Summer Secrets

by Barbara Freethy

  His eyes narrowed with a glint of admiration. "You did some checking."

  "Is that a problem? Do you have something to hide?"

  "Not at all. I'm just not used to being on the other side of the research."

  "So, tell me, Mr. Jamison, why would a man comfortable in the hottest spots of the world want to recreate an old story that wasn't that exciting to begin with?"

  "Again, I think you underestimate the level of interest in your experience. But, to answer your question, I wanted a change of pace. It's been an intense few years for me. After a while there's only so much blood and carnage you can absorb without going a little crazy."

  "I can imagine," she murmured.

  "No, you can't."

  The grimness on his face bespoke of things she probably couldn't imagine. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound --"

  "Why don't we talk about you?" He moved closer, invading her personal space, making her feel very aware of herself as a woman. She hadn't spent much time on men or relationships in the past few years, keeping herself busy with family, friends, her home, and her business. It seemed to be enough most days. But not today, not with this man standing so close, his warm breath brushing her cheek, his lips within kissing distance.

  Kate cleared her throat, feeling distinctly warm and foolish as she took a step backwards. Tyler Jamison wasn't interested in her. He was after a story, and he wasn't above using his appeal to get it. She'd have to be careful. She sat down on the edge of the couch and waved her hand toward a nearby chair.

  "What do you want to know about me?" she asked as he took a seat.

  "When did your family decide to race around the world?"

  "It wasn't a family decision. My father decided for us. After my mom died, we were at loose ends. My dad wasn't good at homework and carpools, so he decided to take us to sea. He'd always been a sailor. He was in the navy in his early years, raced as a younger man, then settled down to running charters around Puget Sound once he married my mother. He always felt more comfortable on water than on land. He had itchy feet. My mother was the only person who could keep him in one place. Once she was gone, he couldn't settle down."

  "Sounds like he loved her."

  "He did. Very much. He was different with her. She understood him in a way that I've certainly never been able to."

  "So you took to the sea. What happened next?"

  "At first we just sailed. That lasted about six months. Then a short race came up, and we joined in. After our first win, my dad wanted another and another. It became a fever. He filled up our future with big dreams of big races. We were somewhat limited, because our boat wasn't as sleek or powerful as the boats used by the racing syndicates. But my dad was determined to win an around-the-world race. The Winston came up in one of the off years between the Whitbread and America's Cup. It was a different kind of race, one for both amateurs and professionals; the class level of the boats made sure of that. The crews were limited to no more than six. There was more time built into the race and into the layovers."

  "But there were only four of you. Why not fill out the crew with a couple of hefty guys?"

  She smiled at the familiar criticism. So many people had suggested that they take on additional crew members. The initial reports of the race had all predicted that the McKennas would finish last, if they finished at all.

  "We were good at what we did," she said. "I think we proved we were quite capable of winning without two hefty guys."

  "Good point. What happened to the boat after you came home? It's my understanding that it's now owned by someone else."

  "Yes. We sold it when we returned home."

  "Why?"

  Kate thought for a moment, wondering how she could answer that without drawing additional questions. "That part of our life was over," she said finally. "We needed the money for other things."

  "What other things?"

  "Just things."

  Tyler tapped his foot against the floor. "Okay. Tell me this, how will you feel when you see your boat come sailing back into the harbor on Monday?"

  "How do you know about that?" she asked sharply, then remembered he'd had dinner with her sister. "That's right. You were out with Caroline last night."

  "Yes."

  "Why did you ask her out?"

  "I thought she'd be more forthcoming than you."

  "And was she?"

  "You know she wasn't. She was as evasive as you are, although a bit more colorful in her language."

  Kate could believe that. Caroline had always loved a good swear word. "What else do you want to know?" she asked, checking her watch. "I have to get to the bookstore."

  "Did you ever want to quit the race?"

  "Yes. But my father was determined, obsessed with getting to the finish line. Once we began, nothing and no one could stop him."

  "I guess that's how you win races."

  "I guess." She hadn't let herself think about the race in a very long time. There were too many emotions wrapped up in that part of her life, incredible joy, horrific pain. Standing up abruptly, she said, "We're done."

  "We're just beginning," Tyler said as he also stood up.

