Intrigue Me
Intrigue Me
Jo Leigh
Name: Dr. Daniel McCabeMarry, date or one-night stand: The rarest of all…marry.Warning: Gold diggers, keep your distance.Bottom line: Perfect for playing a naughty game of doctor.PI Lisa Cassidy just found the perfect man. Dr. Daniel McCabe is 100 percent hotness. Unfortunately, Daniel's Hot Guys Trading Card doesn't belong to Lisa. It belongs to another woman who's hired Lisa to go undercover and get the real scoop on Dr. Delish.Lisa should keep her distance and stay professional. She certainly shouldn't have hot, lust-filled sex with the subject of her investigation. Especially because Lisa knows never to get too close to anyone…especially a sexy doctor who's hiding secrets.
Name: Dr. Daniel Cassidy
Marry, date or one-night stand: The rarest of all...marry.
Warning: Gold diggers, keep your distance.
Bottom line: Perfect for playing a naughty game of doctor.
PI Lisa McCabe just found the perfect man. Dr. Daniel Cassidy is 100 percent hotness. Unfortunately, Daniel’s Hot Guys Trading Card doesn’t belong to Lisa. It belongs to another woman who’s hired Lisa to go undercover and get the real scoop on Dr. Delish.
Lisa should keep her distance and stay professional. She certainly shouldn’t have hot, lust-filled sex with the subject of her investigation. Especially because Lisa knows never to get too close to anyone...especially a sexy doctor who’s hiding secrets.
“You’re a very distracting woman...”
The kiss was glorious. A stroke of his tongue at the front of her upper palate, a nip on her bottom lip. Then Daniel pressed against her as he thrust into her mouth, their rhythm perfectly in sync, possessive, unguarded and hot as hell.
Lisa moaned when he brought his hand between them and cupped her breast.
“Shh,” he whispered. “Don’t make a sound.”
She was so wired, she could probably start electrical fires. The door might be locked, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be discovered. Public sex wasn’t her thing, but this? Her breathlessness was a sure sign that she was up for the challenge.
He was quicker than her. He’d opened the top button of her jeans, and he was starting to push them down her hips. A moment later he gave each cheek a squeeze she’d remember for a while.
Quickly she had his belt open, button undone and zipper down.
“The rest is up to you, Dr. Cassidy...”
Dear Reader (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef),
Intrigue Me is the sixth book of the It’s Trading Men! miniseries, and I’ve enjoyed writing them so much. But another miniseries has been calling me, so this will be the last of the trading card novels, at least for a while.
My heroine, Lisa, is a wounded ex-cop who’s now an undercover private eye. The hero, Daniel, is the Hot Guy she’s investigating while he’s working at a Bronx free clinic. They think it’s just a physical attraction. It can’t turn into anything more. Daniel doesn’t even know her real name! But the best laid plans...
Just thinking about their rocky road from no-strings nights to life-changing confessions, and how they help each other grow and open up to love gives me goosebumps.
Some books just get under my skin, and Daniel and Lisa’s story is one of those. I hope it becomes one of those for you, too.
You can write to me at joleigh@joleigh.com, or find me on Twitter @Jo_Leigh (https://www.twitter.com/jo_leigh).
Sincerely,
Jo Leigh
Intrigue Me
Jo Leigh
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
JO LEIGH is from Los Angeles and always thought she’d end up living in Manhattan. So how did she end up in Utah in a tiny town with a terrible internet connection being bossed around by a house full of rescued cats and dogs? What the heck, she says, predictability is boring. Jo has written more than forty-five novels for Mills & Boon. Visit her website at joleigh.com (http://www.joleigh.com) or contact her at joleigh@joleigh.com.
To my friends and colleagues, Birgit, Debbi & Jill, who are always there when I need them. Thank you!
Contents
Cover (#u30d11493-879d-5d55-bc16-94b24d08b2f6)
Back Cover Text (#u49956648-67a8-567b-8c73-289d5f0d6ae0)
Introduction (#u9e202c28-6c2b-5714-97fd-410ac4b5a3b7)
Dear Reader
Title Page (#u97571a69-43e0-5298-9a18-7d4f5638b69c)
About the Author (#uee4b37ad-2214-507b-8d0d-64ed843758e9)
Dedication (#uada6eab8-c941-55e2-ac89-56178662b0f0)
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Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
1 (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef)
LISA MCCABE MADE sure no one was close enough to overhear her before she answered her brother’s call. “What is it, Logan?”
“Where are you?” he asked. “Why are you whispering?”
“The Moss Street free clinic in the Bronx.” She scanned the crowded waiting room again. “I’m checking out someone for our Hot Guys Trading Cards client.”
“What about the Murphy divorce? I need that wrapped up today. They go to court next week.”
“I typed up the report yesterday. The file’s on your desk.” She caught a glimpse of a tall man in scrubs and pulled a folded paper out of her purse.
“I don’t see it.”
“Did you check your in-box?” she asked. For a man who was on the verge of taking his security firm to a whole new level with the sting operation he was coordinating, her brother wasn’t very organized with his paperwork. To be fair, he had more important things to be thinking about. And he definitely didn’t need to be worrying about the divorce cases Lisa handled.
Her attention went to the photocopy of Dr. Daniel Cassidy’s trading card while she absently listened to Logan shuffle papers.
Lisa had already deduced that the tall man in scrubs wasn’t the object of her investigation—Cassidy was much better looking. His clean-cut dark hair made him look sharp and professional, but his eyes, the color of cognac, were just plain damn sexy.
If she belonged to the Hot Guys Trading Cards dating club she would’ve snapped up his card based on his looks alone, which was embarrassing to admit since she’d worked her butt off to prove she was more than a “pretty face.” Still, the truth was, she’d do him in a minute. Or would have, in another life. She would never risk it now.
Her fingers traced the lips on the photocopy. They were full, yet masculine, with a hint of—
Logan muttered something.
She straightened, feeling as though she’d been caught in the adult section of the video store. “What?”
“Found it. Hold on while I give it a quick look.”
“Sure.” Lisa went back to studying the doctor’s photo—more specifically his lips and how they were a perfect contrast to his square jaw. The image stopped at his shoulders but she’d bet the farm that the rest of his body was equally hot.
Her gaze went to the details on the reverse side of the trading card. Dr. Cassidy was looking to get married, preferred home-cooked meals to dining out, was passionate about using his skills to help people and had a great heart. All this according to Josephine Suarez, the woman who’d submitted his name and photo. If Cassidy himself had provided the information, it would’ve sounded creepy as hell. But that wasn’t how Hot Guys Trading Cards worked.
Each of the women who belonged to the group was required to submit a photo of at least one guy she knew well enough to vouch for. Lisa had learned that not all of the guys knew they were being passed around and ogled. She wondered if Dr. Daniel Cassidy had given his approval.
“Good job. No typos this time, either,” Logan said. “Now, what’s this about the free clinic?”
“First, up-yours about the typos. Second, you didn’t listen to a word I said last night, did you?”
Her brother grunted. “You didn’t say anything about a free clinic.”
A woman bumped Lisa’s shoulder and she quickly slipped the paper back into her purse. “I didn’t know he was working here until after we spoke,” she said, keeping her voice low. “He shouldn’t be, though. Not with his credentials. He’s straight up Ivy League all the way. He could be bringing in beaucoup bucks, but instead he’s volunteering full-time at a free clinic in the Bronx.”
“So cynical. Maybe he’s just a super nice guy.”
She had every reason to be cynical and Logan knew it. But he was teasing her—part of his ongoing attempt to get her to lighten up. “Yeah, because so many of our clients hire us to investigate super nice guys.”
“Fair point, but you realize this client didn’t pay enough to merit a field visit,” Logan said. “Hell, for what she paid, all you needed to do was look the guy up on Google and LinkedIn.”
“He’s not on LinkedIn.”
“That’s weird, but not weird enough to chase him down.”
“So I’m thorough. Shoot me.”
“Tempting.” Logan’s chair creaked. “Seriously, don’t waste too much time on it,” he said. “I think we might be getting another custody case tomorrow.”
Lisa groaned. She hated those the most.
“Hey, it’s the small, slimy stuff that helps pay the rent.”
“True,” she acknowledged. “Which is why I’m thinking about drumming up more Trading Card business.”
“I thought those guys are already vetted.”
“They are. I’m thinking there might be more gold diggers like Heather out there, though, who can’t be bothered with a guy who doesn’t make enough money.” Lisa heard Logan shuffling more papers around and knew he wasn’t listening. Understandable, since the human-trafficking case he was working on was much more interesting than what she was blathering on about. And yes, she was envious, and maybe that was a sign that she might not sleepwalk through the rest of her life. “I’ve gotta go,” she told him. “We’ll talk about it later.”
“Sure. Good.”
As soon as they disconnected, she sighed. Logan wasn’t wrong about her wasting time. She knew damn well she was satisfying her own curiosity and calling it diligence. But by the same token, she was serious about trolling for more business for her brother’s security firm at the Trading Card lunch meetings. She’d have to become a member, of course, which meant that she’d have to be recommended by someone in the club. Heather was the only member she knew, and then only as a client. But Lisa doubted that would matter to Heather. After all, she’d cheated. The rules let you choose one card at a time, but Lisa had received a photocopy of another doctor’s card, as well.
Joining also meant she’d have to submit a guy to be put on a card. Her college friends had always called Logan a babe. She knew he wasn’t in the market to date or get married. But if she checked the one-night-stand option? He might be game.
She put away her phone, and then made her way to the clinic’s main waiting room. Lucky for her, someone vacated the green plastic chair next to where she was standing.
The clinic itself didn’t seem very large. There was the overfilled waiting room where messy rows of mismatched chairs snaked around to fill as much space as possible. Down the hall were the examination rooms, and maybe a couple of offices from what she could glimpse.
In fact, the whole place had a patchwork feel to it. Graffiti covered the walls outside, except for the heavy glass door. It hadn’t surprised her when she saw it was bullet-resistant. Inside, the walls were all painted in cheery pastels. One was plastered with pictures kids had drawn. It looked like a giant refrigerator door.
The people waiting to see a doctor were unsurprisingly diverse. Some were dressed in business attire, while others looked as if they were homeless. No one seemed bothered by the two young men covered in tattoos sitting among them.
From what she’d seen so far the staff was equally diverse. Only one physician was permanent, but they had quite a few volunteer specialists on rotation. There were also two full-time registered nurses, a physician’s assistant and student nurses from the nearby hospital who came and went in order to accrue hours and experience. The same with medical students, although they were fewer in number. At least that was what it had said on the Moss Street Clinic website.
Lisa turned her attention to the African-American woman sitting beside her. Her eyes were sharp as they lit on every person in the room. Her tight lips, the small disapproving shakes of her head and her expressive eyebrows hid nothing.
Lisa figured if anyone knew the dirt on Dr. Cassidy, it would be her observant seat mate. “Excuse me,” Lisa said. “I’m new to the clinic. Do you know anything about Dr. Cassidy?”
The woman turned to look at Lisa. She’d expected to get the once-over from her, but it still felt intrusive. “Why you askin’?”
“I’ve come to see him. For an exam.”
“You mean a test? You one of them student doctors from Lincoln?”
“No. A patient.”
Leaning back, the woman took in as much of Lisa as she could. “You don’t look like nothin’s wrong. You from the tabloids?”
“Uh, no. Why? Are the tabloids interested in Dr. Cassidy?”
“How should I know? What’s your name?”
“Lisa Pine,” she said, surprised when her mother’s maiden name popped out. There was really no reason for her to use an alias. Though she kind of liked the idea. “And you are?”
The answer didn’t come quickly. But finally she said, “Mrs. Alexis Washington.”
Lisa held out her hand. “Nice to meet you. It’s scary coming to a new place when you don’t know anyone.”
Mrs. Washington hesitated again, but eventually took Lisa’s hand. “Where you live at?”
“I’m staying at the Days Inn by Yankee Stadium. Just for a while, though. I would have gone to Lincoln Hospital, but I heard someone talking about Dr. Cassidy. They said he’s a neurologist. A really good one. And since I don’t have any insurance...”
“You ask me, you come to the right place. I ain’t been seen by Dr. Cassidy myself, but my neighbor Iris, she did. Said he was real nice. Listened to everything she told him. Didn’t cut her off, or work on something else while she was talking, you know what I mean?”
“I do,” Lisa said. “It’s so difficult now. No doctors want to listen. They just want you in and out, don’t forget to pay when you leave.”
Mrs. Washington laughed, and it was as if Lisa had been given a seal of approval. “You got that right.” Then she leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “You’re real pretty. You got something going on with one of them Yankees?”
It took Lisa a moment to make the connection to the Days Inn near the stadium. “No, Mrs. Washington. I don’t. I’m single. No job. And a whole lot of headaches.”
“Okay, now Iris, she came to see him because she was getting dizzy all the time. Almost fell over at the Burger King on Grand Concourse. Had to sit down. They gave her some ice water. Then she came straight here. Dr. Cassidy sent her over to get a CT scan—you know that’s serious business—and they took her blood. They said she got some kind of disease that make you dizzy, and there ain’t much to do ’bout it. But she’s okay most the time.”
“Sounds like he’s a good doctor.”
“Oh, yeah. You know, he don’t get paid. Someone told me but I can’t remember who. Not the woman who helps run the place, though. Eve is her name and she works for his daddy or his brother or somethin’. She been comin’ down here to volunteer for a few years now, but she keeps her mouth shut, especially when it comes to Dr. Cassidy. He came a couple months back. I can’t remember when. Too many things I got to worry ’bout in my own life.”
Lisa nodded. “I hope you’re not here for anything serious.”
“Me, I’m fine. Strong as an ox. I’m here with my grandson.” She glanced over to the corner where there was a small space for kids to play with books and toys. “Spider-Man today. All this year, pretty much. Here for a vaccination.”
“Grandson? Wow, you don’t look old enough to have grandchildren.”
“I had ’em too young and they had ’em too young.” Mrs. Washington leaned closer again, clearly pleased at the compliment. “They all nice here, for the most part. They don’t have all that fancy equipment like in Manhattan, but if something bad happens with your headaches? They’ll help find a way to get you right.”
“Thank you. That makes me feel much better.” Lisa reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “Ah, it’s my brother. Would you excuse me?” She stood and walked to a relatively quiet corner near the watercooler.
Logan hadn’t actually called, but she wanted to get more than one opinion on Dr. Cassidy. She decided to focus on the staff next. There was a line at the reception desk, and the poor guy behind the counter had to answer the phones in between fielding questions. Lisa didn’t mind waiting. From where she stood she could see down the hall toward the examination rooms. Occasionally, someone in scrubs or in a lab coat would appear and then enter another room. She’d hoped for a peek at Dr. Cassidy but hadn’t had any luck so far. She would’ve known him right away...
“Can I help you?”
Lisa turned back to the reception desk. “I’m—”
Loud shouting pulled her attention back to the waiting room where two men were almost down each other’s throats screaming so furiously she couldn’t make out a word they said.
The receptionist rushed around the desk. “Volunteering?” he asked, and she nodded without thinking. “Third door down the hall.” Then he was gone, along with two other staff members, to stop the escalating fight.
Lisa started to follow them and had to stop herself. The instinct to help wasn’t something she could easily ignore. But she had no business getting involved. When one of the men shoved the other, one of the nurses whistled so loudly, it could have been heard in Brooklyn. The electric danger in the air mellowed.
She sighed as she did an about-face. Why couldn’t she get it through her thick skull that she wasn’t a cop anymore? Her job now was to be invisible. Minor altercations probably happened all the time in a place like this. They were handling the situation just fine.
The receptionist had mistaken her for a volunteer, which was perfect. Something she should’ve thought of herself.
She hurried down the long green hallway, saw two doors and entered the one that was open. It looked more like an exam room than an office, but there were three tall filing cabinets in the back, so they probably talked to potential volunteers in whatever room was free. On the wall, there were posters about common STDs, patients’ rights and a battered women’s shelter.
After checking the open doorway, she walked over to the old metal cabinets. The labels indicated that two of them held legal documents, while the third contained personnel files. Of course it was locked. That wasn’t a hindrance, though. It wouldn’t take more than thirty seconds to get it open, but it would be a reckless move that could get her thrown out on her ear.
Oh, what the hell. She made sure no one was coming, closed the door and rushed to the cabinet.
She had the right tool in her purse. Bless her brother’s training. He could break into anything in any office, and now she was pretty good at it herself. While it wasn’t a tactic she was entirely comfortable using, she would know a lot more about Dr. Cassidy after a quick peek at his file.
Before she’d even finished the thought, the cabinet lock popped to the open position. Just as she was about to pull out the drawer, she heard a brief knock. She spun around and pushed the lock in with her shoulder as Dr. Cassidy himself walked into the room.
His gaze was on an open file in his hand, but when he looked up, he seemed surprised. Did she look guilty? She gave him a tentative smile and inched away from the cabinets.
Whoa—howdy—he was good-looking. Even more so than in the picture on the trading card. She was compelled to take a few steps closer, just to confirm that his eyes truly were the color of whiskey. Oh, yes. A well-aged whiskey at that.
He cleared his throat, and she realized she was all up in his personal space. She retreated. Unfortunately, she backed into a cabinet, which then hit the wall behind it with a loud clunk.
Dr. Cassidy didn’t seem fazed. He caught her gaze again and with a puzzled frown said, “I’ll need you to take off your clothes.”
“Wow.” Lisa arched her brows. “You guys really take your volunteer screening seriously.”
2 (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef)
DANIEL ALMOST CHOKED on his laugh. He glanced down at the file then back at the gorgeous blonde. “I take it you’re not Yolanda.”
