See Me in Your Dreams (24 page)

"A little
while ago. He brought the money."

Keelin took a
deep breath. She'd known it! "Did he tell you where the money came
from?"

"I didn't
ask. Why?"

"I
followed him."

"You
what?" Tyler launched himself out of his seat.

"After you
returned to the office earlier, he was on the street, looking over his
shoulder...as if he didn't want to be watched...and he flagged a taxi. So I
went with my instincts."

"And him.
Where?"

"The Gold
Coast." She lowered her voice. "Nathan Feldman Associates."

"You're
saying he got the money from Feldman?"

"He
entered the offices empty-handed and came out carrying a briefcase. Black
leather."

With the
vilest curse she'd heard pass his lips to date, Tyler yelled, "He's got
some explaining to do!" and made to rush by her.

Keelin
practically threw herself in front of the door to stop him. "You cannot
face him with this now."

"Why not?
I'll break his damn neck!"

"If
Vivian Claiborne was the woman in the apartment, chances are she was in on the
scheme with Feldman. And if Brock is working with Feldman..."

Tyler stared.
"You don't think Brock
knew
?
Christ, he could put Cheryl's life in jeopardy with a phone call!"

"Exactly."

He backed off
and paced the length of the office. "Wait a minute. This doesn't make sense.
If Feldman has my daughter, why would he give part of the ransom money to Brock
to give to me? So he can get his own money back?"

"Think.
What is it Feldman wants of you more than money?"

"My
class," Tyler joked, his voice bitter.

Keelin didn't
feel like laughing. "Perhaps you have a point."

"Afraid I
can't give him that, not even in exchange for my daughter."

"But
Brock is an extension of you."

Tyler's brow
furrowed, but he quickly followed her lead. "And if Brock went over to
Feldman, he'd be bringing half our clients with him. And the Uptown theater
renovation that Feldman so desperately wanted. That added to
Smialek's
lawsuit..." He fell silent for a moment,
then said, "Looks like they've been conspiring to ruin me, doesn't
it?"

"I'm
afraid so."

Tyler sank
into a sofa, for the moment appearing utterly defeated. Keelin quickly crossed
the short space and tried to comfort him, even knowing that the only thing to
truly salve his wounds was to have his daughter returned to him unharmed.

Believing with
all her heart that she would not be seeing through Cheryl Leighton's eyes
unless she had the means to save the girl, Keelin knew she would have be
present at the ransom drop, no matter Tyler's objections.

But how to
learn where the exchange was to take place?

STRUGGLING
WITH THE KNOTS for what seemed like hours, she finally loosened the rope that
bound her hands together. Her heart soared with hope as she pulled them free
and the charms on her bracelet tinkled as if applauding. Next, she ripped the foul
gag from her mouth, then worked on the rope binding her ankles.

In minutes she was trying to stand, trying to see. Her head
swam and her stomach lurched with all the trying.

The space was pitch dark. Confusing. No, terrifying.

Which way?
Which way?

Stumbling forward, hands out to catch the wall, she felt the
faint pulse of the building under her palms, could swear she heard the thrum of
its heartbeat. Blindly, she stepped wrong. The floor pitched beneath her feet
and when she went flying, the building rumbled with muffled laughter.

"Please!"
she squeaked, her voice so dry it was
nearly gone
. "I promise I won't tell. Just let me out of here. I want
to go home! I want my dad!"

But no one was around to hear.

Only the building.

And it wasn't going to let her go!

CHERYL LEIGHTON WOKE WITH A START,
heart hammering, almost certain she wasn't alone.

She whispered,
"Hello? Anyone there?"

Then she
realized it felt more like someone had been inside her nightmare with her than
in this space. A feeling not altogether unfamiliar. She shuddered and the skin
along the back of her neck rose in bumps. Impossible. The dark was making her
imagine things. Making her lose her mind.

She never
wanted to be in a dark space alone again.

Tears seeped
from her eyes and threatened to choke her.

He'd moved
her, brought her here that morning, had left her for most of the day. A
building in the process of renovation. A big building. Familiar. Empty. No one
to hear her scream, even if she weren't still gagged. But she heard plenty.

A couple in
the alley getting in on.

A fight out
front on the street.

The tick-tack
of claws inside.
Rats?

She trembled
and worked at the ropes binding her hands together. Her wrists were raw, her
fingers sore. She paused, grasping onto one of her charms for comfort.
Somewhere outside, an el rumbled by. She had to get free. She had to get out.

But something
told her she wouldn't succeed.

Because the
building wouldn't let her go.

"TYLER?" KEELIN STOOD IN THE
CENTER of his room, shaking so hard her teeth were clacking. "Are you
awake?"

He mumbled an
unintelligible answer, and she realized that he was in twilight land, halfway
between wake and sleep. The full moon swept its beams through the open windows
and across his bed. She saw him stir. The night sighed and a breeze swept into
the room, with it the distinctive smell of the lake. She took comfort in her
senses, in her freedom, in knowing she was not trapped as was Cheryl.

Hesitating
only a moment, she flew to the edge of the bed and climbed under the sheet, seeking
Tyler's solidity for comfort. He'd wanted her here with him, but Helen had
taken the room next to his, and Keelin had been uncomfortable accepting the
invitation. And so she'd insisted on sleeping in Cheryl's bed.

And had
dreamed Cheryl's dream.

Rather had
been trapped in the girl's nightmare.

