Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [51]
Jeremy had been her everything -- and she'd been his.
But even as the thought crossed her mind, she knew it wasn't true. Jeremy had had another love -- the sea. Just like her father, the ocean had called to Jeremy in a way she never could.
Jeremy wouldn't have wanted to be buried here in the ground. He would have rather had his ashes flung into the wind over a beautiful sea. But Jeremy's parents had wanted him here with his grandparents, with his ancestors. Kate hadn't had the heart to argue with them. It didn't matter anyway. Jeremy wasn't really here. Only his headstone.
Kate stiffened at the sound of footsteps. The hairs on the back of her neck stood straight up. She didn't have to know to know who was behind her. It seemed almost inevitable that he should be here.
"Kate?"
His voice was a warm, rich baritone. It ran through her like fine wine and weakened her resolve.
"Are you following me now?" she asked sharply. Maybe anger could get her past this foolish, dangerous attraction.
"Guilty, but I thought you were gone home when you left the bookstore."
"I changed my mine," she replied, plucking at an errant weed with her fingers.
"I realized that too late. Am I intruding?"
"Yes, but you already knew that." Kate finally allowed herself to look at him. She immediately wished she hadn't. Last night she'd tried to convince herself that she was not attracted to him, but dressed in jeans that emphasized his long, lean legs and a rugby shirt that stretched across a very broad chest, he looked as good as she remembered and so very vital, so very alive.
Jeremy's image vanished from her mind. She strained to bring back the laughing, boyish smile, but she couldn't. Because of Tyler.
"You shouldn't have come here," she said harshly, jumping to her feet. "Why can't you just leave me alone?"
He tilted his head, looking somewhat perplexed. "I've been asking myself the same question," he said, surprising her with his answer.
She saw something in his eyes, something that looked like truth, something that told her that he felt something that had nothing to do with a newspaper story. Or did she just want to believe that?
Was he just flirting with her to get a story?
Kate walked down the path toward her car. Tyler immediately followed.
"I have a proposition for you," he said as she opened her car door.
"I'm not interested."
"Hear me out?"
She shook her head.
He put a hand on her shoulder, forcing her to look at him. "I don't want to like you either," he said. "I can't seem to stop myself."
"I don't like you," she said quickly.
"Maybe like wasn't the right word, but there's something between us."
"You'll say anything to get a story, won't you?"
"This isn't about the story." He paused, giving her a long look. "Are you still in love with Jeremy?"
Her mouth went dry. How had their conversation gotten so personal? "That's none of your business. I'm going home."
"I'll go with you."
She sighed. "I won't answer any more of your questions."
"Any more? You haven't answered any yet. I just want to spend some time with you, do whatever you're doing." He paused. "What are you going to be doing?"
"Nothing that interesting."
"It might be more interesting if we do it together." He sent her a sexy, charming smile. "We got off on the wrong foot, Kate. Let's start over. I'm Tyler Jamison. Nice to meet you." He extended his hand.
She hesitated and then slid her fingers into his. A jolt of electricity shot through her body. She looked into his eyes and saw the same flash of awareness. Oh, Lord. She was in trouble.
"Let me spend the day with you," Tyler said quietly. "Give us a chance to get to know each other."
Kate could think of a dozen reasons why that wasn't a good idea, but the only answer she could give him was yes -- and hope to God that at some point she'd have the strength