Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [117]
"That would have been easier," Kate agreed.
"Well, easy has never been the McKenna way."
"I was selfish, though. I could have put us all in a bad position."
"It's not selfish to fall in love."
"I'm not in love."
"Oh, Kate, come on. You don't have sex with guys you don't care about."
"It was just a fling. He's leaving in a few days. It's nothing."
"It may be nothing to him, but it's something to you. You don't give your body or your heart lightly. I don't care what you told Tyler Jamison. I know that for a fact. And if you slept with him, then you're falling for him."
"He's all wrong for me, Ash. I don't want to care for him."
"And I don't want to care for Sean, but we don't choose love. It chooses us. Once it grabs hold, it doesn't let go." She paused, bending over to pick up a piece of paper. "What's this?"
Kate's heart skipped a beat. Had Tyler left her a note after all?
"Kate?" Ashley looked at her with a question in her eyes. "Where did you get this?"
"What is it?"
"It's one of my medical bills."
A flash of disappointment swept through her, followed by confusion. `How did that get there?"
"I have no idea. I didn't even bring my purse in." They stared at each other for a moment, both coming to the same conclusion at the same time.
"Tyler," Ashley muttered. "He was in my apartment yesterday."
"And in my house last night," Kate added. But it didn't make any sense.
"Why would Tyler swipe a copy of my medical bill? What on earth could he hope to find there?" Ashley asked, echoing her thoughts.
"He must be on the wrong track."
Ashley looked at her through troubled eyes. "Or maybe we are."
*
Tyler sat back in the boat as Duncan steered them out of the marina and past the buoys that marked the beginning of the day's races. There were lots of boats sailing in the area of the start, which would take place in approximately thirty minutes, but Duncan apparently had a different course in mind. He headed them away from the racing area toward the north end of the island.
"Are you eager to be out there racing?" Tyler asked.
Duncan nodded. "I can't wait. There's nothing like a fast start to get your blood pumping."
"It must be different when the race is longer. You have to stay ahead for weeks, months at a time. Must require a great deal of endurance, not just a fast start."
"Long-distance ocean sailing is like running a marathon. You have to pace yourself and take into account changes in weather, temperature, sails, every little detail that could alter the outcome of the race."
"And you don't stop for anything, do you?" Tyler asked. "Not even if someone is sick or injured. You just keep going."
Duncan shot him a thoughtful look. "We didn't have to worry about that."
"The girls were healthy the whole time?"
"They were as fit as any of the crews out there."
Except one of them had been pregnant. Why hadn't anyone realized that fact? Tyler frowned, knowing that this tack was no better than the last. Duncan was too smart to give him an easy answer.
Looking out at the water, Tyler tried to drum up some enthusiasm for his quest. But he had to admit that after spending an incredible night with Kate he felt even less inclined to hunt down the truth. She was an amazing woman, everything he'd ever wanted, not just beautiful but sexy, warm, funny, smart, the kind of woman a man could be friends with, not just have sex with. Although the sex had been good, very good.
But he hadn't deserved to have her. He was lying to her.
The fact that she also was probably lying to him didn't make it better. He didn't want walls between them. Then again, maybe he should be happy the walls were there. It would make it easier to do what he had to do and walk away.
And he would walk away. There was no question about