Intrigue Me

It would be a shame to wake him. Which made this a good opportunity for Daniel to grab a quick cup of coffee in what they laughingly called the lounge. Maybe find out more about that new volunteer. His need for caffeine abated as he discovered the woman still in Valeria’s office. Filing. “You didn’t waste any time jumping into the fray,” he said.

Lisa turned at his voice, that smile of hers drawing him inside the office. “Seems they’ll take just about anyone.”

Valeria’s laugh reminded Daniel they weren’t alone. “No offense, but that’s truer than you know.”

“She’s signed up for three whole days,” Valeria said, and there was nothing feigned about her enthusiasm.

“Excellent. I’m sure she told you about the coffee in the lounge. I was just heading over there.”

Lisa blinked and nodded.

He glanced at Valeria, who was watching him closely. The woman was the eyes and ears of the staff. He imagined not much got past her.

“Yes, I did tell her about the lounge, Dr. Cassidy,” Valeria said with a hint of amusement. “I even told Lisa where the bathroom was.”

Okay, it was past time for him to make an exit. No wonder he rarely dropped by this office. “Can I get you ladies anything on my way back?”

“That’s very thoughtful of you.” Valeria leaned back in her chair and raised her brows comically high. “I’d love a coffee. Black, no sugar. And if they still have doughnuts, I wouldn’t mind one.”

He nodded, knowing news of his “visit” would spread through the office like pinkeye. “Black, no sugar,” he repeated. “What about you, Ms. Pine?”

“I think it’s about time for her break,” Valeria said before she turned to Lisa. “Just leave the files where they are. Come back in fifteen?”

When Daniel looked at Lisa, he caught her staring back, a light blush staining her cheeks. For God’s sake, he was thirty-four years old and he couldn’t have handled this more awkwardly if he’d tried. Talk about showing his hand.

“I could use a cup of coffee.” Lisa put down the work and gave Valeria a nod before leading him down the hall.

For the life of him, Daniel couldn’t come up with a decent opening line. Though he was content to enjoy the view. Lisa had a nice, easy sway to her walk. Too bad she hadn’t worn a skirt. He’d bet she had great legs...

“I understand you’re a neurologist,” she said with a backward glance. “And that you’re single.”

“What?” he said, taken aback until he caught the mischievous look in her eyes.

“And you not only graduated from Harvard, but did your residency at Johns Hopkins and just finished a neurology fellowship at Mount Sinai.”

He sighed. Gossip was as ubiquitous as penicillin at the clinic. Until today he’d primarily been exempt from it. Or so he’d thought. Nothing he could do about it, though, and in this case, he wasn’t sure he minded. “Alarmingly true, but I bet you don’t know my blood type.”

“O-positive.”

He stopped so fast the nurse behind him almost bumped into his back. “Seriously?”

Lisa gave him a wicked grin. “Educated guess. It’s the most common blood type.”

He pointed his file at her. “You’re fixing Valeria’s coffee,” he said as they entered the lounge. “And even if there are any doughnuts left, she’s not getting any.”

Her laugh was as charming as her smile, which made the sound of his cell phone ringing in his pocket an unwelcome intruder. What was worse, it was a call from Warren. Even though he let it go to voice mail, his mood plummeted. Of course he knew what his brother wanted. Just as Warren knew Daniel wasn’t ready to discuss joining the Center.

He might as well stop thinking about Lisa Pine. Starting something with any woman, let alone a volunteer, was out of the question while his world was in flux. The only thing that mattered to him at the moment was working until he crashed from exhaustion and then repeating the cycle. Filling every nook and cranny of his life with anything that wasn’t thoughts of his future. Eventually, he’d have to face his obligations. But not today.

A row of lockers against the wall, the pair of ugly corduroy chairs and two overworked coffeemakers sitting on a folding table allowed for limited space in the small room. It could hold four people nicely; six was pushing it. He reached around Lisa for a cup while watching her carefully study the pitiful selection of leftover doughnuts.

She really was a classic beauty with her flawless complexion, electric blue eyes and blond hair. She wore some makeup, but not much. She didn’t play up her looks at all. If anything, she played them down.

She must’ve felt him staring. Probably regarded him as just another sucker overtaken by her beauty. Hell, her smile alone could make a man do very stupid things. Even a physician who knew a lot about the brain and how it worked.

“I assume Valeria knows these are stale by now,” Lisa said, then glanced down and frowned. “Dr. Cassidy? Your phone?”

He still had the cell in his hand. It was his brother again. Daniel didn’t have the luxury of turning his cell off, so he might as well deal with this now. “Excuse me,” he murmured as he handed her the empty cup.

He was halfway down the hall, planning what he’d text to Warren to make him go away, when it occurred to him he should’ve said something more to Lisa. It was tempting to go back, apologize for his rudeness. But why bother? Walking away seemed to be what he was best at.

* * *

“YOU CAME BACK. I’m impressed.”