All she did was smile and he was caught off guard again. It was her lips. They weren’t all shiny and covered in goop, just pink and kissable. Not that he had any damn business thinking of her in those terms. She shook her head and her pale hair swept her narrow shoulders, further distracting him.
Damn it, this wasn’t like him. Not on the job, patient or not.
“Uh...I assume there’s someone who needs an exam, and I’m in the wrong room?” she said.
“That’s true.” Jesus. Clearly he needed more sleep. “Why don’t you follow me and we’ll see if we can get this straightened out, Ms....?”
She held out her hand. “Lisa Pine.”
“Daniel Cassidy. So, you’re here to volunteer?”
“Yes.” She let go of his hand. “If you can point me in the right direction...”
“Of course.” He led her into the hall when all he should’ve done was gesture to the adjacent office. “We’re supposed to be getting doorplates,” he said, wondering when he’d reverted to an awkward teenager. “Are you a medical professional?”
“Nope. Just want to help.”
“That’s great,” he said. “We’re perpetually understaffed and overtaxed. A lot of people depend on the free clinics.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Here you are.” He opened the door and the woman sitting behind the desk looked up. “Valeria will take care of you,” he said and caught the woman’s startled expression. Had he gotten her name wrong? No, he was pretty sure that was right. With her side-shaved haircut, the streak of silver in her long black bangs and her numerous tattoos, it wasn’t as if he was likely to confuse her with someone else.
“Hello.” Lisa moved into the room and glanced over her shoulder the moment his willpower slipped and his gaze landed on her curvy backside. “Thank you, Dr. Cassidy.”
He quickly brought his eyes up to her face. “You’re welcome. And thank you,” he said. “For volunteering.”
She smiled.
“Well, I’ve got patients to see.” He backed into the hall and almost took out a passing nurse.
Annoyed and embarrassed, he headed for exam room 4, where his patient had been waiting too long. Before he entered, he gave her file a second look.
According to Yolanda’s intake papers, she was a sex worker. A number of them came to the clinic for their health needs. He’d order blood work on her, if she’d let him. Probably not, as all she wanted was antibiotics for chlamydia. “I hope you haven’t been waiting too long,” he said. “There was a mix-up.”
Her disgusted laugh told him he could take his mix-up and put it somewhere uncomfortable. This time, he deserved it.
For the next three hours Daniel barely had time to take a breath between patients. No neurological crises arose, but that was true most days. He was technically here as a specialist, but he’d done a lot of family medicine during his training. Another neurologist, Joseph Glick, usually volunteered twice a month, but he was taking a break for the duration of Daniel’s stay.
And Daniel had no idea how long he would be staying. For now, he was content to be there. He liked the freedom and the challenge of this understaffed madhouse. It had no MRIs or CT scanners. Half the equipment didn’t work, forcing them to improvise. It certainly kept him on his toes.
Which was probably what bothered his brother about his job. Warren was as concerned about his professional status as he was about his patients. Actually, that wasn’t fair. Warren was a great neurosurgeon, in one of the most prestigious practices in New York, and he lived for the work. Daniel had begun to prefer his life to be a little more real, a little less neat.
Like his newest patient, Mr. Kennedy. The old man was snoring up a storm on the table in room 5. Mr. Kennedy squatted in a condemned building a couple of blocks away. He came to Moss Street on a regular basis, sometimes to get a hot drink, sometimes to get some sleep, and mostly because he was a diabetic who didn’t take his medication.
It would be a shame to wake him. Which made this a good opportunity for Daniel to grab a quick cup of coffee in what they laughingly called the lounge. Maybe find out more about that new volunteer. His need for caffeine abated as he discovered the woman still in Valeria’s office. Filing. “You didn’t waste any time jumping into the fray,” he said.
Lisa turned at his voice, that smile of hers drawing him inside the office. “Seems they’ll take just about anyone.”
Valeria’s laugh reminded Daniel they weren’t alone. “No offense, but that’s truer than you know.”
“She’s signed up for three whole days,” Valeria said, and there was nothing feigned about her enthusiasm.
“Excellent. I’m sure she told you about the coffee in the lounge. I was just heading over there.”
Lisa blinked and nodded.
He glanced at Valeria, who was watching him closely. The woman was the eyes and ears of the staff. He imagined not much got past her.
“Yes, I did tell her about the lounge, Dr. Cassidy,” Valeria said with a hint of amusement. “I even told Lisa where the bathroom was.”
Okay, it was past time for him to make an exit. No wonder he rarely dropped by this office. “Can I get you ladies anything on my way back?”
“That’s very thoughtful of you.” Valeria leaned back in her chair and raised her brows comically high. “I’d love a coffee. Black, no sugar. And if they still have doughnuts, I wouldn’t mind one.”
He nodded, knowing news of his “visit” would spread through the office like pinkeye. “Black, no sugar,” he repeated. “What about you, Ms. Pine?”
“I think it’s about time for her break,” Valeria said before she turned to Lisa. “Just leave the files where they are. Come back in fifteen?”
When Daniel looked at Lisa, he caught her staring back, a light blush staining her cheeks. For God’s sake, he was thirty-four years old and he couldn’t have handled this more awkwardly if he’d tried. Talk about showing his hand.
“I could use a cup of coffee.” Lisa put down the work and gave Valeria a nod before leading him down the hall.
For the life of him, Daniel couldn’t come up with a decent opening line. Though he was content to enjoy the view. Lisa had a nice, easy sway to her walk. Too bad she hadn’t worn a skirt. He’d bet she had great legs...
“I understand you’re a neurologist,” she said with a backward glance. “And that you’re single.”
“What?” he said, taken aback until he caught the mischievous look in her eyes.
“And you not only graduated from Harvard, but did your residency at Johns Hopkins and just finished a neurology fellowship at Mount Sinai.”
He sighed. Gossip was as ubiquitous as penicillin at the clinic. Until today he’d primarily been exempt from it. Or so he’d thought. Nothing he could do about it, though, and in this case, he wasn’t sure he minded. “Alarmingly true, but I bet you don’t know my blood type.”
“O-positive.”
He stopped so fast the nurse behind him almost bumped into his back. “Seriously?”
Lisa gave him a wicked grin. “Educated guess. It’s the most common blood type.”
He pointed his file at her. “You’re fixing Valeria’s coffee,” he said as they entered the lounge. “And even if there are any doughnuts left, she’s not getting any.”
Her laugh was as charming as her smile, which made the sound of his cell phone ringing in his pocket an unwelcome intruder. What was worse, it was a call from Warren. Even though he let it go to voice mail, his mood plummeted. Of course he knew what his brother wanted. Just as Warren knew Daniel wasn’t ready to discuss joining the Center.
He might as well stop thinking about Lisa Pine. Starting something with any woman, let alone a volunteer, was out of the question while his world was in flux. The only thing that mattered to him at the moment was working until he crashed from exhaustion and then repeating the cycle. Filling every nook and cranny of his life with anything that wasn’t thoughts of his future. Eventually, he’d have to face his obligations. But not today.
A row of lockers against the wall, the pair of ugly corduroy chairs and two overworked coffeemakers sitting on a folding table allowed for limited space in the small room. It could hold four people nicely; six was pushing it. He reached around Lisa for a cup while watching her carefully study the pitiful selection of leftover doughnuts.
She really was a classic beauty with her flawless complexion, electric blue eyes and blond hair. She wore some makeup, but not much. She didn’t play up her looks at all. If anything, she played them down.
She must’ve felt him staring. Probably regarded him as just another sucker overtaken by her beauty. Hell, her smile alone could make a man do very stupid things. Even a physician who knew a lot about the brain and how it worked.
“I assume Valeria knows these are stale by now,” Lisa said, then glanced down and frowned. “Dr. Cassidy? Your phone?”
He still had the cell in his hand. It was his brother again. Daniel didn’t have the luxury of turning his cell off, so he might as well deal with this now. “Excuse me,” he murmured as he handed her the empty cup.
He was halfway down the hall, planning what he’d text to Warren to make him go away, when it occurred to him he should’ve said something more to Lisa. It was tempting to go back, apologize for his rudeness. But why bother? Walking away seemed to be what he was best at.
* * *
“YOU CAME BACK. I’m impressed.”
Lisa nearly ran Dr. Cassidy over when she stepped into the hall on her way to the ladies’ room the following morning. The heat rushing to her cheeks was as mortifying as the way she’d dipped her chin until she was looking at him through her lashes. She had no idea where that reaction had come from. The only thing missing was twirling her hair around one finger. “I committed to three days,” she said.
“Right. Valeria mentioned that. Another scintillating day of filing?”
She shook her head, very aware of her hair brushing across her shoulders. She’d spent a stupidly long time with her flatiron this morning. “Nope. Screening patients.”
“Ah.”
Daniel had his lab coat on, but it was open, revealing his dark-colored pants and pale blue oxford shirt. He’d worn a tie, dark blue, and oh... “Are those little pink ribbons?”
He nodded, touching the half-Windsor knot. “Breast-cancer awareness. I have a collection of message ties. They’re useful for starting a dialogue with patients. For example, have you done a self-check lately?”
She blushed again. Not because of what he’d said, but because of the image that had popped into her mind. The same image of his hands on her breasts that she’d imagined last night while repositioning her pillow a thousand times.
Their gazes locked. His serious eyes and those slightly parted lips made her mouth go dry while her vaginal muscles tightened. Appalled at the unexpected flare of arousal, she looked away first. This sort of thing—this overwhelming desire to touch and be touched—hadn’t happened to her in ages. It wasn’t welcome, either.
Daniel cleared his throat as he leaned back, distancing himself without taking a step. “I’ve got—” He held up the file in his hands. “Maybe I’ll see you later in the lounge.”
She nodded, unable to think of a thing to say. Although she did release a big sigh when he walked into exam room 1.
She continued on her way, more aware than ever that she’d made a critical error when she’d dressed that morning. Mercifully there wasn’t a full-length mirror in the ladies’ room. Regardless, Lisa saw her mistake the moment she looked at herself in the mirror above the sink.
Technically, she hadn’t needed to return to the clinic, not for the case. Sure, she’d signed up to volunteer for three days but she could have backed out.
In the end, she hadn’t been able to resist the allure of Dr. Cassidy. In addition to discovering why he was working at a free clinic, she wanted to know why a phone call had changed his demeanor so drastically yesterday. An emergency she would’ve understood, but he hadn’t even answered it. One second he’d been joking with her and the next, he’d walked away as if she’d ceased to exist. He hadn’t even returned for his cup of coffee.
But who was she kidding? The way she’d dressed and the way she’d reacted when they’d spoken made her primary reason for returning embarrassingly obvious. She’d wanted to see him again. She wanted to feel that same jolt of excitement she’d felt yesterday. That yearning for a man’s touch she thought she’d smothered for good. For the past year, she’d been very careful, kept to herself, focused only on her new career. The four months before that she’d barely left her apartment. After what she’d been through, she knew better than to get close to anyone, let alone become involved.
But maybe her perspective was too narrow. Sex didn’t necessarily mean involvement, right? According to Dr. Cassidy’s trading card, he was looking to get married, but before he met his soul mate, she doubted Daniel would object to a night of no-strings sex.
Besides, he wouldn’t be with her. Not really. He’d be with Lisa Pine. After two days or even a week, she would disappear and that would be that. It would be like college. She hadn’t gone out often, but when she had, she’d made sure there would be no complications. His place only, first names, no sleeping over. The three one-night stands she’d had had been great. Of course that was before she’d met Miles. But she wasn’t going to think about him, except as a reminder that she was terrible at picking both friends and lovers.
There was one more hurdle to clear before she could even contemplate sleeping with Daniel: Heather Norris. The odds of her choosing a doctor who worked for free were close to nil. But the fact remained that if Lisa decided she wanted to bed the good doctor, she needed to be damn certain Heather wasn’t interested.
Because Lisa sure was. Although sex with him or any man would be a big step for her at this point. One reckless move could have devastating consequences.
She focused once more on her reflection and sighed. No wonder the patients she’d been screening all morning had seemed distrustful. Their vague responses on the intake questions and the way they wouldn’t meet her gaze had puzzled her. Until now. It hadn’t been because she was a stranger but because she’d dressed to impress Dr. Cassidy, not to blend in.
Rookie mistake. A private investigator was supposed to remain inconspicuous.
The time she’d taken with her makeup should have been a clue. And what the hell had she been thinking, wearing her pale peach silk blouse? She never wore it unless she had somewhere special to go. Helping sick people fill out forms didn’t qualify.
Of course she hadn’t brought another blouse with her. Or jeans and comfy flats, which would have been appropriate. Luckily, there was a thrift store a few blocks away where she was bound to find another top to wear. A quick glance at her watch told her she had ten minutes to go on her break, but wearing her five-inch heels, she’d never get there and back fast enough.
Instead of worrying when there was nothing to do but wait until lunch, she stopped by the lounge. There were a few doughnuts left, so she fixed a coffee for Valeria as well as for herself and picked up two honey glazed to go.
Valeria’s reaction to the impromptu gift was so appreciative it made Lisa squirm. Her motives hadn’t been pure, that was for sure. The woman was a font of knowledge when it came to the staff. Maybe Lisa could ask her out to lunch tomorrow.
Very aware of the time, Lisa leaned against the credenza, swallowed a big bite of doughnut and said, “I can’t believe I dressed so inappropriately. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You were thinking about Dr. Cassidy,” Valeria said. “Can’t say I blame you. But don’t get your hopes up. You aren’t the first girl to try to get something started with him.”
Lisa considered pretending to be outraged, but what for? Even if she hadn’t come to work wearing silk, Valeria was too sharp to have missed what was going on. “He is puzzling, though. While we were in the lounge yesterday, he got a phone call and he couldn’t escape the room quickly enough. I figured it was a medical emergency, but he was wearing a pager, so maybe an ex-wife?”
Valeria shook her head. “Nope, he’s never been married,” she said as she pushed her chair back far enough to put her heavy black boots up. “I might be wrong. You’re different. Dr. Cassidy isn’t usually so chatty. He certainly hasn’t offered to get me coffee before. Or given a volunteer a tour of the lounge.”
“He was just being nice.”
“Oh, he’s very nice. And very focused on his job. But he doesn’t socialize with the staff.” She lowered her voice. “I’m not saying he’s a snob, though a doctor like him, you’d half expect him to be.”
“You mean because he’s a neurologist?”
“Because he’s a genius.” Valeria looked up at the big round clock above the door and then turned back to face Lisa. “Harvard and Johns Hopkins didn’t take him because his family’s loaded or even because of his last name. People who know what’s what say he’s something special. Yet here he is, working late every single night.” Valeria shook her head. “As much as we appreciate his help, he shouldn’t be here treating STDs and broken bones. It’s such a waste. There’s got to be a story behind it, but Eve isn’t talking, and she’s the only one who really knows him.”
Lisa took another bite of her doughnut. She’d wondered why everyone called him Dr. Cassidy while they referred to the other doctors as Dr. George and Dr. Carol. The staff obviously regarded Daniel as a cut above. “You said something about his family name. Is he related to Dr. Randall Cassidy, who started the Madison Avenue Neurological Center?”
“Yep. That was his father. He passed several months ago. Daniel’s brother, Warren, runs the Center now.”
“I’m surprised that— Wow, too many Dr. Cassidys to keep straight.” Lisa laughed. “Dr. Daniel doesn’t work there?”
“Nope. He came here right after finishing his fancy fellowship. He’s been working here almost three months now.”
“But he’ll probably end up there, right?”
Valeria shrugged. “Probably. But I’ve been told to keep him on the schedule.”
Lisa wondered if there was bad blood between the brothers. Valeria clearly knew more than she’d let on, but the other woman had confirmed a lot. According to Lisa’s research, Warren was a celebrated neurosurgeon in his own right, and their father’s patients had included Supreme Court justices, senators and leaders of at least three other countries. Lots of big egos to fit in one place. Wouldn’t be the first time a family ended up divided by power and wealth.
“You know what?” Valeria put her boots on the floor and Lisa realized her break had ended two minutes ago.
“I say go for it. I think you might be just what Dr. Cassidy needs. Worst thing that could happen is he says no.”
Lisa sighed as she pushed off the cabinet she’d been leaning on. “I’m sorry if I’ve given you the wrong impression.” A short consensual fling was one thing, but everyone knowing about it? No, thanks. “Really, I’m not—” She cut herself off when Valeria checked the doorway, a clear sign that Lisa should go back to work. But just as she got to the door, Valeria stopped her.
“I got the right impression. I don’t know much about his personal life other than what I’ve told you. But be careful. Eve makes sure no one gets too inquisitive about Dr. Cassidy and I have no idea why.”
“That’s the second time you’ve mentioned her.” She’d also heard the name from Mrs. Washington.
“You’ll meet her this afternoon. She’s been volunteering here for a few years, and she’s the one who convinced him to sign up. I don’t think she meant him to stay this long, though.”
“Huh. Well, he’s very nice. And good-looking, but I’m here to work, not flirt.”
“I don’t know, chica. You seem like a multitasker to me.”
Lisa laughed. “You’re the one I have to watch out for, you troublemaker.” She backed out the door and bumped into a woman in the hallway. “Sorry,” she said, taking a half step back as she noticed that the woman’s name badge read Eve. “Are you all right?”
Eve gave her a quick head-to-toe assessment and then smiled. “Fine, thanks,” she said as she stepped around Lisa and continued on her way.
So that was Daniel’s watcher. She was tall, attractive, with dark hair that just hit her shoulders. She was younger than Lisa had imagined. Maybe late thirties. But the air of confidence about her made Lisa curious about her relationship with Daniel.
