Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [24]
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 breeze, 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