Free Summer Secrets by Barbara Freethy

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 not.” Ashley stopped abruptly as ‘Tyler squatted down to collect the things that had spilled from her purse. “Who are you?”
    “Tyler Jamison,” he said as he stood up and handed Ashley her purse back. “You must be Ashley.”
    “The reporter?” Ashley looked from Tyler to Kate in confusion. “You’re talking to the reporter, but you said --“
    Kate cut Ashley off with a warning glance. “I said that he was very persistent, and he is.”
    “Right. I’m sorry I interrupted you.”
    “Oh, this must have come out of your purse, too,” Tyler said, handing Ashley a small bottle of pills.
    “Thank you,” Ashley said hastily, sticking the pills in her purse. “I should go.”
    “You don’t have to go. Mr. Jamison was just leaving.” Kate sent Tyler a pointed look, willing him to just leave. She needed to deal with Ashley in private.
    “All right. I’ll go,” Tyler said. “It was nice to meet you, Ashley. I’ll talk to you later, Kate.”
    “Sure, whatever.” Kate shut the door behind him and turned to her sister. “Now then, tell me again why you’re so upset.”
    “One of the boat crews is insisting that I photograph them from the deck of the boat. I’ve made up two excuses already, and I’m going to lose the assignment if I don’t take their picture the way they want it.” She shook her head in frustration. “It gets harder every day, Kate. I lived on a boat for three years, and now I can’t get on one for twenty seconds. It’s stupid. I thought the fear would have gone away by now, but it’s worse than it was eight years ago. It’s as if every day the fear pushes me back another step. I used to be able to go out on the Sound, remember? When we first got back, I went on some day trips. I was nervous, but I made it. But each time I went out got shorter and shorter. Now I can’t even get on a damn boat.”
    Kate saw the frustration and pain in Ashley’s eyes and wanted so badly to make it all right again, but