“Your wife?” She smiled brilliantly up at him.
“Yeah, my wife. Get into the Jeep, lady. Now.”
“Not until I’ve been properly asked. You can’t just order me about as if I were one of the staff, Jared Hawthorne.”
He towered over her. “Ask you? Are you kidding? I’m not asking, I’m telling you you’re going to marry me. You think I’d be dumb enough to ask politely and give you a chance to say no?” He took one step forward, scooped her up into his arms and tossed her into the passenger seat. “With women like you, a man has to be assertive or he’ll find himself running in circles. If you don’t believe me, look at me right now. Circles within circles. I’m getting dizzy.”
“Ready, Dad?” David hopped into the back seat.
“Ready.”
Jared turned the key in the ignition and swung the wheel. The Jeep leaped toward the road to the combined cheers of the small crowd around the plane. Kate turned in the seat to wave goodbye to Hank, who waved back before he returned to the business of loading his passengers.
“Everything’s okay now, huh, Kate?” David asked, leaning over the front seat.
She grinned and reached back to ruffle his hair. The breeze was warm with the scent of exotic flowers and the sun was so bright on the sea that it almost hurt her eyes. She felt gloriously alive and sure of herself. The pirate of her dreams had just swept her off her feet and was carrying her away to his island hideaway where he would make hot, passionate love to her just as soon as he got a spare minute. The boy in the back seat of the Jeep was going to be the son she had never had. She just knew her career would flourish because living here on Amethyst Island was going to inspire her as nothing else could ever have done.
“Yes,” said Kate with complete certainty. “Everything is okay.”
“Wanna bet?” Jared cast a sidelong glance at Kate.
“You got a problem, Hawthorne?” Kate smiled serenely.
“Yeah, I’ve got a problem. It seems to me I’m the only one who’s making a public commitment around here.
I’ve declared my love in front of a whole planeload of passengers, but I haven’t heard much in the way of response from you.”
“Oh,” Kate said, as if it had just slipped her mind for a moment, “don’t worry about it. I love you, too.”
Jared laughed, his satisfaction ringing loud and clear in the crystalline island air. “Yeah, I kind of figured you did.”
The telegrams arrived at ten o’clock in the morning. Margaret Lark was just switching on the kettle to make her customary morning cup of tea when her doorbell rang. She accepted the message, skimmed it hurriedly and grabbed the phone to dial Sarah Fleetwood’s number.
“Did you get one, too?”
“Sure did. Can you believe it?” Sarah laughed with delight.
“No. This is incredible. What a cure for stress.”
“I knew Amethyst Island was the right place to send her. I just had a feeling.” Sarah carefully unfolded her copy of the telegram and reread it once more.
Have found my pirate. He’s got everything: dark hair, gray eyes and a real dagger. Married yesterday. Will see you soon when we return to the States for a visit. Regards, Kate.