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dressed in buckskin pants and a blue cotton shirt, he stood a good two inches taller than Ben, who at six feet was the tallest of the papas. Sunlight reflected glints of red in Malone’s dark auburn hair. His eyes were a deep alligator green and glinted with a knowing amusement that put her on the defensive.
    She raked him up and down with a doubtful gaze. “So, Rafe Malone. The thief. Tell me, are you any good?”
    He folded his arms and grinned wickedly. “I could steal your shadow if I were so inclined.”
    “You don’t suffer from a lack of self-confidence, do you, Mr. Malone?”
    “That would be stupid. I may have one or two shortcomings, ma’am, but stupidity isn’t one of them.”
    “What is?”
    “I’m a tad bit hardheaded at times. For instance, if someone tells me I can’t have something, I tend to take that as a personal challenge. I’ve simply got to have it.”
    He winked and Maggie felt its effect clear to her toes. She reacted defensively. “I didn’t want you here. You weren’t my choice for the job.”
    “Oh, yeah?” He had the nerve to look amused. “Who was?”
    “I wanted the bravest man in Texas. I wanted Luke Prescott.”
    That wiped the satisfaction right off his face. “Well, I don’t think his wife would agree to that, Miss St. John,” Rafe snapped back, glowering at her.
    “I meant that I wanted to hire him to retrieve our treasure. He’s strong and courageous.”
    “And I’m… ?”
    “Impertinent.”
    Lucky took a break from bickering with the other grandfathers to caution, “Maggie, I think you should mind the words coming from your mouth.”
    “Aye,” Snake added. “Keep it up and we’ll be living back on the boat again.”
    She looked at her papas. “Well it’s true. Luke Prescott is a hero. Rafe Malone is a thief. What’s to keep him from stealing our treasure from us once he’s recovered it?”
    “My word,” Rafe said flatly.
    Maggie heard a wealth of meaning in his tone of voice. Surprised, she faced him. This was a different Rafe Malone from the rogue who’d flirted with her last night or the fool who’d interrupted her back-swing. This man appeared taller and broader. He was coldly furious. This Rafe Malone was dangerous.
    His gaze captured hers, his eyes narrowed and hard. “I’ll say this once, lady, so listen up. My word is my most valuable possession. I never, ever break it.”
    She swallowed hard and fought the urge to take a step backward. This matter was too important. Her papas’ health and happiness was at stake. “And do we have it, Mr. Malone? Do you give your word we can trust you with our treasure?”
    The light in his eyes changed, softened. A lopsided grin stole across his face and he drawled, “Well now, Miss Maggie, I reckon that depends on your definition of treasure. If you’re talking about the chest they have stashed in the Caribbean, then yes, I’ve given your grandfathers my word they can trust me with that.”
    Maggie frowned. What other treasure existed to define? Her fingers stole to the necklace her papas had given her years before as she considered the question, then quickly dismissed it. The only prize that mattered was the one they would use to save Hotel Bliss. “All right, then. I guess that question is settled.”
    She nodded once, then turned to her papas. Snatching a golf ball from Lucky’s hand, she slid it inside the pocket of her skirt. “This is no way to relax and recover from your trip. I’m declaring the game over. Papa Gus wins this one fair and square.”
    The four grandfathers burst into debate. Maggie folded her arms and shook her head. Seeing they couldn’t sway her from her position, the papas adopted such hangdog expressions that Maggie almost checked the ground to see if they were dragging tails. She sighed and kissed each one in turn on the cheek, giving Gus a second, congratulatory buss.
    “Now, since Mr. Malone has joined us, why don’t we use this opportunity to discuss the upcoming