Dylan smiled as he hung up. He really needed to spend more time counting his blessings. Trish and Laura would be at the top of the list, sharing first place. His brothers—especially Jeb—ranked a close second. They were the people he’d always known he could count on. Just like the Adamses, they were fiercely loyal, strong-willed and honorable.
And Dr. Kelsey James? The thought popped into his head, startling him. Where had that come from? His libido, no doubt. He’d have to find some way to deal with that when this was all over. For now, though, he definitely needed to table it.
That was easier said than done, he concluded when he walked into her house just after noon and found her on her hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor, her sexy little butt poked in the air, and a pair of shorts exposing way too many inches of her legs. Her sleeveless T-shirt had crawled up her back, leaving her midriff bare. He sucked in a deep breath and tried to tame his wildly errant thoughts.
“It’s a little late in the year for spring-cleaning, isn’t it?” he suggested. He spoke quietly, but startled her just the same. She jumped, knocking over the pail of sudsy water beside her. Her gaze shot up.
“You,” she exclaimed as if he’d been an unwelcome thief. “Look what you made me do.”
“Tell me where to look and I’ll get a mop.”
“Never mind. I’ll clean it up as I go.”
Dylan let it pass. He circled the spreading puddle of water, grabbed a chair and sat down to watch. He could see that the scrubbing and regaining her composure were giving her an equally difficult time.
“Don’t mind me,” she said eventually. “Sitting around waiting was driving me nuts. When I’m upset, I clean. If this drags on much longer, the house will be spotless.”
“Paul hasn’t called today?”
She shook her head, then rocked back on her haunches to meet his gaze. “He’s doing it deliberately,” she said bitterly. “He wants me to suffer.”
“Why? Because you divorced him?”
“Maybe.”
Dylan had a hunch that was only part of the story. “Why did you leave him?”
“It wasn’t working out.”
“Kelsey,” he chided. “I thought you were going to talk to me when I got back. I’m here now. Let’s have the whole story.”
A wave of something that might have been shame washed over her face. “It’s just so ugly,” she began, then stopped when the phone rang. Clearly relieved at the interruption, she grabbed for the portable phone sitting on a nearby chair.
“Yes?”
Dylan couldn’t hear what was said, but something in her expression told him all he needed to know.
“Paul?” he mouthed.
She nodded. “Let me talk to Bobby,” she said, as Dylan slipped into the living room to pick up the extension there.
“Mommy?”
The tentative little voice tugged at Dylan’s heart. Did every little kid sound like that on the phone? Would Shane if he could hear him?
“Hi, baby,” Kelsey said, the upbeat note in her voice clearly forced. “How’re you doing?”
“I wanna come home, Mommy. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too, sweetie. You’ll be home soon. Are you having fun with Daddy?”
“Uh-uh,” Bobby complained. “He won’t let me go outside. He bringed me hamburgers and French fries for lunch and dinner every day. Don’t want hamburgers anymore.”
“I thought you loved hamburgers,” Kelsey said to him, responding to the petulance with a teasing tone. “You always grumble that I never buy you hamburgers.”
“No more,” he said adamantly. “Want pizza and ice cream.”
“Well, maybe Daddy will get that for you tonight. Let me talk to him again, okay?”
Dylan heard the exchange between Bobby and his father, then Paul snapped, “Yes?”
“Bring him back, Paul.”
“Just like that? I don’t think so.”
“When?”
“You’ll be hearing from me,” he said and hung up.
Dylan slowly replaced the receiver, still struck by the tension and anger in Paul’s voice. If he’d ever doubted that this was about something besides a dad wanting to be with his son, he had his proof now. Paul wasn’t making the most of this chance to be with Bobby. They weren’t bonding, making up for lost time. Paul was all but holding his son captive for reasons that weren’t yet clear to Dylan.
No, this was definitely about something between Paul and Kelsey. It was a power play, Dylan concluded.
