Summer Secrets - Barbara Freethy [59]
"He didn't say anything. He just implied things."
"That's what bothers me." Kate watched David and K.C. walk down the path toward the marina office. They passed by Tyler Jamison, who was leaning against a post, watching them. He tipped his head toward her, then walked away.
His quick departure surprised and worried her. Why hadn't he come over? Why hadn't he asked who the two men were? It seemed out of character for him to just leave without saying a word. What was he up to now?
"What are we going to do about K.C.?" Ashley asked, interrupting her thoughts about Tyler. "Do you think he really knows something, or is this just about sticking the Moon Dancer back in our faces?"
"I don't know," Kate replied. "I guess we should speak to Dad, and he probably is down at the bar."
"I can't go," Caroline said abruptly. "I have something else to take care of. I'll catch up with you two later."
"What do you have to do?" Kate asked.
"Stuff," Caroline said, refusing to give any more details before she walked away.
"I wonder if Dad knows about K.C. and the Moon Dancer," Ashley mused.
Kate suddenly saw the truth. "That's why he suddenly has to get back in the game. He wants to race K.C. That's what this is all about. Finally, a connection that makes sense."
"We have to find a way to stop him."
Kate met her sister's eyes. "Yes, we do."
Tyler sat down on a bench by the harbor, staring at the boats before him. He took out his cell phone, then hesitated.
How could he explain to Mark that he needed a shot in the arm, a kick in the butt, a reason to stay in the hunt? Mark wasn't here. He didn't know that Kate was a beautiful woman with a great smile and a big heart, a woman who loved and protected her family. Mark didn't know that Ashley was quiet and vulnerable and looked like she'd lost her best friend. And he didn't know that Caroline was a spunky young woman who seemed more of a confused innocent than a determined troublemaker.
Frankly, Tyler couldn't quite decide which of the girls was the most likely candidate to have given up a child. He had some ammunition to use if it was Caroline or Ashley. With a little creativity, he could probably make a case that Caroline was a reckless, irresponsible party girl with lots of vices and that Ashley was a head case, probably in need of a good psychiatrist. Kate still seemed clean as a whistle. Damn. He did not want Amelia's mother to be Kate. He did not want to have to take her down in any way. How could he? Ten minutes ago he'd wanted to make love to her, and whether or not she was Amelia's mother had been the last thing on his mind.
He punched in Mark's number and when his brother answered, he said abruptly, "I need to talk to Amelia."
"Why?" Mark asked suspiciously. "What's going on?"
"I just miss her. Is she home?"
"Yeah, she's home," Mark said, a catch in his voice. "She's taking care of me, Ty. She's eight years old, and she's taking care of me. I don't know what I'd do without her."
There it was, the shot in the arm he needed. A moment later, Amelia's sweet, girlish voice came over the phone.
"Hi, Uncle Ty. Where are you?" she asked.
"I'm looking at some boats. What are you doing?"
"I was reading Daddy a story. But now I'm making him a milkshake, because Shelly says he needs milk for his bones to get better."
"You're a good girl."
"I know," she said breezily.
Tyler's heart squeezed again at the familiar note in her voice. Did she sound like Kate -- or was that just his imagination?
"I'm going swimming later," Amelia continued. "I can go all the way down and touch the bottom in the deep end now. And yesterday I got all three rings without coming up for air."
"That's terrific."
"Uncle Ty?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you a question?" Amelia's voice dropped down as if she didn't want her father to hear.
"Sure, honey."
"Do you think Mommy can see us from heaven?"
"I know she can."