“Okay, so ten o’clock tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, and Kieran?”
“Yeah?” Devon could almost feel Kieran’s hard muscles coil and prepare for battle.
“I’ve reserved the time immediately following Michael’s appointment for you. Interested?”
“Sure.”
“Good. You two have a safe evening. I actually have a date tonight.”
“Have a good time, and thanks, Elena.” Devon ended the call and slid the phone into the front pocket of her shorts.
Kieran took one step down and crossed his arms. “Why did I think Dr. Estrada was married, or is the date with her husband?”
“Elena’s husband passed away three years ago-heart attack out of the blue.”
“A lot of stuff can happen-out of the blue.”
The screen door banged behind them and Devon jumped.
“Mommy?”
Michael stood on the porch rubbing his eyes.
She tousled his hair. “Did you have a good nap?”
“Uh-huh.”
At least no nightmares had interrupted his sleep. “How about a bath and then some dinner?”
Michael gazed up at the eaves, his eyes wide, and Devon’s heart rate accelerated. Was there something up there that scared him? Would danger continue to lurk in every nook and cranny of Michael’s existence?
Kieran crouched beside Michael. “It’s too light right now. The sensor lights will start working when it’s dark.”
Michael grinned and Devon’s pounding heart did a double backflip. Lord, had she ever missed that grin. Truth was she loved it because it was a carbon copy of Kieran’s. Maybe she’d get a double reward and see the grin echoed on Kieran’s face.
Nope-just that little twist of the lips. Maybe his son could teach Kieran how to smile again.
“Has Michael ever been to Neptune’s Catch?”
“You remember that restaurant?”
Kieran shrugged. “Of course I do. Friends of the family own that place, and they have the best calamari around.”
“Camilari?”
“Exactly.” Kieran poked Michael in the back. “Little deep-fried squid. Have you ever eaten a squid before, Michael?”
His dark eyes took up half his face as he shook his head.
Kieran tsked and shook a finger at Devon. “You haven’t taken Michael to Fisherman’s Wharf to eat squid?”
“I’m not a complete failure. He’s had crab and clam chowder in a bread bowl.”
Michael’s gaze darted between her and Kieran, a half smile on his face, not sure whether to be anxious about their bantering or happy.
Devon tugged on his ear. “Kieran and I are just joking around. Do you want to try some calamari?”
“Yeah, camilari.”
“You got it. Camilari all around.”
It was almost seven o’clock before they left the Roarkes’ house and hit the coast highway. Having a 24-7 bodyguard and a single car slowed down daily operations. Bath and shower at her place, followed by shower at his place.
But she wasn’t complaining, even though they could save time and water by showering together.
As she drove toward the more touristy area of Coral Cove, the lights on the shore, dotted with restaurants and bed and breakfasts, twinkled. They’d missed the sunset, so maybe they’d be able to nab a window seat if the crowds had dispersed after the sun went down.
She didn’t have to worry. The owners of the restaurant treated Kieran like a conquering hero, and placed them at the best window seat with an unobstructed view of the Pacific.
When the calamari arrived, Michael poked at it suspiciously, especially the ones with the little tentacles. But when Kieran dipped one of the critters into a spicy, red sauce and popped it into his mouth, Michael followed suit.
“Do you like it?” Kieran’s hand hovered over the plate, ready to nab another one.
With his mouth full, Michael nodded his head.
Devon sighed as she sipped her one and only glass of wine for the evening. This felt right. Then she gulped some ice water.
Kieran had promised to be a part of Michael’s life and she believed him, but he hadn’t included her in his little vision of the future…yet. Could she change his mind? Seduce him?
She’d never use Michael to hook him, but she wasn’t above employing a little va-va-voom. Did she even have any of that left? Guess she’d better find out. With the sensor lights manning the exterior of the house, Kieran would be free to man the interior.
And then she’d be free to man him.
Kieran tapped her wine glass. “Slow down. You’re driving.”
“Huh?” She blinked her eyes. “I do not get tipsy on one glass of wine, especially after eating a boatload of calamari and a bowl of cioppino.”
His eye narrowed. “You had a silly grin on your face.”
“Did I?” She kicked off her sandal and wiggled her toes against his ankle. “Just happy to be here.”
He’d just taken a sip of water and now he was choking and spewing it into his napkin.
She chewed her bottom lip. Maybe she had the va-va but was missing the voom.
“Devon, Kieran. What a surprise to see you here.”
Devon jerked her head to the side and met Elena’s shining, dark eyes. “Oh, h-hello.”
She stammered to a stop, not sure of the protocol. Elena was her friend, but she was also Michael’s therapist and typically Elena didn’t socialize with her clients or at least she didn’t acknowledge them in public.
A man about Elena’s age had her hand tucked into the crook of his arm.
Elena smiled. “Sam, this is Devon and Kieran, and their son, Michael. This is Sam.”
They shook hands, and Michael slouched in his chair. Elena tapped his shoulder. “Hello, Michael.”
“Hi.”
Elena beamed at him as if he’d just recited the Gettysburg Address, but a verbal greeting was better than his customary nods. Had to celebrate every little bit of progress.
They chatted about the food and the view before Elena and her date moved on to their table.
“So that’s Dr. Estrada’s date.” Kieran dumped the rest of his beer from the bottle into his glass.
“Seems like a nice enough guy.”
“Must be hard to move on after losing a spouse.”
“Or a fiance.”
His gaze sharpened on her face, but he chose to ignore the comment. Instead, he asked Michael if he wanted dessert.
They all shared a hot fudge brownie sundae, with
Michael doing most of the damage, and then headed for home…for Devon’s mother’s house just to make things more complicated.
When they got out of the car, Michael insisted on checking out all the sensor lights. He ran across the front yard, crept around the side of the house and even slipped through the side gate to the backyard. Everywhere he ran, bright lights followed him.
“Okay, Michael, I think they all work.”
He scampered inside the house, and Devon got him ready for bed. When he was all tucked in, she leaned over and whispered in his ear. “Do you want Kieran to come and say good-night?”
Michael’s dark eyes lit up, and Devon poked her head out of his room. “Kieran, would you like to say good-night to Michael?”
He appeared in the hallway as if he’d been waiting. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
