“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.”
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