“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.
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