Dangerous Attraction Romantic Suspense Boxed Set (212 page)

Tied up.

Gagged.

A prisoner to game shows on the television he’d left on real loud to cover any noises she might make.

Ever since he’d hauled her back to the apartment, they’d kept her locked up in her room. No more pretense. Not after she’d tried running. Not after she’d told them she knew about the ransom.

Since then, he’d been the only one she’d seen and darn little of him, at that.

And now she was alone for who knew how long. He’d told her they couldn’t trust her without a guard, not even behind a locked door. So he’d tied her to a chair in the living room. Her hands were already going numb. And the cloth tape across her mouth threatened to choke her.

If she barfed, she’d suffocate – she’d seen that happen in an action movie once – so she wouldn’t throw up. She would sit very still and breathe slowly through her nose.

She would pretend that everything would be all right. That they would come for her and take her to her dad. That he’d pay anything to get her back.

She prayed hard that he would as hot tears escaped her eyes and blurred her view of the church steeple across the street.

A SENSATION ROVING OVER HER FACE and lingering at her mouth made Keelin open her eyes and meet Tyler’s gaze. For the first time since they’d finished the greasy fast food they’d purchased and had nearly swallowed whole before leaving the Wicker Park area, she was fully awake. She stared at him, wondering at his odd expression. When she realized he noticed, she let her lids drift half-closed, then placed a comforting hand on his thigh.

“Don’t fall asleep again,” Tyler said, his voice a bit gruff. “We’re here.”

He turned the Jaguar into the garage across from L&O Realty and waved to the attendant.

Hesitant, she murmured, “I…had another dream.”

“Cheryl?” He sounded anxious. “She’s all right?”

“I do not believe they’ve hurt her.”

“What did you see?”

“The television.” She hoped he wouldn’t probe more deeply. She couldn’t tell him the circumstances. He would go mad if she revealed that Cheryl was bound and gagged. She couldn’t do that to him. “Some game show.”

“She hates game shows.”

“I know.”

“What else? Was anyone with her?”

“She was alone.” Waiting. Trying not to panic. Keelin couldn’t tell him that, either. “Tis a pity I could not see more.”

“Nothing?” he asked, unable to hide his disappointment.

Nothing she could tell him.

Or was there?

The thought fled as her stomach twirled when Tyler sped up the ramp too fast and jerked around the corner to his assigned parking spot. She suspected that he was taking out his inner frustration with his vehicle. By the time he cut the engine, Keelin was wide-eyed and sitting up straight. She wanted to comfort him again…if only she knew how.

They left the car and made for the stairwell.

“So what now?” she asked softly.

“What is it
you
think should happen?”

She gazed at him with empathy. “I know what I wish would happen. I would like to be able to see the faces of the people holding Cheryl hostage.”

“Yeah, but you’re awake, and like you said, you only
see
through dreams,” he said, stirring a memory in her.

“Unfortunately, I can’t fall asleep on command or even guarantee a vision when I do.” She was reminded of her disappointment when she’d awakened that morning.

Curbside, Tyler waited for a break in traffic. “We’re amateurs at this. Too involved to be objective. Damn Jeremy Bryant! What good is having a private investigator if he’s going to be elusive just when I need him. Maybe Pamela’s reached him by now. I’ll check on it first thing.”

He placed a hand in the middle of Keelin’s back and set across the street. Distracted, she was thinking of the time Moira told her about lucid dreaming. Dreaming when she was awake.
Controlled
visions. Too bad she’d never explained how to go about it, Keelin thought.

As they entered L&O Realty, Tyler returned if didn’t initiate greetings with his employees. And once upstairs, he ducked into his assistant’s office but came right out.

“Alma, have you seen Pamela?”

The middle-aged woman shook her head. “She left like a whirlwind a short while ago. Maybe she went to lunch. She usually lets me know, but not today.”

Tyler shrugged. “Tell her I want to see her the moment she returns. Keep anyone else out,” he added. “We’re not to be disturbed until I tell you otherwise.”

“Yes, Mr. Leighton.”

