Read Online Summer Secrets by Barbara Freethy - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Barbara Freethy
Ads: Link
sailor?”
“Yes, but she didn’t like sailing far from home. A spin around the islands was enough for her. She was an artist, a dreamer. She used to design sails, not for money, just for friends. She was more of an armchair adventurer than anything else.” Kate let out a small sigh, feeling a wave of longing and nostalgia that never seemed to go away completely. It had been years since her mother’s death, but she still missed her. “I wish she could have seen my bookstore. I think she would have liked it.” She stopped abruptly, remembering whom she was talking to.
“Don’t stop now. You’re on a roll.” Tyler sent her a curious look. “We don’t have to be adversaries. I’m not sure why, but I get the feeling that you don’t want me here. In fact, I believe you’d like to send me away as quickly as possible. I just don’t know why.”
“What are you really after?” she asked, deciding it was time to turn the tables. “You don’t write stories about ocean racers, not even world-class ones. You write about wars and international economies. You’ve had bylines in every national magazine. And I think somewhere along the way you’ve won a journalistic award or two.”
His eyes narrowed with a glint of admiration. “You did some checking.”
“Is that a problem? Do you have something to hide?”
“Not at all. I’m just not used to being on the other side of the research.”
“So, tell me, Mr. Jamison, why would a man comfortable in the hottest spots of the world want to recreate an old story that wasn’t that exciting to begin with?”
“Again, I think you underestimate the level of interest in your experience. But, to answer your question, I wanted a change of pace. It’s been an intense few years for me. After a while there’s only so much blood and carnage you can absorb without going a little crazy.”
“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
“Yes, but she didn’t like sailing far from home. A spin around the islands was enough for her. She was an artist, a dreamer. She used to design sails, not for money, just for friends. She was more of an armchair adventurer than anything else.” Kate let out a small sigh, feeling a wave of longing and nostalgia that never seemed to go away completely. It had been years since her mother’s death, but she still missed her. “I wish she could have seen my bookstore. I think she would have liked it.” She stopped abruptly, remembering whom she was talking to.
“Don’t stop now. You’re on a roll.” Tyler sent her a curious look. “We don’t have to be adversaries. I’m not sure why, but I get the feeling that you don’t want me here. In fact, I believe you’d like to send me away as quickly as possible. I just don’t know why.”
“What are you really after?” she asked, deciding it was time to turn the tables. “You don’t write stories about ocean racers, not even world-class ones. You write about wars and international economies. You’ve had bylines in every national magazine. And I think somewhere along the way you’ve won a journalistic award or two.”
His eyes narrowed with a glint of admiration. “You did some checking.”
“Is that a problem? Do you have something to hide?”
“Not at all. I’m just not used to being on the other side of the research.”
“So, tell me, Mr. Jamison, why would a man comfortable in the hottest spots of the world want to recreate an old story that wasn’t that exciting to begin with?”
“Again, I think you underestimate the level of interest in your experience. But, to answer your question, I wanted a change of pace. It’s been an intense few years for me. After a while there’s only so much blood and carnage you can absorb without going a little crazy.”
“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
Similar Books