Whoever she was, Lisa had the feeling Eve would be a formidable foe. Not that a one-night stand was something noteworthy, or wrong, unless Eve was more than just a friend. The last thing Lisa wanted was to get mixed up in a territorial battle. Although Daniel was on a dating-club trading card.
If Lisa had any sense of self-preservation, she’d forget the whole thing. Forget the spark he’d ignited inside her. Feeling numb wasn’t that bad. She’d done okay living on autopilot for the past year. Tomorrow, she’d be done with her commitment to the clinic. By the end of the week she wouldn’t even remember the color of Dr. Cassidy’s eyes.
3 (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef)
THE ALARM ON Daniel’s cell beeped, reminding him that he had to leave in the next five minutes. Eve had asked him to go with her to El Bohio Lechonera, her favorite local lunch spot, and she didn’t ask often. He would have loved to avoid it, not because of her company but because of what she wanted to talk about.
He finished up the notes on his last patient—around here, he didn’t dare put his paperwork off. Nothing beat a free clinic for sheer volume except for an urban ER.
As he slipped off his lab coat, he thought again about Lisa. He honestly hadn’t expected to see her, and he sure as hell hadn’t expected to have such a strong physical reaction. Good thing his novelty tie provided a distraction from points south.
It had been a long time since he’d felt this kind of take-no-prisoners want. Plenty of women turned him on, but none of them had kept him awake half the night. Not since high school, at least. Though Lisa hadn’t seemed bothered by his abrupt exit from the lounge, he probably ought to give her some sort of explanation. Then ask her out.
Hell, it couldn’t hurt to try. He’d wait until she finished her volunteer stint. Simple. It didn’t have to mean anything or go anywhere. A night or two would do the trick. Then things could go back to normal.
The distinctive click of heels in the hallway signaled Eve’s arrival. She was still on the clock at the Center and most days only came to the clinic the evenings they took appointments. He glanced toward the open doorway and there she was, giving him a very familiar look. The one that said she’d had it up to here.
Too bad. He was fed up, as well. Being his second cousin, Eve had known him since they were kids. She’d been there for him after his mother had run off to France with her art teacher. And he understood Eve had his best interest at heart, but it didn’t give her the right to treat him like a disobedient child. Especially given she was only five years older than him. “Would it change anything if I asked you nicely not to bring up my brother or the Center today?”
Eve continued staring at him with nary a blink. “What do you think?”
“Fine.” He left the shared office as he’d found it and joined her in the hall. “I’m thinking of letting you pay for lunch.”
“Well, don’t bother. You keep that brilliant brain of yours busy with the really important stuff. Like explaining for the hundredth time why antibiotics won’t help a cold.”
He winced, thinking today might be the day they had their little talk. The one where she stopped being so sarcastic about his staying on at the clinic.
“I’ve got a taxi waiting.”
He tapped on the reception desk as they passed, just a quick reminder that he’d be out of the office for an hour. Then he saw Lisa. Her back was to him, but it was enough. Why was he waiting to ask her out? She wasn’t his employee. They barely worked together. There was nothing in the Hippocratic oath that said a doctor couldn’t date a volunteer. Before he even finished the thought, he and Eve had left the clinic for the warm June afternoon and the waiting Yellow cab.
“New volunteer?” Eve asked as soon as they were on their way.
“Yep. Came on board yesterday and Valeria put her to work filing right away. Today they’ve got her doing intake screenings.”
“Wow, she must be a very good screener for you to know her schedule so well. You didn’t say a word to the last recruit I brought in, and she was there an entire week.”
“Relax. She’s only going to be there one more day.”
“I am relaxed. Hey, you’re a grown man. You can do whatever you like with whomever you choose.”
He didn’t hide his frustration when he met her gaze. “Why change now? The last time I had a woman in my life, all you talked about was how it was never going to last.”
“I was right.”
He grunted, unwilling to continue this game. “You’re my cousin, and I love you, but come on, Eve. Knock it off.”
“Fine. I won’t talk about the fact that she must have a powerful reason to volunteer in the Bronx. Altruism is one thing, but a woman like her? Two months after that article in the Times that had your picture on it?”
He shook his head, refusing to be baited. Eve meant well, but sometimes he wasn’t sure if she was looking out for him or was jealous. He really hoped it wasn’t the latter. “I can’t decide between the Pernil con Mofongo and the number one combo.”
“Get the combo. That way you’ll have enough left over for dinner.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Eve gave him an eye roll. “Cut it out. I’m in no mood.”
“I can see lunch is going to be fun.”
“Yes, we’re going to talk about you. And Warren. And all the things you wish I wouldn’t bring up.”
“Yay,” he said. “I can’t wait.”
The taxi pulled over and Daniel paid the driver as Eve went in to try to grab a table. Through some miracle of timing, they had to wait only five minutes for one.
The restaurant smelled like its signature Puerto Rican roast pork, and the casual atmosphere lent itself to loud discussions and laughter. Their orders were taken pronto, and Eve wasted no time getting to the point.
“Warren can’t do anything with the house until you remove your things. And that has nothing to do with you starting at the Center. So just bite the bullet and call him.”
Daniel held back a sigh. Though he doubted he’d have any luck, he decided to go for one more attempt at forestalling a conversation he wasn’t ready for. “You look tired. Out clubbing with the girls again?”
“Thanks a lot, you dick. Two martinis. That’s all I had. And yes, I was out with the girls because I haven’t done anything remotely fun in over a month. Anyway, I know you’re just trying to change the subject, and no, I’m not going there. Warren wants answers, Danny. Is that so hard to understand? You aren’t the only one who lost a father.”
“Whoa,” he said, taken aback. “Going right for the jugular today, huh?”
“This is me, giving you a smack. As much as I love what you’re doing for the clinic, you have other obligations. Unless you plan on spending the rest of your life being an unpaid GP in the Bronx.”
“Of course I don’t. That’s not... I’m...damn it, I’m just not ready to leave yet.”
She winced. “You made a promise. To take your place at the Center.”
“I promised Dad.”
“Warren is still your family, and the Center is still your father’s legacy.”
Daniel flinched and hoped Eve hadn’t seen.
“Unless he told you all bets were off when he died?”
He really had to bite down on that one. Their meals arrived, but the churning in his gut made food the last thing he wanted. “Did Dad mention to you any plans for expansion?” he asked, careful to keep his tone casual.
She looked puzzled. “Well, he knew we’d have to hire additional help once you came on board. More support staff, for one thing, and we talked about finding another neurologist. He said once the three Cassidys were there, the waiting list would double. Is that what you mean?”
“Yeah.” Just what he’d thought. Eve really didn’t know anything about his dad’s grandiose plans. She thought Daniel was being stubborn and childish. He wished he could explain to her why he needed more time, but he couldn’t. Not until he could figure out what to say to Warren.
It didn’t help that he had no idea what his brother was feeling. They were only four years apart, but had completely different temperaments. Warren was more like their dad and the two of them had been really close. Their father had bragged about Daniel, but talked to Warren.
So why hadn’t he wanted Warren to know about his very ambitious plans for a whole new approach to their practice? His death had come so suddenly, and so soon after he’d told Daniel about his ideas that Daniel figured he’d died of a stroke. That he’d probably also suffered some mini strokes, and that was why their last and final conversation had been so unsettling. But it was his heart that had given out, and the autopsy had shown no abnormalities in his brain.
The promise he’d made his father wasn’t only that he’d work at the Madison Avenue Neurological Center. Discovering his father’s true colors had shaken him to the core. He didn’t want to walk into his new life until he completely understood what he wanted his life to be. What the hell was he supposed to tell Warren? Nothing? Should he just pretend the conversation with his father had never happened?
Maybe. But Daniel sure as hell wouldn’t forget it. He looked at Eve again. “Dad encouraged me to take some time off after I finished my fellowship.”
Eve’s mouth opened but it took a few seconds for her to ask, “When?”
“A few days before he died. I’d just finished at Mount Sinai.”
“During that private dinner meeting he had with you?”
“Yes.” Daniel knew she expected him to elaborate. Wouldn’t happen. Eve had been the office manager for sixteen years. She’d started right after graduating from Cornell and no one could have run the busy practice more smoothly. He shouldn’t be surprised she’d found out about the dinner. She just didn’t know what had been discussed, and it was clear she was hurt by his silence.
“He never mentioned the time off to me,” she said, then took a quick sip. “However, I really doubt he meant for you to take three months.”
“I’m not ready yet, all right? And for what it’s worth, he told me to take whatever time I needed. I wish things were different. But please know I’m not being frivolous. There’s a lot at stake here.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand your hesitation. All you ever wanted was to become a neurologist. To be like him. You don’t need to be dealing with stuffy noses and syphilis. You’ve got a gift, Daniel, and you’re wasting your talent.”
He exhaled as he shook his head and picked up his fork, although he doubted he’d use it. “You know she’s having an affair, right?”
Eve blinked at his non sequitur. “Warren’s wife? Yes. And so does he. What difference does that make to your commitment?”
“None. None whatsoever.” He took a big enough bite to put an end to the discussion. He knew exactly what he was supposed to do. Help Warren with their father’s house, with the trust and the business that was now technically half his. But nothing about that plan was simple anymore.
A minute of silence went by before he pointed his fork at Eve. “Warren stayed home from work for a week after Dad’s death. One week. Then it was back to business as usual. He knows I need some time to think things through, but all he cares about is the Center. He could quit tomorrow and have more than enough money to live out his life in luxury. Maybe with his wife, if he even gives a damn about her anymore. But at this rate, with the hours he’s keeping, he won’t make it past sixty-four, either.”
“People mourn in different ways,” Eve said, her voice gone soft and sad.
“Exactly. The doctors on staff right now can handle the current patients. I don’t care how important they are. The only reason Warren wants me there is because he doesn’t think it looks good that I’m working at a free clinic.”
“You’re not being fair. You know Dr. Elliot planned to retire as soon as you came on board. In view of your dad’s passing, he’s stayed to help out.”
“I think Dad was right. We should consider hiring another neurologist soon.”
“Daniel—”
“Look, I know you want what’s best for the business and for me. I’m just not sure following in Dad’s footsteps is what I want.”
Eve couldn’t have looked more shocked. She’d worshiped Dr. Randall Cassidy just as Daniel had. But she nodded and gave him a tight smile. “All I’m asking is for you to talk to Warren. Tell him what you’ve told me.”
Daniel shoved aside his plate. “I already have. He just doesn’t want to listen.”
* * *
AT LUNCH, LISA GRABBED a six-inch veggie from Subway on her way to the thrift store. There she found a great blue-and-white-striped sweater and a pair of jeans she liked better than her old favorites. There were shoes for sale, but she drew the line at wearing anything that once held a stranger’s foot.
She got back to the clinic with a couple of minutes to spare, so she reapplied her lipstick, stuffed her purse and other clothes in a locker and then checked her phone for messages. She didn’t have any, which wasn’t unusual these days. After all, she’d cut herself off from virtually everyone who’d been a part of her old life.
Mostly her communications were from Logan or Mike, the investigator who worked with them. Once a week her mom texted. That was, when she and Dad weren’t playing in a golf tournament, their latest passion since retiring to South Carolina. Lisa tried to phone them every other Sunday. Their conversations were always brief. They still felt bad about what had happened to her and never knew what to say. Frankly, there was nothing to be said.
As the day progressed, it became clear her change of clothes had paid off. The patient intakes went more smoothly. Sadly, she’d seen Daniel only twice despite staying until six, an hour after they stopped accepting new patients.
She did, however, meet Eve again. Lisa got the impression Eve didn’t like her very much. But then, Lisa had only one day left at the clinic, unless she decided to extend her commitment. Which largely depended on what happened with Daniel.
Okay, that made her sound like a lousy excuse for a human being. The clinic needed the help, regardless of her sex life, or lack thereof.
But before she agreed to anything else she’d have to go over the schedule with Valeria. Lisa couldn’t let volunteering interfere with her job. It wasn’t fair to Logan. And if she wanted to be a truly good person, she’d forget about Daniel altogether. A short steamy fling with him would mean she couldn’t return to the clinic as a volunteer.
Not that it appeared as though she’d have to choose. Maybe Eve had said something to him and now he was avoiding her. Dispirited, Lisa went to the lockers and got her purse. When she turned to leave, Daniel was standing just a few feet away.
“Hello again,” he said.
“Hi.” She paused to dial down the excited pitch of her voice. “You on your way out?”
“I am. Heading to the Upper East Side?”
Damn. “Other direction.”
“Ah.” He seemed disappointed, which boosted her spirits. “You take the subway?”
“Yep.” She wondered why he was standing there and if he even had a locker. Both coffeemakers were off, the carafes rinsed out. The doughnuts were long gone.
“Any chance you...?” His voice trailed off, his gaze drifting past her.
Lisa realized they were no longer alone. The wall with the lockers abutted the exit leading to the back alley. Now that the front door was locked, everyone would have to pass them to leave.
“Excuse me.” A nurse she’d met yesterday smiled as she ducked around her.
It took Lisa a moment to realize that she was blocking access to the lockers. “Sorry,” she said and stood closer to Daniel, so close that she was almost pressing into him.
It never occurred to her that he wouldn’t move back to give her room. Something that raised the brows of a watchful older woman dressed in pink scrubs.
“You were saying?” Lisa murmured.
Evidently their audience didn’t bother him because he was staring at her again, only this time he was up close and personal. She felt his warm breath on her cheek. Felt the heat from his body. The photocopy that she had in her purse didn’t do justice to the power of his smile. “I was wondering if—”
“Hey, Dr. Cassidy. You’re still here.” Hector from the reception desk stood at the doorway.
Daniel sighed and gave his head a small shake of frustration before looking at the man. “Need something?”
Lisa sighed, too. Why couldn’t everyone just go away? Couldn’t they tell that she was going to say yes to whatever Daniel was asking for? Probably dinner. Maybe more than dinner. But he couldn’t ask her with all the interruptions.
“I need a prescription.”
“Now?”
“It’s for Mr. Kennedy.”
Someone bumped into Lisa’s shoulder. She stumbled a step and her breast pressed into Daniel’s arm. He still didn’t move. And she refused to look him in the eye as she straightened. Her cell signaled a text and she was relieved to have someplace else to look.
It was Logan. He wanted the Trading Cards investigation wrapped up pronto. Her breath caught. How could she have forgotten the main reason she was there? Heather hadn’t turned down Dr. Cassidy yet, so it was hands-off until Lisa got the word.
She stepped farther back. “I’d better be going.”
“Yeah, I’ve got to...”
Neither of them moved.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” he asked.
Valeria, who wasn’t even pretending not to stare at them, had entered the lounge with a student doctor.
“Yes,” she said, hating his confused frown. But she couldn’t say anything more.
“Good,” he said. “Have a nice night.”
“You, too.”
“Yeah,” Valeria whispered as she walked toward the door. “You’re here to work, not flirt.”
4 (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef)
LISA ROSE FROM the small table that doubled as a desk and place to eat, mostly takeout since her efficiency apartment had no kitchen to speak of. After making herself a cup of oolong tea, she returned to the laptop and read her report over one last time. While she had several pages of notes, she’d kept the write-up for Heather Norris brief and to the point. Basically, Lisa was giving the client exactly what she’d paid for: an overall picture of Daniel Cassidy, with a focus on his job and an estimate of his income.
Dr. Cassidy appears to be in excellent health. He’s a nonsmoker and there’s no evidence of addiction. He currently works as a full-time volunteer general practitioner at the Moss Street free clinic, Bronx, NY. His employment began three months ago, and there is no indication that he plans to change his situation in the near future.
Satisfied she’d met her obligation to their client, she hit Send. Just because she knew more about Daniel didn’t mean she was cheating Heather. The woman had never asked whether Dr. Cassidy had the ability to turn a woman’s knees to Jell-O with only a smile. Or that he had an intensely sexy stare that could result in a serious case of the shivers.
When Lisa hesitated to send a copy to Logan, she was forced to admit that maybe she’d come close to dipping a toe over the line. Only thing she could really do was move on by investigating Heather’s number two pick. Another doctor, this time a dermatologist who had a private practice in Midtown.
She unfolded the photocopy of Dr. Edward Fleming’s Hot Guys trading card. Lisa had looked into the dating club for herself. While it seemed completely legit with a slew of satisfied members, Lisa would’ve done the same thing as Heather and hired a PI to investigate her potential dates first.
Although not for the same reason as Heather. Ms. Norris had made no bones about the importance of the two doctors’ earnings. Lisa wanted to know everything she could about a man she’d want to date. Honestly, she didn’t really care about their income. She wanted safety. Someone she could trust.
But her own bitter experience had revealed that on a personal level her instincts were horribly flawed. The reminder of what her mistakes had cost had her shifting in her seat. Daniel appeared to meet all of her ideal man requirements, but clearly he had his own issues. There was a reason he wasn’t at the Neurological Center.
The last thing he needed was someone like her.
Her sigh sent Dr. Fleming’s paper flying off her desk. What a perfect metaphor for the mess she’d made of her life.
She retrieved the photocopy and focused on Edward Fleming. He was looking to date, his favorite restaurant was the Pure Thai Cookhouse in Hell’s Kitchen, his passion was flying and according to the woman who submitted his card, he was dependable and sweet.
That was the issue, though, wasn’t it? Lisa felt sure all the men on the cards sounded great, but there was no way to tell, really. It wasn’t cynicism. She knew firsthand that the people closest to you could turn out to be monsters. Tess had been her best friend, the one Lisa had trusted with all her heart. Tess’s uncanny ability to expose liars and cheaters and men with tempers should have raised a red flag, but it hadn’t.