Lisa nearly ran Dr. Cassidy over when she stepped into the hall on her way to the ladies’ room the following morning. The heat rushing to her cheeks was as mortifying as the way she’d dipped her chin until she was looking at him through her lashes. She had no idea where that reaction had come from. The only thing missing was twirling her hair around one finger. “I committed to three days,” she said.

“Right. Valeria mentioned that. Another scintillating day of filing?”

She shook her head, very aware of her hair brushing across her shoulders. She’d spent a stupidly long time with her flatiron this morning. “Nope. Screening patients.”

“Ah.”

Daniel had his lab coat on, but it was open, revealing his dark-colored pants and pale blue oxford shirt. He’d worn a tie, dark blue, and oh... “Are those little pink ribbons?”

He nodded, touching the half-Windsor knot. “Breast-cancer awareness. I have a collection of message ties. They’re useful for starting a dialogue with patients. For example, have you done a self-check lately?”

She blushed again. Not because of what he’d said, but because of the image that had popped into her mind. The same image of his hands on her breasts that she’d imagined last night while repositioning her pillow a thousand times.

Their gazes locked. His serious eyes and those slightly parted lips made her mouth go dry while her vaginal muscles tightened. Appalled at the unexpected flare of arousal, she looked away first. This sort of thing—this overwhelming desire to touch and be touched—hadn’t happened to her in ages. It wasn’t welcome, either.

Daniel cleared his throat as he leaned back, distancing himself without taking a step. “I’ve got—” He held up the file in his hands. “Maybe I’ll see you later in the lounge.”

She nodded, unable to think of a thing to say. Although she did release a big sigh when he walked into exam room 1.

She continued on her way, more aware than ever that she’d made a critical error when she’d dressed that morning. Mercifully there wasn’t a full-length mirror in the ladies’ room. Regardless, Lisa saw her mistake the moment she looked at herself in the mirror above the sink.

Technically, she hadn’t needed to return to the clinic, not for the case. Sure, she’d signed up to volunteer for three days but she could have backed out.

In the end, she hadn’t been able to resist the allure of Dr. Cassidy. In addition to discovering why he was working at a free clinic, she wanted to know why a phone call had changed his demeanor so drastically yesterday. An emergency she would’ve understood, but he hadn’t even answered it. One second he’d been joking with her and the next, he’d walked away as if she’d ceased to exist. He hadn’t even returned for his cup of coffee.

But who was she kidding? The way she’d dressed and the way she’d reacted when they’d spoken made her primary reason for returning embarrassingly obvious. She’d wanted to see him again. She wanted to feel that same jolt of excitement she’d felt yesterday. That yearning for a man’s touch she thought she’d smothered for good. For the past year, she’d been very careful, kept to herself, focused only on her new career. The four months before that she’d barely left her apartment. After what she’d been through, she knew better than to get close to anyone, let alone become involved.

But maybe her perspective was too narrow. Sex didn’t necessarily mean involvement, right? According to Dr. Cassidy’s trading card, he was looking to get married, but before he met his soul mate, she doubted Daniel would object to a night of no-strings sex.

Besides, he wouldn’t be with her. Not really. He’d be with Lisa Pine. After two days or even a week, she would disappear and that would be that. It would be like college. She hadn’t gone out often, but when she had, she’d made sure there would be no complications. His place only, first names, no sleeping over. The three one-night stands she’d had had been great. Of course that was before she’d met Miles. But she wasn’t going to think about him, except as a reminder that she was terrible at picking both friends and lovers.

There was one more hurdle to clear before she could even contemplate sleeping with Daniel: Heather Norris. The odds of her choosing a doctor who worked for free were close to nil. But the fact remained that if Lisa decided she wanted to bed the good doctor, she needed to be damn certain Heather wasn’t interested.

Because Lisa sure was. Although sex with him or any man would be a big step for her at this point. One reckless move could have devastating consequences.

She focused once more on her reflection and sighed. No wonder the patients she’d been screening all morning had seemed distrustful. Their vague responses on the intake questions and the way they wouldn’t meet her gaze had puzzled her. Until now. It hadn’t been because she was a stranger but because she’d dressed to impress Dr. Cassidy, not to blend in.

Rookie mistake. A private investigator was supposed to remain inconspicuous.

The time she’d taken with her makeup should have been a clue. And what the hell had she been thinking, wearing her pale peach silk blouse? She never wore it unless she had somewhere special to go. Helping sick people fill out forms didn’t qualify.

Of course she hadn’t brought another blouse with her. Or jeans and comfy flats, which would have been appropriate. Luckily, there was a thrift store a few blocks away where she was bound to find another top to wear. A quick glance at her watch told her she had ten minutes to go on her break, but wearing her five-inch heels, she’d never get there and back fast enough.

Instead of worrying when there was nothing to do but wait until lunch, she stopped by the lounge. There were a few doughnuts left, so she fixed a coffee for Valeria as well as for herself and picked up two honey glazed to go.