  "If you want more information, go to the library."

  "I thought we were getting along, breaking the ice." His soft smile was meant to take the edge off her mood, but it wasn't enough. She'd started to feel the pain again. She couldn't go back there. She wouldn't go back there.

  Tyler reached out and touched the side of her face with his hand. The heat burned through her skin, the intimate gesture startling her.

  "What put that look of enormous hurt into your eyes?" he asked softly, his gaze intent on hers.

  "Nothing. You're imagining things." She wanted to look away from him, but she couldn't seem to break the connection between them. "You're staring at me."

  "You're staring at me," he murmured.

  And she was, dammit. Why now? Why did her sleeping libido have to suddenly wake up now?

  "Was it a man?" Tyler asked.

  "What?" Caught up in her physical reaction to him, she'd completely lost the thread of their conversation.

  "Was it a man who hurt you?"

  "No," she said quickly.

  "Did something happen to one of your sisters while you were racing?"

  "Why would you ask that?"

  "Because you're their protector. And anything that hurts them hurts you. Am I right?"

  She was relieved that the conversation had turned to her sisters. "I'm the oldest," she replied. "I do what I have to do."

  "I can understand that."

  "Good. Don't go after my sisters, Tyler. That would be a big mistake."

  Tyler sent her a long, measuring look. "I believe it would be."

  "Then we understand each other." She turned to escort him out of the room, but he caught her by the arm.

  "Not so fast."

  It wasn't fear that drove the shiver down her spine but an undeniable attraction, and Kate couldn't afford an attraction to this man. She couldn't let herself like him or trust him. She had family to protect, not to mention her heart.

  "We're not done," he added.

  "Yes, we are. I don't trust you. I don't believe you're here for a simple story."

  "And I don't believe nothing happened during your race. I think you're hiding something."

  "Believe what you want. I don't have anything to gain by talking to you."

  "You may have nothing to gain, but I suspect that you have something to lose."

  He had no idea how much. And she desperately hoped he would never find out. Before she could reply, the doorbell rang once again. Her house had never been this busy, but she was grateful for the distraction. She pulled her arm away from his hand. "I need to get that." Opening the door, she found Ashley on the doorstep.

  Ashley's eyes were wild, her long hair tangled and falling around her face and shoulders. "I can't do it, Kate. I can't get on the damn boat. The wind has died down, but I still feel a br
eeze, and it's too much." Ashley's words tumbled out in a rush as she stepped into the hallway. "If I don't photograph all the crews, Mr. Conway will give the assignment to someone else, and I really need the money. But I can't get on the damn boat. What's wrong with me? Why do I have to be so afraid all the time?" She waved her hand in frustration, the action sending her purse flying to the ground, the contents spilling on the floor. "Dammit. I can't do anything right."

  "Oh, Ash," Kate said, putting a calming hand on her sister's arm. "It's going to be fine."

  "No, it's not." Ashley stopped abruptly as 'Tyler squatted down to collect the things that had spilled from her purse. "Who are you?"

  "Tyler Jamison," he said as he stood up and handed Ashley her purse back. "You must be Ashley."

  "The reporter?" Ashley looked from Tyler to Kate in confusion. "You're talking to the reporter, but you said --"

  Kate cut Ashley off with a warning glance. "I said that he was very persistent, and he is."

  "Right. I'm sorry I interrupted you."

  "Oh, this must have come out of your purse, too," Tyler said, handing Ashley a small bottle of pills.

  "Thank you," Ashley said hastily, sticking the pills in her purse. "I should go."

  "You don't have to go. Mr. Jamison was just leaving." Kate sent Tyler a pointed look, willing him to just leave. She needed to deal with Ashley in private.

  "All right. I'll go," Tyler said. "It was nice to meet you, Ashley. I'll talk to you later, Kate."

  "Sure, whatever." Kate shut the door behind him and turned to her sister. "Now then, tell me again why you're so upset."

  "One of the boat crews is insisting that I photograph them from the deck of the boat. I've made up two excuses already, and I'm going to lose the assignment if I don't take their picture the way they want it." She shook her head in frustration. "It gets harder every day, Kate. I lived on a boat for three years, and now I can't get on one for twenty seconds. It's stupid. I thought the fear would have gone away by now, but it's worse than it was eight years ago. It's as if every day the fear pushes me back another step. I used to be able to go out on the Sound, remember? When we first got back, I went on some day trips. I was nervous, but I made it. But each time I went out got shorter and shorter. Now I can't even get on a damn boat."