She took a deep calming breath. Dwelling on Tess’s painful betrayal was counterproductive. More than that, it was damaging. The line between looking squarely at the truth and being sucked into an abyss of self-recrimination was very thin. She’d worked hard to move on, and she wasn’t going to blow it now.
Dr. Fleming’s name brought up a lot of hits on Google. His eponymous practice came up first. The site was professionally done, with plenty of quick-loading graphics of the before-and-after variety, testimonials and lots of advertisements for all the ways people could look younger. He was a real fan of Botox.
His bio read like a press release, so nothing to go on there. But he used LinkedIn, so...
Her email notification app beeped. Huh. Heather. She was out of town on business and Lisa hadn’t expected to hear back so soon. The response was short and to the point: Forget about Cassidy. He’s gorgeous, but a bleeding heart. Working for free? No thanks. Let’s move on to Dr. Fleming.
Lisa acknowledged the request professionally even though her heart was pounding and the stupid grin on her face felt weird. But she pulled herself together quickly. Daniel was no longer a person of interest as far as McCabe Security and Investigation was concerned, which meant...
No. She wouldn’t think about that yet. Heather was still their client, so Lisa went back to work.
Fleming looked more and more like the kind of man Heather wanted. He golfed. Co-owned a private plane. Belonged to a number of professional organizations and had dozens of connections listed on LinkedIn. In fact, the only mystery about Dr. Fleming was why he wasn’t married already.
Once again, she couldn’t be sure the information on the trading card was true. For either doctor.
She should call Cory, her friend from her old precinct.
At the thought her chest tightened. Calling him wasn’t something to take lightly. He would welcome the contact; she knew that. It was her ego that made the decision difficult.
She went back to work, making notes, clicking on website after website, until it was crystal clear that Dr. Edward Fleming appeared to be a perfect match for Heather. She’d be all over him. Lisa put his trading-card photocopy in her in-box while she pulled out Daniel’s.
She stared at his image, only mildly surprised at the butterflies in her tummy. Maybe that was reason enough to never show up at the clinic again. But really, if she kept her wits about her, did a bit more digging, why not have a one-night stand? Especially because she’d already met him. Gotten the scoop on him from his coworkers and patients. Besides, he didn’t really know who she was, thank God, because she couldn’t ethically set him straight without outing her client.
The moment she typed the final sentence of her report on Dr. Fleming, Lisa surrendered and turned her thoughts to Daniel. Half of her wanted to get that one-night-stand thing going. But the top half still had doubts. There were mysteries about the man. Was it his choice not to work at the Center run by his brother? Or was there a reason he wasn’t welcome to practice there? For all she knew, he could have a record. Be an addict. She’d met her fair share of people like him who started with energy drinks then moved on to ADD drugs and worse. Frankly, everything about Daniel made him seem too good to be true.
She really should call Cory.
Leaning back, Lisa went through a whole cycle of deep breathing while giving the matter serious consideration. Calling him was the logical next step. Logan never said a word, but he knew as well as she did that she had a wealth of investigative connections and useful tools at her disposal, and she hadn’t used any so far. Her own embarrassment wasn’t just crippling her; it impacted the business. With a deep exhalation, she made her decision. It was time to take another step on her road to recovery.
She remembered the phone number. Of course she did. She’d worked at the 36th Precinct for four years. Assuming things hadn’t changed too much since her resignation sixteen months ago, she should reach Detective Cory Riley.
“Detective Lisa McCabe.” Cory’s voice lowered, as if finding it difficult to believe it was really her. Perfectly understandable. She’d avoided everyone from the department for the past year. “Hey, kid, how ya doing?”
Kid. She smiled. While in the academy together, how many times had she reminded him she was a month older than he was. “Ah, you know, same shit, different day,” she said, the familiar banter coming more easily than she’d expected even as the reality that nothing was the same, would ever be the same, pressed on her chest like a fifty-pound weight. She wasn’t even a detective anymore. Being too trusting had lost her the right to that title. And after having worked so damn hard for it. Trying to make her mark in a good-old-boys network like the NYPD had been a monster of a hill to climb. “How about you?”
“Me? I’m okay. The wife got a kitten. My legs are shredded.” He paused and the sounds of the detective’s bull pen behind him brought tears to her eyes. “It’s been a long time,” he said, his voice softer. “God, I’m sorry about what happened. I know I should have called—”
“You did. I got your voice mails. It was me—I wasn’t ready...”
“I should’ve kept calling.”
“I just would’ve reported you for stalking.”
Cory laughed. “Yeah, you would,” he said, sounding more relaxed. “I can’t shake off what happened with Tess. It doesn’t seem real. How the hell could she have fooled us for so long?”
Lisa swallowed around the lump in her throat. “You mean me. She fooled me, Cory.”
“No,” he said after a short pause. “Tess Brouder fooled all of us, even the brass. I keep thinking about our academy days, trying to figure out if there’d been any clues that she was off her fucking rocker. But for the life of me, I can’t come up with anything. So, no, kid, you’re not alone.”
But Lisa was alone in this. It was sweet of Cory to want to soften the truth, but she’d trusted Tess with everything. Including access to all her personal documents.
“They’re still trying to figure out how she managed to bypass the precinct’s firewalls. Hacking the NYPD took some balls, that’s for sure.” Cory paused. “You ever get your credit straightened out?”
She didn’t want to continue this conversation. The panic attack building inside her wasn’t as bad as some, but with her inner voice screaming at her, the weight crushing her chest and now the shakes coming on... Rehashing the most painful betrayal of her life was torturous. No wonder she’d put this off for so long. “It’ll take years of rebuilding for me to get back my old credit rating, if I ever can. She really wiped me out.”
“Yeah, well, she can’t do any more damage now.”
Lisa briefly closed her eyes. That wasn’t entirely true. Tess’s death had robbed Lisa of finding the one thing she was desperate to know: Why? Why go to so much trouble when all she had to do was leave their shared apartment? They weren’t even working in the same precinct. And why bother with the other four victims. To try to mask that her primary target was Lisa?
“Cordova’s team is still working hard,” Cory said. “He knows it was an execution-style hit straight out of the Mafia rule book, but—”
“Nobody’s talking.” She knew how difficult it could be when a team ran into a roadblock. It would be old-fashioned police work that would net them their next clue, but that could take a hell of a long time.
“He’s sure they’ll get a break soon,” Cory said. “At least you got a copy of that flash drive.”
So had everyone else involved with the case. They were all privy to the intimate details of Lisa’s life and Tess’s utter contempt for her. Lisa hadn’t managed to read even half of the filth written about her. “Yeah—” Her damn throat closed up. She cleared it a couple of times. “Anyway, I’m actually calling to ask a favor. You think you could run a quick background check for me? Just, you know, priors, anything that stands out.”
“For you? No problem. I’ll get right on it and call you back.”
“Thanks, Cory. I’ll email you the name and address, and if you wouldn’t mind emailing me back, I’d appreciate it.” Damn it, he had to have heard the wobble in her voice.
“You’re missed around here, Lisa. Seriously. Just because that bitch was on some kind of vendetta doesn’t mean you weren’t a good cop. You didn’t ask for any of this.”
“I appreciate that.” She straightened in her chair. Pushed her trembling fingers through her hair and lied her ass off. “I’m doing great now as a PI. There’s a lot less paperwork, that’s for sure. Some of the clients are really interesting.”
Cory let out a big sigh and did her the great courtesy of getting off the phone quickly.
Before she did anything else, she emailed him the details. Thank God for spell-check. Once she hit Send, the reality of what she’d just done hit her. She’d guessed it would be bad, rekindling old connections, but that had been like ripping stitches from her tattered soul.
Somehow, she managed to log off the computer and shut it down. Then she got out the Jack Daniel’s. She was allowed exactly two fingers. No more. The last thing she needed was to add an addiction to her broken life. She just hoped two fingers would be enough.
* * *
DANIEL NEEDED TO do something fast. Working in the clinic while Lisa was in the building wasn’t working out so well. Not her fault. She certainly wasn’t in his way. But she was a distraction. He had questions. Too many for a woman he’d barely spoken to, and yet they’d kept him up far too late.
He couldn’t help wondering if she didn’t have to work. Temporarily unemployed? Maybe she worked at home, so coming to the clinic was a way to socialize. If he hadn’t interacted with her, he never would’ve considered she’d find volunteering at a free clinic rewarding. With her beauty and the cool reserve of a socialite, she looked more the fund-raiser type. Like his sister-in-law, for instance, only much prettier. He doubted Warren’s wife even knew how to file. But when she smiled and batted her lashes, men pulled out their checkbooks.
Forget being flirty. All Lisa would have to do was walk into the room. But somehow he couldn’t see her in that role.
And the staff seemed to like her. He didn’t really know the nurses or clerical personnel, but he overheard them chatting sometimes. They should’ve hated Lisa on sight. In his experience a woman that beautiful could stir up lots of trouble.
Also, she didn’t wear a ring. Or any jewelry, in fact. Just a watch. He hadn’t gotten a good look at it, so he had no idea if it was a street-vendor special or something from Tiffany & Co.
Her hair was different today. More casual. Straighter, with longish bangs that brushed her eyelashes. He liked it this way, and he liked that she looked so comfortable in a casual sweater and jeans.
“Dr. Cassidy?”
He blinked. Angie Weeks blinked back, only she was on the examination table wearing a paper gown, while he was holding her open file and daydreaming about Lisa. Yeah, that had to stop.
He quietly cleared his throat. “Anything else I should know about?”
She looked sideways then back, her gaze cautious. “Nope. I figured one STD was plenty.”
Right. If he could have kicked his own ass around the block, he would have. “I’ll go find out where the nurse is. Then we can finish up quickly. I’ll be right back.”
“Quickly. Yeah. Sure.”
He left exam room 3. Lisa had been on his mind most of the day, but this was the first time he’d let it interfere with an examination. Not just the first time today, but ever. He was meticulous about patient care, and he never took his responsibility lightly. He would be damn sure it wouldn’t happen again. Right now, though, he needed a female nurse to sit in on Ms. Weeks’s exam. After his patient had been taken care of properly, he would do what he should have done earlier—wait for Lisa to have a break and then ask her to dinner.
* * *
IT WAS GETTING RIDICULOUS. After spending all morning working on the divorce case for Logan, Lisa had looked forward to coming to the clinic after lunch. But she’d been pulling files since one o’clock, which had sounded easy enough until she’d realized these weren’t the files in Valeria’s office, but in a storage room that smelled of dust with a hint of mildew. These were old files, patients who hadn’t been seen in six years or longer. The manila folders with the colored key tabs had been stuffed so tightly into rickety shelves that she hoped all the paper cuts she’d suffered didn’t land her in one of the exam rooms.
Although if it was Dr. Cassidy doing the examining, she wouldn’t mind one little bit.
“Ouch!” Lisa yanked back her hand, muttering a few cusswords that seemed to help the sting. Once again, the box of tissues she’d put on the counter came in handy.
Okay, so it wasn’t just the tightly packed files turning her poor fingers into a battlefield that was the problem. She couldn’t stop thinking about Daniel. Not too smart since her interest in him might’ve earned her this hellish job. Apparently her exile was courtesy of Eve.
She shoved another five files into the open box, still debating her next move. Valeria had asked if she would like to make another commitment to volunteer. Lisa hadn’t given her an answer.
The easy thing would be to say no. That way, Lisa Pine would disappear into the city, end of story.
The less easy thing would be to agree, but without a locked-in commitment. She had a full-time job with flexible hours, which was important for more reasons than her paycheck. Logan depended on her now. Mike, the only other employee, had transferred some of the office work to her so he could be of more help with the security side of the business. But she wouldn’t mind coming to the clinic when she had some free time.
Since Tess had stolen her identity and everything else that mattered, Lisa hadn’t interacted with many people outside of work assignments. Her choice. She didn’t want to make friends. She’d barely wanted to make acquaintances.
But the Moss Street Clinic had made her rethink a few things. Leaving aside the issue of Daniel, she liked working there. It had been only two and a half days, yes, but there was a vibe to the place that let her breathe. It felt safe. Bangers from different gangs could sit in the waiting room without killing each other. Homeless people weren’t harassed, and sex workers were treated with respect and courtesy. Everyone was cared for, regardless of past mistakes and bad choices.
So, yeah, she could see making this a part of her life. A few hours here and there.
And then there was Daniel.
Now that Cory’s email had given him a thumbs-up, she felt reasonably certain that one night of sex with Daniel would not only be safe, but would cure a lot of what ailed her. It would be a very big step, but she didn’t know when she’d have another chance like this. If it worked out, then maybe she’d check into the trading-card thing for herself. But that would be later. Much later. Or maybe never if it made her feel this shaky. What were the odds of her picking the one psycho in the bunch. Pretty damn high.
Besides, she was too busy fantasizing about Daniel Cassidy to even think about strangers on cards.
The question now wasn’t whether to sleep with Daniel one time. But whether she could have both a single night of down and dirty sex and a semi-regular gig at the clinic.
She could imagine volunteering as a form of long-term therapy. The clinic was an ideal place to learn how to function now that she had her new armor in place. The idea of actually helping people instead of finding evidence of adultery or embezzlement or tracking down deadbeat dads would help her feel more productive.
Having sex with Daniel would be the first step to embracing her new definition of intimacy. Feeling pleasure? Fine. Getting sweaty and wearing herself out? Fantastic. Letting herself trust or feel or care? Never again.
After a heartfelt sigh, another five files went into the box. Then another five.
Even though her shift was over, she kept on working. There were still patients out there, and she hadn’t managed a moment alone with Daniel.
A few minutes later he showed up and nearly got himself a knee to the groin. She let out a breath and shifted to give him room. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. Wasn’t sure you’d be here.” He looked good. Tired, but good. “In fact, what are you still doing here?”
“I wanted to finish the row of files I was working on.”
His smile increased her already rapid heartbeat. “Don’t you know they multiply the moment you turn your back?”
He’d taken off his lab coat, leaving him in jeans and a blue shirt. When he leaned back against the table where the finished boxes went, she moved closer to identify the weird marks on his tie. Viruses, maybe? Bacteria?
“You getting hazard duty pay for this?”
“What?” She looked up, then at the stacks of files still left to do. “Oh, right, I really should, huh?”
“How did you end up with this job?”
Lisa shrugged. “Somebody has to do it,” she said and jerked with a start when he touched her cheek.
“Dust,” he said, holding up the smudged pad of his thumb as proof.
“Oh, yeah, I’m sure I’ve got dust in all kinds of places.”
Daniel’s look of amusement faded as his gaze lowered to her hands. “Jesus.” He caught her wrist and inspected her fingers.
Self-conscious, she drew back and pulled out the tissue she’d been using. “They’re only paper cuts,” she murmured.
“You should be wearing nitrile gloves. That’s one thing we’ve got plenty of in the clinic.”
“I hadn’t thought of it but you’re right.” She stared down at her hands and then at his, stunned at how much she wanted him to touch her again. Her cheek, her fingers, she didn’t care—she just wanted to feel his warm skin against hers. It had been so long.
She cleared her throat.
Searching her face, he gave her a gentle smile. “May I?”
Wadding up the tissue, Lisa stared down at his extended palm. She laid her hand on his much larger one and didn’t even blink when he cupped her elbow and drew her closer.
His hands were solid, comforting and everything she needed. He studied her fingers, but his other hand moved from her elbow to her back. When he stood, they were close enough to kiss.
Looking at him, she could see her own hunger in his gaze. He’d started breathing faster, which made her pulse race.
“I’ve thought about you all day.”
“That’s...nice,” she said, wondering whether she was supposed to make the first move. Or if him pulling her almost against his body was the first move, and now she was supposed to react.
“And last night.”
“Oh,” she said, understanding perfectly. “I hope I didn’t keep you up late.”
He inched forward. There was no longer any shred of doubt that he wasn’t just inspecting her paper cuts. This was it. Her big chance. With a man she’d wanted from the moment she’d seen his picture. One night of down and...
She took a step back as panic ripped through her.
5 (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef)
DANIEL HAD FELT her tense several seconds before she backed up. Something had changed. She seemed...frightened. He got the feeling that with one wrong move, she’d bolt. At least, after his own step back, he could look at her hand properly. A scar near her thumb caught his attention. It must have happened a few years ago, definitely not more than ten. Someone had done a bad stitching job. The mark could have been barely visible with just a bit more care.
Lisa sighed, and Daniel noticed he was petting the scar with his thumb as if he could fix it. “No more filing for you,” he said. “Doctor’s orders.” He relaxed a little when he saw her smile.
“I’ll be sure to tell Valeria you said so.” She drew her hand back, but before she turned away, she rubbed her scar.
“Valeria sent you back here?”
Lisa nodded. “Apparently Eve left her a note.”
Of course word had spread about the lounge incident. That was inevitable. But Daniel would have a talk with Eve. Find out what the hell she was thinking. Now, though, he took the box from Lisa and stacked it on the others. “So, this is it? Your last day?”
“I’m not sure,” she said, wiping her hands on another tissue and then looking around the room as if she’d forgotten something. “Valeria asked me to come back.”
He was of two minds about her returning to the clinic. It would be a lot easier to ask her out if she was finished, but the clinic needed all the help it could get. “I’d say no, if they’re just going to stick you back here.”
“If everyone did that, the files would never get done.”
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Jo Leigh
Name: Dr. Daniel McCabeMarry, date or one-night stand: The rarest of all…marry.Warning: Gold diggers, keep your distance.Bottom line: Perfect for playing a naughty game of doctor.PI Lisa Cassidy just found the perfect man. Dr. Daniel McCabe is 100 percent hotness. Unfortunately, Daniel's Hot Guys Trading Card doesn't belong to Lisa. It belongs to another woman who's hired Lisa to go undercover and get the real scoop on Dr. Delish.Lisa should keep her distance and stay professional. She certainly shouldn't have hot, lust-filled sex with the subject of her investigation. Especially because Lisa knows never to get too close to anyone…especially a sexy doctor who's hiding secrets.
