spoke quickly. “It isn’t what you think. As soon as he heard enough to know you welcomed Cliff’s presence—”
“Of course I welcomed his presence! The fact that I yanked Cliff inside as soon as I found him standing on my doorstep made it abundantly clear that I welcomed his presence!” The bastard had listened to them!
“I know,” Dr. Lipton said, her voice annoyingly calm. “And Bastien would’ve left then, but you started packing, and it sounded as if the two of you were about to go on the run.”
Oh. Yeah. That would have sounded pretty damning, she grudgingly admitted. “I thought Cliff had escaped.”
“I know. Bastien told me. And as soon as Cliff cleared that up with you and things turned… amorous…” Pink crept into her cheeks. “Bastien left you alone. He didn’t stay and listen further. He really did leave to give you privacy.” She forced a smile. “He was nervous as hell though until Cliff made an appearance at the rendezvous point. It was the first time since he came to the network that Cliff was truly on his own. And Bastien was terrified that the two of you might really try to disappear.”
Would that be so bad? a voice inside asked tentatively.
Yes. It would, the logical side of her insisted. Cliff needed whatever this woman and the other network doctors could do for him.
“We’re on your side, Emma,” Dr. Lipton proclaimed softly. “Even more so now that we know how you feel about him, that you love him so much you would leave this life behind and take off with him at a moment’s notice if you thought that would keep him safe.”
Sighing, Emma let her anger drain away. Upon realizing she still clutched the scraper, she tossed it to the ground. “Did Bastien tell Mr. Reordon what happened?” If Mr. Reordon knew, he would surely put a halt to Cliff’s nighttime excursions. Maybe even their lunches, too.
Despair rose. Was that it then? Would they really only have the one night together? Was that all they would be allowed?
The backs of her eyes burned with tears she hastily blinked back. Emma wasn’t usually one who cried easily, but damn, the past twenty-four hours had been an emotional roller coaster.
“No,” Melanie said decisively. “And Bastien has no intention of telling him. Neither do I. It’s none of Chris’s business.”
At least there was that. “Did you come here to tell me I shouldn’t see him again?” Emma still didn’t know the reason for this visit.
“Absolutely not. Cliff has not been happy for a long time, Emma. He lost everything when he transformed. His life. His future. His family. Then Vince and Joe. But Bastien said when Cliff left here and met him at Bastien’s old place… he was smiling. Even I noticed a difference in him when they returned to network headquarters. Cliff was more relaxed and at ease than he’s been in two years. And he said the voices were gone.” Reaching out, she took one of Emma’s hands and gave it a squeeze. “You aren’t the only one who loves him, you know. We love him, too. And we desperately want him to be happy.”
Emma stared at her for a long moment. “If you aren’t going to tell me not to see him, then why are you here?”
“Because I care about you, too, and there are some things we need to discuss.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know you make Cliff happy. That’s enough,” she declared, her voice ringing with sincerity.
Emma squeezed her hand, thankful that Cliff had someone like this on his side. “All right, Dr. Lipton. What do you want to talk about?”
She smiled, a genuine one this time. “Please, call me Melanie.”
Emma nodded and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’d tell you I’m Emma, but…”
“I already know that,” Melanie finished for her as she withdrew her hand.
Emma motioned to the open garage door. “Would you like to talk inside?”
“Yes, please. I love the view you have here. But my damn skin burns even faster now than it used to.” She held up the hand she’d extended to Emma.
Emma stared. “Oh shit.” The skin on Melanie’s hand and much of her forearm was an angry pink from the little bit of sunlight that had touched it. “I forgot you’re an immortal.”
Melanie laughed. “I do, too, sometimes.”
“Does it hurt?” Emma led her to the garage via the most shaded route.
“A little,” she admitted. “Roland Warbrook transformed me, so I can actually tolerate more sunlight than