by Tara Nina
Hours on the Internet neither gave her insight nor eased her suspicions about Dr. Riyad and the practice of hypnosis. She intended to drop in unannounced at his office and hopefully run into another patient. If she saw at least one other patron of the doctor’s, it might ease her doubt a smidgeon. That hope dissipated the moment she parked and ran into them on the street.
A short conversation between her and the doctor brought them to the office. Dr. Riyad wished to discuss her concerns within the privacy of his office. Glancing around, the dark room gave her the creeps instead of the normal soothing sensation. Even when they flipped on the lights, it didn’t subside. The whole situation didn’t feel right, but she couldn’t back out now. The need to know outweighed the wave of uncertainty crashing through her.
She took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and forced her legs to function as she followed him through the reception area into his exam room. Mina stayed in the reception area and closed the door. He beckoned her to sit in the recliner while he settled behind his desk. Instead of relaxing into the cushy comfort, she sat spine straight on the edge and faced him. This had to be the hardest thing she’d ever done, but she refused to back down and not discuss her concerns. Before he could speak, she powered through with her first question.
“Dr. Riyad, have any of your other patients suffered nightmares after starting your sessions?”
“Nightmares,” Dr. Riyad repeated in a tone she knew was meant to calm her, but it didn’t. “Not that I have heard. What sort of nightmares plague you?”
Her mother was a mild-mannered woman who believed it was best to avoid confrontation, accept things for what they were, and not attempt to change them. She wouldn’t approve of Amelia questioning a doctor’s abilities. Amelia closed her eyes for a moment and gathered her resolve. She didn’t want to accept being slightly overweight and not change it. That was why she was here. The hypnosis worked. She’d shed some of the unwanted poundage. But was she justified in her worries over her job, hypnosis, and these nightmares?
“I . . .” She paused as she focused on the privacy screen in the far corner behind Dr. Riyad. Was that a dark-brown eye peeping out at her through the fold of the screen? No, it couldn’t be. She licked her lips and continued. “I see visions of people, but I can’t recognize them. They speak to me.”
“What do they say?”
“I don’t know.” Funny, she thought she saw movement behind the screen. She blinked. Her eyes had to be playing tricks on her.
“Maybe these dreams were triggered by your change in diet. Have you eaten anything different lately? It’s a known fact certain foods can incite unusual dream states.”
She didn’t get the chance to look again. Dr. Riyad’s change in tone snapped her back to him. Was he talking down to her? Making her concerns insignificant by blaming them on food? That wouldn’t do. She might occasionally lean on food for comfort, but these dreams had nothing to do with a change in diet. Amelia swallowed hard, choked back her sudden spike of anger, and plowed forward, determined to understand the nuances of hypnosis and the possible side effects or at least make the doctor sympathize with her symptoms.
“These dreams are like none I’ve ever had in my life. I envision people, but can’t see their faces. Their images are blurry. Their voices mumble undecipherable commands. It’s as if they’re telling me to do something, but I can’t remember what I’m supposed to do.” She paused. Should she continue? Had she imagined the narrowing of his irises? Dr. Riyad shifted in his seat. Was he uncomfortable? And if so, why? Was it because she didn’t accept his explanation or was it something else? Instead of her suspicions abating, they escalated. Amelia couldn’t help but study his posture. If she’d learned anything from her oldest brother Jacob, it was the fact body language spoke volumes. And in this case, Dr. Riyad’s body screamed deception, keeping her on edge and alert.
He cleared his throat, his tone softened. “I’ve upset you. I didn’t mean to. Hypnosis affects each individual differently. Perhaps we’ve awakened a dormant occurrence in your life. A past experience you’ve subconsciously suppressed because it’s too painful to remember. We could investigate this with further sessions.” A broad smile split his lips, showing sparkling white teeth.
