“I beg to differ. It had an effect. It’s still having an effect.” They stared at each other, and both mumbled some profanity at the same time. “I have a lot of reasons not to fall for you,” she said.
“Ditto—”
“My father,” Delaney continued. “The fact that he would see a relationship between us as a threat and would make our lives hell—”
“The fact that I’m not sure I can even let myself fall for you. The best I can offer is something temporary and physical, and the truth is, I don’t even know if I can deliver in the physical area.”
She furrowed her brow to show her skepticism.
“Okay, so I can deliver in that area,” he amended. Probably because he remembered his physical reaction to her when they’d kissed.
Delaney certainly remembered it.
The heat rolled through her. Even now, when there should be no heat. Only focus. Because they had a lot more important things to do than lust after each other.
“So what do we do?” she asked, trying to force that heat to cool. “How do we stop this?”
“Truth? I doubt we can stop it. I’d suggest we just go with it. Fall into bed and act out those fantasies. That way, we can get sweaty and hot and maybe try to burn out some of this fire.”
“But?”
He shook his head. “But I keep thinking what happens afterward. Will you think I slept with you for some other reason other than to satisfy this need gnawing away at us? Will you hate me? Because, you see, Delaney, I can’t have you going back to hating me.”
Okay. That didn’t sound, well, sexual. It sounded like more. Much more.
Didn’t it?
And if so, how much more?
The possibilities both terrified her and tugged at her heartstrings. She seriously doubted she could go back to the way things were. Not after everything they’d been through. But heaven knew she needed some kind of protection, some way to guard her heart.
As did he.
Ryan had made it clear that he might never be free to love again, because of the risk. And she was a risk. The ultimate one since Delaney wasn’t sure she could ever share Patrick with him.
And that was her reason for not responding, for not assuring him that she wouldn’t hate him. It was a flimsy barrier, but a barrier all the same.
She checked her watch and started walking toward the receptionist area. “It’s time for our appointment.”
Ryan stopped her. He combed his gaze over her as if looking for answers.
Answers she couldn’t give him.
“Let’s talk to Montgomery,” she insisted. “And then when we know what we’re up against—”
“I’ll still want you, Delaney.”
She stared at him. “Yes, but why?”
Ryan didn’t seem at all surprised by what would have been a vague question for anyone else. “You’re thinking that I have the hots for you because of Patrick?”
Delaney nodded.
“Trust me, that’s not why.”
With that, he jerked open the door that separated them from the perky-looking blond receptionist.
“Ms. Nash,” the woman greeted, obviously recognizing her.
Delaney probably should have recognized her too, but Ryan’s comment had pretty much shot her focus. What was she going to do about this man by her side? A man who had her common sense and emotions turned upside down. Worse, she was beginning to think the condition wasn’t temporary.
Or reversible.
“Ms. Nash?” the receptionist repeated.
Delaney glanced at the woman and realized she was standing stock-still at a time when inertia wasn’t a good thing. She needed to move. To get this interview started with Montgomery. She didn’t need other things, like her feelings about Ryan, to get in the way.
And that was true on so many levels.
“We’re ready to see the doctor,” Delaney insisted. She didn’t dare look at Ryan.
“Come this way. He’s expecting you.”
The receptionist led them down a corridor. Since it wasn’t a huge building, there were only four other offices off the hall, and the doctor’s was at the end. He stood there, in the doorway, apparently waiting for them. Seeing him immediately focused her attention back on the reason for this visit.
Montgomery was tall, imposing, and looked more like an underwear model than a physician. His bulky arm and chest muscles strained the fabric of his white silk shirt. He was in his mid-thirties with sun-streaked brown hair and bronze-colored skin that probably hadn’t come from a tanning bed but rather frequent trips to some tropical island.
Delaney had seen the man only a couple of times, during the months when she’d been Keyes’s patient, but Dr. Montgomery shook her hand and greeted her as if they were old friends. A stark contrast to Keyes and his clandestine approach to avoiding the police. And her.
“Sit, please,” the doctor offered, motioning toward two leather chairs across from his desk. “I have to admit I’m nervous about this visit—what with the recent accusations from the watchdog group.”
“I can imagine. Are the accusations true?” Delaney asked, figuring the direct approach would save them time. She sat in one of the chairs; Ryan took the other.
“We provide fertility assistance to people who want children. We’re not in the business of experimental research.”
Despite the roundabout denial, Ryan zeroed right in on that. “So you won’t mind providing us with the names of the couple who supplied the donor embryo for Delaney’s son.”
The doctor’s amicable expression slipped a notch. “I can’t do that. I’m sure you understand that I’m bound by confidentiality.”
That was exactly what Delaney figured he’d say. It wouldn’t stop her, though, from pressing. “But you’re positive you used legitimate donors, and that Dr. Spears or someone else didn’t get the embryo by some other means?”
“Positive, as far as my own actions are concerned.” The doctor sighed, leaned back in his chair and tented his fingers. “Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that we didn’t have a loose cannon in our midst.”