Glancing from him to Keelin, the receptionist wore a knowing and somewhat smug look. Keelin’s face flared with color and she was glad to escape into Tyler’s office. What she suddenly wanted was for him to lock the office door and take her in his arms again. Maybe then she wouldn’t feel so badly about not telling him all of the dream. She almost got up the courage to approach him and make the first move when a commotion outside the door stopped her cold.

“I tell you he’ll want to see me,” came a familiar female protest.

“He said not until he told me otherwise,” Alma returned firmly in a raised voice.

But Keelin heard the clack of high heels directly outside his office. She exchanged looks with Tyler. Heaving a sigh, he opened the wooden panel. Vivian Claiborne teetered and nearly fell inside.

“Tyler, there you are,” she cooed.

He looked over her shoulder – the receptionist was coming after the woman – and said, “That’s all right, Alma. I can give Miss Claiborne a moment of my time.”

“A moment?” Vivian pouted. “I remember when you gave me all afternoon and then some.” Suddenly, as if just noting Tyler hadn’t been alone, she told Keelin, “Oops. Pretend you didn’t hear that, dear,” and waved her off as if Keelin were a hired servant.

Alma gave Tyler a look of disgust and went back to her desk. Likewise, Keelin turned away and wandered over to the windows. Her shoulders stiff, she chose the view of the park over the green-eyed blonde, hoping to keep herself calm. First the dream she couldn’t work up the nerve to tell Tyler about…and now this intrusion.

She pressed her forehead to the cool glass, barely hearing Tyler’s “What do you want, Vivian?”

For below her, she saw Pamela Redmond rushing into the park, topknot bobbing, looking over her shoulder as if she feared being followed.

“I thought it only right that I be the first to give you my condolences,” Vivian was saying.

Keelin watched Pamela approach a bench where a man turned to greet her. Brock Olander. Keelin supposed they must be going to lunch together.

When Tyler asked, “You’ve heard something about Cheryl?” she tried to keep her attention on the conversation in the room, but below, Pamela seemed to be yelling at Brock.

“Not your brat, Tyler. Your business.”

“Say what you came to say and leave.”

Brock grabbed Pamela by the shoulders and drew her down to the bench. She tried wresting herself away, but he pulled her to him for an intense kiss.

“TESTY.” VIVIAN RAN HER FRENCH-MANICURED FINGERNAILS up Tyler’s tie in a gesture of intimacy. “Though it must be difficult for a man with your determination and drive to lose. And so big.”

“Lose what?” His patience, for one, Tyler thought.

Then Vivian gleefully dropped the bombshell. “Why the North Michigan Avenue project, of course. Nate Feldman was awarded the contract this morning.”

Tyler started. He hadn’t thought the matter would be decided so soon. Perhaps there was some mistake…not that he had the energy to do anything about it.

Staring at the woman who had been his lover for nearly six months, he was disgusted with himself that he’d been such an idiot. He hadn’t been able to see exactly how mistaken he’d been until he compared her with Keelin, of course. Vivian had always sworn she liked his daughter, but he’d seen through that particular act. That should have been a big clue as to her nature.

“You do enjoy being the harbinger of bad news.”

“Only for
you
,” Vivian stated, her smile nasty. “You might not have properly appreciated me when you had the chance, but Nate certainly does.”

“You and Nate?” Now there was an interesting development.

“Jealous, darling?”

“Hardly.” When he said, “I’ll give the man my condolences the next time I see him,” he watched her complexion pinken. “Wake up, Vivian. Nate undoubtedly thinks he can get information on my business from you, but when he realizes how slim the pickings are, he won’t have any more use for you.”

The pink deepened to an unbecoming ruddy tone. “I won’t be made a fool of by any man!”

“Don’t make statements you can’t live up to,” Tyler suggested. “Two ex-husbands have already put the lie to those words.”

Her expression wreathed in fury, Vivian spat, “I’ll make you regret that, Tyler, if it’s the last thing I do!”

The blonde aimed a hateful glare over his shoulder at Keelin before spinning on her high heels and tromping out of his office, slamming the door behind her.

And Tyler wondered how he’d been fooled into believing Vivian had been even a little bereft when he’d broken it off.

“Sorry about the interruption,” Tyler said, turning to Keelin.

When he noted her expression, however, he didn’t continue. She was staring at him as if she were looking at something unpleasant.

