The Wrong Man For Her. Kathryn Shay

gonna make it here.”

      Dr. Walsh squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t be so quick to judge. Give us a fair shot.”

      “Okay.” She would. Even though she knew neither Nick nor Dr. Walsh could understand what she was going through.

      When she’d come home with visible bruises, Kara had told her folks she’d been beaten up in the school parking lot by a bunch of girls she couldn’t identify. It was a lie. She couldn’t tell anybody the truth. Ever. Her parents had made her come to the RCVC, and she didn’t fight it because she was afraid, if she did, somehow they’d find out what really happened, and she couldn’t let anybody know that.

      Because what had happened was all her fault.

      NICK SMILED and spoke to each teen as they left, even Nato and Hector, who grunted, “Later, bro,” as they headed out. Then he crossed to the door and closed it.

      “That went well, don’t you think?”

      Count to ten. Twenty. Now, turn around. “No thanks to you.” His voice was deadly calm, which was how it got when he was angry. This was too much to expect of him, and he was going to tell her so. Because he was around her again, he hadn’t been sleeping well, or eating or anything! The idea of working in this group with her was outrageous.

      “Excuse me? I thought I contributed pretty well.”

      “Tell me the real reason you did something as unprofessional as volunteering to be the second counselor and then springing it on me in front of all these kids? You of all people know how important first impressions are with crime victims.”

      “You were great with them.”

      “Answer the question.”

      “I already told you I couldn’t find anybody else.”

      “Why didn’t you warn me?”

      She raised her chin. “I knew you’d object. And try to find a way to keep me out. I couldn’t let that happen.”

      “When did you get so underhanded? You used to be an open book.”

      “It wasn’t underhanded. It was expedient. I would have won in the end, anyway.”

      “Of course, because you run the place.” He threaded a hand through his hair. “Why the hell did we think we could do this? Work together?”

      Her faced reddened. “I know where my head’s at. Under no circumstances am I going to let you run my life any longer.”

      “Any longer? What does that mean?”

      “Nothing.”

      “Tell me.”

      “Back off, Nick.”

      Maybe he should. “Maddie, this isn’t going to work. We can’t be together for…what—” he glanced at the clock “—a few minutes without arguing.”

      Pivoting to face the chair, she picked up her journal. “You’ll have to do something about that then.”

      He grabbed her arm and whirled her around. “I can’t work so closely with you. How many different ways can I say that?”

      He expected retreat. Instead, she stepped toward him. “Get over it, Nick. Rule number one around here is we do what’s best for kids. My being in the group is good, if for no other reason than I was there to take care of Kara while you finished up with the others. And you know very well some kids react better to women than men and vice versa.”

      “I can handle them all.”

      “No, you can’t. You’re going to have problems with Nato Keyes and Hector Santos.”

      “Are you criticizing my counseling skills?”

      “No. I’m only pointing out why you need the second counselor. Accept the idea that you’re not playing this alone.”

      “Fine, I’ll accept another counselor. Just not you.”

      “There’s no other choice! For God’s sake, don’t you think I’d have jumped at it if there was? I tried to get someone else and couldn’t. We’re in this together, no matter how much you dislike it.”

      “Do you like it?”

      “Are you kidding?” She looked horrified. “I hate it. I hope that’s some consolation.” She circled around him and reached the door before he stopped her with his words.

      “It’s not, Maddie. It’s no consolation at all.”

      Her back still to him, she said, “You’ll have to find a way to deal with it. So will I.”

      And then she was gone.

      CHAPTER FOUR

      “THIS IS SO SWEET of you, Nick.” Lucy Kramer’s brown eyes sparkled in the sun shining down through the glass roof of the entrance to the Blue Cross Arena. “We love to come to the Amerks games, but parking is horrible. John hates to drive down here.”

      Smiling, Nick leaned over and kissed Lucy’s cheek, her comment and her lined skin reminding him of her age. And frailty. “No problem. After I dropped you off here and parked, I only had to walk fifteen blocks back.”

      “Fifteen blocks!” Her hand went to her heart. “Oh, my.”

      “Kid-ding. I got a spot two lots over.”

      Looking less weary today, John chuckled. “He could always get you going, Luce.”

      Lucy linked arms with Nick. “I don’t care. I love having you back in town. We haven’t seen nearly enough of you in the last three years.” His visits and calls had been regular, but infrequent.

      They strolled up to the turnstile. While Nick was parking, John had purchased the admission tickets. Once they were inside, Nick led the way to their seats. As he got a glimpse of the rink and felt the ever-present chill of the ice, Nick remembered the first time he’d come to one of these games with the Kramers. Who would have guessed the gentle couple would favor a fast-paced, aggressive sport like hockey! Then again, Claire had, too. Dan had played the game in high school—his all-star brother had competed in three varsity sports—and Nick managed to catch some matches in between his bouts of rebellion. His mood darkened when he thought about bringing Maddie to one of these games with the Kramers. She’d worn an Amerks cap and jersey and jeans so tight they’d sent his blood pressure skyrocketing. She’d rooted loudly for the home team.