Before she realized what she meant to do, Mel reached out, put a hand on his cheek to turn his face to hers. She blinked once, stunned by the flash of power in his eyes. How dark they were, she thought. Nearly black. When she managed to speak, her voice was barely a whisper.

“Where is he?”

“In the house across the street. The one with the blue shutters and the big tree in the front yard.” He grabbed her wrist before she could reach for the doorhandle. “No.”

“If he’s in there, I’m going in and getting him. Damn it, let go of me.”

“Think.” Because he understood that she would feel long before she would think, he pressed her back against the seat with both hands on her shoulders. No easy task, he thought grimly. She might be as slim as a wand, but she was strong. “Hellfire, Mel, listen to me. He’s safe. David’s safe. You’ll only complicate and confuse things by bursting in there and trying to take him from them.”

Her eyes blazed as she strained against him. He thought she looked like a goddess, ready to fling lightning from her fingertips. “They stole him.”

“No. No, they didn’t. They don’t know he was stolen. They think he was given away, or they’ve convinced themselves he was because they were desperate for a child. Haven’t you ever been desperate enough to take a shortcut, to overlook that blurred line and grab what you wanted?”

Furious, she could only shake her head. “He’s not their child.”

“No.” His voice gentled, as did his hold. “But for three months he has been. He’s Eric to them, and they love him very much. Enough to pretend he was meant to be theirs.”

She struggled to control her breathing. “How can you ask me to leave him with them?”

“Only for a little while longer.” He stroked a hand over her cheek. “I swear Rose will have him back before tomorrow night.”

She swallowed, nodded. “Let go of me.” When he did, she picked up the binoculars with unsteady hands. “You were right to stop me. It’s important to be sure.”

She focused on the wide bay window, seeing pastel walls through gauzy curtains. She saw a baby swing, and a maroon couch with a clutter of toys scattered over it. With her lips pressed together, Mel watched a woman walk into view. A trim brunette in walking shorts and a cotton blouse. The woman’s hair swung prettily as she turned her head to laugh at someone out of sight.

Then she held out her arms.

“Oh, God. David.”

Mel’s knuckles whitened on the field glasses as she saw a man pass David to the woman’s waiting arms. Behind the filmy curtains, she saw David’s smile.

“Let’s take a walk,” Sebastian said quietly, but she shook her head.