He walked slowly back into the kitchen and found Kelsey sitting right where he’d left her, holding the phone and staring at it dejectedly.
She glanced up. “You heard?”
“Most of it.” He hunkered down beside her, took the phone and set it back on the chair. “You okay?”
She gazed at him, fire flaring in her eyes, just as he’d hoped it would.
“Of course I’m not okay. My ex-husband has my son and is using him to play some kind of sick game with me. How could I possibly be okay?” she demanded in a voice that shook with fury.
Dylan reached for her just as the sobs started. Like a child seeking the comfort of a parent’s embrace, she came willingly into his arms. Dylan held her and rocked her, feeling the tight knot of blame and resentment that had been inside him from the beginning of this case slowly ease. This was Kelsey, not Kit, and despite the odds against it, she was growing dear to him. So was a little boy he’d never even met. Hearing Bobby’s voice had made him more real than ever.
Dylan knew he was still missing critical pieces of the puzzle, but it didn’t seem to matter so much anymore. Beyond the tension and anger, he hadn’t liked what he’d heard in Paul’s voice. The man was a bully.
Plus, seeing that haunted look in Kelsey’s eyes, hearing her little boy beg to come home were enough to convince him that Bobby belonged here, and the sooner he was back, the better. If there were legal issues to be resolved, they could be sorted out later.
He tipped Kelsey’s chin up, until their gazes clashed. “We will get Bobby back,” he told her firmly. “Soon.”
“I’m so afraid,” she whispered, tears still spilling down her cheeks.
“Don’t be,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She trembled. Lost in the shimmering, expressive depths of her eyes, Dylan shuddered as well. Wanting only to give comfort, he touched his lips to her cheek in another kiss, tasted salty tears, then without thinking he moved on to her mouth.
Her lips parted beneath his, welcomed him, but with a desperation born of circumstances, not passion for him. He doubted she was even aware of who held her, conscious only of the need to be held, the yearning to feel alive instead of dead inside. He knew because in the first weeks after Shane was gone for good, he had tried losing himself in a succession of meaningless encounters. It hadn’t worked for him. It surely wouldn’t for Kelsey.
Finally he pulled back, rested his forehead against hers, and let his breathing slow to normal. And then he carefully withdrew, the act both physical and emotional. He retreated, praying he could hang on to his professional objectivity just a little longer, just until Bobby was safely home again.
Kelsey obviously didn’t understand what was going on. She stared at him in confusion. “Why?”
“Not now, Kelsey. It’s not the time.”
A shudder washed over her, as if she had suddenly become aware of what she’d been about to do. “Oh, God, what was I thinking?”
“You weren’t,” he said dryly. “Neither was I. We were feeling.” He forced her gaze to his. “And that’s okay, Kelsey. In fact, it’s more than okay. I promise you, we’ll get back to it, when the time is right.”
A blush stained her cheeks and she gave him a smile that wobbled. “You think?”
“Oh, yes, darlin’. I can all but guarantee it,” he said fervently. “Now let me get Lizzy or somebody else over here to stay with you, so I can get back on the job.”
“I’ll be fine by myself. I
don’t need somebody hovering.”
“I think you do,” he said, just as firmly.
But in the end, he couldn’t track Lizzy down, so he called Trish. “Can you come over and spend some time with Kelsey?”
“Of course,” she said at once. “I’ll be right there.” She hesitated. “Dylan, what about Laura? Should I bring her or find a sitter?”
He knew exactly what she meant. Having a baby around right now might be more than Kelsey could bear. “A sitter, I think.”
“No,” Kelsey said at once, obviously guessing the topic. “Tell her to bring Laura. Seeing that precious girl will do me a world of good. It’ll remind me of what I’m fighting to get back.”
Dylan regarded her worriedly. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
He nodded. “Trish, bring the munchkin. Kelsey wants her here.”
“Will do. By the way, I spoke to Jeb. He’s on his way. You were right. He was downright eager to get out from under Dad’s thumb.”
