Intrigue Me (7 page)

“Go on,” Mrs. Washington said. “You can tell her. She won’t bite.”

Daryl dragged his sneaker on the linoleum. “Thank you for saving me. And you is—”

“You are,” Granny said, a gentle correction.

“You are real pretty and brave, too.”

She held out her hand. “We were both brave today. I think we should shake on it.”

He took her hand and pumped it twice, harder than Lisa was expecting. Laughter followed, and that was a very good sign.

When she stood up, Daniel wasn’t there, but he came from the back office a few moments later. “I’ll walk you out.”

“You don’t have to,” she said. “I’m fine. Thanks. You must have a lot of patients who haven’t been seen yet. If I feel shaky, I know who to call.”

“Good. I’m glad. I’ll speak to you soon?”

“Soon. Yes. Oh, great, where’s my purse...?” She glanced around, then felt someone shove it into her hands.

Daniel was still watching her.

God, what the hell had she just done?

7

T
WO
BLOCKS
FROM
the clinic, Lisa walked out of the café sipping her go-to comfort drink, a hazelnut double shot latte. It was early, just after nine, and she’d stayed up late last night writing reports so she’d be free to come to the clinic.

Not only to see Daniel, but to find out if Valeria was going to kick her out on her ass. How could she have been so reckless? What on earth had she been thinking, having sex in an exam room? With all those people just outside in the waiting area?

That was the thing—she hadn’t been thinking at all. The adrenaline-rush excuse could only go so far. She knew better. That clinic was a hotbed of gossip. And yes, she did care what the folks there thought of her. Then there was Daniel. If he’d been accused of something unethical, and it was her fault? She’d never forgive herself.

But the real kicker? Once she’d finally crawled into bed last night she’d stayed up for hours picturing how Daniel had looked when he’d had her up on that exam table. She should’ve been drowning in humiliation, not getting hot for him all over again. Anyone could have heard them. Everyone could know.

She should turn around and go back home. Do her job like a regular person. Forget Lisa Pine ever existed.

Unfortunately, she didn’t think the ache in her chest had anything to do with the clinic. Daniel Cassidy had been her first step out of the prison she’d created for herself. He’d awakened hope. Courage. A new beginning. Which sounded great, but the fall would be far and crushing if yesterday had been the mistake she feared.

The moment Lisa walked into the clinic she knew right away no one had heard anything. Some might suspect, but she definitely didn’t have anything to worry about at the moment. Not when there were a ton of people in the waiting area. Standing. Applauding
her
.

It was humbling and wonderful and it choked her up until she could barely hold back tears.

Waving her hands in an attempt to get everyone to stop was useless. Mrs. Washington was there along with her grandson. In fact, there were a lot of patients she’d seen yesterday afternoon. Ah. She’d left, but it couldn’t have been business as usual after all that drama. The only person she didn’t see was Daniel.

“Sit down.” She had to raise her voice three times. Even so, no one sat, but at least they did stop clapping.

“Where’d you learn to do all that kung-fu stuff?”

Lisa recognized the voice coming from the reception area. It was Melanie, one of the nurses on rotation. “Aren’t you supposed to be working? Is anyone seeing patients?”

Melanie laughed. “It’s your fault half the folks here didn’t get seen yesterday.”

“Oh, no.” Lisa inched toward the hallway. “Don’t lay the blame on me. I was minding my own business—”

“You took that boy down so hard he don’t know which end is up anymore.”

Lisa slid Mrs. Washington a look. “You got a pretty good whack in there yourself.”

The
grand dame
of Moss Street made her way through the crowd. She looked down at Lisa. “Little thing like you, I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes. Where’d you get all that fancy footwork from?”

“Self-defense classes. I told you—”

“Hold on ’bout that. First I want to give you somethin’. Daryl?”

Her grandson was right behind her, using both hands to hold a covered plate. She took the dish and handed it to Lisa. “Thank you for protecting my baby. For protecting all of us. This here’s my world-famous cracklin’ corn bread. Old family recipe I ain’t never told a living soul.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Washington.” Lisa took the plate and almost dropped it, it was so heavy. “I’m glad I was able to help. You were the first person to welcome me to the clinic, and you were so friendly, I went and signed up to volunteer.”

Mrs. Washington puffed up even larger than her big hair. “I said Dr. Cassidy was good, didn’t I? He knowd how to fix you up just right.”

