by Leigh, Jo
Eve narrowed her eyes. “I’m thinking ex-military?”
Ah. So this was an interrogation. “Something like that.” This time Eve had to have noticed the chill in her tone.
“Never mind. Sometimes I’m too curious for my own good. He told me about how you handled the self-defense class, as well. I think it’s wonderful, and so do all the women who were there.”
“Good. I hope they’ll all follow up with a certified class.”
“I’m actually sorry I missed it.”
Lisa smiled, still not quite understanding what was going on.
Maybe Eve saw the confusion in her expression, or maybe she just decided to spit it all out, but she leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I like how he is with you, Lisa. There’s so much more life to him when he speaks of you. I don’t want to meddle any more than I already have, but I did want to say that I understand what he sees in you. The truth is he needs to take his place alongside Warren. We’ll miss him here at the clinic, but we’ll find someone else to help out. Someone who won’t be healing world leaders. If you can help him see that’s where he belongs, wonderful. But he can’t stay here for you. Nothing personal. I really do like and admire you. I think you’re good for him.”
“But if I steer him away from his destiny, I’m toast?”
“Something like that. Although not nearly as dramatic.”
“Wait, is this your version of giving us your blessing?”
Eve laughed. Nothing shy about it, either. She was awfully personable when she wasn’t scaring the hell out of someone.
“Well, I think you should know Daniel and I are just...friends.” Lisa hated that she had trouble getting out the word and feeling as if she was somehow being a traitor for wanting to downplay their relationship.
“Whatever you’re doing, it looks good on you both.” Eve stood. “Now, I’d better get moving. The clinic is closing in fifteen minutes.”
“For the record, this is right up there as one of the strangest conversations I’ve ever had.”
Eve smiled. “Depending on how long your friendship with Daniel lasts, you and I will have at least a few more.”
Great. Now there was another person who was going to hate her, or worse, if they learned that she’d been investigating Daniel for one of those aforementioned women, then topped it off by keeping him for herself.
Damn it, she had no one to blame for this mess but herself. She should have left the day Heather told her to forget about investigating Daniel. Hell, she’d had no reason to show up here in the first place. If she’d done her job properly, she’d have never learned that Daniel was wealthy enough right this minute to satisfy Heather’s wildest dreams. That he would eventually leave the clinic for a highly successful career as a neurologist in a thriving practice.
The thought had bothered her lately, but usually she ignored it. Eve’s little talk had brought new life to the problem. All Lisa could do was remind herself that Heather had paid for the minimum.
Shortly after Eve left, Lisa shut the computer off and left the files neatly stacked for, with any luck, someone else. Halfway down the hallway she received a call from her brother. She answered, but Logan’s voice broke up terribly. “I’ll call you back in a minute,” she said. “Can’t hear you.”
Waiting for a reply, she made her way to the lounge. After grabbing her purse and tote, she went outside and called him back. “What’s up?”
“I have a job for you. Tomorrow night I want you dressed to kill and at the NoMad Bar by 7:00. You asked to step up. Here’s your chance.”
“Playing dress-up wasn’t what I had in mind.”
“It’s the job that’s needed now. No picking and choosing.”
“Right. What else?”
“I’ll fill you in later. Now go find something classy to wear. Go for a designer name, elegant but a little revealing. Rent the Runway should have something. Go all out. You’re meant to be noticed. Got it?”
“Yes. Absolutely.” So much for seeing Daniel tomorrow...
“I have to go. Jesus, I’m late. Tomorrow.”
“’Bye,” she said to no one. She’d done the gown-rental thing several times and they’d always come through for her. Her phone rang again but it was a text from Daniel. He wanted to meet at his place in two hours.
She’d be late, depending on how long it took her to find a dress. Well, she was the one who wanted meatier cases. And it was good to shift her focus. Even if she and Daniel had a thing, soon he’d be diving headfirst into work at the Center.
Before texting him back, she trudged halfway to the station, her thoughts traveling faster than her feet. Her conversation with Eve clarified something Lisa had already known. Soon, Lisa Pine was going to have to explain herself. She wasn’t going to disappear, even though that would be a million times easier. It wouldn’t be fair. The question was, when?
13
THE NOMAD BAR wasn’t somewhere Lisa would have ever come on her own, and she couldn’t imagine Daniel there. This place had that mix of being so expensive it eliminated the riffraff, and hipster quirky, which attracted the younger set. She had a seat at the left-hand corner of the bar, which clearly hadn’t been made for women wearing tight dresses. After a few tries she finally found a position where she wasn’t flashing the room.
It looked as if it was going to be a long night. Good thing she wasn’t footing the bill for her vodka martinis. So far she’d had only one, and it was yummy, no doubt about it. But at twenty dollars a pop, come on.
She smiled at the bartender and then glanced around the room, careful not to linger on Logan sitting at a table in the far corner with a redhead Lisa didn’t know. The woman could be a friend of his, or she could be CIA. Lisa was thinking the latter. She tried not to yawn. It would be bad for her seductress image.
