Free Summer Secrets by Barbara Freethy Page A

Ashley’s fears ran deep, probably deeper than Kate even realized. She’d told herself in recent months that Ashley was doing better, that she was fine. It was easier to believe they were all okay now, to pretend that the past no longer had the power to hurt. But it was clear that Ashley wasn’t better, and pretending otherwise would only make it worse. “Do you want me to go with you?” Kate asked. “Maybe it would help.”
    “I can’t ask you to do that,” Ashley said, but there was a plea in her eyes that told Kate not to give up too easily.
    “I want to do it. I want to help you. It will be fine, you’ll see. We’ll go together and you’ll snap their pictures, and it will be over before you know it. Not nearly as bad as a root canal, I promise.”
    “I’m such an idiot.”
    “No, you’re not.”
    Ashley drew in a deep breath and let it out. “You know, just telling you about it actually makes me feel like I can do it.”
    “You can do it. Remember, the boat isn’t going anywhere.”
    “I know. My fear is ridiculous. Even if the boat got loose, I could swim back.”
    “You could sail back.”
    Ashley gave her a reluctant smile. “Yeah, I could do that, too.” She paused. “What did you say to the reporter?”
    “As little as possible. I don’t trust him, Ash. He’s got a hidden agenda, but I don’t know what it is.”
    “It’s been so long. I didn’t think anyone … What are we going to do?”
    “Check him out at the same time he’s checking us out. I already did a brief search on the Internet. He’s been all over the world, covering major stories.”
    “That doesn’t sound good.”
    “No, it doesn’t. I’d like to find out why he has developed a sudden interest in ocean racing.”
    “If he’s been all over the world, maybe we ran into him before and just don’t remember?”
    Kate thought about the rugged, dark-haired man who had just left her house and knew deep in her soul that if she’d ever met him before, she would have remembered. “If our paths crossed, I don’t think we knew it. But it might be interesting to find out what Mr. Jamison was doing eight years ago.”
    “Do you think you can?”
    “I’m sure going to try.”
----
    “I’d like to look at news articles that appeared eight years ago in reference to the McKenna family’s racing victory,” Tyler told the librarian. Castleton’s library was little more than a two-story Victorian house, but since the McKennas were local, he figured he might get lucky.
    “Oh, well, that’s easy,” the librarian replied. “We photocopied and laminated every article we could find, seeing as how the McKennas are hometown heroes. We were so proud of them, you know. They were amazing.”
    Tyler nodded. “That’s what I understand.” He followed the librarian into the next room.
    “This is where we keep everything on sailing. And this is McKenna shelf,” she added, pointing to several notebooks. “Do you mind if I ask why you’re so interested? It was a long time ago.”
    “I’m writing an article on ocean racing featuring famous crews. A where-are-they-now piece.”
    “Well, they’re all right here,” she said with a gleam in her eye. “And all quite single. Are you single, Mr. …?
    “Jamison. Tyler Jamison. And, yes, I’m single.”
    If the woman asking him had been less than seventy years old, he might have felt awkward, but she was clearly not asking for herself.
    “Really? A handsome man like you, what are the girls thinking’? Why, if I were twenty years younger, I’d go after you myself.”
    “I would count myself lucky.”
    “Oh, you’re a charmer, you are. Well, I’ll leave you to your reading. Let me know if you need anything. My name is Sheryl Martin, and I’ll be here until we close at five.”
    “Thank you.” Tyler pulled out the first notebook and sat down at a nearby table. He’d already read through several articles on the race that he’d found on the Internet, but most of those