  Kate saw the frustration and pain in Ashley's eyes and wanted so badly to make it all right again, but Ashley's fears ran deep, probably deeper than Kate even realized. She'd told herself in recent months that Ashley was doing better, that she was fine. It was easier to believe they were all okay now, to pretend that the past no longer had the power to hurt. But it was clear that Ashley wasn't better, and pretending otherwise would only make it worse. "Do you want me to go with you?" Kate asked. "Maybe it would help."

  "I can't ask you to do that," Ashley said, but there was a plea in her eyes that told Kate not to give up too easily.

  "I want to do it. I want to help you. It will be fine, you'll see. We'll go together and you'll snap their pictures, and it will be over before you know it. Not nearly as bad as a root canal, I promise."

  "I'm such an idiot."

  "No, you're not."

  Ashley drew in a deep breath and let it out. "You know, just telling you about it actually makes me feel like I can do it."

  "You can do it. Remember, the boat isn't going anywhere."

  "I know. My fear is ridiculous. Even if the boat got loose, I could swim back."

  "You could sail back."

  Ashley gave her a reluctant smile. "Yeah, I could do that, too." She paused. "What did you say to the reporter?"

  "As little as possible. I don't trust him, Ash. He's got a hidden agenda, but I don't know what it is."

  "It's been so long. I didn't think anyone ... What are we going to do?"

  "Check him out at the same time he's checking us out. I already did a brief search on the Internet. He's been all over the world, covering major stories."

  "That doesn't sound good."

  "No, it doesn't. I'd like to find out why he has developed a sudden interest in ocean racing."

  "If he's been all over the world, maybe we ran into him before and just don't remember?"

  Kate thought about the rugged, dark-haired man who had just left her house and knew deep in her soul that if she'd ever met him before, she would have remembered. "If our paths crossed, I don't think we knew it. But it might be interesting to find out what Mr. Jamison was doing eight years ago."

  "Do you think you can?"

  "I'm sure going to try."

  * * *

  "I'd like to look at news articles that appeared eight years ago in reference to the McKenna family's racing victory," Tyler told the librarian. Castleton's library was little more than a two-story Victorian house, but since the McKennas were local, he figured he might get lucky.

  "Oh, well, that's easy," the librarian replied. "We photocopied and laminated every article we could find, seeing as how the McKennas are hometown heroes. We were so proud of them, you know. They were amazing."

  Tyler nodded. "That's what I understand." He followed the librarian into the next room.

  "This is where we keep everything on sailing. And this is McKenna shelf," she added, pointing to several notebooks. "Do you mind if I ask why you're so interested? It was a long time ago."

  "I'm writing an article on ocean racing featuring famous crews. A where-are-they-now piece."

  "Well, they're all right here," she said with a gleam in her eye. "And all quite single. Are you single, Mr. …?

  "Jamison. Tyler Jamison. And, yes, I'm single."

  If the woman asking him had been less than seventy years old, he might have felt awkward, but she was clearly not asking for herself.

  "Really? A handsome man like you, what are the girls thinking'? Why, if I were twenty years younger, I'd go after you myself."

  "I would count myself lucky."

  "Oh, you're a charmer, you are. Well, I'll leave you to your reading. Let me know if you need anything. My name is Sheryl Martin, and I'll be here until we close at five."

  "Thank you." Tyler pulled out the first notebook and sat down at a nearby table. He'd already read through several articles on the race that he'd found on the Internet, but most of those articles had been about the race itself: winners of each leg; time handicaps, and weather conditions. Nothing that helped his cause.

  He turned to the first page. The headline stated FIVE RACERS LOST AT SEA.

  Tyler had read a little about the storm but hadn't thought much about it, since the McKennas had come through unscathed. Now he wondered if that storm had caused some trauma. Ashley seemed to have a surprising fear of the water. His mind darted back to the bottle of pills that had fallen from her purse. The label had read Xanax which he knew to be an anti-anxiety medication.