The Reef Read Online Free PDF Page A

she envisioned gracing her college dorm room would have to wait. “Two hundred then. It’s all I have saved.”
    â€œI’ll take my chances on Saint Bart’s.”
    Color flooded back into her cheeks. “You’re nothing but an opportunist.”
    â€œYou’re right. And you’re an idealist.” He smiled as she stood in front of him, hands fisted, eyes fired. Over her shoulder, he caught movement on the deck of the Adventure. “And for better or worse, Red, it looks like we’re partners.”
    â€œOver my dead body.”
    He took her by the shoulders. For one startled minute, she thought he meant to heave her overboard. But he simply turned her until she faced her own boat.
    Her heart sank as she watched her father and Buck Lassiter shake hands.

C HAPTER 2
    A BRILLIANT SUNSET poured gold and pink across the sky and melted into the sea. The glory was followed by the finger-snap twilight so usual in the tropics. Over the calm water came the scratchy sound of a portable radio aboard the Sea Devil that did little justice to the bouncy reggae beat. The air might have been redolent with the scent of sautéing fish, but Tate’s mood was foul.
    â€œI don’t see why we need partners.” Tate propped her elbows on the narrow table in the galley and frowned at her mother’s back.
    â€œYour father took a real shine to Buck.” Marla sprinkled crushed rosemary into the pan. “It’s good for him to have a man near his own age to pal around with.”
    â€œHe has us,” Tate grumbled.
    â€œOf course he has.” Marla smiled over her shoulder. “But men need men, honey. They’ve just got to spit and belch now and again.”
    Tate snorted at the idea of her impeccably mannered father doing either. “The point is we don’t know anything about them. I mean, they just showed up in our space.” She was still smarting over the sword. “Dad spent months researching these wrecks. Why should we trust the Lassiters?”
    â€œBecause they’re Lassiters,” Ray said as he swung into the galley. Bending over, he planted a noisy kiss on the top of Tate’s head. “Our girl’s got a suspicious nature, Marla.” He winked at his wife, then because it was his turn for galley duty, began to set the table. “That’s a good thing, to a point. It’s not smart to believe everything you see, everything you hear. But sometimes you’ve got to go with the gut. Mine tells me the Lassiters are just what we need to round out this little adventure.”
    â€œHow?” Tate propped her chin on her fist. “Matthew Lassiter is arrogant and shortsighted and—”
    â€œYoung.” Ray finished with a twinkle in his eye. “Marla, that smells wonderful.” He slipped his arms around her waist and nuzzled the back of her neck. She smelled of suntan lotion and Chanel.
    â€œThen let’s sit down and see how it tastes.”
    But Tate wasn’t willing to let the matter drop. “Dad, do you know what he plans to do with that sword? He’s just going to sell it to some dealer.”
    Ray sat and pursed his lips. “Most salvagers sell their booty, honey. That’s how they make a living.”
    â€œWell, that’s fine.” Tate took the platter her mother offered automatically and chose her portion. “But it should be dated and assessed first. He doesn’t even care what it is or who it belonged to. To him it’s just something to trade for a case of beer.”
    â€œThat’s a shame.” Marla sighed as Ray poured dinner wine into her glass. “And I know how you feel, honey. The Tates have always been defenders of history.”
    â€œAnd the Beaumonts,” her husband put in. “It’s the Southern way. You have a point, Tate.” Ray gestured with his fork. “And I sympathize. But I also understand Matthew’s side of it. The quick