The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Something in his gaze struck her as dishonest. The twitch beneath his right eye confirmed it in her mind. A slight movement in the corner made her glance its way, confirming her suspicions that someone hid behind the screen. Why? Was it another client wanting answers just like she? Or . . . was it a burglar? It took great effort not to show fear or surprise as she returned her gaze to Dr. Riyad. Staring at him, she decided not to say a word about the intruder. Nope, she had another plan for that individual.
She spoke as calmly as possible. “Perhaps you’re right, Dr. Riyad.” Gathering her purse, she stood and held out her hand to him.
When he stood and took her hand, the need to leave rippled through her gut. For some reason, she knew she had to help whoever hid behind that screen. If they were desperate enough to break in and hide, then she wanted to know why. What had the doctor done to them? And what had the doctor done to her while under hypnosis? She wasn’t buying that repressed memory bit. But how was she going to get the doctor and Mina out of the office so this person could escape?
“Thank you so much for your time. We can continue this during our regular scheduled session.” Amelia hoped she sounded normal. “I’m sorry to have interrupted you and Mina. You were obviously on your way somewhere when I bumped into you.”
She forced a smile and prayed he bought it. Slow and easy, she released the breath she held when he let go of her hand and stepped around the desk, guiding her toward the door.
“Are you sure you’re okay? I can have Mina postpone the meeting we’re scheduled to attend.” The touch of his hand to the small of her back reinforced her desire to leave and countered his well-meaning speech. Obviously, the good doctor intended to follow her out the door.
“I’m fine. Again, I’m sorry to have bothered you.” Amelia wasn’t surprised when Mina stood and followed them to the front door. “I greatly appreciate your time. See you on Friday.”
“It was no inconvenience, Amelia.” He dug into his inside suit pocket, pulled out a business card, and handed it to her. “Please feel free to contact me at any hour with your concerns. My cell phone number is on the bottom.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” She turned and nodded at the receptionist. “Have a great day, Mina.”
Since they were parked near her car and would probably notice she hadn’t left, she quickly added, “I think I’ll do some shopping while I’m out. It’s such a nice day to have off.”
“Enjoy,” Mina replied with a timid smile.
Amelia stepped out the door. They didn’t immediately follow. A knot tightened in her gut. What should she do? Maybe they waited for her to leave. Nonchalantly, she turned and walked several shops away. She ducked into the dress shop and browsed the racks near the window. It seemed like an eternity passed before the doctor and Mina strolled by. Releasing her breath, Amelia walked from the shop, made sure they were gone and then returned to the office. A quick jiggle confirmed it was locked. On a whim, she hurried to the window outside the session room.
She took a deep breath and hoped this worked. One, two, three, she tapped hard on the glass. Nothing. Glancing around, she made sure no one watched then did it again. One, two, three. At the sight of the edge of the curtain lifting just enough for a brown eye to peek out at her, she froze. Something about that sensual soft-colored eye sent a thrill to her core. It belonged to a male and she knew it.
To be on the safe side, she shot a quick glance from side to side and hoped no one saw him or noticed what she was about to do. She pointed at him then to herself and gave a nod toward the café across the street. Holding her hand where only he could see, she flashed five fingers at him, letting him know she expected him to meet her in five minutes. Time seemed to sta
nd still as she stared at the eye and it stared back at her. Then he did the unexpected which made her heart skip a beat. The curtain opened just far enough to see his face. With a touch of his hand to the brim of his hat and a quick nod, the curtain dropped and he was gone.
* * * *
Why had he let the woman see him? The lilt of her voice touched a soft spot, igniting a curiosity he couldn’t deny. Nolan had to see the woman attached to the alluring tone. One quick peek was all it was supposed to be. He’d lingered from the moment he caught sight of her sitting taut on the edge of the chaise lounger until she spotted him. Every ounce of training screamed at his stupidity, but something in her eyes reassured him he was safe.
Never had anyone located him when undercover. It was a trait the CIA superiors loved about him and wanted to capitalize on if he had remained with them. His ability to blend with his surroundings and not be seen made him valuable. They claimed it was a priority asset for a good spy. If they could see him now, letting a mere civilian spot him, would they still feel the same? Nolan swallowed hard against the sudden lump in his throat. Why? Why had he let her see him?
