Don't Tempt Me Read Free

"If you'll just ... follow me."
    Jackie trailed behind as the hostess led the way. A few locals had gathered around the bar in the middle of the room, swapping fish stories, but the tables and booths were empty.
    "I guess you get your pick of tables." The hostess smiled up at Adrian.
    "How about the one in the comer with the killer view?"
    "Oh, good choice." Perky Girl sighed in admiration as if he'd just announced the cure for cancer. As they took their seats, she handed them each a menu. "Sandy will be your server this evening, but can I get you anything while you're waiting? Water? Wine?"
    My body , Jackie added silently, reading the invitation in the girl's eyes.
    "Water would be nice. Thank you." Adrian smiled and the girl nearly melted before hurrying off.
    Jackie turned to him. "Can I ask you a question?"
    "Certainly." He opened his menu.
    "Do you do that intentionally, or does it just come naturally? You know, like breathing?"
    "Do what?" He frowned.
    She resisted the temptation to whack him over the head. "Send women into a swoon."
    He looked confused for a second, then amusement registered, crinkling the corners of his eyes and carving long dimples to either side of his mouth. "Jealous?" he asked.
    "In your dreams." She snapped open her own menu. Any woman fool enough to fall for a man like Adrian deserved to have her heart broken. Unless that woman liked to share ---which Jackie didn't.
    Their server, Sandy, arrived ---a no-nonsense woman who refrained from ogling, thank goodness ---and they placed their order.
    "Okay." Jackie folded her hands on the table. "Down to business."
    "Naw-uh. Our food hasn't even come. First we eat, visit, watch the sunset, then we'll talk about the offer."
    "Well, if you're planning to offer me part of the salvage rights, save your breath. I'm not stupid. Texas doesn't grant salvage rights, so the minute you and your sisters brought the Texas Historical Commission into this, you lost everything that was on that ship. If you wanted to go after Lafitte's treasure, you should have just done it"
    "Are you kidding?" A scowl lined his face. "First of all, that would be illegal, and second, the bulk of the shipwreck is buried under mud from the nineteen hundred hurricane. Do you know how much excavating it will cost?"
    "I have a pretty good idea, which is what confuses me. Why is everyone suddenly so hot to go after a worthless artifact? I explained to the writer guy ---"
    "Scott Lawrence." Adrian supplied the name of the famous suspense novelist who had called her a few months ago claiming to be researching a new book.
    "Yes, him. I explained that the so-called treasure is nothing but a powder horn. It's not gold. It's not some valuable jewel. It's a stupid powder horn my ancestors jokingly referred to as 'Lafitte's treasure.' So, what's the big deal?"
    "Ah, and here's our first course." Adrian smiled as the server brought an appetizer of shrimp cocktail and a bottle of wine. Jackie drummed her fingers as he went through the ritual of tasting. When the woman was gone, he turned back to her. "So, how do you like running a charter ship?"
    She narrowed her eyes, wondering when he planned to answer her question. Of course, since Lafitte's treasure was her least favorite subject, she shrugged it off. "The work is never-ending, tourists can occasionally be a pain in the butt, and I barely make enough to cover my expenses."
    "You hate it that much, eh?" He grinned knowingly, as if he could see through to the truth: that her ship meant the world to her, and she'd fight tooth and nail to keep her business going, a battle she was currently losing.
    "How about you?" She dipped a chilled shrimp in cocktail sauce. "Do you like running a B and B?"
    "Most of the time." He popped a sauce-drenched shrimp into his mouth and wrinkled his nose. "Too bland. Mind if I doctor this up a bit?" At her nod, he rummaged through the condiments on the table. "I could do without getting up before dawn to start breakfast