When she was within sight of the last step, Kate switched off the flashlight and quickened her pace. She couldn’t wait to get out into the warm light of the new day. Later, when she was safely back in her room, she would try to figure out what to do next. Perhaps she should confront Jared, after all. But what would she do if he simply denied everything? She could not bear the thought that he might be a real-life pirate.
The questions hammered at her, driving her forward until she practically leaped up the last step.
She was so intent on getting out of the hall that she didn’t even see the man who stood concealed in the shadows at the top of the dark staircase. When his arm closed suddenly around her, snagging her and pulling her back against a solid male body, Kate opened her mouth on a terrified scream.
There was no scream: a large hand clamped over her mouth. Kate reacted in fear and rage, driving her elbow back into what felt like a very solid midsection. The blow brought a muffled curse, and for an instant the man’s grip slackened.
That was all the time Kate needed. She moved, grasping his arm and stepping to one side in an effort to yank her assailant off balance. He went readily in the direction she wanted, too readily—the way Jared had that morning on the beach. Instead of losing his balance, he added so much force to the momentum she had established that Kate was thrown off her feet. In that instant Kate finally realized who she was dealing with.
“Jared.”
He came down on top of her, pinning her to the floor. “Oh, Christ, it’s you. I should have known. Quiet, you little fool. Sound carries. Are all romance writers so damnably curious?”
A new kind of anger surged through Kate. How dared he treat her like this? How dared he sneak around in the dark and grab unsuspecting people who were merely trying to get to the bottom of a few crucial questions?
“Let me go, you bastard. Let me go, dammit. You’re a liar. A liar.”
“Stop it,” he ordered roughly. “Will you just stop struggling, for crying out loud? Listen to me, you little shrew. Settle down or you’ll hurt yourself.”
But Kate was too incensed to stop. She had never been so angry. She felt betrayed.
The battle was short and frantic, and Katie knew she had lost it before it had even begun. Nevertheless, she fought desperately, aware that she was overmatched. All two weeks’ worth of self-defense lessons were discarded in a moment as she realized none of them would work. Instead she fought like a small, terrified creature that has become the prey of a much bigger, more dangerous predator.
She tried to kick out and found her leg anchored to the floor by Jared’s thigh. She tried to punch and got her wrists captured for her troubles. Jared did not hurt her, but he eventually succeeded in immobilizing her.
“That’s enough,” he said through his teeth. “You can’t win, so stop wasting your energy.”
A few minutes later, exhausted by her struggles, Kate followed his advice. She lay still, fighting to catch her breath. Her wrists were pinned on either side of her head in a parody of the way he had held her when he had made love to her. He was sprawled on top of her using his weight to hold her still.
“That’s better,” he said after a minute’s tense silence. He sat up slowly, releasing her carefully. His eyes never left her face. “Are you all right?”
“No.” She sat up, aware that she was trembling with outrage. She brushed the dust from her shirt, concentrating on the small, useless task so that she would not have to meet his eyes. “I am not all right. How dare you manhandle me like this?”
He muttered something short and explicit under his breath as he got lithely to his feet. He reached down to haul her up beside him. His face was taut with anger.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Jared spoke through clenched teeth.
“What do you think I’m doing here? I came to take a closer look at the castle. The guided tour was a joke. We barely got to glance inside this hall. I wanted to see the rest of the place.”
“You’ve been told the rest of the castle is off-limits.”
“Yes, well, as you said, romance writers are a curious bunch.”
Jared regarded her in silence for a few seconds. “Cut it out, Kate. I want the truth. Why are you here?”
“How did you know I was here?” she countered.
“I went by your room to see if you wanted to go for a dawn walk on the beach. It seemed so romantic. Thought it would appeal to you. You weren’t there, so I figured you might have gone down to the cove on your own. You weren’t there either, but the chain across the castle path was still swinging and I knew someone had come this way. When. I walked into the hall. I heard someone coming up the stairs.”
“How very alert of you. I’m lucky you didn’t break my neck.”
“How was I to know it was you, dammit? I’m not in the mood for any of your sass, lady. I want some answers and I’m going to get them, but not here and not now.”
“Why not here and now? I’d like a few answers, too.”
“You’ve pushed your luck far enough today. The first thing we’re going to do is get you back to the resort. I don’t want you hanging around here any longer than necessary.” He took hold of her arm and propelled her out of the hall and into the morning sunshine.
“Now, just one damned minute,” Kate stumbled and tried to pull free of his grip. Jared ignored her efforts. He dragged her swiftly along the path until they reached the chain that barred the way. There he paused long enough to push her underneath the metal links. He followed, ducking quickly beneath the barrier.
“All right,” he said a moment later as they hit the main path back to the resort. “We’re safe now. If anyone sees us here we can say we were down at the beach.”
“Why do we have to make any explanations at all?” Kate cast him a furious glance.
“Because I said so.”
“And whatever you say is law around here, is that it?”
“Now you’re catching on.”
