Read The Reef for Free Online Page B

give Buck an impulsive kiss. “What a feeling.”
    His ruddy cheeks darkened. Women had always remained a mystery to him and mostly at a distance. “You hold on to it—that feeling. Sometimes it’s a long stretch before you have it again.” He slapped Ray on the back. “Let’s suit up, partner.”
    Within thirty minutes, the second team was under way. Marla had spread out a drop cloth and was busily chipping away at the conglomerate. Tate postponed lunch to clean the silver coins.
    Nearby, Matthew sat on the deck and polished off his second BLT. “I tell you, Marla, I might just shanghai you. You sure have a way of putting food together.”
    â€œAnybody can make a sandwich.” Her hammer rang in counterpoint to her molasses-drenched voice. “You’ll have to have dinner with us, Matthew. Then you’ll see what cooking’s all about.”
    He was sure he heard Tate’s teeth gnash. “Love to. I can run over to Saint Kitts for you if you need any supplies.”
    â€œThat’s very sweet.” She’d changed into work shorts and an oversized shirt, and was sweating. Somehow she still managed to look like a Southern belle planning a tea party. “I could use a little fresh milk to make biscuits.”
    â€œBiscuits? Marla, for homemade biscuits, I’d swim back from the island with the whole cow.”
    He was rewarded by her quick, infectious laughter.“Just a gallon will do me. Oh, not this minute,” she said, waving him back when he started to rise. “Plenty of time. You enjoy your lunch and the sunshine.”
    â€œStop trying to charm my mother,” Tate said under her breath.
    Matthew scooted closer. “I like your mother. You’ve got her hair,” he murmured. “Her eyes, too.” He picked up another section of sandwich, bit in. “Too bad you don’t take after her otherwise.”
    â€œI also have her delicate bone structure,” Tate said with a clench-toothed smile.
    Matthew took his time with his study. “Yeah, I guess you do.”
    Suddenly uncomfortable, she shifted back an inch. “You’re crowding me,” she complained. “Just like you do on a dive.”
    â€œHere, take a bite.” He held out the sandwich, nearly plowing it into her mouth so that she had little choice but to accept. “I’ve decided you’re my good-luck charm.”
    Rather than choke, she swallowed. “I beg your pardon?”
    â€œThere’s a nice Southern flow to the way you say that,” he observed. “Just a hint of ice under the honey. My good-luck charm,” he repeated. “Because you were around when I found the sword.”
    â€œYou were around when I found it.”
    â€œWhatever. There are a couple of things I don’t turn my back on. A man with greed in his eyes, a woman with fire in hers.” He offered Tate more of the sandwich. “And luck. Good or bad.”
    â€œI’d think it would be smarter to walk away from bad luck.”
    â€œFacing it’s better. Usually quicker. Lassiters have had a long run of the bad.” With a shrug, he finished the sandwich himself. “Seems to me you’ve brought me some of the good.”
    â€œI’m the one who found the coins.”
    â€œMaybe I’m bringing you some, too.”
    â€œI’ve got something,” Marla sang out. “Come and see.”
    Matthew rose, and after a moment’s hesitation, held out a hand. With matching wariness, Tate took it and let him haul her to her feet.
    â€œNails,” Marla said, gesturing with one hand as she dabbed a handkerchief over her damp face with the other. “They look old. And this . . .” She picked up a small disk from amid the rubble. “Looks like some sort of button. Copper or bronze perhaps.”
    With a grunt, Matthew crouched down. There were two iron spikes, a pile of pottery shards, a broken