His father responded without a trace of regret or concern. “I’m a busy-”

“He’s always been too busy for me,” Tyler said to Holly. “Even after my mother killed herself, he didn’t have a second to spare for his only child. I was shuttled off to military school.”

“That’s not fair. I-”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ve learned to live with it. I just wanted Holly to understand our family. Not asking her to spend time with you isn’t a reflection on her. It’s about us.” Tyler was on the verge of shouting now, but he couldn’t help himself. Years of pent-up anger exploded out of him. He felt Holly’s restraining hand on his arm and lowered his voice. “Holly can’t expect to get to know you when I don’t.”

In the bruising silence that followed Tyler stared at his father. Until this morning, when he’d confronted Holly, half expecting her to tell him that she wanted to end their relationship, Tyler had believed money was keeping them apart. She’d made him realize his mistake.

The old saying about money not buying you love was true. Holly cared about him and had since they began dating-when he’d had nothing but prospects. His father could take his money and rot in hell for all he cared. The company he had started with Adam was off to an awesome start. He wanted to look back and know he’d built it on his own. He wanted Holly to understand that he was a man she could be proud of.

“I don’t need you,” Tyler told his father as he slipped his arm around Holly and pulled her against his side. “But I need Holly. If she’ll have me-” he turned his attention to Holly “-I want to marry her.”

“Oh my gosh!” cried Holly. “You want to get married?”

“Of course.” What did she think their discussion this morning had been about? True, he’d asked her where she’d been, and she said she’d gone to Newport Beach to visit her parents. But he’d asked what was wrong and she’d told him that she didn’t think he was serious about her because he’d never allowed her to get to know his family.

“You never mentioned marriage,” Holly said softly.

“Hey! That’s great.” Adam slapped him on the back. “Holly’s a great gal. The best, and you’re the best friend a guy could have. You deserve to be happy.” He smiled at Holly. “Both of you.”

“Maybe we ought to go somewhere and talk about this,” Holly suggested in a high-pitched, excited voice.

“You’re right. Let’s get outta here.” Tyler couldn’t keep the excitement out of his own voice. As angry as he’d been a few minutes ago, now he was happier than he could ever remember being.

ADAM WATCHED THEM LEAVE, his mind on Whitney. He was thrilled for his friend and knew things would work out. What he needed to do was tell Whitney he loved her. Admit he’d made a huge mistake by not trusting her with more information about his uncle and an even worse mistake by not telling her the truth about Lexi. Then he’d tell her how much he loved her. True, they hadn’t known each other long, but he was positive about his feelings.

“Where were we?” Quinten Foley asked, as if nothing important had happened.

Foley was a tough man focused on his career. A lot like his uncle, Adam guessed. Too late, Calvin Hunter had found someone to love and had realized he wanted a life.

“You know, I had a close relationship with my father. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss him.”

Foley nodded, but Adam had the feeling the man was just humoring him. He wouldn’t have bothered except he could see how upset Tyler was by his father’s attitude. Even with Holly’s love there would be a void in Tyler’s life unless his father had an attitude adjustment.

“My uncle found someone to love but he died before he could enjoy life with her. My own father died at an early age.” Adam watched Foley’s eyes narrow slightly. The man was listening, but it was impossible to tell if Adam’s words were having any impact. “I was almost killed in Iraq. Both guys beside me died, but by some miracle I lived. I know what’s important in life-and it isn’t money.”

“I have a job, duty-”

“Is that all you’re living for?”

“Of course not,” Foley assured him.

“You made a lot of money off the arms sales. Money must mean-”

“I was working undercover for the government the whole time. I never made a dime beyond my salary.”

Shock thrummed through Adam’s brain. From what Miranda had said, Adam had gathered Foley was a government agent and one trusted by his uncle. But Adam believed Quinten Foley had made a ton of money dealing arms on the side. It was difficult to believe the man hadn’t profited from selling contraband weapons.

“I did it all for my country,” Foley said.

Kicking himself for assuming the worst, Adam asked, “What about Tyler?”

Foley’s world-weary eyes were tempered by a face that revealed no emotion nor gave any hint of his inner thoughts. The older man seemed to consider the question for a long moment as if he had to come to grips with it. “I care about my son, sure. I loved his mother-” Foley turned away and walked to the window overlooking the swimming pool. In a very soft voice that bordered on a whisper, he added, “I didn’t just love Claire. I worshipped her. When she killed herself, I couldn’t bear to look at Tyler.” He turned back to Adam. “He has her eyes, you know, her animated smile.”

Adam felt a pang of sympathy. “My dad loved my mother. I look a lot like her, but he didn’t give up on me.” This was stretching the truth a bit. He did have his mother’s hair but he looked more like his father. He was willing to fudge a little, if it could help his friend. “I am what I am-because he loved me.”

“I never understood why Claire killed herself. She seemed a little depressed because we moved so often. I-”

“That was years ago. What about Tyler? Would your wife want you to treat him like this?”

“She loved Tyler. Her suicide note said, ‘Love him for me.’ I just couldn’t-still can’t-be around him without thinking of her.”

“Get over it. Life goes on. I’m betting Tyler and Holly get married soon and have children. Don’t you want to be part of their lives?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure I know how to act. I guess I could try. Invite them to dinner or something.”

“That’s a start.” Adam reached over and picked up the telephone. He dialed Tyler’s cell number, then handed Quinten Foley the receiver.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

WHITNEY CLIMBED THE stairs to the white silk bedroom overlooking the ocean. The sun had dropped into the sea, leaving behind a faint glow of tangerine light that would quickly be consumed by darkness. She was dead tired but she didn’t want to go to sleep until she’d spoken to Adam. As soon as she left the vet’s, she’d tried to call him, but his cell phone’s voice mail immediately picked up.

She’d swung by Calvin Hunter’s home, thinking Adam might have shut off his phone and gone to bed early. He had to be even more tired than she was. He’d worked while she’d napped on Miranda’s sofa.

Adam hadn’t been there. She left him notes in several places so he couldn’t miss the message. She’d been afraid to put in writing what she found. The notes said to call her-it was an emergency.

Whitney could have left Jasper there for Adam, but she told him in each note that she had the dog. She doubted anyone else knew the Chinese crested was carrying such valuable information, but she wasn’t taking any chances. Jasper was safer with her.

Earlier she’d deposited two soft-sided suitcases containing her clothes just outside the double walk-in closets in the master bedroom. Jasper and Lexi followed her when she inspected the closets and found one was empty. She placed her suitcases on the floor inside the empty closet, but didn’t have the energy to unpack what little she had.

Whitney thought a dip in the pool might refresh her and keep her awake until Adam called. She put on the swimsuit she’d hurriedly bought to go to Cancún and had never worn. She smiled inwardly, remembering the man from Adam’s security company. Adam had insisted the man should go along to guard her. He’d been more than a little embarrassed to be hanging around Skinny Dip while she tried on suits.