Name: Dr. Daniel Cassidy
Marry, date or one-night stand: The rarest of all...marry.
Warning: Gold diggers, keep your distance.
Bottom line: Perfect for playing a naughty game of doctor.
PI Lisa McCabe just found the perfect man. Dr. Daniel Cassidy is 100 percent hotness. Unfortunately, Daniel’s Hot Guys Trading Card doesn’t belong to Lisa. It belongs to another woman who’s hired Lisa to go undercover and get the real scoop on Dr. Delish.
Lisa should keep her distance and stay professional. She certainly shouldn’t have hot, lust-filled sex with the subject of her investigation. Especially because Lisa knows never to get too close to anyone...especially a sexy doctor who’s hiding secrets.
“You’re a very distracting woman...”
The kiss was glorious. A stroke of his tongue at the front of her upper palate, a nip on her bottom lip. Then Daniel pressed against her as he thrust into her mouth, their rhythm perfectly in sync, possessive, unguarded and hot as hell.
Lisa moaned when he brought his hand between them and cupped her breast.
“Shh,” he whispered. “Don’t make a sound.”
She was so wired, she could probably start electrical fires. The door might be locked, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t be discovered. Public sex wasn’t her thing, but this? Her breathlessness was a sure sign that she was up for the challenge.
He was quicker than her. He’d opened the top button of her jeans, and he was starting to push them down her hips. A moment later he gave each cheek a squeeze she’d remember for a while.
Quickly she had his belt open, button undone and zipper down.
“The rest is up to you, Dr. Cassidy...”
Dear Reader (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef),
Intrigue Me is the sixth book of the It’s Trading Men! miniseries, and I’ve enjoyed writing them so much. But another miniseries has been calling me, so this will be the last of the trading card novels, at least for a while.
My heroine, Lisa, is a wounded ex-cop who’s now an undercover private eye. The hero, Daniel, is the Hot Guy she’s investigating while he’s working at a Bronx free clinic. They think it’s just a physical attraction. It can’t turn into anything more. Daniel doesn’t even know her real name! But the best laid plans...
Just thinking about their rocky road from no-strings nights to life-changing confessions, and how they help each other grow and open up to love gives me goosebumps.
Some books just get under my skin, and Daniel and Lisa’s story is one of those. I hope it becomes one of those for you, too.
You can write to me at joleigh@joleigh.com, or find me on Twitter @Jo_Leigh (https://www.twitter.com/jo_leigh).
Sincerely,
Jo Leigh
Intrigue Me
Jo Leigh
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
JO LEIGH is from Los Angeles and always thought she’d end up living in Manhattan. So how did she end up in Utah in a tiny town with a terrible internet connection being bossed around by a house full of rescued cats and dogs? What the heck, she says, predictability is boring. Jo has written more than forty-five novels for Mills & Boon. Visit her website at joleigh.com (http://www.joleigh.com) or contact her at joleigh@joleigh.com.
To my friends and colleagues, Birgit, Debbi & Jill, who are always there when I need them. Thank you!
Contents
Cover (#u30d11493-879d-5d55-bc16-94b24d08b2f6)
Back Cover Text (#u49956648-67a8-567b-8c73-289d5f0d6ae0)
Introduction (#u9e202c28-6c2b-5714-97fd-410ac4b5a3b7)
Dear Reader
Title Page (#u97571a69-43e0-5298-9a18-7d4f5638b69c)
About the Author (#uee4b37ad-2214-507b-8d0d-64ed843758e9)
Dedication (#uada6eab8-c941-55e2-ac89-56178662b0f0)
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Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
1 (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef)
LISA MCCABE MADE sure no one was close enough to overhear her before she answered her brother’s call. “What is it, Logan?”
“Where are you?” he asked. “Why are you whispering?”
“The Moss Street free clinic in the Bronx.” She scanned the crowded waiting room again. “I’m checking out someone for our Hot Guys Trading Cards client.”
“What about the Murphy divorce? I need that wrapped up today. They go to court next week.”
“I typed up the report yesterday. The file’s on your desk.” She caught a glimpse of a tall man in scrubs and pulled a folded paper out of her purse.
“I don’t see it.”
“Did you check your in-box?” she asked. For a man who was on the verge of taking his security firm to a whole new level with the sting operation he was coordinating, her brother wasn’t very organized with his paperwork. To be fair, he had more important things to be thinking about. And he definitely didn’t need to be worrying about the divorce cases Lisa handled.
Her attention went to the photocopy of Dr. Daniel Cassidy’s trading card while she absently listened to Logan shuffle papers.
Lisa had already deduced that the tall man in scrubs wasn’t the object of her investigation—Cassidy was much better looking. His clean-cut dark hair made him look sharp and professional, but his eyes, the color of cognac, were just plain damn sexy.
If she belonged to the Hot Guys Trading Cards dating club she would’ve snapped up his card based on his looks alone, which was embarrassing to admit since she’d worked her butt off to prove she was more than a “pretty face.” Still, the truth was, she’d do him in a minute. Or would have, in another life. She would never risk it now.
Her fingers traced the lips on the photocopy. They were full, yet masculine, with a hint of—
Logan muttered something.
She straightened, feeling as though she’d been caught in the adult section of the video store. “What?”
“Found it. Hold on while I give it a quick look.”
“Sure.” Lisa went back to studying the doctor’s photo—more specifically his lips and how they were a perfect contrast to his square jaw. The image stopped at his shoulders but she’d bet the farm that the rest of his body was equally hot.
Her gaze went to the details on the reverse side of the trading card. Dr. Cassidy was looking to get married, preferred home-cooked meals to dining out, was passionate about using his skills to help people and had a great heart. All this according to Josephine Suarez, the woman who’d submitted his name and photo. If Cassidy himself had provided the information, it would’ve sounded creepy as hell. But that wasn’t how Hot Guys Trading Cards worked.
Each of the women who belonged to the group was required to submit a photo of at least one guy she knew well enough to vouch for. Lisa had learned that not all of the guys knew they were being passed around and ogled. She wondered if Dr. Daniel Cassidy had given his approval.
“Good job. No typos this time, either,” Logan said. “Now, what’s this about the free clinic?”
“First, up-yours about the typos. Second, you didn’t listen to a word I said last night, did you?”
Her brother grunted. “You didn’t say anything about a free clinic.”
A woman bumped Lisa’s shoulder and she quickly slipped the paper back into her purse. “I didn’t know he was working here until after we spoke,” she said, keeping her voice low. “He shouldn’t be, though. Not with his credentials. He’s straight up Ivy League all the way. He could be bringing in beaucoup bucks, but instead he’s volunteering full-time at a free clinic in the Bronx.”
“So cynical. Maybe he’s just a super nice guy.”
She had every reason to be cynical and Logan knew it. But he was teasing her—part of his ongoing attempt to get her to lighten up. “Yeah, because so many of our clients hire us to investigate super nice guys.”
“Fair point, but you realize this client didn’t pay enough to merit a field visit,” Logan said. “Hell, for what she paid, all you needed to do was look the guy up on Google and LinkedIn.”
“He’s not on LinkedIn.”
“That’s weird, but not weird enough to chase him down.”
“So I’m thorough. Shoot me.”
“Tempting.” Logan’s chair creaked. “Seriously, don’t waste too much time on it,” he said. “I think we might be getting another custody case tomorrow.”
Lisa groaned. She hated those the most.
“Hey, it’s the small, slimy stuff that helps pay the rent.”
“True,” she acknowledged. “Which is why I’m thinking about drumming up more Trading Card business.”
“I thought those guys are already vetted.”
“They are. I’m thinking there might be more gold diggers like Heather out there, though, who can’t be bothered with a guy who doesn’t make enough money.” Lisa heard Logan shuffling more papers around and knew he wasn’t listening. Understandable, since the human-trafficking case he was working on was much more interesting than what she was blathering on about. And yes, she was envious, and maybe that was a sign that she might not sleepwalk through the rest of her life. “I’ve gotta go,” she told him. “We’ll talk about it later.”
“Sure. Good.”
As soon as they disconnected, she sighed. Logan wasn’t wrong about her wasting time. She knew damn well she was satisfying her own curiosity and calling it diligence. But by the same token, she was serious about trolling for more business for her brother’s security firm at the Trading Card lunch meetings. She’d have to become a member, of course, which meant that she’d have to be recommended by someone in the club. Heather was the only member she knew, and then only as a client. But Lisa doubted that would matter to Heather. After all, she’d cheated. The rules let you choose one card at a time, but Lisa had received a photocopy of another doctor’s card, as well.
Joining also meant she’d have to submit a guy to be put on a card. Her college friends had always called Logan a babe. She knew he wasn’t in the market to date or get married. But if she checked the one-night-stand option? He might be game.
She put away her phone, and then made her way to the clinic’s main waiting room. Lucky for her, someone vacated the green plastic chair next to where she was standing.
The clinic itself didn’t seem very large. There was the overfilled waiting room where messy rows of mismatched chairs snaked around to fill as much space as possible. Down the hall were the examination rooms, and maybe a couple of offices from what she could glimpse.
In fact, the whole place had a patchwork feel to it. Graffiti covered the walls outside, except for the heavy glass door. It hadn’t surprised her when she saw it was bullet-resistant. Inside, the walls were all painted in cheery pastels. One was plastered with pictures kids had drawn. It looked like a giant refrigerator door.
The people waiting to see a doctor were unsurprisingly diverse. Some were dressed in business attire, while others looked as if they were homeless. No one seemed bothered by the two young men covered in tattoos sitting among them.
From what she’d seen so far the staff was equally diverse. Only one physician was permanent, but they had quite a few volunteer specialists on rotation. There were also two full-time registered nurses, a physician’s assistant and student nurses from the nearby hospital who came and went in order to accrue hours and experience. The same with medical students, although they were fewer in number. At least that was what it had said on the Moss Street Clinic website.
Lisa turned her attention to the African-American woman sitting beside her. Her eyes were sharp as they lit on every person in the room. Her tight lips, the small disapproving shakes of her head and her expressive eyebrows hid nothing.
Lisa figured if anyone knew the dirt on Dr. Cassidy, it would be her observant seat mate. “Excuse me,” Lisa said. “I’m new to the clinic. Do you know anything about Dr. Cassidy?”
The woman turned to look at Lisa. She’d expected to get the once-over from her, but it still felt intrusive. “Why you askin’?”
“I’ve come to see him. For an exam.”
“You mean a test? You one of them student doctors from Lincoln?”
“No. A patient.”
Leaning back, the woman took in as much of Lisa as she could. “You don’t look like nothin’s wrong. You from the tabloids?”
“Uh, no. Why? Are the tabloids interested in Dr. Cassidy?”
“How should I know? What’s your name?”
“Lisa Pine,” she said, surprised when her mother’s maiden name popped out. There was really no reason for her to use an alias. Though she kind of liked the idea. “And you are?”
The answer didn’t come quickly. But finally she said, “Mrs. Alexis Washington.”
Lisa held out her hand. “Nice to meet you. It’s scary coming to a new place when you don’t know anyone.”
Mrs. Washington hesitated again, but eventually took Lisa’s hand. “Where you live at?”
“I’m staying at the Days Inn by Yankee Stadium. Just for a while, though. I would have gone to Lincoln Hospital, but I heard someone talking about Dr. Cassidy. They said he’s a neurologist. A really good one. And since I don’t have any insurance...”
“You ask me, you come to the right place. I ain’t been seen by Dr. Cassidy myself, but my neighbor Iris, she did. Said he was real nice. Listened to everything she told him. Didn’t cut her off, or work on something else while she was talking, you know what I mean?”
“I do,” Lisa said. “It’s so difficult now. No doctors want to listen. They just want you in and out, don’t forget to pay when you leave.”
Mrs. Washington laughed, and it was as if Lisa had been given a seal of approval. “You got that right.” Then she leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “You’re real pretty. You got something going on with one of them Yankees?”
It took Lisa a moment to make the connection to the Days Inn near the stadium. “No, Mrs. Washington. I don’t. I’m single. No job. And a whole lot of headaches.”
“Okay, now Iris, she came to see him because she was getting dizzy all the time. Almost fell over at the Burger King on Grand Concourse. Had to sit down. They gave her some ice water. Then she came straight here. Dr. Cassidy sent her over to get a CT scan—you know that’s serious business—and they took her blood. They said she got some kind of disease that make you dizzy, and there ain’t much to do ’bout it. But she’s okay most the time.”
“Sounds like he’s a good doctor.”
“Oh, yeah. You know, he don’t get paid. Someone told me but I can’t remember who. Not the woman who helps run the place, though. Eve is her name and she works for his daddy or his brother or somethin’. She been comin’ down here to volunteer for a few years now, but she keeps her mouth shut, especially when it comes to Dr. Cassidy. He came a couple months back. I can’t remember when. Too many things I got to worry ’bout in my own life.”
Lisa nodded. “I hope you’re not here for anything serious.”
“Me, I’m fine. Strong as an ox. I’m here with my grandson.” She glanced over to the corner where there was a small space for kids to play with books and toys. “Spider-Man today. All this year, pretty much. Here for a vaccination.”
“Grandson? Wow, you don’t look old enough to have grandchildren.”
“I had ’em too young and they had ’em too young.” Mrs. Washington leaned closer again, clearly pleased at the compliment. “They all nice here, for the most part. They don’t have all that fancy equipment like in Manhattan, but if something bad happens with your headaches? They’ll help find a way to get you right.”
“Thank you. That makes me feel much better.” Lisa reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “Ah, it’s my brother. Would you excuse me?” She stood and walked to a relatively quiet corner near the watercooler.
Logan hadn’t actually called, but she wanted to get more than one opinion on Dr. Cassidy. She decided to focus on the staff next. There was a line at the reception desk, and the poor guy behind the counter had to answer the phones in between fielding questions. Lisa didn’t mind waiting. From where she stood she could see down the hall toward the examination rooms. Occasionally, someone in scrubs or in a lab coat would appear and then enter another room. She’d hoped for a peek at Dr. Cassidy but hadn’t had any luck so far. She would’ve known him right away...
“Can I help you?”
Lisa turned back to the reception desk. “I’m—”
Loud shouting pulled her attention back to the waiting room where two men were almost down each other’s throats screaming so furiously she couldn’t make out a word they said.
The receptionist rushed around the desk. “Volunteering?” he asked, and she nodded without thinking. “Third door down the hall.” Then he was gone, along with two other staff members, to stop the escalating fight.
Lisa started to follow them and had to stop herself. The instinct to help wasn’t something she could easily ignore. But she had no business getting involved. When one of the men shoved the other, one of the nurses whistled so loudly, it could have been heard in Brooklyn. The electric danger in the air mellowed.
She sighed as she did an about-face. Why couldn’t she get it through her thick skull that she wasn’t a cop anymore? Her job now was to be invisible. Minor altercations probably happened all the time in a place like this. They were handling the situation just fine.
The receptionist had mistaken her for a volunteer, which was perfect. Something she should’ve thought of herself.
She hurried down the long green hallway, saw two doors and entered the one that was open. It looked more like an exam room than an office, but there were three tall filing cabinets in the back, so they probably talked to potential volunteers in whatever room was free. On the wall, there were posters about common STDs, patients’ rights and a battered women’s shelter.
After checking the open doorway, she walked over to the old metal cabinets. The labels indicated that two of them held legal documents, while the third contained personnel files. Of course it was locked. That wasn’t a hindrance, though. It wouldn’t take more than thirty seconds to get it open, but it would be a reckless move that could get her thrown out on her ear.
Oh, what the hell. She made sure no one was coming, closed the door and rushed to the cabinet.
She had the right tool in her purse. Bless her brother’s training. He could break into anything in any office, and now she was pretty good at it herself. While it wasn’t a tactic she was entirely comfortable using, she would know a lot more about Dr. Cassidy after a quick peek at his file.
Before she’d even finished the thought, the cabinet lock popped to the open position. Just as she was about to pull out the drawer, she heard a brief knock. She spun around and pushed the lock in with her shoulder as Dr. Cassidy himself walked into the room.
His gaze was on an open file in his hand, but when he looked up, he seemed surprised. Did she look guilty? She gave him a tentative smile and inched away from the cabinets.
Whoa—howdy—he was good-looking. Even more so than in the picture on the trading card. She was compelled to take a few steps closer, just to confirm that his eyes truly were the color of whiskey. Oh, yes. A well-aged whiskey at that.
He cleared his throat, and she realized she was all up in his personal space. She retreated. Unfortunately, she backed into a cabinet, which then hit the wall behind it with a loud clunk.
Dr. Cassidy didn’t seem fazed. He caught her gaze again and with a puzzled frown said, “I’ll need you to take off your clothes.”
“Wow.” Lisa arched her brows. “You guys really take your volunteer screening seriously.”
2 (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef)
DANIEL ALMOST CHOKED on his laugh. He glanced down at the file then back at the gorgeous blonde. “I take it you’re not Yolanda.”
All she did was smile and he was caught off guard again. It was her lips. They weren’t all shiny and covered in goop, just pink and kissable. Not that he had any damn business thinking of her in those terms. She shook her head and her pale hair swept her narrow shoulders, further distracting him.
Damn it, this wasn’t like him. Not on the job, patient or not.
“Uh...I assume there’s someone who needs an exam, and I’m in the wrong room?” she said.