The deal was to try to catch the attention of Mr. Travis King, a guest at the hotel and sleazeball sex trafficker. If she netted him, she was to play hard to get without becoming inebriated. It was imperative she stayed alert. And not let her mind wander to Daniel as she’d already done too many times. King and his friends had a reputation for drugging companions, then flying them out of the country and selling them for very high prices.
The magic hour was 9:30 and it couldn’t come fast enough. If King didn’t show up by then, it meant he’d be headed for his private jet and Lisa’s part in the sting would be over for the night.
She refused to think about Daniel again. She’d see him soon enough. They had plans to meet at a restaurant around the corner. In the meantime, there were instructions that had to be followed to the letter, that needed to be performed seamlessly. If King did come through and take the bait, she wasn’t to touch any food he ordered. If he bought her a cocktail, she would only pretend to drink it.
From seven to nine she was hit on six times. She’d had water served in a martini glass twice, which made her feel like a kid playing dress-up. But finally she received a text from Logan that she could leave. King never walked through, and now it was confirmed he was en route to the airport.
If she had her way, she’d take off this outfit straightaway, never to be worn again. The dress was beautiful, expensive, the neckline a lot lower than she would’ve liked. Her style was generally a lot more conservative. Unfortunately, she might have to repeat her role in a couple of nights.
Just as she slid off the stool her phone rang. Daniel texted with a change of plans. Could she meet him at the clinic?
At least it was after hours and no one but Daniel would be there...
* * *
AFTER HIS LAST scheduled day at the Center, Daniel had gone straight to the clinic to help with the evening shift. Not completely out of altruism. Lisa had some work thing she was doing and wouldn’t be free until around 10:00. While it felt good to be back, the fit wasn’t quite as c
omfortable as it had been. Probably had a lot to do with seeing three patients in a row who wanted antibiotics for a cold.
One of the volunteer GPs, Carol White, had asked him for a consult about her patient. He’d taken over the case, and at 9:30 Daniel knew he wouldn’t be going anywhere until they’d found a way to treat Javier Moreno. In a few minutes, Lisa would be there. He should’ve canceled. Told her to reroute her taxi home.
Better yet, to his place. But when he got his cell phone out, he couldn’t do it. Selfishly, he wanted to see her. Even if it was just for a few minutes. Last night she’d stayed over for the first time, and he was hoping for a repeat. Waking up next to her had lit up his day.
With no small amount of effort, he shoved aside thoughts of her and glanced at his initial notes again. Javier was still on the gurney, talking to Eve. He wanted to go home even though he’d had a seizure and he’d stumbled with dizziness when he’d had his X-ray.
Javier and his family had been coming to the clinic for a couple of years. He’d come in tonight after work because his headaches had worsened throughout the day.
“We just want to make sure you’ll be okay getting home,” Eve said. “Dr. Cassidy is monitoring your vitals, making sure you don’t have any more seizures.”
“I’m grateful and everything, but I don’t like to be gone so much at night. Gloria’s mom left at seven.”
“Tell you what,” Eve said, putting her hand on his shoulder. “I’ll give the kids a call, tell them what’s going on, and ask if they need anything.”
“I can—” He tried to sit up, but fell back on the gurney. “Just give me a minute. I’ll be okay.”
“I’ll ask someone to bring you some juice. That should help.”
Eve smiled as she left him, but she lost the grin as soon as she turned her back. Daniel walked with her to the lounge. Two nurses had stayed late. Luckily, one of them, probably Beverly, had just made a fresh pot of coffee.
“I think you’re right,” Eve said, handing him a cup and then pouring a coffee for herself. “We’ve seen this before.”
Daniel nodded. “We should start our calls with Sloan-Kettering and Mount Sinai Roosevelt. They’ll have the equipment to handle this.”
“Dr. Cassidy,” she said, in a very different tone of voice. “It looks as though you have some special company.”
Behind him, Beverly filled the room with a startlingly shrill wolf whistle. When Daniel turned around, he understood. He set his coffee on the fridge.
“I had a thing,” Lisa said, her free hand tugging at the neckline of a striking red dress that ended a few inches above her knees.
Daniel struggled not to sweep her into his arms. “You look like a...”
“High-class hooker?”
“A damn movie star,” he said. His gaze went to her silver stiletto heels and kept rising. He knew her legs were stunning, but in those heels? Jesus, he wanted to take her to exam room 3 right that minute. Hike up that dress—
“Lisa, if I looked like you, I would not be blushing,” Beverly said with a shake of her head.
Daniel cleared his throat as he met Lisa’s eyes. “Come with me a minute?”
Lisa nodded, placed a hand at her neckline.
“Be careful, Dr. Dan,” Beverly added as she wiggled her eyebrows. “You know firsthand what she can do.”
“Okay, you’re to call me Dr. Cassidy and no more whistling in the clinic.”
The nurse tried to hide her grin. “Yes, Dr. Cassidy.”
He wasn’t actually bothered, and he knew that since the self-protection extravaganza, his days of being an aloof and revered doctor were over. “Good. And if you made the coffee, thanks.”
He and Lisa met at the door, and just as he locked onto her gaze, Eve said, “You look beautiful, Lisa.” Then to Daniel, “I’ll go make those calls and hope for the best.”