“You mean the late Dr. Spears?” Ryan questioned. Thankfully. Because it was something that definitely needed to be asked.
“Perhaps. Or maybe even Dr. Keyes. Keyes and a former employee who worked as a lab technician claim to have seen Spears’s records, but I’ve found nothing to indicate that Spears was involved in anything questionable.”
That was a start, but Delaney knew it was a tenuous one. After all, the assurance was coming from a man who’d perhaps tried to kill them.
“Maybe you’ve overlooked something,” Ryan continued. “For instance, Spears’s computer?”
Montgomery remained calm. “What about his computer?” he asked.
“It’s missing. Or rather I should say both his home computer and the one he used here at work are nowhere to be found. For that matter, neither is Keyes or your former employee. In other words, both men who allegedly saw these illusive records have mysteriously disappeared.”
Okay. That shot to pieces the tenuous assurance. While there might not be direct evidence to link Spears to the cloning, there appeared to be evidence of some suspicious activity, including a cover-up.
And if so, that would mean there was indeed something to cover up.
“Yes, the missing computers,” Montgomery commented. “I don’t know anything about Spears’s personal computer, of course, but I’m looking into the one that was taken from here. I think maybe someone on the janitorial staff stole it. You just can’t get good help these days. And as for the two men, Keyes just isn’t very reliable. Neither is the lab tech. That’s why he was fired.” He calmly sipped some bottled water and recapped it. “But how is it that you have information about the computers?”
Ryan met the man’s gaze. “My security manager looked into the matter.”
She had to hand it to the doctor. He had little or no reaction to Ryan’s statement. Which could mean he was totally in
nocent and all of this was just conversation about a late colleague. Or maybe Montgomery was simply very good at being deceptive.
“I also learned your clinic was located in the hospital where my son died,” Ryan continued. “I know from phone records that Keyes, Spears and you were all working that afternoon. That would have given you or anyone else on your staff the opportunity to take DNA needed for experiments.”
Montgomery took another long sip of water. “There’d be no reason for me to do such a thing. I have access to an ample supply of suitable embryos by equally suitable, willing donors.”
Delaney moved to the edge of her seat. “But what if it’s not about suitable supplies or willing donors? What if this is about something else?”
The doctor leaned closer, as well. He was near enough that Delaney could see the sweat forming on his upper lip. “So we’re back to Keyes and his suspicious behavior. Then perhaps that’s the direction your security manager and the police should be looking. I mean, he hasn’t been at work in days, not since SAPD was here asking questions. If you ask me, those aren’t the actions of an innocent man.”
It was Ryan who finished her argument. “But as you pointed out, the clinic has enough embryos, so why would Dr. Keyes try to clone a child?”
“Hmm. Maybe he did it because he thought this would be the way to make medical history. A way to become famous.”
“Don’t you mean infamous?” Delaney challenged. “Human cloning is illegal.”
“Yes, now it is. But laws change. Attitudes change. Maybe Dr. Keyes wanted to have the procedures and techniques perfected so that when it’s legal, he would be a pioneer in the field.”
A pioneer. Too bad her son might have been used to gain success for someone.
“I can think of another theory,” Ryan calmly interjected. “As a businessman, I can see the financial benefits of such a project. Black-market cloning for people who perhaps want to replicate themselves for reasons of vanity. Or for those needing transplants. There are many who’d no doubt be willing to pay a fortune to have a second chance at life.”
Oh, God. Suddenly she felt sick. Delaney had to press her fingers to her mouth. She fought to stay calm because now was not the time to lose her composure.
Montgomery nodded. “As in your situation, Mr. McCall. With the son that you lost. Um. Yes. I see your point. This could have been a highly profitable endeavor for Dr. Keyes.”
“Or for you,” Delaney pointed out.
The glare that Montgomery aimed at her contained none of the friendliness that the man had shown when they’d first arrived. “It’s that sort of comment that makes the authorities open investigations.”
Ryan started to speak, but Delaney gripped his arm, an indication that this was a battle she wanted to fight. “The police don’t conduct investigations unless there’s a reason for them to do so. I believe there’s a good reason in this case.”
“Are you saying you think I’m guilty?” Montgomery demanded.
“I’m saying you have as much motive and opportunity as Keyes.”
Her accusation brought the doctor to his feet. Ryan stood, as well. No touch on his arm would have gotten him to back off. He pulled one of his knight routines and maneuvered himself between Montgomery and her.
“If Ms. Nash repeats what she just said to anyone,” the doctor warned, aiming an accusing finger in her direction, “I’ll sue her for slander.”
“I’m pretty good at countersuing,” Ryan pointed out.
Since an argument probably wouldn’t help get them those much-needed answers, Delaney stepped around Ryan so she could face the doctor.
“Lawsuits aside, I will learn the truth,” she said. “And if you’re involved, I’ll make sure the authorities do everything to put you behind bars.”
Montgomery’s mouth tightened and his eyes narrowed. But what he didn’t do was provide her with any more information. He went toward the door.
“You can see yourselves out,” he said from over his shoulder.