“How could you speak to her that way?” she asked in a subdued voice.

Maybe he had been a bit hard on Vivian, but the woman had asked for it, coming here to gloat. “She’s not worth your sympathy, believe me. Vivian takes care of Vivian first. I’m not even certain if anyone comes second.”

“You said something similar about Helen.”

“So I have rotten taste in women.” The words were out of his mouth before he had time to think. “Keelin, I’m not including you –”

“Don’t.” She raised a hand as if to ward off any advance.

He considered for a moment. He could force the issue, assure her she was different. Or he could let it go. Let
her
go. Maybe that would be for the best. To let go now.

That’s the coward’s way out
, a small voice inside his head insisted.

Undecided, he wavered for a moment, then finally said, “I have to make a few calls.”

“Yes, your business, of course,” she said, her expression unsettled, her tone flat.

“Calls about Cheryl,” he clarified, thinking he’d also better talk to Brock.

Maybe he could make a deal, agree to split the company as Brock wanted if his partner would give him or at least lend him what he needed in return – the part of the ransom money he hadn’t yet been able to raise.

Seeing that Keelin had already started for the door, he asked, “You’re not leaving?”

“I need some fresh air.” Her gaze unflinching, she said, “I have some thinking to do. I shall return, however.”

Tyler watched her go, then, rather than immediately picking up the telephone, he sauntered to the windows facing the park and waited for her to show. When she did, his insides twisted, for he imagined she appeared too vulnerable. A few hours ago, that’s the last word he’d have used to describe Keelin McKenna…but now everything was different.

Or would be if he’d let it.

Only Tyler wasn’t certain he could.

KEELIN NEEDED TO RENEW HER COMMUNION with nature. She also needed to force Tyler Leighton from her mind for a while. Unfortunately, her approaching Lincoln Park accomplished neither. She stared ahead at the flower beds and trees, but rather than taking pleasure in them, she could think only about the way she’d thrown herself at Tyler earlier.

A man who openly declared he had rotten taste in women.

And the way he’d spoken to a woman he had once kept company with…slept with…

Keelin shuddered.

The sense of unease followed her straight into the park. She felt as if someone were physically pursuing her down the sidewalk, when she knew the only thing wrong was that her unprecedented actions were preying on her mind. Still, she clutched the strap of her shoulderbag.

All these years of waiting for the right man…Moira’s legacy wanting to be fulfilled…and she’d gone and chosen a man who either didn’t respect women…or didn’t like them.

The scene with Vivian had reminded her of what Tyler had done to his ex-wife, of how he’d kept Helen from her own child. She’d conveniently forgotten about that for a while.

What was she to do now?

The sensation of being followed grew stronger. Thinking to see Pamela or Brock, she glanced over her shoulder.

But the only people behind her were a woman pushing a stroller, and behind the young mother, a man wearing a windbreaker, his capped head bent as he adjusted the portable radio clipped at his waist.

Nothing to concern herself over.

The man jogged past her at an easy clip. Keelin didn’t give him a second glance as her thoughts strayed back to Tyler.

Tyler had shown a different, appealing side of himself earlier…strong yet tender…vulnerable yet commanding.

He had enticed her as no man ever had.

What to do?

The dream drifted back into her thoughts, undoubtedly because she was feeling a bit guilty at not having told Tyler. But what purpose would it serve to worry him further? Poor Cheryl tied up and gagged…

She came to a foot tunnel that would take her under a street that cut through the park. A large lagoon supporting both paddle boats and wildlife lay on the other side. Perhaps she could find some answers there. At home, Lough Danaan had soothed her more times than she could remember.

Keelin turned and made her way down the dark, dank tunnel. Walls covered with graffiti. Lights broken. Litter underfoot. Halfway to the other side, she looked to the opening ahead. An archway of sunlight. A frame for the large brick building that sat before the lagoon.

Her feet slowed.

For a second, the opening was a window, the building a church…

Her concentration was broken by feet beating the path behind her. A jogger. She moved to one side to let the person pass and so was startled when a body rammed her, knocking her down. Her shoulderbag went flying.

“Pardon me!” she said, getting a glimpse of sunglasses below a billed cap and a portable radio clipped to the man’s waist.