“That’s true.” Jesus. Clearly he needed more sleep. “Why don’t you follow me and we’ll see if we can get this straightened out, Ms....?”
She held out her hand. “Lisa Pine.”
“Daniel Cassidy. So, you’re here to volunteer?”
“Yes.” She let go of his hand. “If you can point me in the right direction...”
“Of course.” He led her into the hall when all he should’ve done was gesture to the adjacent office. “We’re supposed to be getting doorplates,” he said, wondering when he’d reverted to an awkward teenager. “Are you a medical professional?”
“Nope. Just want to help.”
“That’s great,” he said. “We’re perpetually understaffed and overtaxed. A lot of people depend on the free clinics.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Here you are.” He opened the door and the woman sitting behind the desk looked up. “Valeria will take care of you,” he said and caught the woman’s startled expression. Had he gotten her name wrong? No, he was pretty sure that was right. With her side-shaved haircut, the streak of silver in her long black bangs and her numerous tattoos, it wasn’t as if he was likely to confuse her with someone else.
“Hello.” Lisa moved into the room and glanced over her shoulder the moment his willpower slipped and his gaze landed on her curvy backside. “Thank you, Dr. Cassidy.”
He quickly brought his eyes up to her face. “You’re welcome. And thank you,” he said. “For volunteering.”
She smiled.
“Well, I’ve got patients to see.” He backed into the hall and almost took out a passing nurse.
Annoyed and embarrassed, he headed for exam room 4, where his patient had been waiting too long. Before he entered, he gave her file a second look.
According to Yolanda’s intake papers, she was a sex worker. A number of them came to the clinic for their health needs. He’d order blood work on her, if she’d let him. Probably not, as all she wanted was antibiotics for chlamydia. “I hope you haven’t been waiting too long,” he said. “There was a mix-up.”
Her disgusted laugh told him he could take his mix-up and put it somewhere uncomfortable. This time, he deserved it.
For the next three hours Daniel barely had time to take a breath between patients. No neurological crises arose, but that was true most days. He was technically here as a specialist, but he’d done a lot of family medicine during his training. Another neurologist, Joseph Glick, usually volunteered twice a month, but he was taking a break for the duration of Daniel’s stay.
And Daniel had no idea how long he would be staying. For now, he was content to be there. He liked the freedom and the challenge of this understaffed madhouse. It had no MRIs or CT scanners. Half the equipment didn’t work, forcing them to improvise. It certainly kept him on his toes.
Which was probably what bothered his brother about his job. Warren was as concerned about his professional status as he was about his patients. Actually, that wasn’t fair. Warren was a great neurosurgeon, in one of the most prestigious practices in New York, and he lived for the work. Daniel had begun to prefer his life to be a little more real, a little less neat.
Like his newest patient, Mr. Kennedy. The old man was snoring up a storm on the table in room 5. Mr. Kennedy squatted in a condemned building a couple of blocks away. He came to Moss Street on a regular basis, sometimes to get a hot drink, sometimes to get some sleep, and mostly because he was a diabetic who didn’t take his medication.
It would be a shame to wake him. Which made this a good opportunity for Daniel to grab a quick cup of coffee in what they laughingly called the lounge. Maybe find out more about that new volunteer. His need for caffeine abated as he discovered the woman still in Valeria’s office. Filing. “You didn’t waste any time jumping into the fray,” he said.
Lisa turned at his voice, that smile of hers drawing him inside the office. “Seems they’ll take just about anyone.”
Valeria’s laugh reminded Daniel they weren’t alone. “No offense, but that’s truer than you know.”
“She’s signed up for three whole days,” Valeria said, and there was nothing feigned about her enthusiasm.
“Excellent. I’m sure she told you about the coffee in the lounge. I was just heading over there.”
Lisa blinked and nodded.
He glanced at Valeria, who was watching him closely. The woman was the eyes and ears of the staff. He imagined not much got past her.
“Yes, I did tell her about the lounge, Dr. Cassidy,” Valeria said with a hint of amusement. “I even told Lisa where the bathroom was.”
Okay, it was past time for him to make an exit. No wonder he rarely dropped by this office. “Can I get you ladies anything on my way back?”
“That’s very thoughtful of you.” Valeria leaned back in her chair and raised her brows comically high. “I’d love a coffee. Black, no sugar. And if they still have doughnuts, I wouldn’t mind one.”
He nodded, knowing news of his “visit” would spread through the office like pinkeye. “Black, no sugar,” he repeated. “What about you, Ms. Pine?”
“I think it’s about time for her break,” Valeria said before she turned to Lisa. “Just leave the files where they are. Come back in fifteen?”
When Daniel looked at Lisa, he caught her staring back, a light blush staining her cheeks. For God’s sake, he was thirty-four years old and he couldn’t have handled this more awkwardly if he’d tried. Talk about showing his hand.
“I could use a cup of coffee.” Lisa put down the work and gave Valeria a nod before leading him down the hall.
For the life of him, Daniel couldn’t come up with a decent opening line. Though he was content to enjoy the view. Lisa had a nice, easy sway to her walk. Too bad she hadn’t worn a skirt. He’d bet she had great legs...
“I understand you’re a neurologist,” she said with a backward glance. “And that you’re single.”
“What?” he said, taken aback until he caught the mischievous look in her eyes.
“And you not only graduated from Harvard, but did your residency at Johns Hopkins and just finished a neurology fellowship at Mount Sinai.”
He sighed. Gossip was as ubiquitous as penicillin at the clinic. Until today he’d primarily been exempt from it. Or so he’d thought. Nothing he could do about it, though, and in this case, he wasn’t sure he minded. “Alarmingly true, but I bet you don’t know my blood type.”
“O-positive.”
He stopped so fast the nurse behind him almost bumped into his back. “Seriously?”
Lisa gave him a wicked grin. “Educated guess. It’s the most common blood type.”
He pointed his file at her. “You’re fixing Valeria’s coffee,” he said as they entered the lounge. “And even if there are any doughnuts left, she’s not getting any.”
Her laugh was as charming as her smile, which made the sound of his cell phone ringing in his pocket an unwelcome intruder. What was worse, it was a call from Warren. Even though he let it go to voice mail, his mood plummeted. Of course he knew what his brother wanted. Just as Warren knew Daniel wasn’t ready to discuss joining the Center.
He might as well stop thinking about Lisa Pine. Starting something with any woman, let alone a volunteer, was out of the question while his world was in flux. The only thing that mattered to him at the moment was working until he crashed from exhaustion and then repeating the cycle. Filling every nook and cranny of his life with anything that wasn’t thoughts of his future. Eventually, he’d have to face his obligations. But not today.
A row of lockers against the wall, the pair of ugly corduroy chairs and two overworked coffeemakers sitting on a folding table allowed for limited space in the small room. It could hold four people nicely; six was pushing it. He reached around Lisa for a cup while watching her carefully study the pitiful selection of leftover doughnuts.
She really was a classic beauty with her flawless complexion, electric blue eyes and blond hair. She wore some makeup, but not much. She didn’t play up her looks at all. If anything, she played them down.
She must’ve felt him staring. Probably regarded him as just another sucker overtaken by her beauty. Hell, her smile alone could make a man do very stupid things. Even a physician who knew a lot about the brain and how it worked.
“I assume Valeria knows these are stale by now,” Lisa said, then glanced down and frowned. “Dr. Cassidy? Your phone?”
He still had the cell in his hand. It was his brother again. Daniel didn’t have the luxury of turning his cell off, so he might as well deal with this now. “Excuse me,” he murmured as he handed her the empty cup.
He was halfway down the hall, planning what he’d text to Warren to make him go away, when it occurred to him he should’ve said something more to Lisa. It was tempting to go back, apologize for his rudeness. But why bother? Walking away seemed to be what he was best at.
* * *
“YOU CAME BACK. I’m impressed.”
Lisa nearly ran Dr. Cassidy over when she stepped into the hall on her way to the ladies’ room the following morning. The heat rushing to her cheeks was as mortifying as the way she’d dipped her chin until she was looking at him through her lashes. She had no idea where that reaction had come from. The only thing missing was twirling her hair around one finger. “I committed to three days,” she said.
“Right. Valeria mentioned that. Another scintillating day of filing?”
She shook her head, very aware of her hair brushing across her shoulders. She’d spent a stupidly long time with her flatiron this morning. “Nope. Screening patients.”
“Ah.”
Daniel had his lab coat on, but it was open, revealing his dark-colored pants and pale blue oxford shirt. He’d worn a tie, dark blue, and oh... “Are those little pink ribbons?”
He nodded, touching the half-Windsor knot. “Breast-cancer awareness. I have a collection of message ties. They’re useful for starting a dialogue with patients. For example, have you done a self-check lately?”
She blushed again. Not because of what he’d said, but because of the image that had popped into her mind. The same image of his hands on her breasts that she’d imagined last night while repositioning her pillow a thousand times.
Their gazes locked. His serious eyes and those slightly parted lips made her mouth go dry while her vaginal muscles tightened. Appalled at the unexpected flare of arousal, she looked away first. This sort of thing—this overwhelming desire to touch and be touched—hadn’t happened to her in ages. It wasn’t welcome, either.
Daniel cleared his throat as he leaned back, distancing himself without taking a step. “I’ve got—” He held up the file in his hands. “Maybe I’ll see you later in the lounge.”
She nodded, unable to think of a thing to say. Although she did release a big sigh when he walked into exam room 1.
She continued on her way, more aware than ever that she’d made a critical error when she’d dressed that morning. Mercifully there wasn’t a full-length mirror in the ladies’ room. Regardless, Lisa saw her mistake the moment she looked at herself in the mirror above the sink.
Technically, she hadn’t needed to return to the clinic, not for the case. Sure, she’d signed up to volunteer for three days but she could have backed out.
In the end, she hadn’t been able to resist the allure of Dr. Cassidy. In addition to discovering why he was working at a free clinic, she wanted to know why a phone call had changed his demeanor so drastically yesterday. An emergency she would’ve understood, but he hadn’t even answered it. One second he’d been joking with her and the next, he’d walked away as if she’d ceased to exist. He hadn’t even returned for his cup of coffee.
But who was she kidding? The way she’d dressed and the way she’d reacted when they’d spoken made her primary reason for returning embarrassingly obvious. She’d wanted to see him again. She wanted to feel that same jolt of excitement she’d felt yesterday. That yearning for a man’s touch she thought she’d smothered for good. For the past year, she’d been very careful, kept to herself, focused only on her new career. The four months before that she’d barely left her apartment. After what she’d been through, she knew better than to get close to anyone, let alone become involved.
But maybe her perspective was too narrow. Sex didn’t necessarily mean involvement, right? According to Dr. Cassidy’s trading card, he was looking to get married, but before he met his soul mate, she doubted Daniel would object to a night of no-strings sex.
Besides, he wouldn’t be with her. Not really. He’d be with Lisa Pine. After two days or even a week, she would disappear and that would be that. It would be like college. She hadn’t gone out often, but when she had, she’d made sure there would be no complications. His place only, first names, no sleeping over. The three one-night stands she’d had had been great. Of course that was before she’d met Miles. But she wasn’t going to think about him, except as a reminder that she was terrible at picking both friends and lovers.
There was one more hurdle to clear before she could even contemplate sleeping with Daniel: Heather Norris. The odds of her choosing a doctor who worked for free were close to nil. But the fact remained that if Lisa decided she wanted to bed the good doctor, she needed to be damn certain Heather wasn’t interested.
Because Lisa sure was. Although sex with him or any man would be a big step for her at this point. One reckless move could have devastating consequences.
She focused once more on her reflection and sighed. No wonder the patients she’d been screening all morning had seemed distrustful. Their vague responses on the intake questions and the way they wouldn’t meet her gaze had puzzled her. Until now. It hadn’t been because she was a stranger but because she’d dressed to impress Dr. Cassidy, not to blend in.
Rookie mistake. A private investigator was supposed to remain inconspicuous.
The time she’d taken with her makeup should have been a clue. And what the hell had she been thinking, wearing her pale peach silk blouse? She never wore it unless she had somewhere special to go. Helping sick people fill out forms didn’t qualify.
Of course she hadn’t brought another blouse with her. Or jeans and comfy flats, which would have been appropriate. Luckily, there was a thrift store a few blocks away where she was bound to find another top to wear. A quick glance at her watch told her she had ten minutes to go on her break, but wearing her five-inch heels, she’d never get there and back fast enough.
Instead of worrying when there was nothing to do but wait until lunch, she stopped by the lounge. There were a few doughnuts left, so she fixed a coffee for Valeria as well as for herself and picked up two honey glazed to go.
Valeria’s reaction to the impromptu gift was so appreciative it made Lisa squirm. Her motives hadn’t been pure, that was for sure. The woman was a font of knowledge when it came to the staff. Maybe Lisa could ask her out to lunch tomorrow.
Very aware of the time, Lisa leaned against the credenza, swallowed a big bite of doughnut and said, “I can’t believe I dressed so inappropriately. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You were thinking about Dr. Cassidy,” Valeria said. “Can’t say I blame you. But don’t get your hopes up. You aren’t the first girl to try to get something started with him.”
Lisa considered pretending to be outraged, but what for? Even if she hadn’t come to work wearing silk, Valeria was too sharp to have missed what was going on. “He is puzzling, though. While we were in the lounge yesterday, he got a phone call and he couldn’t escape the room quickly enough. I figured it was a medical emergency, but he was wearing a pager, so maybe an ex-wife?”
Valeria shook her head. “Nope, he’s never been married,” she said as she pushed her chair back far enough to put her heavy black boots up. “I might be wrong. You’re different. Dr. Cassidy isn’t usually so chatty. He certainly hasn’t offered to get me coffee before. Or given a volunteer a tour of the lounge.”
“He was just being nice.”
“Oh, he’s very nice. And very focused on his job. But he doesn’t socialize with the staff.” She lowered her voice. “I’m not saying he’s a snob, though a doctor like him, you’d half expect him to be.”
“You mean because he’s a neurologist?”
“Because he’s a genius.” Valeria looked up at the big round clock above the door and then turned back to face Lisa. “Harvard and Johns Hopkins didn’t take him because his family’s loaded or even because of his last name. People who know what’s what say he’s something special. Yet here he is, working late every single night.” Valeria shook her head. “As much as we appreciate his help, he shouldn’t be here treating STDs and broken bones. It’s such a waste. There’s got to be a story behind it, but Eve isn’t talking, and she’s the only one who really knows him.”
Lisa took another bite of her doughnut. She’d wondered why everyone called him Dr. Cassidy while they referred to the other doctors as Dr. George and Dr. Carol. The staff obviously regarded Daniel as a cut above. “You said something about his family name. Is he related to Dr. Randall Cassidy, who started the Madison Avenue Neurological Center?”
“Yep. That was his father. He passed several months ago. Daniel’s brother, Warren, runs the Center now.”
“I’m surprised that— Wow, too many Dr. Cassidys to keep straight.” Lisa laughed. “Dr. Daniel doesn’t work there?”
“Nope. He came here right after finishing his fancy fellowship. He’s been working here almost three months now.”
“But he’ll probably end up there, right?”
Valeria shrugged. “Probably. But I’ve been told to keep him on the schedule.”
Lisa wondered if there was bad blood between the brothers. Valeria clearly knew more than she’d let on, but the other woman had confirmed a lot. According to Lisa’s research, Warren was a celebrated neurosurgeon in his own right, and their father’s patients had included Supreme Court justices, senators and leaders of at least three other countries. Lots of big egos to fit in one place. Wouldn’t be the first time a family ended up divided by power and wealth.
“You know what?” Valeria put her boots on the floor and Lisa realized her break had ended two minutes ago.
“I say go for it. I think you might be just what Dr. Cassidy needs. Worst thing that could happen is he says no.”
Lisa sighed as she pushed off the cabinet she’d been leaning on. “I’m sorry if I’ve given you the wrong impression.” A short consensual fling was one thing, but everyone knowing about it? No, thanks. “Really, I’m not—” She cut herself off when Valeria checked the doorway, a clear sign that Lisa should go back to work. But just as she got to the door, Valeria stopped her.
“I got the right impression. I don’t know much about his personal life other than what I’ve told you. But be careful. Eve makes sure no one gets too inquisitive about Dr. Cassidy and I have no idea why.”
“That’s the second time you’ve mentioned her.” She’d also heard the name from Mrs. Washington.
“You’ll meet her this afternoon. She’s been volunteering here for a few years, and she’s the one who convinced him to sign up. I don’t think she meant him to stay this long, though.”
“Huh. Well, he’s very nice. And good-looking, but I’m here to work, not flirt.”
“I don’t know, chica. You seem like a multitasker to me.”
Lisa laughed. “You’re the one I have to watch out for, you troublemaker.” She backed out the door and bumped into a woman in the hallway. “Sorry,” she said, taking a half step back as she noticed that the woman’s name badge read Eve. “Are you all right?”
Eve gave her a quick head-to-toe assessment and then smiled. “Fine, thanks,” she said as she stepped around Lisa and continued on her way.
So that was Daniel’s watcher. She was tall, attractive, with dark hair that just hit her shoulders. She was younger than Lisa had imagined. Maybe late thirties. But the air of confidence about her made Lisa curious about her relationship with Daniel.
Whoever she was, Lisa had the feeling Eve would be a formidable foe. Not that a one-night stand was something noteworthy, or wrong, unless Eve was more than just a friend. The last thing Lisa wanted was to get mixed up in a territorial battle. Although Daniel was on a dating-club trading card.