She shuddered,
and as if he sensed something was amiss with her even in sleep, Tyler wrapped
his arms around Keelin and pulled her closer. Wide awake, she huddled against
the man she loved, knowing his daughter was terrified, knowing she couldn't
tell him so. Tomorrow he had to have his wits about him. Equally important, so
did she.

Keelin let her
eyes drift closed and listened to the steady beat of Tyler's heart. She could
imagine herself falling asleep with him every night. If only their situation
weren't so complicated. If only Tyler weren't so opposed to lasting
relationships. If only he loved her as she loved him. He'd said he trusted her,
but enough to give her his heart?

One of his
hands wandered along her waist and cupped a breast. Her tender flesh swelled
against his palm, perhaps for the last time.

Swallowing
hard, Keelin knew she would never sleep for thinking of it.

"Tyler,"
she whispered, giving him a gentle shake, "make love to me as if we might
never have another chance."

"Mm, is
this a dream?" he murmured.

"A grand
dream."

Suddenly he
was awake and awakening her body, murmuring her name softly, tenderly. Kissing
her. Laving her neck. Suckling at her breast through the cotton of her gown. He
slid a hand down to her hip where his fingers gathered the material and edged
it up with aching slowness. In return, she smoothed her hands along his naked
chest and down the flat of his stomach. Explored all his hollows and curves as
she had not been able to do before. Wrapped her fingers around him.

His hand
slipped from the side of her thigh to the front. His fingers brushed her
lightly, stroked her until she felt a damp flow that laved him. Her fingers
stroked him until he was hot and heavy.

She joyfully
opened to him.

Keelin moaned
as Tyler stroked the delicate flesh that burned for deeper exploration. She
drew him to the entrance, then slid a leg up and around his thigh to provide
him easier access. Resistance made him hesitate and lift his head from her mouth
at last, but Keelin couldn't wait any longer. Ignoring his questioning
expression, clinging to his neck, she lifted her other leg and let her weight
slide her where she wanted to be, one with him.

"Keelin..."
he murmured in her hair. "... why..."

"
Sh
-h-h."

She rocked her
hips to quiet any uncertainty, and Tyler responded, first with a shudder, then
by moving with her. Waves of pleasure washed over her, and at last Keelin knew
what it was to feel complete. She grasped at his back, nails digging into his
flesh silently urging him to do something, anything to help her find what lay
just out of reach.

Like a man
possessed, he drove into her. Giving her more pleasure than she thought
possible. And when she was certain there was no more to give, he finished her with
a last thrust that sent her spiraling out of her body to some other world.

Her cry was
joined by his shout.

Tyler
collapsed on her. That he might crush her was of no consequence. Keelin didn't
want this moment to end, for she feared that once he released her, she would
never know this feeling again. He was panting, his heated breath against her
neck making her melt inside. She held him desperately, willing this moment to
last forever.

Cradling her,
Tyler backed his weight off and took a big breath. His chest heaved, then
quieted. Keelin unwound her legs from his hips and let them drop to the bed,
the nightgown flowing over her thighs, the feeling as sensuous as the one
inside her.

Tyler
murmured, "The first time shouldn't have been like this."

And Keelin was
stricken. "You're disappointed?"

"No, of
course not." He captured her face in his hands and leaned his forehead
against hers. "I mean it should have been better
for you
."

"It could
have been better?"

Keelin
couldn't imagine being the recipient of more pleasure than Tyler had already
given her. He'd brought her to the stars and back. Even now, she was pulsing
with the afterglow of their union. Unsure of what lay ahead for them, she
treasured the lingering sensation.

His expression
lightened. "I guess I meant
nicer
.
Flowers. Champagne."

Relieved,
Keelin smiled at his romantic concern. "I have no complaints."

"Nor do
I," he said, brushing his lips gently across hers.

Tyler held her
quietly, his hand tracing the column of her spine. For a few moments, she put
aside all thoughts but the memory of their joining and the love she had for
him. Her climax had been an afterthought, physically exciting and yet not as
intense as the passions he aroused in her heart and soul.

Even as she
drifted in the luxurious aftermath, snatches of Cheryl's nightmare pulled at
her, uncertainty tearing at her momentary bliss. If things went wrong and his
daughter was lost to him for good, Keelin knew Tyler would be destroyed. Now it
was more than her own redemption for Gavin Daley's death that mattered to her.

What if,
despite her determination, she failed the man she loved?

Chapter Eleven

KEELIN AWOKE ALONE IN TYLER'S BED.
Awake most of the night, she'd finally fallen asleep just before dawn. And now
the morning had progressed without her.

She slipped
back to Cheryl's room where she hurriedly pulled on a dress and ran her fingers
through her hair. Barefoot, she raced downstairs. And just in time.

She caught up
with Tyler in the foyer – he appeared ready to leave.

"You're
up." He sounded surprised but not displeased. "I left a note in the
kitchen. Good. I'd rather say good-bye in person."

Good-bye?

The thought
registered even as Tyler reached for her and drew her to him. Keelin resisted.

"You were
going to leave without me?"

"You were
sleeping so peacefully, I didn't have the heart to wake you."

When he
brushed his lips over hers, she pulled her head away, unable to hide her
disappointment. "Are you certain you aren't trying to be rid of me?"

Irritation
crossed his features. "I've got a lot to do before –"

"And I
can help."

"No. I
want you out of this, now." He softened his tone when he added, "I
need to concentrate on Cheryl. I don't want to have to worry about you,
too."