Valeria’s reaction to the impromptu gift was so appreciative it made Lisa squirm. Her motives hadn’t been pure, that was for sure. The woman was a font of knowledge when it came to the staff. Maybe Lisa could ask her out to lunch tomorrow.

Very aware of the time, Lisa leaned against the credenza, swallowed a big bite of doughnut and said, “I can’t believe I dressed so inappropriately. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“You were thinking about Dr. Cassidy,” Valeria said. “Can’t say I blame you. But don’t get your hopes up. You aren’t the first girl to try to get something started with him.”

Lisa considered pretending to be outraged, but what for? Even if she hadn’t come to work wearing silk, Valeria was too sharp to have missed what was going on. “He is puzzling, though. While we were in the lounge yesterday, he got a phone call and he couldn’t escape the room quickly enough. I figured it was a medical emergency, but he was wearing a pager, so maybe an ex-wife?”

Valeria shook her head. “Nope, he’s never been married,” she said as she pushed her chair back far enough to put her heavy black boots up. “I might be wrong. You’re different. Dr. Cassidy isn’t usually so chatty. He certainly hasn’t offered to get me coffee before. Or given a volunteer a tour of the lounge.”

“He was just being nice.”

“Oh, he’s very nice. And very focused on his job. But he doesn’t socialize with the staff.” She lowered her voice. “I’m not saying he’s a snob, though a doctor like him, you’d half expect him to be.”

“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.

3

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 cab.

“New volunteer?” Eve asked as soon as they were on their way.

“Yep. Came on board yesterday and Valeria put her to work filing right away. Today they’ve got her doing intake screenings.”

“Wow, she must be a very good screener for you to know her schedule so well. You didn’t say a word to the last recruit I brought in, and she was there an entire week.”

“Relax. She’s only going to be there one more day.”

“I am relaxed. Hey, you’re a grown man. You can do whatever you like with whomever you choose.”

He didn’t hide his frustration when he met her gaze. “Why change now? The last time I had a woman in my life, all you talked about was how it was never going to last.”

“I was right.”

He grunted, unwilling to continue this game. “You’re my cousin, and I love you, but come on, Eve. Knock it off.”

“Fine. I won’t talk about the fact that she must have a powerful reason to volunteer in the Bronx. Altruism is one thing, but a woman like her? Two months after that article in the Times that had your picture on it?”

He shook his head, refusing to be baited. Eve meant well, but sometimes he wasn’t sure if she was looking out for him or was jealous. He really hoped it wasn’t the latter. “I can’t decide between the Pernil con Mofongo and the number one combo.”

“Get the combo. That way you’ll have enough left over for dinner.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Eve gave him an eye roll. “Cut it out. I’m in no mood.”

“I can see lunch is going to be fun.”

“Yes, we’re going to talk about you. And Warren. And all the things you wish I wouldn’t bring up.”

“Yay,” he said. “I can’t wait.”

The taxi pulled over and Daniel paid the driver as Eve went in to try to grab a table. Through some miracle of timing, they had to wait only five minutes for one.

The restaurant smelled like its signature Puerto Rican roast pork, and the casual atmosphere lent itself to loud discussions and laughter. Their orders were taken pronto, and Eve wasted no time getting to the point.

“Warren can’t do anything with the house until you remove your things. And that has nothing to do with you starting at the Center. So just bite the bullet and call him.”

Daniel held back a sigh. Though he doubted he’d have any luck, he decided to go for one more attempt at forestalling a conversation he wasn’t ready for. “You look tired. Out clubbing with the girls again?”

“Thanks a lot, you dick. Two martinis. That’s all I had. And yes, I was out with the girls because I haven’t done anything remotely fun in over a month. Anyway, I know you’re just trying to change the subject, and no, I’m not going there. Warren wants answers, Danny. Is that so hard to understand? You aren’t the only one who lost a father.”

“Whoa,” he said, taken aback. “Going right for the jugular today, huh?”

“This is me, giving you a smack. As much as I love what you’re doing for the clinic, you have other obligations. Unless you plan on spending the rest of your life being an unpaid GP in the Bronx.”

“Of course I don’t. That’s not... I’m...damn it, I’m just not ready to leave yet.”

She winced. “You made a promise. To take your place at the Center.”

“I promised Dad.”

“Warren is still your family, and the Center is still your father’s legacy.”

Daniel flinched and hoped Eve hadn’t seen.

“Unless he told you all bets were off when he died?”

He really had to bite down on that one. Their meals arrived, but the churning in his gut made food the last thing he wanted. “Did Dad mention to you any plans for expansion?” he asked, careful to keep his tone casual.

She looked puzzled. “Well, he knew we’d have to hire additional help once you came on board. More support staff, for one thing, and we talked about finding another neurologist. He said once the three Cassidys were there, the waiting list would double. Is that what you mean?”