If Lisa had any sense of self-preservation, she’d forget the whole thing. Forget the spark he’d ignited inside her. Feeling numb wasn’t that bad. She’d done okay living on autopilot for the past year. Tomorrow, she’d be done with her commitment to the clinic. By the end of the week she wouldn’t even remember the color of Dr. Cassidy’s eyes.
3 (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef)
THE ALARM ON Daniel’s cell beeped, reminding him that he had to leave in the next five minutes. Eve had asked him to go with her to El Bohio Lechonera, her favorite local lunch spot, and she didn’t ask often. He would have loved to avoid it, not because of her company but because of what she wanted to talk about.
He finished up the notes on his last patient—around here, he didn’t dare put his paperwork off. Nothing beat a free clinic for sheer volume except for an urban ER.
As he slipped off his lab coat, he thought again about Lisa. He honestly hadn’t expected to see her, and he sure as hell hadn’t expected to have such a strong physical reaction. Good thing his novelty tie provided a distraction from points south.
It had been a long time since he’d felt this kind of take-no-prisoners want. Plenty of women turned him on, but none of them had kept him awake half the night. Not since high school, at least. Though Lisa hadn’t seemed bothered by his abrupt exit from the lounge, he probably ought to give her some sort of explanation. Then ask her out.
Hell, it couldn’t hurt to try. He’d wait until she finished her volunteer stint. Simple. It didn’t have to mean anything or go anywhere. A night or two would do the trick. Then things could go back to normal.
The distinctive click of heels in the hallway signaled Eve’s arrival. She was still on the clock at the Center and most days only came to the clinic the evenings they took appointments. He glanced toward the open doorway and there she was, giving him a very familiar look. The one that said she’d had it up to here.
Too bad. He was fed up, as well. Being his second cousin, Eve had known him since they were kids. She’d been there for him after his mother had run off to France with her art teacher. And he understood Eve had his best interest at heart, but it didn’t give her the right to treat him like a disobedient child. Especially given she was only five years older than him. “Would it change anything if I asked you nicely not to bring up my brother or the Center today?”
Eve continued staring at him with nary a blink. “What do you think?”
“Fine.” He left the shared office as he’d found it and joined her in the hall. “I’m thinking of letting you pay for lunch.”
“Well, don’t bother. You keep that brilliant brain of yours busy with the really important stuff. Like explaining for the hundredth time why antibiotics won’t help a cold.”
He winced, thinking today might be the day they had their little talk. The one where she stopped being so sarcastic about his staying on at the clinic.
“I’ve got a taxi waiting.”
He tapped on the reception desk as they passed, just a quick reminder that he’d be out of the office for an hour. Then he saw Lisa. Her back was to him, but it was enough. Why was he waiting to ask her out? She wasn’t his employee. They barely worked together. There was nothing in the Hippocratic oath that said a doctor couldn’t date a volunteer. Before he even finished the thought, he and Eve had left the clinic for the warm June afternoon and the waiting Yellow cab.
“New volunteer?” Eve asked as soon as they were on their way.
“Yep. Came on board yesterday and Valeria put her to work filing right away. Today they’ve got her doing intake screenings.”
“Wow, she must be a very good screener for you to know her schedule so well. You didn’t say a word to the last recruit I brought in, and she was there an entire week.”
“Relax. She’s only going to be there one more day.”
“I am relaxed. Hey, you’re a grown man. You can do whatever you like with whomever you choose.”
He didn’t hide his frustration when he met her gaze. “Why change now? The last time I had a woman in my life, all you talked about was how it was never going to last.”
“I was right.”
He grunted, unwilling to continue this game. “You’re my cousin, and I love you, but come on, Eve. Knock it off.”
“Fine. I won’t talk about the fact that she must have a powerful reason to volunteer in the Bronx. Altruism is one thing, but a woman like her? Two months after that article in the Times that had your picture on it?”
He shook his head, refusing to be baited. Eve meant well, but sometimes he wasn’t sure if she was looking out for him or was jealous. He really hoped it wasn’t the latter. “I can’t decide between the Pernil con Mofongo and the number one combo.”
“Get the combo. That way you’ll have enough left over for dinner.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Eve gave him an eye roll. “Cut it out. I’m in no mood.”
“I can see lunch is going to be fun.”
“Yes, we’re going to talk about you. And Warren. And all the things you wish I wouldn’t bring up.”
“Yay,” he said. “I can’t wait.”
The taxi pulled over and Daniel paid the driver as Eve went in to try to grab a table. Through some miracle of timing, they had to wait only five minutes for one.
The restaurant smelled like its signature Puerto Rican roast pork, and the casual atmosphere lent itself to loud discussions and laughter. Their orders were taken pronto, and Eve wasted no time getting to the point.
“Warren can’t do anything with the house until you remove your things. And that has nothing to do with you starting at the Center. So just bite the bullet and call him.”
Daniel held back a sigh. Though he doubted he’d have any luck, he decided to go for one more attempt at forestalling a conversation he wasn’t ready for. “You look tired. Out clubbing with the girls again?”
“Thanks a lot, you dick. Two martinis. That’s all I had. And yes, I was out with the girls because I haven’t done anything remotely fun in over a month. Anyway, I know you’re just trying to change the subject, and no, I’m not going there. Warren wants answers, Danny. Is that so hard to understand? You aren’t the only one who lost a father.”
“Whoa,” he said, taken aback. “Going right for the jugular today, huh?”
“This is me, giving you a smack. As much as I love what you’re doing for the clinic, you have other obligations. Unless you plan on spending the rest of your life being an unpaid GP in the Bronx.”
“Of course I don’t. That’s not... I’m...damn it, I’m just not ready to leave yet.”
She winced. “You made a promise. To take your place at the Center.”
“I promised Dad.”
“Warren is still your family, and the Center is still your father’s legacy.”
Daniel flinched and hoped Eve hadn’t seen.
“Unless he told you all bets were off when he died?”
He really had to bite down on that one. Their meals arrived, but the churning in his gut made food the last thing he wanted. “Did Dad mention to you any plans for expansion?” he asked, careful to keep his tone casual.
She looked puzzled. “Well, he knew we’d have to hire additional help once you came on board. More support staff, for one thing, and we talked about finding another neurologist. He said once the three Cassidys were there, the waiting list would double. Is that what you mean?”
“Yeah.” Just what he’d thought. Eve really didn’t know anything about his dad’s grandiose plans. She thought Daniel was being stubborn and childish. He wished he could explain to her why he needed more time, but he couldn’t. Not until he could figure out what to say to Warren.
It didn’t help that he had no idea what his brother was feeling. They were only four years apart, but had completely different temperaments. Warren was more like their dad and the two of them had been really close. Their father had bragged about Daniel, but talked to Warren.
So why hadn’t he wanted Warren to know about his very ambitious plans for a whole new approach to their practice? His death had come so suddenly, and so soon after he’d told Daniel about his ideas that Daniel figured he’d died of a stroke. That he’d probably also suffered some mini strokes, and that was why their last and final conversation had been so unsettling. But it was his heart that had given out, and the autopsy had shown no abnormalities in his brain.
The promise he’d made his father wasn’t only that he’d work at the Madison Avenue Neurological Center. Discovering his father’s true colors had shaken him to the core. He didn’t want to walk into his new life until he completely understood what he wanted his life to be. What the hell was he supposed to tell Warren? Nothing? Should he just pretend the conversation with his father had never happened?
Maybe. But Daniel sure as hell wouldn’t forget it. He looked at Eve again. “Dad encouraged me to take some time off after I finished my fellowship.”
Eve’s mouth opened but it took a few seconds for her to ask, “When?”
“A few days before he died. I’d just finished at Mount Sinai.”
“During that private dinner meeting he had with you?”
“Yes.” Daniel knew she expected him to elaborate. Wouldn’t happen. Eve had been the office manager for sixteen years. She’d started right after graduating from Cornell and no one could have run the busy practice more smoothly. He shouldn’t be surprised she’d found out about the dinner. She just didn’t know what had been discussed, and it was clear she was hurt by his silence.
“He never mentioned the time off to me,” she said, then took a quick sip. “However, I really doubt he meant for you to take three months.”
“I’m not ready yet, all right? And for what it’s worth, he told me to take whatever time I needed. I wish things were different. But please know I’m not being frivolous. There’s a lot at stake here.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand your hesitation. All you ever wanted was to become a neurologist. To be like him. You don’t need to be dealing with stuffy noses and syphilis. You’ve got a gift, Daniel, and you’re wasting your talent.”
He exhaled as he shook his head and picked up his fork, although he doubted he’d use it. “You know she’s having an affair, right?”
Eve blinked at his non sequitur. “Warren’s wife? Yes. And so does he. What difference does that make to your commitment?”
“None. None whatsoever.” He took a big enough bite to put an end to the discussion. He knew exactly what he was supposed to do. Help Warren with their father’s house, with the trust and the business that was now technically half his. But nothing about that plan was simple anymore.
A minute of silence went by before he pointed his fork at Eve. “Warren stayed home from work for a week after Dad’s death. One week. Then it was back to business as usual. He knows I need some time to think things through, but all he cares about is the Center. He could quit tomorrow and have more than enough money to live out his life in luxury. Maybe with his wife, if he even gives a damn about her anymore. But at this rate, with the hours he’s keeping, he won’t make it past sixty-four, either.”
“People mourn in different ways,” Eve said, her voice gone soft and sad.
“Exactly. The doctors on staff right now can handle the current patients. I don’t care how important they are. The only reason Warren wants me there is because he doesn’t think it looks good that I’m working at a free clinic.”
“You’re not being fair. You know Dr. Elliot planned to retire as soon as you came on board. In view of your dad’s passing, he’s stayed to help out.”
“I think Dad was right. We should consider hiring another neurologist soon.”
“Daniel—”
“Look, I know you want what’s best for the business and for me. I’m just not sure following in Dad’s footsteps is what I want.”
Eve couldn’t have looked more shocked. She’d worshiped Dr. Randall Cassidy just as Daniel had. But she nodded and gave him a tight smile. “All I’m asking is for you to talk to Warren. Tell him what you’ve told me.”
Daniel shoved aside his plate. “I already have. He just doesn’t want to listen.”
* * *
AT LUNCH, LISA GRABBED a six-inch veggie from Subway on her way to the thrift store. There she found a great blue-and-white-striped sweater and a pair of jeans she liked better than her old favorites. There were shoes for sale, but she drew the line at wearing anything that once held a stranger’s foot.
She got back to the clinic with a couple of minutes to spare, so she reapplied her lipstick, stuffed her purse and other clothes in a locker and then checked her phone for messages. She didn’t have any, which wasn’t unusual these days. After all, she’d cut herself off from virtually everyone who’d been a part of her old life.
Mostly her communications were from Logan or Mike, the investigator who worked with them. Once a week her mom texted. That was, when she and Dad weren’t playing in a golf tournament, their latest passion since retiring to South Carolina. Lisa tried to phone them every other Sunday. Their conversations were always brief. They still felt bad about what had happened to her and never knew what to say. Frankly, there was nothing to be said.
As the day progressed, it became clear her change of clothes had paid off. The patient intakes went more smoothly. Sadly, she’d seen Daniel only twice despite staying until six, an hour after they stopped accepting new patients.
She did, however, meet Eve again. Lisa got the impression Eve didn’t like her very much. But then, Lisa had only one day left at the clinic, unless she decided to extend her commitment. Which largely depended on what happened with Daniel.
Okay, that made her sound like a lousy excuse for a human being. The clinic needed the help, regardless of her sex life, or lack thereof.
But before she agreed to anything else she’d have to go over the schedule with Valeria. Lisa couldn’t let volunteering interfere with her job. It wasn’t fair to Logan. And if she wanted to be a truly good person, she’d forget about Daniel altogether. A short steamy fling with him would mean she couldn’t return to the clinic as a volunteer.
Not that it appeared as though she’d have to choose. Maybe Eve had said something to him and now he was avoiding her. Dispirited, Lisa went to the lockers and got her purse. When she turned to leave, Daniel was standing just a few feet away.
“Hello again,” he said.
“Hi.” She paused to dial down the excited pitch of her voice. “You on your way out?”
“I am. Heading to the Upper East Side?”
Damn. “Other direction.”
“Ah.” He seemed disappointed, which boosted her spirits. “You take the subway?”
“Yep.” She wondered why he was standing there and if he even had a locker. Both coffeemakers were off, the carafes rinsed out. The doughnuts were long gone.
“Any chance you...?” His voice trailed off, his gaze drifting past her.
Lisa realized they were no longer alone. The wall with the lockers abutted the exit leading to the back alley. Now that the front door was locked, everyone would have to pass them to leave.
“Excuse me.” A nurse she’d met yesterday smiled as she ducked around her.
It took Lisa a moment to realize that she was blocking access to the lockers. “Sorry,” she said and stood closer to Daniel, so close that she was almost pressing into him.
It never occurred to her that he wouldn’t move back to give her room. Something that raised the brows of a watchful older woman dressed in pink scrubs.
“You were saying?” Lisa murmured.
Evidently their audience didn’t bother him because he was staring at her again, only this time he was up close and personal. She felt his warm breath on her cheek. Felt the heat from his body. The photocopy that she had in her purse didn’t do justice to the power of his smile. “I was wondering if—”
“Hey, Dr. Cassidy. You’re still here.” Hector from the reception desk stood at the doorway.
Daniel sighed and gave his head a small shake of frustration before looking at the man. “Need something?”
Lisa sighed, too. Why couldn’t everyone just go away? Couldn’t they tell that she was going to say yes to whatever Daniel was asking for? Probably dinner. Maybe more than dinner. But he couldn’t ask her with all the interruptions.
“I need a prescription.”
“Now?”
“It’s for Mr. Kennedy.”
Someone bumped into Lisa’s shoulder. She stumbled a step and her breast pressed into Daniel’s arm. He still didn’t move. And she refused to look him in the eye as she straightened. Her cell signaled a text and she was relieved to have someplace else to look.
It was Logan. He wanted the Trading Cards investigation wrapped up pronto. Her breath caught. How could she have forgotten the main reason she was there? Heather hadn’t turned down Dr. Cassidy yet, so it was hands-off until Lisa got the word.
She stepped farther back. “I’d better be going.”
“Yeah, I’ve got to...”
Neither of them moved.
“Will I see you tomorrow?” he asked.
Valeria, who wasn’t even pretending not to stare at them, had entered the lounge with a student doctor.
“Yes,” she said, hating his confused frown. But she couldn’t say anything more.
“Good,” he said. “Have a nice night.”
“You, too.”
“Yeah,” Valeria whispered as she walked toward the door. “You’re here to work, not flirt.”
4 (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef)
LISA ROSE FROM the small table that doubled as a desk and place to eat, mostly takeout since her efficiency apartment had no kitchen to speak of. After making herself a cup of oolong tea, she returned to the laptop and read her report over one last time. While she had several pages of notes, she’d kept the write-up for Heather Norris brief and to the point. Basically, Lisa was giving the client exactly what she’d paid for: an overall picture of Daniel Cassidy, with a focus on his job and an estimate of his income.
Dr. Cassidy appears to be in excellent health. He’s a nonsmoker and there’s no evidence of addiction. He currently works as a full-time volunteer general practitioner at the Moss Street free clinic, Bronx, NY. His employment began three months ago, and there is no indication that he plans to change his situation in the near future.
Satisfied she’d met her obligation to their client, she hit Send. Just because she knew more about Daniel didn’t mean she was cheating Heather. The woman had never asked whether Dr. Cassidy had the ability to turn a woman’s knees to Jell-O with only a smile. Or that he had an intensely sexy stare that could result in a serious case of the shivers.
When Lisa hesitated to send a copy to Logan, she was forced to admit that maybe she’d come close to dipping a toe over the line. Only thing she could really do was move on by investigating Heather’s number two pick. Another doctor, this time a dermatologist who had a private practice in Midtown.
She unfolded the photocopy of Dr. Edward Fleming’s Hot Guys trading card. Lisa had looked into the dating club for herself. While it seemed completely legit with a slew of satisfied members, Lisa would’ve done the same thing as Heather and hired a PI to investigate her potential dates first.
Although not for the same reason as Heather. Ms. Norris had made no bones about the importance of the two doctors’ earnings. Lisa wanted to know everything she could about a man she’d want to date. Honestly, she didn’t really care about their income. She wanted safety. Someone she could trust.
But her own bitter experience had revealed that on a personal level her instincts were horribly flawed. The reminder of what her mistakes had cost had her shifting in her seat. Daniel appeared to meet all of her ideal man requirements, but clearly he had his own issues. There was a reason he wasn’t at the Neurological Center.
The last thing he needed was someone like her.
Her sigh sent Dr. Fleming’s paper flying off her desk. What a perfect metaphor for the mess she’d made of her life.
She retrieved the photocopy and focused on Edward Fleming. He was looking to date, his favorite restaurant was the Pure Thai Cookhouse in Hell’s Kitchen, his passion was flying and according to the woman who submitted his card, he was dependable and sweet.
That was the issue, though, wasn’t it? Lisa felt sure all the men on the cards sounded great, but there was no way to tell, really. It wasn’t cynicism. She knew firsthand that the people closest to you could turn out to be monsters. Tess had been her best friend, the one Lisa had trusted with all her heart. Tess’s uncanny ability to expose liars and cheaters and men with tempers should have raised a red flag, but it hadn’t.
She took a deep calming breath. Dwelling on Tess’s painful betrayal was counterproductive. More than that, it was damaging. The line between looking squarely at the truth and being sucked into an abyss of self-recrimination was very thin. She’d worked hard to move on, and she wasn’t going to blow it now.
Dr. Fleming’s name brought up a lot of hits on Google. His eponymous practice came up first. The site was professionally done, with plenty of quick-loading graphics of the before-and-after variety, testimonials and lots of advertisements for all the ways people could look younger. He was a real fan of Botox.
