To Russia With Love (Countermeasure Series) by Cecilia Aubrey, Chris Almeida

my head, a ghrá . I won’t be long.”
    “Go. Take all the time you need. Jessica just left to go shopping and settle her banking here. That leaves me plenty of time to handle the last of the background checks uninterrupted. I’m almost finished reviewing the new transcripts. I should be done by then.”
    “Brilliant, love.” Kissing Cassandra’s brow, he headed out.
    Trevor’s mind was crowded with thoughts of the meeting to take place in Prague. The name of the contact was familiar, but he had yet to place him or connect the dots. Maybe the face-to-face with Mucha would trigger a memory, providing him with more clues than the notes themselves. If Mucha was indeed an acquaintance of his parents and possessed information regarding the circumstances of their disappearance, Trevor could close their case in his heart and move on with his life. Move on with Cassandra by his side. Even start the family he’d dreamed of having for so long.
    He and Cassandra, both only children, had never discussed having children of their own. The idea was appealing. So much so that Trevor wondered how he’d feel if and when Cassandra found herself pregnant with his child. Delight swelled in his heart and warmth flooded his chest as a visual of her tummy round with their son or daughter filled his mind. He looked forward to the day, but he knew they were in no position to take such a big step at that moment.
    Trevor would broach the subject with her once their quest reached its end, no matter what that ending could be. It would be something special to him if, at that time, they could consider relocating to Sligo and to his parent’s country home overlooking Ben Bulben. There, they would be able to spend quality time doing things that brought them pleasure, instead of constantly on a drive to find the next clue, the next piece of the puzzle.
    Trevor tucked those fantasies in a little corner of his mind and withdrew from his daydreaming only to realize he’d been wandering around for a while. He stood in the middle of the sidewalk on O’Connell Street contemplating what to do next. He wasn’t ready to go home just yet. It was shaping up to be a beautiful spring day in Dublin. If he lost himself in the warmth of the sunlight, in the sounds of birds chirping from the trees lining the street, in the mindless excitement flowing from the tourists, maybe, just maybe, his mood would improve a notch.
    Distracted within himself, Trevor was startled by a jostle from the side. His head swung to the origin of impact and he found a tourist holding one of the biggest cameras he’d ever seen, looking back at him with a nervous smile. “So sorry, I didn’t see you.”
    “No problem, mate. Nothing broken,” Trevor teased, and nodded to the lens on the tourist’s camera. “Nice lens. Perfect for wide shots.”
    The tourist flashed a relieved smile and beamed at the compliment. “I love it. I’ve gotten some great shots of Dublin. Can’t wait to get home to show the family. Sorry again.”
    With a contemplative look, Trevor watched the man walk away. Talking about the lens had reminded him of something he needed to take care of. But first, he had to face his demons. He turned on his heel and headed in the direction of the Financial District and Brennan Enterprises. He hadn’t been there in a few years; he had avoided it since the day he and Cassandra had returned to Dublin, fearing the emotions being there would evoke.
    At the sight of the large, imposing glass building, his throat constricted. Taking a deep breath, he pushed through the revolving door. As he reached the other side, the tangy air of the lobby hit his senses. It had not changed in the years since his father’s presence had graced its walls. The scent of floral arrangements, the ping of elevators, and the hustle and bustle of the corporate environment bombarded him with memories of the days when he used to visit his dad.
    He joined the visitor line and clamped down his emotions.