Lisa almost dropped the plate and her purse. If Mrs. Washington knew about what she and Daniel had done in the—

Of course she didn’t. Dr. Cassidy had fixed up her
headaches
. Lisa nodded in full agreement, taking tiny steps backward. “He is a very good doctor. You know what? I’m going to go put this corn bread somewhere safe. I’m not sharing this with anyone.”

“Smart girl,” Mrs. Washington said. “And honey, you can call me Mrs. W. All my friends do.”

Lisa really was touched, and she hoped it showed, but she couldn’t stand one more second in the spotlight. As she turned to leave, Melanie said, “Come on back and tell us more about that self-defense. I wouldn’t be afraid to go down to the bodega at night if I could kick ass like you.”

“I promise,” Lisa said, hurrying away from the chatter. She would talk to them about self-defense because they needed to know. But she had something equally important to do right now.

Instead of heading into the lounge, she scurried straight back to exam room 4. Just to check if she’d left anything. She didn’t think so, but still... It was occupied, but since it shared a wall with the filing room, she went there instead. After putting the dish on the gurney, she pressed her ear to the far wall. Nothing. She couldn’t hear a thing. But she wouldn’t be satisfied until she’d spoken to Daniel.

She’d moved two banker boxes that she’d left open the day before yesterday when the door swung open behind her. She spun around so fast, she almost lost her balance. “What are you doing here?”

Daniel blinked at her. “Me? What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming in today.”

“Making sure we hadn’t left anything incriminating behind and that we weren’t going to be tarred and feathered.”

“I checked exam room 4 earlier. There’s no indication that anyone has an inkling. In fact, they all seem to think I’m nicer now. Everyone is smiling at me.”

“Well, someone might get an inkling if you keep coming to the filing room.” She couldn’t believe he hadn’t left immediately. “Go. Now. Before someone catches you.”

“I’m going. But we need to talk.”

“Fine. Yes. I agree.”

“Dinner?” he asked, half a step out of the room.

“No,” she said. “Coffee. Now out.”

The second he’d closed the door behind him, she wished they’d kissed when they had a chance.

God, she was hopeless.

* * *

F
OR
ONCE
,
THE
waiting room was quiet. Except for the little kids, but none of them were making much noise. Most of the men were ignoring everything the best they could, but some of the younger guys had stepped out front. Lisa figured they’d learned self-defense the hard way.

That didn’t have to happen for the dozen or so women listening to what they could do to protect themselves in case of emergency. She’d already spoken about listening to your instincts, being loud and what she meant by that, which had scared the bejesus out of several doctors and patients. “So, if you don’t do anything else, please get a whistle. The loudest one you can find. Get used to wearing it all the time. And even if it feels like you’re overreacting, if the little voice in your head tells you something’s wrong, listen! It can save your life.”

Valeria, who’d joined the group along with a few other nurses, said, “My instincts say you need to teach us a lot more.”

That was met by a lot of nodding heads and a few claps.

“I’m not a teacher. I went over the places you can sign up for classes. I’ll type it up and hand out flyers, okay?”

“That’s a fine idea, but there aren’t classes in this neighborhood. There was a free one at the YMCA, but that closed,” Valeria said. “What we need now is to learn those moves you just talked about. The basics. Shouldn’t take all that long. One afternoon, I imagine. And I know just the place. It’s about four blocks from here. Peterson Park.”

“That’s great, but I can’t teach it.” Lisa wasn’t going to back down on this. She already had a job and a volunteering commitment. “A good course on self-defense runs for weeks.”

Mrs. W.’s voice shushed the mumbling. “Honey, after what we seen you do, there ain’t nobody gonna teach us how to do all that krave magrave jitsu stuff but you.”

Twenty minutes later, Lisa caved.

* * *

D
ANIEL
CAUGHT
UP
to Lisa in the lounge. Still trying to forget the feel of her in his arms, he focused completely on pouring his coffee, not even daring to look at her. “I’d really prefer we go someplace that isn’t a busy coffeehouse. I know a restaurant that’s quiet and private. So, dinner?” He glanced around the lounge, making sure they were still alone. “No one will bother us. Will you think about it?”

She nodded. Grabbed the last glazed doughnut and left the lounge.

* * *

A
T
12:30, L
ISA
texted Daniel while she was in the last stall in the bathroom. It was the safest place in the building, not that anyone would give a damn about her typing a text message.
Lunch? The pizza place on 3rd?

