Britt wasted no time in crossing the room and throwing her arms around him. He forced himself not to shrink away from the personal contact…or worse, throw Britt to the ground.
“How are you, Britt?”
“So much better now that I’ve seen you. I’m so happy you made it out alive.”
“You and me both.” He patted her shoulder awkwardly. “Devon and I have to run, but it was great seeing you. I hope we have time to catch up soon.”
She wiped a tear from her cheek and nodded. “So thrilled to have you back, Kieran. I’m working at the library now. Stop by any time.”
They stepped into the sunshine and Kieran blinked as Devon nudged him in the side with her elbow. “Britt was your girlfriend in high school and the head cheerleader.”
“Maybe I should’ve acted more excited to see her.”
“I think you’re doing okay. People can’t expect you to want a ticker-tape parade or anything.”
“God, I hope not.”
They strolled back to Dr. Estrada’s office, and the sun warmed Kieran’s shoulders. He took a deep breath of the tangy air. He’d missed that smell. It was in his blood…just like the woman next to him.
Before they hit the staircase, Devon jiggled the handle to the bathroom on the ground floor. “It’s locked. I wonder if Elena has a key.”
Kieran ushered her up the stairs ahead of him and watched the sway of her hips as she took each step. Every small movement of her body seemed to call out to him.
Devon slipped into the doctor’s outer office and stood by the inner office door, her fingers threaded in front of her. Kieran wanted to ease her tension in some way, to comfort her, but he couldn’t take his rightful place as Michael’s father…not yet. He slumped in a chair and leafed through a magazine.
The door swung open, and Devon jumped back. “All done?”
Dr. Estrada smiled and patted Michael’s back. “We got to know each other a little better.”
“Do you want lunch, Michael?” Devon’s smile was wide enough to split her face.
Michael nodded and cast a half smile at Dr. Estrada.
“Oh, Elena, do you have a key to the bathroom downstairs?”
“Yes, all the tenants do.” She reached into a basket on one of the tables and pulled out a big, wooden keychain. “Just bring it back.”
“Michael, do you need to use the bathroom, too?” Devon held up the key.
“Uh-huh.” Michael skipped to the front door.
Was Devon trying to leave him alone with Dr. Estrada? The woman didn’t surrender easily.
“We’ll be right back. Maybe you and Elena can get better acquainted.”
The door whispered shut behind her and Kieran stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “You know I’m Michael’s father?”
“Even before you returned, Devon had told me the identity of Michael’s father. Not the best timing, is it?”
“It would be difficult to break the news to a well- adjusted kid. Michael’s trauma makes it harder.”
“It might help Michael to gain a father right now, but let’s talk about you for a minute.”
“What did Devon tell you?”
“The basics-prisoner of war, physical torture, memory loss. Does that about sum it up?”
“In a nutshell.”
“But there’s more, isn’t there? More you’d rather not tell Devon.”
He shrugged off the question. More Devon didn’t need to know, which meant getting out of her life. “I’d like to reclaim more of my memories before contacting my family. Being here in Coral Cove has helped.”
“Have you ever been hypnotized before?”
“Not completely successfully. I was a Green Beret. We were trained to resist such tactics.”
“But if you don’t resist?” She spread her hands. “Who knows? Maybe if you go willingly, we can dig out more of your memories.”
“I’ll think about it. When is Michael’s next appointment?”
“In two days.” She pulled a card out of the pocket of her skirt, cupped it in her hand and wrote on the back. “I’ll give Devon a call later, and tell her, and you, about Michael’s progress today. I have another patient coming in, so Devon can drop the bathroom key in the basket.”
“Okay, I appreciate…”
A crash from outside made them both jump.
“What was that?” Elena ran to the window and shoved aside the blinds. “Is that smoke?”
A chill raced up Kieran’s spine. “Where?”
“It looks like it’s coming from this building…the first floor.”
Kieran charged out of the office and took the steps two at a time on his way down. He turned the corner and staggered backward, away from the black smoke billowing out of the small window of the bathroom.
The bathroom containing Devon and Michael.
Chapter Six
The bathroom exploded. Bits of tile and plaster rained on Devon’s head as she hunched over Michael to protect him from the fallout. The smell of gasoline flooded her nostrils and her eyes burned.
Whimpering, Michael reached for the lock on the door. She knocked his hand away and then clutched it in remorse. “Wait.”
She placed her hand against the metal door of the stall. It warmed her palm. The fire must be on the other side, leaping in anticipation.
The bathroom contained two stalls, and she and Michael were in the one farthest from the door. She dropped to her hands and knees and peeked beneath the stall. Flames licked up the walls of the bathroom, blackening the mirror.
“This way.” She crawled into the next stall, dragging Michael with her.
Someone banged on the bathroom door. “Devon! Devon!”
Gasping, she dragged herself to her feet and pressed her body against the stall door. The fire was raging outside of this stall, too. How could they get to Kieran? How could he get to them through the locked door?
“We’re here, Kieran! I can’t get to the door.”
Gunshots rang out, and she screamed. Her throat felt raw.
Another gunshot. A thump. A whoosh of air as the door burst open.
Kieran’s voice cut through her fear. “Is Michael okay?”
“He’s with me.”
“Good. Pick him up. Push open the stall door as hard as you can and keep moving forward. I’m here. I can get you out.”
She grabbed Michael and hoisted him in her arms. He clung to her neck, eyes wide. She backed up to the toilet and coiled her muscles. She kicked out one foot and the stall door slammed outward.
Kieran appeared amid the smoke, holding his shirt or sweatshirt out to her. “Duck in here. Hurry. Don’t look around.”
She hunched forward, clutching Michael to her chest and burrowing into the clothing Kieran held out to them. He wrapped the material around their heads and yanked them outside.
When the sweatshirt came off her head, Devon gulped in lungfuls of air. Kieran scooped Michael from her arms and with his hand at the small of her back, propelled her forward. “Keep moving.”
She stumbled alongside Kieran out to the street as sirens pierced the air. He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward a grassy strip bordering the sidewalk.
When they were clear of the building and the smoke, Devon spun around to face the scene. Two fire engines had pulled up alongside the stucco office building. Firefighters hauled equipment and hoses from the trucks as the bathroom continued to belch black smoke.