It was a perplexed situation he couldn’t figure out. At first sight, she’d stolen his breath and he couldn’t help but stare. Long ebony curls made his fingers itch to twine those silken strands between them. Skin the color of fine porcelain, natural red full lips, and a body of a goddess piqued his interest. Those bright green eyes of hers caught and held his stare. Unable to blink for fear of missing one single feature of her beauty, Nolan had frozen and waited for a sign from this mysterious beauty. Would she turn him in or keep his secret?
When she didn’t reveal his presence, he had to meet her. Part of him felt ashamed for listening in on her private doctor-patient conversation. But the agent part of him gathered every ounce of information possible to use against the doctor should he turn out to be a member of a terrorist sect. Riyad called her Amelia. She had to be the Amelia Morris listed on the paper he saw in the desk. Who was she and why was she a client of a hypnotist? The doctor mentioned her eating habits. No, it couldn’t be her weight. From what he could see, there wasn’t a thing wrong with her. She was perfect.
The moment she stood, he got the impression she was trying to help him. Listening closely, he picked up on the fact that the doctor seemed to be on his way out as well. Good. He sighed. His chance to escape had just been handed to him. Seconds ticked by that seemed like hours until the doctor and his assistant left. Like any good agent, he waited until he was certain it was safe to leave unnoticed. He got to the doorway between the session room and the reception area when he was stopped in his tracks.
Tap, tap, tap echoed in the room behind him. Nolan turned and looked toward the window. Uncertain what he should do, he remained still, listening for any disturbance. Another tap, tap, tap rattled his nerves. Though he knew he should ignore it and leave, he couldn’t. Like a moth drawn to the light, he eased to the window and slowly lifted the edge of the curtain just enough to peek out.
The beautiful woman named Amelia stood staring back at him. This shouldn’t be happening, he reprimanded himself. He shouldn’t have blown his cover. If he’d left it as it was, she’d probably come to the conclusion she’d been seeing things. Something deep inside controlled his motions and made him respond. With a nod of his head and a touch of his hat, he agreed to meet with her at the café.
Nolan spotted Amelia seated at a corner table in the front courtyard of the café. He’d sensed her gaze on him the moment he crossed the street and headed in her direction. Curiosity and a hint of nervousness shone in her eyes. Did she realize how dangerous it was to meet a complete stranger like this? Especially one she’d spotted hiding in her doctor’s office. Anger churned in his gut that she’d take such a risk.
What was she thinking?
Chapter Five
Amelia caught sight of the man the moment he turned the corner. She knew it was him. Out of the few gentlemen wearing hats, his was the most distinctive. He walked tall, shoulders straight, chin lifted, and had an air about him that kick-started her heart. The sun at his back helped the hat shadow his features as he headed in her direction, setting her imagination on full throttle. She knew he had sexy brown eyes. But what else? He’d kept his features from view behind the office curtain. With each step he took, her heartbeat increased and her mouth dried in anticipation.
Oh God! What would she say? She hadn’t thought this through, simply acted on impulse. Dropping her hands from the table, she knotted the napkin in her lap as he got closer. Breathe, just breathe. Sit straight, show no fear, and be direct in your questioning. The words she’d overheard between her father and one of her brothers resurfaced in her head. Swallowing hard, she lifted her shoulders, tilted her chin, and met the hidden gaze of the approaching stranger. Though every ounce of her insides shook, she prayed he wouldn’t notice her nervousness.
