Everyone thought she was going to die. She didn't die. They saved her.' She paused. 'I thought it was a miracle. I wanted to be able to be part of that miracle. It didn't take me anytime at all to find out that miracles seldom happened, but I could still help ease the pain. There's so much pain in the world, Grady.'
'And so much joy,' he said. 'There's always a balance.'
She nodded. 'I know. Every time I forget that I go pick up Davy for an outing and he brings it all back. Children know all about joy.'
'Davy's the little boy you were with at the zoo?'
'Yes.' A smile lit her face. 'Scott e-mailed me a new picture of Davy with his report. He has his first bike. It has training wheels, but you should see how proud he looks. It's wonderful.'
'I can see it must be.' His gaze was fastened on her face. 'You're obviously crazy about the kid. I'm surprised you don't go into pediatrics.'
'I have to get stronger. I have to build myself up to it.' She made a face. 'I get enough criticism because I don't have enough objectivity with my patients. A sick child tears me to pieces.'
'Then, dammit, give yourself a break,' he said roughly. 'Why be so hard on yourself?'
'Because the joy is worth the pain.' She sat back in her chair as the waiter put her coffee before her. 'I'm no martyr. You can't imagine how I feel when everything goes right and a patient goes home well and happy.'
'Yes, I can.' He lifted his bourbon. 'You forget that no imagination is required when it comes to knowing how you feel. Sometimes I wish to hell it did.'
She was abruptly jerked back from the intimacy that had been growing between them. 'That's right, I did forget.' She looked quickly at the line at the reception. 'Harley's at the front of the line. Maybe we'd better join him.'
'In a few minutes. Drink your coffee.' His lips twisted. 'I promise I won't bring up any more subjects that make you feel uneasy.'
SIENNA PUT THE NOTE IN front of Molino. 'Falbon managed to track them to Biestrop Airport, outside Chantilly. They have no regularly scheduled flights so they must have arranged a charter.'
'To where?'
'Falbon's still working on it. It may take awhile. Grady's an expert at covering his tracks.'
'Don't tell me that. I need to know now.' He reached in the file drawer in his desk and drew out a thick folder. 'Is this the most up-to-date information we gathered about possible Devanez family members?'
Sienna nodded. 'But we stopped when you decided that Gillem was the one who had the Ledger. And then when we located Megan Blair, we-'
'You shouldn't have stopped. When we located Megan Blair, I had to take care of her, but that didn't mean that I was no longer interested in that damn Ledger.'
Sienna shook his head. 'I had no intention of not continuing. As far as I'm concerned, the Ledger should be the prime target. But there are too many names and they're spread over a dozen countries. It will take time to-'
'Edmund Gillem visited five countries in the six months before we scooped him up. Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Germany, and Italy. He must have given the Ledger to someone in one of those countries. All we need is a clue and Megan Blair may give it to us.' He started to go through the file. 'If Falbon does his job.'
LUSCIOUS FEATHER BEDS AND silver pots of hot chocolate.
Megan smiled as she came out of the bathroom after taking her shower. The tray with the hot chocolate was sitting on the ottoman in front of the couch and the bed had been turned down to reveal the plump feather mattress and comforter.
'Nice.' Grady was leaning against the door jamb. 'I ordered the chocolate and let the maid in. Harley would approve of you sampling on his recommendations.' His gaze ran over her. 'You look cozy.'
Megan tightened the tie on the terry cloth robe. 'Harley slipped up. He didn't mention the complimentary robes.' She moved toward the ottoman and poured a cup of chocolate. 'Would you like one?'
'No, thanks. I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable. I should be receiving the fax from Michael any minute and I'll bring it in to you.'
'Good. I called Dr. Gardner and he said there's nothing really to report yet. Phillip is physically the same. But Gardner has a hunch that there's something going on with him.'
'What?'
She frowned. 'I don't think he knows. I couldn't pin him down. But he says he's developed an instinct with patients like Phillip. He thinks there's something… stirring. He says as soon as he has something concrete, he'll phone me.'
'I believe in hunches.' He straightened. 'I've ordered you soup and a sandwich for later. That's probably all I'll get down you after you start reading the transcript.'
She nodded. 'This chocolate is pretty rich. I won't be hungry.' She wished he would leave. She was too aware of him and was feeling very vulnerable at the moment. The soft rub of the terry against her body as she moved was sensuous and provocative. It was crazy. In this bulky robe she felt more exposed than if she were naked.
Shit, face it. Any touch, any texture would have been arousing right now. She was acting like an animal in heat. She lowered her eyes to the liquid in her cup. 'I don't want to be a bother. Suppose I call room service when I'm ready?'
He smiled sardonically. 'Why do I feel you're dismissing me?' He shook his head as she started to speak. 'It's okay. I'll be a good boy and run along.' He started to turn away and then whirled back to her. 'The devil I will.' He had reached her in three strides. His hands closed on her throat. 'Don't freeze on me.' His dark eyes were glittering recklessly in his taut face. 'I'm not taking much. I just want my hands on you for a minute.' His fingers were moving caressingly up and down the sides of her throat. 'Then I'll let you send me on my way.'
'But I don't want… your hands on me.' It was a lie and he had to know it. The flesh of her throat was tingling and every brush of his fingers felt hot, probing. She moistened her lips. 'At first, I thought you were going to strangle me.'
'I've always thought you have the most beautiful throat on the face of the earth. Long, and soft and your skin is so thin in the hollow that I can see the pulse pounding when you get excited.'
'It's a little bizarre having a fetish about necks,' she said unevenly. 'Are you sure you don't have any relations in Transylvania?'
'Not that I know about. I'm glad you're not struggling very hard,' he said thickly. His face was flushed and she could feel the heat his body was emitting. 'Thank God. I need this. It's not enough but it's something.'
He was now resting his hands on her collarbone encircling her neck and his thumbs rubbing slowly in the hollow. She wanted his hands to go lower, to slip beneath the robe, and touch her.
Her body was readying, her breasts swelling. She instinctively moved closer.
'Damn.' His hands tightened around her throat for an instant and then dropped away from her. He stepped back. 'No. Later.'
She stared at him in shock. 'What?'
'You're reading that damn report tonight. You're not going to accuse me later of trying to distract you and establish a beachhead before everything is clear and out in the open.'
First, bewilderment and then anger surged through her. 'Then why the hell did you touch me, you bastard? Was it a game? Some kind of control move? Who asked you?' She backed away from him. 'Get out of here.'
'Control move? If I was in control, I'd have had you in bed five minutes ago. That's probably what I should have done,' he said through his teeth. 'And you would have loved it. You're probably the most sensual woman I've ever met. I should know. I've been linked to you all your adult years. You couldn't help but enjoy it. I just didn't want you looking back later and thinking I'd-Oh, screw it.'
The door slammed behind him.
She was shaking, Megan realized. She was hot, yet shivering as if she had a fever.
It had to be with anger.
No, she wouldn't lie to herself. She was aching with frustration. Her body was primed, ready… empty.
Damn him.
She curled up in the easy chair and tucked her legs beneath her. Don't shake. Don't think how much she wanted it, how much she wanted him. It would go away soon.