He had hold of her hand now. To anyone else it would look like an affectionate grip, but Kate was thoroughly aware of the force behind it. She was relieved to be away from the castle ruins, but the wariness she felt around Jared was not making her feel much better. She began to think longingly of her cozy little apartment in Seattle.
“Where are we going?” she demanded as Jared walked her swiftly past her room and on toward the main resort building.
“My office. We can talk there without worrying about someone interrupting us.”
She said nothing more as he led her through the empty lobby and down an open hallway to a room that overlooked the cove.
“In here.” He closed the door behind them and pushed her toward a chair. “Sit down and talk.” He went over to a side table and switched on a coffee machine.
“I think you’re the one who should be doing the talking.” Kate absently rubbed her wrist where he had gripped it. “What’s going on at that castle, Jared? What are you and Max involved in?”
“Damn. You know about Max, too? You have been busy, haven’t you?” He seemed totally wrapped up in watching the fresh coffee drip into the glass pot.
“I know you and Max have been paying some midnight visits to the castle.” Kate decided she had nothing to lose at this point by admitting what she had seen.
“You’re in this deeper than I realized. Who are you, Kate?”
The implied accusation infuriated her. “I’m exactly who I told you I am, a stressed-out writer on vacation. Nothing more and nothing less. Unlike you, I’m not living any lies.”
“The weird part is that I believe you. I think I’d know if you were lying to me.”
“I’ve got news for you—you’re not the only one who can tell when someone is lying.”
Jared sighed. “What made you start spying on Max and me? Research?”
“Hardly. I was coming back from the beach late my first night on the island and I decided to take a quick look at the castle. I had to hide in the bushes because y
ou and Max were on the same path. When I spotted both of you going that way again a second time, I got curious.”
“I’ll just bet you did. Lord save all men from curious females.”
Jared poured two cups of coffee and carried one over to her. When she took it without a word, he went around behind a massive carved desk and sat down.
“What’s going on, Jared? What’s the big secret?”
He sipped his coffee, looking very thoughtful. “To put it bluntly, my sweet, it’s none of your damned business.”
“Are you up to something illegal?”
“No.”
“Then what’s going on?” Kate was slightly relieved to hear the denial, but she was still thoroughly exasperated.
“It’s nothing that concerns you, Kate. Furthermore, I’m ordering you to stay out of it.”
“I don’t take orders from you. If it’s nothing illegal, then you won’t care if I call the police.”
“What police? Sam over on Ruby Island? Give me a break. He’d laugh himself silly. Even if you got him to listen to you, what would you tell him? That I made a couple of midnight trips to Hawthorne Castle? I own the place, remember? I’ve got a perfect right to go there any time I want. You’re the one who was illegally trespassing.”
He was right, of course. She had absolutely nothing to report to any official. “Jared, something is going on, I know it.”
“I don’t care what you think you know so long as you keep your mouth shut and don’t give me any trouble. That means staying away from Hawthorne Castle. Understood?”
She jumped to her feet. “No, it is not understood. I want to know what’s going on. I insist you tell me.”
“Just because your curiosity is running wild doesn’t mean I have to satisfy it, Kate.”
“But if it’s something illegal...”
“I’ve told you, it’s not illegal.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“I’ve never lied to you, have I?”
“Yes, you have. Last night is an instance that comes immediately to mind. You told me you had to go home early so David wouldn’t be alone. But you didn’t go home. You went to the castle.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot.”
“You forgot? Forgot you lied to me? Very convenient.”
Jared sipped his coffee. “I didn’t actually lie to you, you know. I did have to get home early last night. But I allowed myself enough time to make the trip to the castle.”
“I’m supposed to accept that as an explanation?” Kate yelped.
“You’re really worked up about this, aren’t you?”
“Yes, dammit, I am. I’ve got reason to be worked up. I’ve been lied to, misled and physically assaulted by the man with whom I’m having an affair.”
“Let’s not get carried away here. I didn’t actually set out to assault you. It was dark in that hall and I wasn’t sure who was coming up the steps. I just grabbed the first warm body that appeared. The next thing I knew I was forced to defend myself against all two weeks’ worth of your self-defense lessons. Which reminds me, you need a little work in some areas, Kate. I might be able to give you a couple of tips. I studied karate for a few years.”
Kate folded her arms across her chest and stood stiffly in front of the entrance to the veranda. “I don’t believe this. You’re not going to explain any of it, are you?”
“No.”
She whirled around and slammed her fist against the nearest wall. “You can’t do this to me. I’m having an affair with you, dammit. That gives me some rights. I demand an explanation, Jared.”
“Well, you’re not going to get it, so you might as well calm down. The only thing you are going to get is my personal guarantee that what I’m doing is legal. You are also going to get a few strict instructions. From now on, you stay away from the castle.”
“I could try cornering Max Butterfield and asking him what’s going on.” It was a weak threat, but it was all Kate had.
“Max left the island yesterday afternoon.”