* * *
LISA WAITED UNTIL she and Daniel were in an empty exam room before she said, “I really thought everyone else would have gone home by now. I actually have something to change into that doesn’t scream ‘hooker.’”
“You look gorgeous, but that’s not why I brought you in here. Which is a pity. Maybe another time we can... What am I saying.” He shook his head. “There’s been a complication,” he said. “About which I will tell you all I can as soon as we finish kissing.”
He had his hands on her waist, and at the touch of his lips, she relaxed for the first time in what felt like weeks. Putting her arms around his neck was as natural as breathing, and kissing reminded her again of all the ways the two of them could make each other feel good.
He ran his hands up her back, pushed his hips against her, letting her feel the beginning of his erection. A few seconds later, he stepped back until they were no longer touching. “I’m sorry. I want...so very much. But I’ve got a patient.”
“Oh.” She saw the concern in his eyes. He looked tired. “Do you want me to leave?”
“Not really. But it’s likely I’ll be here for a couple more hours, at least.”
“I’ll stick around. If you think I can be of help.”
He sighed. “Anytime you want to leave, tell me. I’ll make sure you get a cab. In fact, I’ll just give you the keys to my place.”
She kissed him again. “How do you know I won’t walk away with all the silver?”
He moved away just far enough to mumble, “You were a police officer.”
“I’m not anymore.”
His fingertips skimmed her cheek, then down to her jaw. She’d closed her eyes to let the feel of him wash over her. A very soft kiss landed on the tip of her nose.
“I hope you kept the handcuffs,” he whispered.
“Go.” She was the one to step back this time. She’d needed to before things got out of hand. “Don’t worry about me.”
“I have to wait for Eve to make the calls.”
“Can you tell me about the patient?”
He shook his head. “I’m his doctor.”
“Right. Patient confidentiality.”
“You could talk to Eve, though. Since we might need you to help out if things get tricky.”
She had no idea what he meant by that, only that it sounded ominous. “I’ll get changed, grab a cup of coffee and find her.”
He kissed her one more time, another quick peck. “Thanks.”
* * *
EVE WAS IN the office where they’d had their talk yesterday. She’d just disconnected a call when she saw Lisa. “Come on in.”
Lisa sat in one of the wing chairs, having changed from the red dress into a white boho-chic peasant dress she’d picked up from a street vendor. Oh, God, how great her sandals felt after ditching the six-inch heels she’d been wearing. “Sorry about that outfit.”
“If I could look as good as you do, I’d never wear anything else.”
Lisa laughed at the blatant lie. “Daniel mentioned a problem patient.”
Eve got serious. “Javier. He’s a janitor at Chamberlain High School. Daniel thinks he might have a skull-base brain tumor. We can’t treat him here, and I’ve been calling hospitals to see if we can get help, but it’s not easy.”
“Why, because he doesn’t have insurance?”
“Partly. Mostly because if Daniel’s right, which I’m sure he is, the prognosis isn’t very good. It’s very difficult to see those kinds of tumors, let alone remove them. Some hospitals have a full slate of patients without insurance, and some don’t have the equipment or the staff to help.”
“What can I do?”
Eve looked exhausted. “Keep the coffeepot full. Check in with Dr. Carol’s nurse, see if there are any more latecomers that need anything. Mostly, though, you can check in with Daniel. Give him a smile.”
“I’m on it.”
&nbs
p; * * *
IT WAS ALMOST 11:00 when Daniel gave up. Not on Javier, but on finding a hospital in the greater New York area who could give him the care he needed. There was only one place left. He wasn’t sure why it was so difficult to move forward. He owned 50 percent of Madison Avenue Neurological Center. But at the moment, Warren was running things and out of respect, Daniel wouldn’t simply waltz in with Javier. Particularly since he knew the Center was close to capacity.
He was sure of his diagnosis and certain that it would be a difficult and costly pro bono case. But it offered Javier the best chance he’d have for survival. That wasn’t something Daniel was willing to ignore. So he hoped he and Warren could put their personal differences aside. The few times they’d seen each other the past two days, they’d interacted reasonably well.
Lisa was helping clean up the lounge, looking cool and sweet in her hippy dress. It made him smile, though, to see her so comfortable doing whatever needed to be done. The moment he’d seen her his spirits had lifted. But he was glad she was busy, because he needed to make this call in private. Except for Eve, of course.
She’d suggested he call over an hour ago, but he’d needed to be sure. The hour wouldn’t have hurt Javier’s chances, but it definitely gave Daniel the time he’d needed to develop his case. Now he was ready to put it out there. Warren could say no. There was no familial bond that would sway him one way or another, but he might do it for Eve. His father had, from time to time, helped the clinic’s patients. Daniel needed to remember those things, remember that his dad hadn’t always been wrapped up in his own ego.
“I can say you don’t even know I’m calling, if you want.” Eve had given him the desk. She was leaning against the credenza, looking as if she was ready to leap at the word she was needed. Hell, she was always ready to do that.
“I’ll take care of it. But thank you.” He dialed Warren’s cell.
“Isn’t it a little late to be calling?” Warren said, after picking up on the second ring. “Or was I a misdial?”