While finishing the filing, wearing gloves this time, her gut told her dinner was dangerous. Despite what had happened yesterday, they had to slow down with...whatever they were doing. Besides, he needed to understand she wasn’t going to sleep with him tonight. Maybe never again. But definitely not tonight.

* * *

“W
OULD
YOU
EXCUSE
me for a moment?” Daniel said. “I need to answer this.” The nurse nodded. After reading Lisa’s counteroffer, he played his next hand.
Someone could see us at the pizza place. I can pick you up and get you home if we go to dinner.
He put his phone away hoping she’d agree.

No texts came while he examined his next patient. Then Daniel was off to a meeting with the financial manager of the clinic. Maybe talking about budgets would prepare him for the next round in this most interesting negotiation. He’d back down the minute she signaled he was going too far, but damn, he hoped she said yes. The restaurant he had in mind was excellent, and it was very close to his town house.

* * *

D
ANIEL
STOOD
UP
as the host brought Lisa to the table. She’d insisted on meeting him there at 8:00, and he had to admit, seeing her like this was worth the wait. Her light blue dress was sleeveless and showed off her amazing figure. Heads turned as she passed tables of diners. He wasn’t surprised. Lisa was a stunner. That her beauty seemed effortless added to her appeal.

He helped her to her seat, sneaking a sniff of her honey-scented hair. Wishing he could taste her lips, he sat across from her. She’d gotten comfortable, placing her small purse on the table along with her hands. “Fancy place.”

“It’s close to home. I’ve been coming here for years. Though I haven’t been in since— Well, not for a while.” He watched her gaze sweep across the simple but elegant room, surprised at how much he wanted to impress her. “They have an excellent wine list. Though if you’d prefer a cocktail first...”

“Wine sounds great, if you’d do the honors.”

By the time they’d ordered and had their wine, he felt more relaxed, and he thought she was, too. “It was nice of you to agree to teach the defense class.”

“As if I had a choice.”

“No, I suppose you didn’t. You’ve gotten everyone all fired up. The idea is terrific. It’s a tough world for most of our patients.” He took another sip of wine. “Want to hear something weird?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “Do I?”

He chuckled at her suspicious frown. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this nervous on a date before.”

She blinked. “Well, this isn’t a date.”

Of course, she was joking, but before he could think of a witty retort, he got distracted by her neatly trimmed nails. They’d scratched his chest yesterday, and he had the marks and other mementos to prove it. Clearing his throat and the memory, he asked, “What would you call it?”

She shrugged. “A coffee substitute.” She stopped to take a deep breath. “What happened yesterday—we can never do that again.”

Her stern tone did something wicked to his libido. But of course she was right. They couldn’t. Having sex at the clinic was one of the stupidest things he’d ever done. And he’d done plenty over the years. “You’re absolutely right. It was completely unprofessional. We can never have sex again,” he said. “Not in the clinic.”

Her gaze snapped back to his, her lips slightly parted and her eyes wide with disbelief. “I’m not joking.”

“Neither am I. Don’t get me wrong. Yesterday was an astonishing surprise. With the single exception of the venue, it was also one of the best things that’s happened to me in far too long. Although quickies aren’t normally my thing.” He paused just as the waiter approached with their starters. “I like to take my time.”

She opened her mouth but promptly closed it again. The awkward smile she gave the waiter made Daniel want to grin. He held it in check, although it wasn’t easy watching her trying to appear as if nothing at all was amiss. The soft lighting nearly hid her faint blush. She kept her hands under the table, so if she wanted to strangle him he couldn’t tell. Her eyes, though... Nothing could temper the fiery blaze aimed at him.

Roberto set chilled pea soup in front of Daniel. “Will there be anything else, Dr. Cassidy?”

“We’re fine for now, thank you.”

“Enjoy,” he said with a slight bow and a glance at Lisa.

After eating most of her scallops ceviche, giving him many quizzical looks in the time it took to finish his appetizer, she said, “You’re right. Not at the clinic.” He thought she might smile then, but she didn’t. Not unless he counted the slight upturn of her beautiful lips. Which he did.

Daniel nodded. With those few words his mood shot through the roof. His place really was close. A short walk. An even shorter cab ride. He wondered what she’d think about having their entrées wrapped to go. His cock had a very definite opinion. He tried to ignore it. Or at least calm it down. “So where did you get your defense training?”