That stopped her for a second, but only a second. “I could tell Letty or the colonel what I’ve seen.”
“Go ahead. They’ll come straight to me and I’ll tell them everything’s under control. That will satisfy them. You’ll just wind up making yourself look foolish.”
“Because as long as you’re in charge, everything’s just hunky-dory here on Amethyst Island, is that it? I don’t believe this.”
“Believe it.” Jared set down his cup and leaned back in the leather chair. “It’s the way things work around here.”
“So I’ve been told.” Kate massaged her temples and tried to clear her head. “This is crazy.”
“Can’t you trust me, Kate?” Jared asked gently.
“That’s unfair,” she snapped. “You know if the situation was reversed, you’d jump on me with both feet, demanding explanations.”
“Only because I’d be worried about you getting yourself into trouble.”
“Okay, so I’m worried about you.”
He smiled grimly and put his feet up on the desk. “There’s no need. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time.”
“Jared, I don’t like this. You’ve been living out here beyond the reach of civilization for so long that you’re starting to think you’re a law unto yourself, the way Roger Hawthorne thought he was.”
“Not quite. I haven’t started locking people up in dungeons yet.”
“That’s not very funny. Roger did that?”
“Sure. He was the only law on the island and the bunch that worked for him was rough, to put it mildly. He occasionally needed a dungeon, so he had one built at the bottom of those stairs you were exploring this morning.”
“That little cell? That’s some sort of dungeon?” Kate’s eves widened. “I knew it. But there’s more down there than just that barred room. I know there is. I saw the way the footprints just disappear near the wall.”
“Did you?” He eyed her speculatively.
“There’s something else down there, Jared.”
“Yeah. There is. But it’s got nothing to do with you. One of these days, I’ll show you the whole place, honey, but not today. Not for a couple more weeks, at least. Until I give you the word, you are not going to set foot on the castle path.”
“You can’t stop me from going wherever I want to go.”
“Yes, I can. Here on Amethyst, I can do just about anything I want.”
She stared at him for a long, measuring moment and knew he was right. “You really mean that, don’t you? You really think you can give me orders and make me obey them.”
“Kate,” he said wearily, “even if you went back to the castle, you wouldn’t see anything more than you did this morning. There’s nothing more to see except a few other empty rooms.”
“Then why can’t I go there and explore to my heart’s content?”
“Because it’s unsafe, that’s why. I’ve told you that.”
“It’s more than just structurally unsafe, isn’t it? Whatever you’re involved in there is dangerous. I know it is.”
Jared swung his feet down from the desk, his eyes narrowing. “Look, I’ve had enough of this. Whether you like it or not, I’m the boss around here. Hawthorne castle belongs to me. That makes it private property. I don’t want you anywhere near it and that’s final.”
“And you really don’t feel you owe me any explanations at all?” she asked in stunned, helpless disbelief.
“Just because I’m sleeping with you? No.”
Kate looked at his implacable face and realized further argument was useless. Furious, she went to the door and yanked it open. “You arrogant, overbearing, dictatorial, son of a...You know something, Jared Hawthorne? You’re no better than your ancestor. You’re just a twentieth-century pirate who thinks he’s lord of all he surveys.”
She slammed the door on her way out. When she was safely back in her room, she cried for the first time since Harry had walked out the door.
Chapter 7
Jared walked into the nearly empty bar that afternoon and realized immediately that the news of his quarrel with Kate had spread even faster than the news of his affair with her. He also knew that if it was all over the resort, it would be all over the island by now, too.
“Well, well, well, decided to come out of hiding, eh?” The colonel rested both hands on the bar and grinned in masculine commiseration. “Don’t worry, it’s safe enough in here for the moment. The lady’s nowhere in sight. Haven’t seen her all day.”
“Is that right? And how do you know I’ve been in hiding?” Jared dropped onto a stool and hooked his foot over the brass rung.
“Lani was behind the front desk this morning when Kate came out of your office. I gather Ms Inskip looked more than mildly annoyed after her early morning interview. She didn’t say anything, according to Lani, but it was obvious she’d just gone toe-to-toe with someone and the only other person in your office, Lani says, was you. You yourself have apparently been snapping off heads right and left all day. Everyone agrees that makes it official you and Kate must have quarreled.”
Jared swore, knowing there was no stopping the local rumor mill. “Is everyone else enjoying this as much as you are, Colonel?”
“Far as I can tell.”
“Where’s Kate?”
“I have no idea. Haven’t seen her.”
“She’s probably sulking in her room. I’ll give her a little while longer and then I’ll go see if I can smooth a few feathers.”
“You think it’s going to be that easy?”
“She’ll calm down. She’s just a little pissed at the moment.”
“I’d say she’s more than a little pissed.”
“Only because she lost the argument. She’ll get over it.”
“I wouldn’t count on that happening anytime soon. I get the impression Ms Inskip is not accustomed to losing an argument. And since you’re not exactly an expert at losing, either, I’d say we’re in for a long siege."