flesh, she now realized they were an infuriating breed. Give her a nice, sensitive, understanding, civilized male any day.

    The knock on the door brought her head up with a start and her heart leaped. As she went to answer the summons, she steeled herself to be firm. If this was Jared come to apologize and explain his actions, she would not make it easy for him. The man deserved to do some groveling. Head high, she opened the door.

    "Oh, hi,