Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [119]
"Was that Kate?" Duncan asked.
"Yes. She couldn't hear me, though. Bad connection."
Duncan lifted the silver flask in his hand to his lips and took a long drink. "Katie won't leave Castleton. She's dug her heels in. And you're not a man to stay in one place." He paused. "So why are you messing with my daughter?"
"I'm not messing with her. I like her."
"And she likes you?"
"I think she does."
"I thought she had more sense than that. But then, she is her mother's daughter. Nora was a sucker for a smooth line and a charming smile."
"K.C.," Tyler guessed.
"It took her awhile to realize he wasn't who he said he was. Even then she was too softhearted to push him away. Just like Katie should be pushing you away."
"She's been trying."
"Not hard enough. You're still in town." Duncan walked forward. "Move aside."
"Gladly," Tyler said, giving the tiller back to Duncan. "Are we turning back?"
"We're just getting started."
"Where are we going?"
"Wherever the wind takes us."
"That's it? We're at the mercy of the wind?"
"You like to be in charge, do you?"
"Yes, I do," Tyler admitted.
"Then why are you working for K.C.?"
Tyler was once again surprised by the question. "Why would you ask me that?"
"It's just a coincidence that you two turn up in town the same week? I don't think so. You're part of K.C.'s plan to destroy me. He remembers, doesn't he?"
"Remembers what?" Tyler asked, sensing that Duncan was taking off on a tangent that might finally lead to the truth.
"What happened that night," Duncan said impatiently. "Don't play the fool with me. You can romance Katie, intimidate Ashley, or sucker Caroline into talking, but none of them knows what I know."
"What do you know, Duncan?"
"What's it worth to you?"
"I don't understand."
"We can make a deal. Something I want for something you want."
"You don't have anything I want," Tyler said.
"I have Katie." Duncan looked him straight in the eye. "You want her, don't you?"
Chapter Twenty-One
Kate was still waiting for Tyler to call back several hours later, but the phone remained silent. His voice had cut in and out, making his words incomprehensible. Had he said he missed her? Or had she just imagined that part?
And why did she care? The man she'd made love to the night before had some explaining to do, like why on earth he would have taken a medical bill from Ashley's apartment. Her mind was still wrestling with that question. Unless the bill had been in Ashley's pocket and fallen out and she'd just forgotten it was in there ...
No, come to think of it, Ashley had been wearing short shorts and a tank top, no big pockets. It had to have been Tyler who'd dropped it there. Why would he care about Ashley's health? Or was it something else? Was there some type of number on the bill? A social security number? Kate didn't think so, but she supposed it was possible. Maybe that number would lead Tyler to something else, or maybe he thought it would.
Kate sighed as one of her favorite customers approached the counter with a couple books.
"Tough day?" Wanda Harper asked as she reached into her purse for her wallet. "Or do you have race fever like everyone else in this town? All those boats out there make it hard to concentrate on work and chores and all that."
"I know what you mean. I've been restless all day." Kate cast a glance toward the window and was surprised to see some clouds blowing in.
Wanda followed her gaze. "The weather is changing. They're predicting rain for tonight."
"I thought that was tomorrow."
Wanda shrugged. "You know what summer storms are like, they pop up when you least expect them. Thanks," she added, taking her books and walking out of the store.
Yes, Kate knew what summer storms could be like. Intense and powerful. She walked around the counter and stood by the window. In a way, Tyler was like a summer storm, blowing into her life without any notice and drowning