His bio read like a press release, so nothing to go on there. But he used LinkedIn, so...
Her email notification app beeped. Huh. Heather. She was out of town on business and Lisa hadn’t expected to hear back so soon. The response was short and to the point: Forget about Cassidy. He’s gorgeous, but a bleeding heart. Working for free? No thanks. Let’s move on to Dr. Fleming.
Lisa acknowledged the request professionally even though her heart was pounding and the stupid grin on her face felt weird. But she pulled herself together quickly. Daniel was no longer a person of interest as far as McCabe Security and Investigation was concerned, which meant...
No. She wouldn’t think about that yet. Heather was still their client, so Lisa went back to work.
Fleming looked more and more like the kind of man Heather wanted. He golfed. Co-owned a private plane. Belonged to a number of professional organizations and had dozens of connections listed on LinkedIn. In fact, the only mystery about Dr. Fleming was why he wasn’t married already.
Once again, she couldn’t be sure the information on the trading card was true. For either doctor.
She should call Cory, her friend from her old precinct.
At the thought her chest tightened. Calling him wasn’t something to take lightly. He would welcome the contact; she knew that. It was her ego that made the decision difficult.
She went back to work, making notes, clicking on website after website, until it was crystal clear that Dr. Edward Fleming appeared to be a perfect match for Heather. She’d be all over him. Lisa put his trading-card photocopy in her in-box while she pulled out Daniel’s.
She stared at his image, only mildly surprised at the butterflies in her tummy. Maybe that was reason enough to never show up at the clinic again. But really, if she kept her wits about her, did a bit more digging, why not have a one-night stand? Especially because she’d already met him. Gotten the scoop on him from his coworkers and patients. Besides, he didn’t really know who she was, thank God, because she couldn’t ethically set him straight without outing her client.
The moment she typed the final sentence of her report on Dr. Fleming, Lisa surrendered and turned her thoughts to Daniel. Half of her wanted to get that one-night-stand thing going. But the top half still had doubts. There were mysteries about the man. Was it his choice not to work at the Center run by his brother? Or was there a reason he wasn’t welcome to practice there? For all she knew, he could have a record. Be an addict. She’d met her fair share of people like him who started with energy drinks then moved on to ADD drugs and worse. Frankly, everything about Daniel made him seem too good to be true.
She really should call Cory.
Leaning back, Lisa went through a whole cycle of deep breathing while giving the matter serious consideration. Calling him was the logical next step. Logan never said a word, but he knew as well as she did that she had a wealth of investigative connections and useful tools at her disposal, and she hadn’t used any so far. Her own embarrassment wasn’t just crippling her; it impacted the business. With a deep exhalation, she made her decision. It was time to take another step on her road to recovery.
She remembered the phone number. Of course she did. She’d worked at the 36th Precinct for four years. Assuming things hadn’t changed too much since her resignation sixteen months ago, she should reach Detective Cory Riley.
“Detective Lisa McCabe.” Cory’s voice lowered, as if finding it difficult to believe it was really her. Perfectly understandable. She’d avoided everyone from the department for the past year. “Hey, kid, how ya doing?”
Kid. She smiled. While in the academy together, how many times had she reminded him she was a month older than he was. “Ah, you know, same shit, different day,” she said, the familiar banter coming more easily than she’d expected even as the reality that nothing was the same, would ever be the same, pressed on her chest like a fifty-pound weight. She wasn’t even a detective anymore. Being too trusting had lost her the right to that title. And after having worked so damn hard for it. Trying to make her mark in a good-old-boys network like the NYPD had been a monster of a hill to climb. “How about you?”
“Me? I’m okay. The wife got a kitten. My legs are shredded.” He paused and the sounds of the detective’s bull pen behind him brought tears to her eyes. “It’s been a long time,” he said, his voice softer. “God, I’m sorry about what happened. I know I should have called—”
“You did. I got your voice mails. It was me—I wasn’t ready...”
“I should’ve kept calling.”
“I just would’ve reported you for stalking.”
Cory laughed. “Yeah, you would,” he said, sounding more relaxed. “I can’t shake off what happened with Tess. It doesn’t seem real. How the hell could she have fooled us for so long?”
Lisa swallowed around the lump in her throat. “You mean me. She fooled me, Cory.”
“No,” he said after a short pause. “Tess Brouder fooled all of us, even the brass. I keep thinking about our academy days, trying to figure out if there’d been any clues that she was off her fucking rocker. But for the life of me, I can’t come up with anything. So, no, kid, you’re not alone.”
But Lisa was alone in this. It was sweet of Cory to want to soften the truth, but she’d trusted Tess with everything. Including access to all her personal documents.
“They’re still trying to figure out how she managed to bypass the precinct’s firewalls. Hacking the NYPD took some balls, that’s for sure.” Cory paused. “You ever get your credit straightened out?”
She didn’t want to continue this conversation. The panic attack building inside her wasn’t as bad as some, but with her inner voice screaming at her, the weight crushing her chest and now the shakes coming on... Rehashing the most painful betrayal of her life was torturous. No wonder she’d put this off for so long. “It’ll take years of rebuilding for me to get back my old credit rating, if I ever can. She really wiped me out.”
“Yeah, well, she can’t do any more damage now.”
Lisa briefly closed her eyes. That wasn’t entirely true. Tess’s death had robbed Lisa of finding the one thing she was desperate to know: Why? Why go to so much trouble when all she had to do was leave their shared apartment? They weren’t even working in the same precinct. And why bother with the other four victims. To try to mask that her primary target was Lisa?
“Cordova’s team is still working hard,” Cory said. “He knows it was an execution-style hit straight out of the Mafia rule book, but—”
“Nobody’s talking.” She knew how difficult it could be when a team ran into a roadblock. It would be old-fashioned police work that would net them their next clue, but that could take a hell of a long time.
“He’s sure they’ll get a break soon,” Cory said. “At least you got a copy of that flash drive.”
So had everyone else involved with the case. They were all privy to the intimate details of Lisa’s life and Tess’s utter contempt for her. Lisa hadn’t managed to read even half of the filth written about her. “Yeah—” Her damn throat closed up. She cleared it a couple of times. “Anyway, I’m actually calling to ask a favor. You think you could run a quick background check for me? Just, you know, priors, anything that stands out.”
“For you? No problem. I’ll get right on it and call you back.”
“Thanks, Cory. I’ll email you the name and address, and if you wouldn’t mind emailing me back, I’d appreciate it.” Damn it, he had to have heard the wobble in her voice.
“You’re missed around here, Lisa. Seriously. Just because that bitch was on some kind of vendetta doesn’t mean you weren’t a good cop. You didn’t ask for any of this.”
“I appreciate that.” She straightened in her chair. Pushed her trembling fingers through her hair and lied her ass off. “I’m doing great now as a PI. There’s a lot less paperwork, that’s for sure. Some of the clients are really interesting.”
Cory let out a big sigh and did her the great courtesy of getting off the phone quickly.
Before she did anything else, she emailed him the details. Thank God for spell-check. Once she hit Send, the reality of what she’d just done hit her. She’d guessed it would be bad, rekindling old connections, but that had been like ripping stitches from her tattered soul.
Somehow, she managed to log off the computer and shut it down. Then she got out the Jack Daniel’s. She was allowed exactly two fingers. No more. The last thing she needed was to add an addiction to her broken life. She just hoped two fingers would be enough.
* * *
DANIEL NEEDED TO do something fast. Working in the clinic while Lisa was in the building wasn’t working out so well. Not her fault. She certainly wasn’t in his way. But she was a distraction. He had questions. Too many for a woman he’d barely spoken to, and yet they’d kept him up far too late.
He couldn’t help wondering if she didn’t have to work. Temporarily unemployed? Maybe she worked at home, so coming to the clinic was a way to socialize. If he hadn’t interacted with her, he never would’ve considered she’d find volunteering at a free clinic rewarding. With her beauty and the cool reserve of a socialite, she looked more the fund-raiser type. Like his sister-in-law, for instance, only much prettier. He doubted Warren’s wife even knew how to file. But when she smiled and batted her lashes, men pulled out their checkbooks.
Forget being flirty. All Lisa would have to do was walk into the room. But somehow he couldn’t see her in that role.
And the staff seemed to like her. He didn’t really know the nurses or clerical personnel, but he overheard them chatting sometimes. They should’ve hated Lisa on sight. In his experience a woman that beautiful could stir up lots of trouble.
Also, she didn’t wear a ring. Or any jewelry, in fact. Just a watch. He hadn’t gotten a good look at it, so he had no idea if it was a street-vendor special or something from Tiffany & Co.
Her hair was different today. More casual. Straighter, with longish bangs that brushed her eyelashes. He liked it this way, and he liked that she looked so comfortable in a casual sweater and jeans.
“Dr. Cassidy?”
He blinked. Angie Weeks blinked back, only she was on the examination table wearing a paper gown, while he was holding her open file and daydreaming about Lisa. Yeah, that had to stop.
He quietly cleared his throat. “Anything else I should know about?”
She looked sideways then back, her gaze cautious. “Nope. I figured one STD was plenty.”
Right. If he could have kicked his own ass around the block, he would have. “I’ll go find out where the nurse is. Then we can finish up quickly. I’ll be right back.”
“Quickly. Yeah. Sure.”
He left exam room 3. Lisa had been on his mind most of the day, but this was the first time he’d let it interfere with an examination. Not just the first time today, but ever. He was meticulous about patient care, and he never took his responsibility lightly. He would be damn sure it wouldn’t happen again. Right now, though, he needed a female nurse to sit in on Ms. Weeks’s exam. After his patient had been taken care of properly, he would do what he should have done earlier—wait for Lisa to have a break and then ask her to dinner.
* * *
IT WAS GETTING RIDICULOUS. After spending all morning working on the divorce case for Logan, Lisa had looked forward to coming to the clinic after lunch. But she’d been pulling files since one o’clock, which had sounded easy enough until she’d realized these weren’t the files in Valeria’s office, but in a storage room that smelled of dust with a hint of mildew. These were old files, patients who hadn’t been seen in six years or longer. The manila folders with the colored key tabs had been stuffed so tightly into rickety shelves that she hoped all the paper cuts she’d suffered didn’t land her in one of the exam rooms.
Although if it was Dr. Cassidy doing the examining, she wouldn’t mind one little bit.
“Ouch!” Lisa yanked back her hand, muttering a few cusswords that seemed to help the sting. Once again, the box of tissues she’d put on the counter came in handy.
Okay, so it wasn’t just the tightly packed files turning her poor fingers into a battlefield that was the problem. She couldn’t stop thinking about Daniel. Not too smart since her interest in him might’ve earned her this hellish job. Apparently her exile was courtesy of Eve.
She shoved another five files into the open box, still debating her next move. Valeria had asked if she would like to make another commitment to volunteer. Lisa hadn’t given her an answer.
The easy thing would be to say no. That way, Lisa Pine would disappear into the city, end of story.
The less easy thing would be to agree, but without a locked-in commitment. She had a full-time job with flexible hours, which was important for more reasons than her paycheck. Logan depended on her now. Mike, the only other employee, had transferred some of the office work to her so he could be of more help with the security side of the business. But she wouldn’t mind coming to the clinic when she had some free time.
Since Tess had stolen her identity and everything else that mattered, Lisa hadn’t interacted with many people outside of work assignments. Her choice. She didn’t want to make friends. She’d barely wanted to make acquaintances.
But the Moss Street Clinic had made her rethink a few things. Leaving aside the issue of Daniel, she liked working there. It had been only two and a half days, yes, but there was a vibe to the place that let her breathe. It felt safe. Bangers from different gangs could sit in the waiting room without killing each other. Homeless people weren’t harassed, and sex workers were treated with respect and courtesy. Everyone was cared for, regardless of past mistakes and bad choices.
So, yeah, she could see making this a part of her life. A few hours here and there.
And then there was Daniel.
Now that Cory’s email had given him a thumbs-up, she felt reasonably certain that one night of sex with Daniel would not only be safe, but would cure a lot of what ailed her. It would be a very big step, but she didn’t know when she’d have another chance like this. If it worked out, then maybe she’d check into the trading-card thing for herself. But that would be later. Much later. Or maybe never if it made her feel this shaky. What were the odds of her picking the one psycho in the bunch. Pretty damn high.
Besides, she was too busy fantasizing about Daniel Cassidy to even think about strangers on cards.
The question now wasn’t whether to sleep with Daniel one time. But whether she could have both a single night of down and dirty sex and a semi-regular gig at the clinic.
She could imagine volunteering as a form of long-term therapy. The clinic was an ideal place to learn how to function now that she had her new armor in place. The idea of actually helping people instead of finding evidence of adultery or embezzlement or tracking down deadbeat dads would help her feel more productive.
Having sex with Daniel would be the first step to embracing her new definition of intimacy. Feeling pleasure? Fine. Getting sweaty and wearing herself out? Fantastic. Letting herself trust or feel or care? Never again.
After a heartfelt sigh, another five files went into the box. Then another five.
Even though her shift was over, she kept on working. There were still patients out there, and she hadn’t managed a moment alone with Daniel.
A few minutes later he showed up and nearly got himself a knee to the groin. She let out a breath and shifted to give him room. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. Wasn’t sure you’d be here.” He looked good. Tired, but good. “In fact, what are you still doing here?”
“I wanted to finish the row of files I was working on.”
His smile increased her already rapid heartbeat. “Don’t you know they multiply the moment you turn your back?”
He’d taken off his lab coat, leaving him in jeans and a blue shirt. When he leaned back against the table where the finished boxes went, she moved closer to identify the weird marks on his tie. Viruses, maybe? Bacteria?
“You getting hazard duty pay for this?”
“What?” She looked up, then at the stacks of files still left to do. “Oh, right, I really should, huh?”
“How did you end up with this job?”
Lisa shrugged. “Somebody has to do it,” she said and jerked with a start when he touched her cheek.
“Dust,” he said, holding up the smudged pad of his thumb as proof.
“Oh, yeah, I’m sure I’ve got dust in all kinds of places.”
Daniel’s look of amusement faded as his gaze lowered to her hands. “Jesus.” He caught her wrist and inspected her fingers.
Self-conscious, she drew back and pulled out the tissue she’d been using. “They’re only paper cuts,” she murmured.
“You should be wearing nitrile gloves. That’s one thing we’ve got plenty of in the clinic.”
“I hadn’t thought of it but you’re right.” She stared down at her hands and then at his, stunned at how much she wanted him to touch her again. Her cheek, her fingers, she didn’t care—she just wanted to feel his warm skin against hers. It had been so long.
She cleared her throat.
Searching her face, he gave her a gentle smile. “May I?”
Wadding up the tissue, Lisa stared down at his extended palm. She laid her hand on his much larger one and didn’t even blink when he cupped her elbow and drew her closer.
His hands were solid, comforting and everything she needed. He studied her fingers, but his other hand moved from her elbow to her back. When he stood, they were close enough to kiss.
Looking at him, she could see her own hunger in his gaze. He’d started breathing faster, which made her pulse race.
“I’ve thought about you all day.”
“That’s...nice,” she said, wondering whether she was supposed to make the first move. Or if him pulling her almost against his body was the first move, and now she was supposed to react.
“And last night.”
“Oh,” she said, understanding perfectly. “I hope I didn’t keep you up late.”
He inched forward. There was no longer any shred of doubt that he wasn’t just inspecting her paper cuts. This was it. Her big chance. With a man she’d wanted from the moment she’d seen his picture. One night of down and...
She took a step back as panic ripped through her.
5 (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef)
DANIEL HAD FELT her tense several seconds before she backed up. Something had changed. She seemed...frightened. He got the feeling that with one wrong move, she’d bolt. At least, after his own step back, he could look at her hand properly. A scar near her thumb caught his attention. It must have happened a few years ago, definitely not more than ten. Someone had done a bad stitching job. The mark could have been barely visible with just a bit more care.
Lisa sighed, and Daniel noticed he was petting the scar with his thumb as if he could fix it. “No more filing for you,” he said. “Doctor’s orders.” He relaxed a little when he saw her smile.
“I’ll be sure to tell Valeria you said so.” She drew her hand back, but before she turned away, she rubbed her scar.
“Valeria sent you back here?”
Lisa nodded. “Apparently Eve left her a note.”
Of course word had spread about the lounge incident. That was inevitable. But Daniel would have a talk with Eve. Find out what the hell she was thinking. Now, though, he took the box from Lisa and stacked it on the others. “So, this is it? Your last day?”
“I’m not sure,” she said, wiping her hands on another tissue and then looking around the room as if she’d forgotten something. “Valeria asked me to come back.”
He was of two minds about her returning to the clinic. It would be a lot easier to ask her out if she was finished, but the clinic needed all the help it could get. “I’d say no, if they’re just going to stick you back here.”
“If everyone did that, the files would never get done.”
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Jo Leigh
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: Name: Dr. Daniel McCabeMarry, date or one-night stand: The rarest of all…marry.Warning: Gold diggers, keep your distance.Bottom line: Perfect for playing a naughty game of doctor.PI Lisa Cassidy just found the perfect man. Dr. Daniel McCabe is 100 percent hotness. Unfortunately, Daniel′s Hot Guys Trading Card doesn′t belong to Lisa. It belongs to another woman who′s hired Lisa to go undercover and get the real scoop on Dr. Delish.Lisa should keep her distance and stay professional. She certainly shouldn′t have hot, lust-filled sex with the subject of her investigation. Especially because Lisa knows never to get too close to anyone…especially a sexy doctor who′s hiding secrets.