Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [23]
"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