Dressed in a gray suit, white shirt, and a gray tie, she assumed him to be a business man. A messenger-style bag hung across his body at his right hip. The tan cowboy hat added a defiant sort of flair. It blended and yet it didn’t. A rebel at heart. The thought made her lips itch to smile, but she managed to swallow it. She forced what she hoped appeared as a cool façade. From her seated position, she guesstimated him to be around six feet. Much taller than her five-foot-two. Tall, lean, and—the moment he stood across from her at the table, he removed his hat and it was all she could do not to let her jaw drop—handsome. More than handsome in her book. Something about the boyish freckles made her want to play connect-the-dots with kisses. The way the sunlight graced his hair brought out the wonders of his gorgeous red waves. Never had she even thought that a man would look so delectable with such a phenomenal shade of hair. Yet, he did. She couldn’t help but smile when she met the dark-brown gaze of what she deduced as a perfect male specimen. Now if he had an ounce of intelligence behind those sexy eyes, he’d be a gift from heaven.
No, screamed through her head, squelching her rampant libido to a halt. He’s a stranger she’d caught hiding in Dr. Riyad’s office. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand why she hadn’t turned him in. Or for that matter, why she’d tapped on that window and arranged this meeting. Oh God! She forced her gaze to remain level with his. What sort of trouble had she gotten herself into now? She wasn’t her brothers. She didn’t have their law enforcement training.
“We seem to have met under unusual circumstances. My name is Nolan O’Connell.”
She liked the sound of his voice. Smooth as silk in a mid-baritone range, which made her hunger to have him whisper sweetly in her ear. It was all she could do to refrain from visibly shivering at the thought of his warm breath tickling the tender skin of her ear. His hand hovered in mid-air for several long seconds before she finally accepted it.
A strong masculine hand wrapped around hers with a grip that would make her father and brothers proud. They’d often said one could tell a lot about a man through his grip. Staring straight into his eyes, Amelia sensed a deep inner strength within his core. His touch warmed her skin, sending bolts of heat up her arm, causing goosebumps to cascade down her spine. Never had she reacted this way to anyone’s touch.
But now wasn’t the time for this. She needed to know what this man named Nolan was up to and why. Not sure what to do, she remembered her father saying the best way to learn the truth was to be straightforward and ask. Gathering her resolve, she forced a calm to her voice that she definitely didn’t feel inside.
“I’m Amelia Morris and I’d like to know what you were doing hiding in Dr. Riyad’s office and why?”
To her surprise a smile upturned his lips, adding a sexy charm to his face. She hated to admit the man was hot. Just looking at him spiked her libido into overdrive.
“May I sit?”
She heard him ask the question while she simply stared, wide-eyed at his sensual smile. All she could do was nod. Amelia forced her gaze to the hat he laid in the chair to her left. What was wro
ng with her? She swallowed hard. This had to stop. She had to not think about how hot and sexy this man appeared to be and think only of where she’d first seen him—Dr. Riyad’s office hiding behind the privacy screen.
Then it struck her. Had he heard their conversation? Did he pay attention to her innermost fears about being hypnotized and the ensuing string of strange dreams? He must think her a kook. But he was the one hiding in the office, she reminded herself. That didn’t make him any different than she. Other than he may have been there to rob the place.
Eyeing him up and down, she decided, petty criminals didn’t dress in expensive suits or wear sexy cowboy hats. He hadn’t been there to commit a burglary. It had to be an alternative motive. One she intended to find out. Before he could ask her anything she sat back taut, chin tilted, and gaze leveled on his.
“Mr. O’Connell, I’ll ask again.” She paused, licked her lips, and watched his face for clues. “Why were you hiding in Dr. Riyad’s office?”
Soft skin had met his hand in a firm, confident grip. He liked that. A woman with a decent handshake. Most merely did a brief, weak-wristed touch, but not her. She firmly clasped his hand. Heat filtered from her palm to his, sending a new wave of desire to war with his intellect. Nolan forced their hands to separate as he struggled to maintain a professional attitude and not one of a horny stalker on the prowl.
Nolan read the indecision in her eyes. She wasn’t thinking past the knock on the window. He sensed her nervousness even though she tried desperately to portray a calm, cool, and collected woman. He didn’t buy it. Those gorgeous, vivid green eyes spoke the truth. Meeting strange men wasn’t her normal, especially ones she’d caught being bad. He swallowed the smile that threatened to split his lips. There were things he needed to know about this woman.