And he was gone, slamming the door behind him.
Delaney considered going after him, but she doubted that would accomplish anything other than provide the fodder for Montgomery to get a restraining order against her.
“Either he or Keyes could have assisted Spears with the experiments,” Ryan said, leading her out of the office. They retraced their steps down the hall and went out the front door. “Or both.”
Yes. In fact, a collaboration would make sense. After all, all three men worked in the clinic. All three apparently stood to gain a lot, financially, from it. “Except we’re right back where we started.”
“Not quite. We shook things up today. If Montgomery is guilty, he might do something stupid to cover his tracks. If that’s the case, my security manager might be able to get some proof.”
Delaney glanced around the parking lot as they approached the waiting limo. “Your security manager’s here?”
“He’s around. He’ll be watching Montgomery over the next few days.”
Days. For some reason, that sounded like an eternity. “I don’t think my body can stand all this high-level anxiety much longer. Eventually, I’ll crash and burn.”
The crash and burn had some significant fuel added to it when her phone rang again. Delaney waited until she and Ryan were inside the limo before she glanced down at the screen. A local number. And not the one that had appeared when Keyes had called earlier.
“Hello,” she answered. Beside her, Ryan stilled. She couldn’t even hear him breathing. The only sound came from the driver as he pulled out of the parking lot and started back toward the estate.
“Ms. Nash?”
Not Keyes. But a woman. “Yes?”
“I’m Sarah Cantrell, from the lab. I compared your son’s DNA to Mr. McCall’s, and I have the results.”
Delaney felt her stomach clench, as did her heart. “Okay.” It was all she could manage to say.
“Uh, if you’d prefer,” the woman added, obviously noting Delaney’s hesitance. “I can have a courier deliver the information to you.”
It was tempting. But even though it might be slightly easier to get the results while she was alone, Delaney knew it would only delay the inevitable. “No. You can tell me now.”
“Okay. Well, I need to let you know up front that the test is ninety-nine-point-nine-nine-nine percent accurate so there’s little chance of error. However, if you want it repeated—”
“I don’t. I just want the results.”
“All right. I compared Patrick Nash’s DNA to that of the other subject, Ryan McCall. And I can say with certainty that Mr. McCall is the biological father of your son.”
Chapter Eleven
Ryan waited.
Every nerve in his body was on alert. Not in a good way. But in a way that made him think of panic attacks and nausea.
He watched as Delaney pressed the end call button on her phone and slipped it back into her purse. She gave away nothing. Yes, there was emotion practically burning in her eyes, and her bottom lip was trembling. She almost immediately started to twist her butterfly-less ring. Still, he didn’t know if it was because the test results had been negative or positive.
He waited some more.
Waited, while Delaney tried to steady her breathing. While she clamped her teeth over her bottom lip. While she glanced at everything in the limo but him.
“Patrick is your son.” Delaney said the words fast. As if she were afraid if she didn’t, she might not be able to get it all out.
The impact hit Ryan just as quickly. Oh, man. It was an onslaught of too many emotions to identify, and it made him thankful he was sitting down. Those emotions tore through his head as the scenery raced past the windows of the limo. Taking him home.
“Home to my son,” Ryan mumbled.
It was all he could say. He looked down at his body to see if he was shaking. Surprisingly, he wasn’t. From all outward appearances, he was calm. But inside, well, that was an entirely different s
tory. There was nothing calm about the maelstrom of emotion he was experiencing.
His son was alive.
Adam was alive.
All those hours, those days, those endless nights that he’d tried to bargain with God to give him back his wife and son. And God had apparently bargained with him after all. He’d been given back his little boy. A second chance.
A miracle.
Ironic. Because his miracle was possibly someone else’s felony.
And the onset of Delaney’s own personal nightmare.
That was a much-needed nudge back to reality, and Ryan looked at her. Her face said it all. What she was experiencing was the antithesis of what he was. She was scared. And she probably thought she was on the verge of losing everything. Another irony, since Ryan felt as if he’d been given back his life.
The joy of regaining his life stayed with him.
For another moment or two.
Until he remembered the danger.
Until he remembered the fire and the car accident with Delaney. Someone obviously wanted to hurt or even kill them. That possibly included Patrick. And in the blink of an eye, he could end up losing everything all over again.
That was the problem with being given back his life.
If he lost it again, if he lost Patrick, there wasn’t a chance he could recover a second time.
“Say something,” Delaney begged. “Anything. Lie if you have to, but tell me that everything’s going to be all right.”
Ryan couldn’t promise her that, and he was afraid a lie would stick in his throat. Besides, this was Delaney, and she deserved better than a lie. What she deserved was the truth.
If only he knew what the truth was.
“A lot of clichés come to mind, Delaney. Clichés about not being able to undo the past. It’s time to move forward. But to you, all of that must sound like BS.”
“Scary BS.” She turned. “Remember when I told you how my parents fought for custody of me? Well, it was bad. Very bad. I can’t put Patrick through that.”
The sheer emotion in her voice made him ache for her. “It doesn’t have to be that way.”
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