Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [110]
"Mr. Jamison, are you bidding on a basket tonight?" a woman named Margaret asked him. Margaret was in her mid-fifties and worked the front desk of the hotel where he was staying.
"I'm not sure yet. They look good, though. I'm starting to get hungry."
"Mine has a big pink bow," she said with a wink. "If you like crab sandwiches, check it out."
Tyler smiled as she disappeared into the crowd. Crab sandwiches didn't sound bad, but he was more interested in finding a McKenna sister, one in particular, to share a picnic supper with. He hadn't seen Kate all day, and he very much wanted to.
His cell phone rang, and he dug it out of his pocket with irritation. Mark was probably calling him for another update, another reminder that time was running out, that if he didn't get an answer soon, he would disappear with Amelia. He did not want Amelia to live the life he had led. There had to be another solution. He would simply have to find it.
He was relieved to see a different number on his screen, that of one of the editors he frequently worked for, Kenny Weinman.
"Hi, Kenny," he said. "What's up?"
"Where the hell are you, Ty?" Kenny asked. "I've been calling your apartment for days and get nothing but your damn machine. Finally dug up your cell phone number from that cute blonde in the lifestyle section that you dated last year."
"Jenny?"
"Julie," Kenny said with a laugh. "Jesus, you haven't changed. Love 'em and leave 'em Jamison."
"Why are you calling me, exactly?" Tyler asked, somewhat annoyed with the analysis.
"I've got an article that only you can write," Kenny said. "But you have to get to Paris by Friday."
"I can't do it," Tyler said automatically.
"I haven't even told you what it is yet."
"I'm taking some time off. Family business."
"You have a family?" Kenny asked in surprise. "I didn't know that."
"Yes, I have a family," Tyler snapped. "And I'm taking care of them at the moment. I'll be in touch when I'm free."
"I'll pay you triple your usual fee. This is Paris, Ty. You'll love it."
"Send someone else."
"I can't believe I'm hearing this. You never turn down jobs."
"I'm turning this one down," Tyler said and hung up the phone. He could hardly believe he'd actually done it. Maybe Kenny was right. Maybe he had changed. When had that happened? When Mark had gotten hurt? Or when he'd met a woman he wanted to get to know a lot better? Shit! That was a frightening thought.
The microphone on the stage crackled as the auctioneer made the last call for baskets. Tyler looked around, hoping to see Kate. Sure enough, there she was, setting a dark brown basket on the table. He noted the silver ribbon hanging from the handle. Reaching into his pocket for his wallet this time, he checked his cash. He might have to hit an ATM machine before the auction started. There was no way anyone would outbid him for Kate's basket.
"Tyler is over there," Caroline said to Kate as they put their baskets down.
"Where?" Kate couldn't help asking as she took a quick look around.
"At the back of the crowd. Oh, he's gone now."
"He'll be back," Kate said with certainty. "He's like a bad penny; he keeps showing up."
"And you like him," Caroline said with a knowing smile.
"It's not like that."
"It's exactly like that. And it's not a crime, you know. He's a hot guy. And you're a normal red-blooded female with --"
"Please, don't say urges."
"Feelings and desires. It's been a long time since you've looked at a man the way you look at Tyler. It's long over due."
"It's crazy. And I'm going to ignore those feelings and especially those desires from here on out."
"Good luck," Caroline said