The Reef

drowned.”
    “Didn’t.” He stood cooperatively as she rubbed the towel over his hair and muttered at him. “I had an uncontrollable urge to see you.”
    “You’re old enough to control your urges. Go to Dad’s cabin and get some dry clothes before you catch a chill to go with your insanity.”
    “I’m fine.” He took the towel, looped it around her neck and used it to pull her to him. “You didn’t really think a little squall would stop me from keeping our date?”
    “I had the mistaken belief that common sense would outweigh lust.”
    “Wrong.” His lips curved as they met hers. “But I wouldn’t turn down a drink. Got any whiskey?”
    She sighed. “There’s brandy.”
    “Good enough.”
    “Put a towel on the bench before you sit,” she orderedas she turned into the adjoining galley to locate the bottle and a glass. “You just left LaRue alone on the Mermaid? ”
    “He’s a big boy. The wind’s dropping some anyway.” Pumped up by the swim and the storm, he took the brandy, and her hand. “Want to sit on my lap and neck?”
    “No, thanks very much. You’re wet.”
    Grinning, he tugged her down and nuzzled. “Now we’re both wet.”
    She laughed, and found it amazingly easy to give in. “I guess I should consider the fact that you risked life and limb. Here.” She angled his face with her hand so that her lips could fit nicely over his. On a little murmur of approval, she sank into the kiss. “Warming up?”
    “You could say that. Mmm, come back,” he muttered when she lifted her head.
    When he was satisfied, he cuddled her head on his shoulder, smiling as she toyed with the silver disk on the chain around his neck.
    “I could see the light in here from the Mermaid. I kept thinking, she’s in there, working away, and I’m never going to get any sleep.”
    Finding it lovely to be snuggled in his lap, she sighed. “I don’t think anyone’s going to get very much sleep tonight. I’m glad you’re here.”
    “Yeah?” His hand slipped nimbly up to cup her breast.
    “No, not because of that. I wanted to . . . mmm.” Her mind slipped quietly out of gear as his thumb teased her nipple through her dampened shirt. “How is it you always know just where to touch me?”
    “I’ve done a study on it. Why don’t you turn off that machine of yours, Red? We’ll go lock ourselves in your cabin. I can show you a terrific way to ride out a storm at sea.”
    “I’m sure you could.” And it was ridiculously easy for her to envision them tucked into her bunk, riding the waves, and each other. “I need to talk to you, Matthew.” Greedily she angled her head to give his busy mouth freer access to her throat. “I never realized I had such a hair trigger sex drive.”
    “Looks like you needed my finger on your trigger, sweetheart.”
    “Apparently.” Because that idea was more than a little unnerving, she shifted and rose. “We do have to talk.” Determined to remember her priorities, she took a steadying breath and tugged her shirt back into place. “I was going to try to find a way to get you alone tomorrow.”
    “That sounds promising.”
    “I think I’ll have a brandy, too.” It would give her a minute to compose herself, she decided. At a safe distance, she poured a second glass, easily adjusting to the sway of the boat. “Matthew, I’m worried about Buck.”
    “He’s getting his balance.”
    “You mean he’s not drinking. Okay that’s good, that’s important, even if he is facing his problem for you instead of for himself.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Take the blinders off.” She scooted onto the bench from the opposite side. “He’s here and he’s dry because of you. He feels he owes you.”
    “He doesn’t owe me jack,” Matthew said flatly. “But if it helps keep him from drinking himself to death, that’s fine.”
    “I agree, to a point. Eventually, he’ll have to keep himself sober for himself. That’s not going to happen as long as he’s so worried about you.”
    “About me?” With a half laugh, Matthew sampled the brandy. “What’s he got to be worried about?”
    “About you finding Angelique’s Curse, and paying for it.”
    Annoyed to have the recklessly cheerful mood that had driven him into a stormy sea shattered, he dragged a hand through his wet hair. “Look, as long as I’ve partnered with him, he’s wanted that damn necklace. He worried about it, sure, but he wanted it. Because my father wanted it.”
    “And