Dylan laughed. “At this rate, dear old Dad is going to have to come to Los Pin˜os, if he expects to see his kids again.”
“Does that mean you’re thinking of sticking around?” Trish asked.
Dylan’s gaze sought out Kelsey, who was busying herself putting the sponges and bucket away. “We’ll see, sis. You know me. I take life the same way I build a case, one step at a time.”
“Not that you asked, but nothing would make me happier than to have those steps lead you here.”
“We’ll see,” he said, as Kelsey turned and met his gaze. He hung up the phone, then repeated the words for Kelsey’s benefit. “We’ll see.”
He gave her a wink and headed for the door. “Trish will be here soon. If a rogue who looks a lot like me turns up here, don’t let him in. Send him straight to the sheriff’s office.”
She regarded him quizzically. “Is that because he belongs in jail?”
“A few days in lockup probably wouldn’t hurt him,” he said. “But actually, it’ll be my brother Jeb looking for me. I asked him to come and help out.”
“One more thing to thank you for,” she murmured. “How will I ever repay you?”
“Oh, I’m sure, when the time comes, we’ll think of something. Meantime, keep that chin up.”
Kelsey couldn’t believe how much Dylan had become a part of her life. He was rapidly becoming her linchpin, her tower of strength. Despite those early misgivings, she was sure that he was fully and completely on her side now.
Under other circumstances, she might have joked with Lizzy about what a hunk he was, but now she hated herself for even noticing. And, of course, there had been that kiss. She wasn’t entirely sure how it had started, but, holy kamoley, there was no mistaking how it could have ended. How she had wanted it to end.
What on earth was wrong with her? How could she be attracted to Dylan—to anyone—when her boy was missing? How could she have considered, even for a second, just giving in to passion and letting it wipe out the pain, even temporarily?
Normally he wasn’t the sort of man who’d even notice her, but she could tell that he did. But just when she thought she detected a male-female sort of heat in his gaze, he withdrew to that distant place where she couldn’t reach him. He’d done it after that kiss, despite his reassurances that they’d get back to it another time.
Her skin was still burning, just as it had to his touch, when Trish knocked at the back door. “Okay to come in?”
“Absolutely,” Kelsey told her, relieved to have the distraction. She caught sight of Laura clinging to her mother’s hand and knelt down. “Hey, you. How about a cookie?”
Laura’s eyes brightened. “Cookie?” she said at once, her head bobbing eagerly. Then she cast a cautious glance at her mother. “’Kay, Mama?”
“Yes, it’s okay. But just one,” Trish said. “Then you have to lie down on the sofa and take a nap.”
“Nap,” Laura echoed dutifully, already reaching for the oatmeal-raisin cookie Kelsey was holding out.
“Want to bet she forgets all about that nap when the time comes?” Trish said. She touched Kelsey’s cheek. “How are you holding up?”
“By a thread,” Kelsey said honestly. “Your brother has been amazing. He’s been working on this nonstop.”
Trish seemed about to say something, then caught herself.
“What?” Kelsey prodded.
“Nothing.”
“I thought we knew each other well enough to speak our minds,” Kelsey scolded. “You don’t have to censor yourself with me.”
Trish still seemed hesitant. “I just don’t think I should get into this. Dylan wouldn’t want me saying anything.”
“About?” Kelsey asked, then waited.
“It’s just that this has been incredibly hard on him,” Trish said finally.
Puzzled, Kelsey stared. “Why? I’m sure he’s a caring man who’d be upset to see anyone suffering, but you make it sound as if something more is going on.”
Trish hesitated.
“You’re making me nervous, Trish. What don’t I know?”
“Did you know he has a little boy of his own?”
Kelsey was stunned. Dylan had never mentioned him. “No. He hasn’t said a word.”
“He doesn’t talk much about Shane.”
He certainly hadn’t said anything to her, she thought, hurt by the omission. How could he not share something so personal with her, especially in the past day or two when they’d been getting closer?
