"Yes, Cassie told me that."
"Cassie?"
"Cassie Miranda, a P.I. with ARC Security and Investigations."
"I'm familiar with the agency. You're paying top dollar but you're getting top performance."
"I can tell."
"I've known Quinn Oliver for years, before we knew his name was Quinn." He chuckled. "One of the best undercovers- Well, anyway, you're in good hands."
"I'm sure of it. What's the second step?"
"You need to find Eva."
"Cassie's working on it. Can you get the birth certificate?"
"If you won't go in person to the Office of Vital Records, I'll need a sworn statement from you, notarized, but not until the DNA testing proves you're the father. The birth certificate probably can't have reached their office yet, so we'll deal with that later. A lot can happen between now and then." Kerwin folded up his napkin and laid it beside his empty plate. "Thanks for lunch."
"Thanks for coming. It was great seeing you, although we could've handled this over the phone." He followed the silver-haired man to the door. They'd known each other for fifteen years. Heath had forgotten how much he enjoyed Kerwin's company.
"We could've, but I wanted to see for myself how you were doing." He cocked his head. "You're better."
"Getting there. As much as I ever will, anyway."
"Have you forgiven yourself?"
Heath shook his head. There was nothing to say.
Kerwin started to walk away, then turned back. "Did you hear that Mary Ann is getting married?"
The news barely registered on his emotional Richter scale. "We don't stay in touch."
"No, I guess you wouldn't. Oh, something else-who becomes Danny's guardian if something happens to you?"
Heath's mind went blank.
"Think about it," Kerwin said into the silence.
Heath moved into the yard when his friend drove off, seeking a small pool of sunshine. He closed his eyes and lifted his face. Pleasure assaulted him-a healing warmth, the tempting lure of one of the most basic needs in life, to feel the sun on your face. Peace seeped into him, even with all the unknowns ahead.
He heard a car approach, saw Cassie coming up the driveway. He needed to do something about the overgrowth. It had gotten thick enough to scratch car paint. Why hadn't anyone said anything?
Which was a rhetorical question. No one criticized him. Only Cassie had come close, by opening blinds without asking him first, her criticism silent but obvious.
He watched her get out of her car and come toward him. Damn but he loved to watch her walk. A slow pace might be considered sexy by some people, but her long strides and quick pace turned him on. A lot.
"Did you get everything taken care of at the office?" he asked.
"I got footwork done. I'll make some phone calls from here. I want to touch base with Eva's roommate, Darcy, again. She's our best hope. If Eva gets in touch with anyone, I think it'll be Darcy." She set down her briefcase and took off her jacket. "How's Danny?"
"He was cranky for a while when Kerwin first got here. He took a bottle and went back to sleep. Been down for half an hour."
"What did your lawyer have to say?"
"Pretty much repeated everything you said." Except he wants to know who would be Danny's guardian. "And he's heard of you."
"Is that a good thing?"
"He said your firm has one of the worst reputations in the city, and what the hell was I doing hiring incompetents?"
She looked surprised, then she laughed. "You made a joke!"
"I've been known to, on occasion."
"Keep it up." She lifted her face to the meager ray of sunshine. "There's nothing like September in San Francisco."
Bathed in sunlight she seemed to have an angelic aura, yet he knew she was tough. Maybe strong was a better word. Maybe both. Except for her devotion to Danny, she didn't let much emotion show. Because she was being professional or because her past had blighted her emotionally?
"I contacted the agency about hiring a nanny," she said casually but her gaze was direct. "I made an appointment for you tomorrow with the director. She'll be here around ten o'clock so you can interview each other."
His gut clenched. He wasn't ready for that. He didn't want to share his home with anyone-except Cassie. "Great," he said, turning toward the house. "Thanks."
"We'll find someone you're comfortable with," she said behind him.
He nodded, and kept walking.
Danny wouldn't stop crying. They walked and walked, talked and talked. Cassie even sneaked him into another room and sang to him. Nothing helped. Finally she said to Heath, "I'm taking him for a drive."
"No."
"It should calm him down. Most babies respond to it." She knew he didn't want Danny out of his sight-she was also counting on it. He would come along. Take a drive with them. Open up his world a little.
"I'm a good driver," she said, pretending to let him think that's what he was worried about.
Danny let out a wail. "All right, already," Heath said. "A ride. But I'm going, too. And don't for one minute think I don't know what you're doing."
She liked him more every hour. His confinement would've broken a lesser man, but he'd dealt with his grief in his own way. She respected that, even as she respected the take-charge man who refused to let her be boss.
They had put the base of his car seat in her car the day before, in case they needed to go somewhere in a hurry, so all they had to do was lock his carrier into the base and they were ready to go.
Heath climbed into the passenger seat.
Cassie tried not to look at him, except she could see his fingers pressing into his thighs as she started the engine and pulled out. She wouldn't ask if he was okay. If he wasn't, she expected him to tell her, but she wouldn't give him an easy out.
It wasn't quite seven o'clock. There was daylight left. She wanted him to see what he'd been missing.
Danny quieted down fast, so fast that she was afraid Heath would want to go back home, but he didn't say so. Except for giving her directions, he remained silent.
"I'd forgotten how beautiful it is," he said finally, his voice hushed as they came to a spot that revealed a spectacular view of the city and bay.
She decided not to trespass on his reawakening by responding. They dropped down into the shopping district.
"How about an ice-cream sundae?" she asked.
He hesitated. "Okay."
She didn't see a parking place close to the ice-cream parlor, so she entered a public lot. Heath lifted the baby carrier out.
"Let's go watch the ferry come in," he said, pointing toward the bay.
They leaned against a railing to await the boat as drifts of diesel fuel merged with the distinctive salty scent of the bay. After a few minutes commuters began to exit the ferry.
Cassie hadn't spent a lot of time in Sausalito. Even though she made a very good income, the properties were too expensive for her-or more than she was willing to pay. She knew the value of living off half her income and saving the rest, just in case. But she enjoyed the community, well-known for its art festival every Labor Day, even though she hadn't ever attended. Big crowds made her edgy.
"You're not very talkative," Heath said into her musings.
"Just enjoying the evening."
"You haven't even asked how I'm doing."
She rested an elbow against the railing, eyeing him. "You're not exhibiting signs of imminent panic."
"You'd be surprised. But three days ago I couldn't have done this much."
"Don't give me any credit. This is all your own doing. And maybe Danny's." She tucked Danny's blanket more closely around him as the breeze picked up. "Does it feel real yet?"
"Danny, you mean?"
She nodded.
"I'm afraid to let it feel real. What if Eva wants him back?"
Good. He had been thinking about it. "You can't hold back just because the situation may change." She was as guilty of that as anyone. She'd learned to hold back every time she was placed with a new foster parent. She knew she wouldn't be there long. Why get attached? And it was easier for her foster parent to let go if Cassie didn't seem to care, either.
"Danny's mine," Heath said, breaking into her thoughts. "But I know I might be facing a battle."
Maybe he's yours. Should she say that? Not now, she decided. Not at this critical moment. "Don't give up."
He laid a hand against her shoulder, then lifted it to her cheek. "I won't."
She stopped herself just before she leaned into him, wanting more, needing more. She turned toward the shops, breaking the physical contact with him. "I hear some hot fudge sauce calling my name."