“What’s she going to do? Spend the rest of her vacation in her room? She’s not that silly or irrational.”
The colonel polished a glass and contemplated that. “She might decide there are more pleasant places to spend a vacation than Amethyst Island.”
That jolted Jared. His jaw tightened. “You think she’d leave just because I put my foot down with her over something that was none of her business in the first place?”
“Is that what you did?”
“Yeah, that’s what I did. Apparently she hasn’t had too many people do that to her.”
“I can see why,” the colonel said. “As far as her getting ready to leave the island, I can’t say for certain one way or the other. Haven’t heard a thing on that score. Guess we’ll find out soon enough, though, won’t we? Hank will be making his usual afternoon run back to Ruby in about an hour. If she’s on the plane we’ll have our answer. A lot of people have a lot of money riding on it, you know.”
“Who’s handling the bets?” Jared asked, resigned to the inevitable.
“Jim at the front desk.”
“Figures.” The news irritated Jared but did not particularly surprise him. He was suddenly far more concerned about another matter. Until that moment it hadn’t occurred to him that Kate might actually leave the island because of the quarrel. He thought about that possibility a moment longer and then stood up quickly. “See you later, Colonel.”
“Where are you going?”
“To catch Hank. I want to make sure he knows he hasn’t got a spare seat on that Cessna of his.”
“Hank almost always has a spare seat on the afternoon hop.”
“Not today he hasn’t.”
Twenty minutes later Jared drove swiftly back from the small paved strip that served as Amethyst Island’s airport. He killed the jeep’s engine in the resort driveway with a quick, savage motion of his hand.
He wasn’t in a good mood, but he was momentarily satisfied. Hank Whitcomb had been willing to see reason the moment Jared had pointed out that there were other island pilots who wouldn’t mind getting a guaranteed daily schedule between Amethyst and Ruby.
“Sure thing, Jared,” Hank had said with a grin when Jared handed him enough cash to cover the cost of one empty seat to Ruby. “No seats available on this here flight. None whatsoever. Good luck with that little lady, pal. Sounds like she’s got you running around in circles.”
He was not running around in circles, Jared assured himself as he stalked into the lobby. He was simply drawing a few lines for a woman who needed them drawn.
He found the front desk vacant and promptly hit the bell to summon a clerk.
“What can I do for you?” asked the thin young man who emerged from the office. He had started talking before he realized 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, Letty.”
“I take it you were expecting someone else?” Letty’s expression was one of sympathetic female-to-female understanding.
“Not exactly expecting, more like entertaining a fleeting hope. Come on in.”
Letty walked in and glanced at the open suitcases. “So you’re going to leave,” she said softly. “I wondered if you might be thinking of it.”
“To be honest, I haven’t made up my mind.”
“Better hurry.” Letty glanced at her watch. “Hank takes off in half an
hour.”
“The thing is, I hate to let that arrogant, dictatorial clod run me off the island this easily.” Kate started to rehang some of her clothing. “It goes against the grain.”
“Said arrogant, dictatorial clod being Jared?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Letty settled into one of the chairs near the screened window. “Glad to hear it. The staff is taking bets, and I’ve got five dollars riding on your decision.”
Kate wrinkled her nose. “There’s certainly not much privacy on this island, is there?”
“Afraid not.”
“Everyone knows I’m furious with Jared?”
“Uh-huh. Believe me, no matter which way they’re betting, they’re all praying you’ll stay.”
“Why?”
“Because no one wants to deal with Jared’s temper after you leave. He’s in one heck of a bad mood and they all figure it’s going to get worse if you run off.”
“I’m supposed to do everyone a favor and soothe the savage beast?” Kate was outraged anew. “Forget it. The quarrel was one hundred percent his fault.”
“Was it?”
“It most certainly was.” Kate rehung another dress. “Furthermore, I have absolutely no intention of apologizing to the man. But you can go collect your winnings, if you like, because I’ve just decided for certain that I’m not going to let him chase me off this island. I came here for a vacation, by heaven. I’m going to get ones Lord knows I’ve paid enough for it.”
Letty grinned. “Somehow I rather thought you’d take that attitude.”
“Don’t look so delighted, Letty. I’m not hanging around so that I can placate Jared. I’ve got better things to do on my vacation. The big affair is at an end.”
“Did you inform Jared yet?”
“He’ll find out soon enough.”
“Can’t wait.” Letty got up and headed for the door.
“Where are you going?”
“Now that I’ve got a little inside information, I thought I’d go double my bet.”
Kate stared as the door closed behind her friend. All in all, she did not think she was getting cured of her stress problems.
That night Kate dressed for the evening ahead as if she were preparing to go into battle. She went through everything she had brought with her and finally selected a flame-colored gown with an artfully draped bodice and a full, flouncy, flirty skirt. A pair of red heels and a silver collar at her throat completed the effect. She surveyed herself in the mirror and decided she had the look she wanted—cool, regal and totally self-contained.
When she walked into the crowded bar for an aperitif, she could feel the speculation, approval and open relief emanating from the staff. The colonel arched one thick brow and inclined his head in a silent salute. Kate smiled demurely and took one of the fan-backed chairs near the railing. A few minutes later a rum-and-fruit concoction materialized at her elbow. She looked up to smile at the waitress.
“Glad you didn’t leave,” the woman said in a low voice.
“Don’t tell me, let me guess. You had a bet riding on my plans for the future, too?” Kate was long past the outraged stage. She had moved on to a sort of fatalistic acceptance of the inevitable.
“I bet ten dollars you wouldn’t be going back to Ruby with Hank Whitcomb,” the waitress admitted, “but that’s not the real reason I’m glad you stayed.”
“You think I’m going to somehow wave my magic wand and put Jared back into a good mood?”