“Why?” she asked Trish.
“Because he gave up custody. Shane is with Dylan’s ex and her new husband. He pretty much tries to pretend his son doesn’t exist, but it tears him up inside that Kit has the boy and he never sees him.”
In that instant Kelsey realized why Dylan had kept his distance, why disdain had once crept in just when she thought they were getting closer.
“I see,” she said, fighting the feeling that she’d been had, that he had betrayed her. It wasn’t an entirely rational reaction, given how hard he’d been working for her and the secret she had deliberately kept from him, but that didn’t seem to matter. She had to wonder just how hard he really had been working. Had he only been going through the motions, because it was expected of him by people who did matter to him?
Trish studied her worriedly. “I’ve made it worse, haven’t I? I knew I should keep my mouth shut. Now you don’t trust him. This is exactly what Dylan was worried about.”
“I do have to wonder whose side he’s really on.”
“Yours,” Trish said adamantly. “He would never let his personal feelings interfere in a case.”
“I should have known about this, just the same.”
“I agree,” Trish said. “I told him to tell you.”
“Then why didn’t he?”
“He said he needed you to trust him, if he was going to help you.”
“He was right about that,” Kelsey said coolly. “I need to trust him.”
Trish squeezed her hand. “You can, you know.”
Kelsey shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Numb, she fell silent. A short time later, she made an excuse that she had a raging headache and sent Trish away. Then she called Dylan at the sheriff’s office.
“I want to see you,” she said, when he came on the line.
“Can it wait?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Has Paul called again?”
“No. Just come, Dylan. Now.”
Something in her voice must have alerted him that she was in no mood for excuses, because he said quietly, “I’ll be right there.”
When he came in, she studied his face, trying to read the truth. What were his real motivations in taking this case? Had he already betrayed her? Had he deliberately let Paul slip away? Was he eager to see another dad succeed where he had failed?
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She put it bluntly. “Are you really on my side or Paul’s?”
/> He looked wounded by the question. “Where did that come from?”
“Trish told me about your little boy.”
He went absolutely still, then stood up and began to pace.
“Well, was she lying?”
“No, of course not, but she had no right to tell you about that.”
Kelsey steeled herself against the pain in his eyes. “I’m glad she did. It was about time somebody filled me in. I had a right to know that you might have divided loyalties. Now answer me. Whose side are you on?”
He hesitated for no more than an instant, but it was long enough to infuriate her, long enough to condemn him in her eyes.
“You’re fired,” she told him. “I don’t want you working on this anymore.”
“Kelsey—”
She cut off the protest. “No. You’ve probably helped him get away.”
“Why would I do that?” he asked reasonably. “I’m working for you. My professional reputation wouldn’t be worth spit if I let my own feelings interfere in a case I’d accepted. Believe me, if I felt that strongly about your situation, I would never have taken the case in the first place.”
“You were under a lot of pressure to take it,” she pointed out. “Lizzy asked. Trish lives here in town. You probably felt you owed it to them.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “Okay, yes. I did feel I owed them, but there was never a time when I couldn’t have called in another investigator if I’d thought it would be for the best.”
“But isn’t that just the point?” she demanded. “Best for whom? Me or Paul?” Even as she said it, she knew she was beyond reason. She’d been wanting somebody to blame for days now and Dylan was right here. He was an easier target than Paul.
“Okay, I’ll ask you again,” he said with exaggerated patience. “Why would I do that?”
His mild tone which suggested he was merely tolerating her outburst incensed her. She lashed out again. “Because your ex-wife has sole custody of your son and you haven’t forgiven her for it. You’re getting even with her through me.”
“She has sole custody because I made the decision that it was for the best.”
“So you say.”
Dylan flinched under the bitter assault, but he didn’t argue with her. He let it drop, accepting her judgment, obviously because she’d hit on the truth. He was on Paul’s side. And for that, Kelsey was certain she would never be able to forgive him.
Dylan and the Baby Doctor Page 9
