The Pirate & The Adventurer & The Cowboy

him.

    "Is that right?" Kate did not bother to turn on a light. She dropped her purse on the bed and kept walking out onto the veranda.

    Jared moved after her, struggling for the right words. He did not know how to deal with a woman who fully expected to recognize the man of her dreams on sight, but who clearly had not done so. "Anyhow, I was thinking we could stop over in Seattle." There was no response from Kate. Jared plowed on, attempting to clarify the obvious. "We could see you." Maybe if he gave her a little time, she would come to her senses.

    Kate leaned on the railing, her eyes on the darkened sea. "That would be nice," she said carelessly. "Let me know when you settle on the exact dates. I'll try to clear my calendar. Maybe we can do lunch."

    Jared came to an abrupt halt. He stared at the back of her head in disbelief. " Do lunch ?"

    "Sure. Why not? For old times' sake. Assuming I'm not busy, of course."

    " Do lunch ." Rage boiled up inside him, hot and fierce and fueled by frustration. He crossed the short distance between himself and Kate in one long stride, grabbed her arms and swung her around to face him. "I don't believe you said that. What the hell do you mean, we'll do lunch ?"

    Her eyes locked with his, cool and distant in the shadows. "What did you have in mind? Did you plan to send David off to the Space Needle while you and I have a quick toss in the sack?"

    "Dammit, you know I didn't mean it like that."

    "No? Then what did you mean?"

    "I thought we could see each other again, that's all."

    "And I said, fine. Just let me know when you'll be in town."

    "Stop making it all sound so damned casual." He released her abruptly and clamped his hands around the railing.

    "But that's exactly what it is, Jared. Casual."

    He looked at her through hooded eyes, trying to get a handle on whatever game it was she had chosen to play with him tonight. "It's not casual. It couldn't possibly be casual. Not for you."

    "Why not?"

    "Because I'm the man of your dreams." He felt the sudden stillness in her and moved in ruthlessly for the coup de grace. "You couldn't possibly feel casual about me. Not now, not ever. You might hate me or you might love me, but you would never, ever feel casual about me."

    "What makes you so damned sure of that?"

    He smiled thinly. "I'm reading your book. Letty gave it to me. It was a real revelation, Kate. Because I'm the hero of that book, aren't I?"

    "Not very likely. I didn't even know you when I wrote it."

    He shook his head, feeling more sure of his ground now. He had her on the defensive; he could feel it. Relentlessly, he stalked her. "I'm not a fool, Kate. And I'll admit I don't generally read romance novels, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out that I'm what you want and need in a man. You just haven't admitted it to yourself yet."

    "Your ego is astonishing."

    "Look at me, lady. Look at me and tell me I'm wrong. You want someone who is as strong as you are. You want someone who wants you so much, he can't think of anyone else. You want someone who doesn't run when you stand up to him. Hell, I even look like one of your heroes, right down to the dark hair and gray eyes. I live on a tropical island and you half believe I'm a real-life pirate. I'll bet you fifty bucks, a hundred bucks, a thousand, that you can't walk away from me without a backward glance. You're going to dream about me for the rest of your life."

    Kate stared at him, her eyes wide. "The fact that you're the man of my dreams doesn't do me much good if I'm not the woman of yours."

    Jared reeled. "You admit it?"

    "Admit what? That you're a fantasy come true for me? Yes, I admit it. I've known it since the first time you made love to me."

    Jared let go of the deep breath he had been holding. "Kate, honey, listen to me…"

    "No, you listen to me, Jared." She smiled gently. "You've done enough damage tonight. I think it's time you left."

    "You can't kick me out. Not now."

    "I think I'd better. If I don't I'm only going to get hurt worse than I already am. I realized that this afternoon when David gave me his beautiful drawing. I've got to start pulling back."

    "Kate, I don't want to hurt you. That's the last thing I'd want to do."

    "Then leave."

    He couldn't believe she was kicking him out. "What do you want from me?"

    "Nothing."

    "That's not true. You're lying. I can see it in your eyes."

    "You're suddenly very perceptive for a pirate." She shrugged and leaned on the railing