The waitress laughed. “You’d have the eternal gratitude of the entire staff of Crystal Cove.”
“Has it occurred to anyone that the only reason I might have hung around here is so that Jared can exert himself to put me back into a pleasant frame of mind?”
The waitress considered that angle. She appeared to have trouble grasping the concept. “Is that why you stayed? To bring Jared to his knees?”
“You look doubtful.”
The waitress’s smile broadened. “Let’s just say it should be interesting. Good luck, Ms Inskip. Oh, and I just finished your last book. It was great. Loved that part where the hero goes into the bedroom thinking the heroine is going to be meekly waiting for him in bed and she dumps the chamber pot over his head instead.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
Kate allowed the waitress’s parting remark to warm her as she sat gazing out at the darkening sea. But the good feeling didn’t last long. It was obvious everyone at Crystal Cove was finding the situation between herself and Jared vastly entertaining, but Kate knew better. There was nothing funny about her quarrel with Jared; this was no amusing battle of the sexes. The stakes were too high.
She went cold whenever she allowed herself to speculate on what Jared might be involved in up at Hawthorne Castle.
Jared had the natural authority and innate arrogance of a man who was accustomed to running his own domain, but she knew him well enough by now to know he was neither vicious nor totally unreasonable. Vicious, unreasonable men did not build thriving resorts capable of supporting the economy of an entire island. Vicious, unreasonable men did not incur the kind of loyalty and friendship Jared had locally.
Or did they?
Something serious was going on up at Hawthorne Castle, and Jared was deeply involved. He did not want her anywhere near the place and as far as Kate could tell, there could be only one reason for forbidding her to take the castle path; Kate was very much afraid Jared was following in the footsteps of Roger Hawthorne, and because she was also very much afraid she was in love with him, she knew she had to stop him.
She was lost in thought when a shadow fell across the table. She looked up, half expecting to see Jared standing there, but it was Jeff Taylor who was smiling hopefully down at her.
“I see you’re alone tonight. Mind if I join you?” He was dressed in a pair of slacks and a flower-printed aloha shirt. His red hair was still damp from a shower.
Kate smiled, “Not at all.”
Jeff’s smile widened with satisfaction. “Thanks.” He took the chair across from her and lifted a hand to catch the waitress’s attention. “Haven’t been able to catch you alone since the night of the masquerade ball. You been hanging out with the local boss man, I hear. How come he’s left you on your own tonight?”
“I’m on vacation,” Kate said. “I hang out with whoever I want to hang out with.”
“Hope that means me tonight.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Kate saw Jared saunter through the door and head for the bar. She tensed, preparing for a scene. “Why not?” she said, smiling brilliantly.
Several hours later Kate finally decided Jared was not going to make a scene, after all. She told herself she was glad, but some small, very primitive part of her was hurt, she had to admit.
It was not that she didn’t enjoy herself with Jeff Taylor. They had dinner together and danced afterward. Jeff was charming, funny and more than willing to follow her lead. When she eventually pleaded weariness and said she wanted to go to her room, he quickly volunteered to walk her back through the gardens. She wondered briefly if she would have trouble with him at the door, but when she dismissed him gently, he went with good grace.
“Maybe we can do this again,” he murmured, brushing a quick, light kiss across her cheek.
“Maybe.” She smiled a good-night sort of smile that made no promises. Behind her the room was shrouded in darkness.
“Say, you want to go snorkeling in the cove tomorrow morning?”
She hesitated and then asked herself why not. She was supposed to be on vacation, after all. “Sounds great.”
Jeff grinned. “I’ll meet you right after breakfast.”
“That will be fine.”
Kate smiled again and then closed the door gently but firmly in his face. She turned around and walked into the room without bothering to switch on the light. She went to the screened wall and stood looking out at the silvered sea. She was learning to love the island night. The fragrant, velvet
air drifted through the open windows, caressing her and bringing back poignant memories of the nights she had spent in Jared’s arms.
The familiar feeling of awareness went through her and she hugged herself. It was ridiculous, but she could almost feel him nearby. There was that curious tingling at the back of her neck...Kate gasped and whirled around.
“Lucky for all of us you didn’t invite Taylor into the room,” Jared said from the shadows of the bed. “Could have been a little awkward trying to explain the crowd in here.”
“Jared.” Kate took hold of herself immediately. “What are you doing here?”
“What do you think I’m doing here?” His hand moved negligently, and the pale moonlight glinted off the brandy snifter he was holding. He was propped up against a couple of pillows, wearing a pair of low-slung jeans and nothing else.
“How did you get in here?”
“I own the place, remember? I have a key.”
Kate drew a deep breath, unable to move. This was not fear, she told herself firmly. She was just feeling naturally wary of the big, dangerous man on her bed. “Did you stop by to apologize and explain yourself?”
Jared sipped meditatively from the snifter. “No. What about you? Finished playing games with Taylor?”
“I’ll play games with whoever I feel like playing games with.”
“Then we have a problem, don’t we?”
“I don’t see why. You and I are no longer involved, remember? We had a major quarrel this morning. That was the end of our famous affair as far as I’m concerned.”
“You’re lying. If you thought things were over between us, you would have bought a ticket on the afternoon plane to Ruby. You didn’t even try.”
“I said things were over between us, I didn’t say my vacation was over.”
“Go ahead and tell yourself whatever you like. We both know you’re still here because of what’s happening between us.”
“You are so damned arrogant.”
“And you’re not?”
“Not like you,” Kate shot back.
He laughed softly and sat up on the side of the bed. He put the snifter down on the end table and got to his feet, facing her. “You’re more like me than you want to admit and that’s why we’ve got a few problems. But I’m beginning to think we can fix all that.”
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