A Conflict of Interest

“I figured if you weren’t going to call back, I’d better come by,” she said.

Maria tried to come up with a good story, but gave up and went for the truth. “I thought you might have reconsidered.”

“I understand. The phones have been busy at work?”

“You don’t have to be my friend, Beth.”

“No one believes you seduced Griff Butler, Maria.”

“A lot of people believe. I don’t have many clients left.”

Beth crossed the yard and hugged her tight. “I’m positive my son is healthy because of you.”

“Because he worked to get healthy. And don’t underestimate what you and Aidan do for him.”

“He had that crush on you, and I never thought for a second that you’d do anything to encourage him.”

“People mistake gratitude for something more sometimes, when they’re getting better, but it doesn’t mean anything dangerous until someone needs an alternative theory at a murder trial.”

“I saw you with Jake Sloane on the square after the verdict.”

Maria’s pulse went into overdrive. She turned toward the front door, concentrating on her paper. “I was still hoping someone would see Griff needed help, and he might have been able to persuade Griff’s aunt and uncle to talk to someone.”

“You looked half out of your mind, and he seemed concerned for you.”

Maria ached at the memory of Jake holding her close. How she’d wanted to lean into him. “He suggested I stop worrying about Griff. Want some coffee?”

“Jake didn’t threaten you with an investigation?”

Maria’s stomach dropped like a stone as she recalled his words If I wonder, so will the police and the Psychology Review Board. “Is he investigating me?”

“I don’t know.” Beth took the door and waited as Maria tried to plant one foot in front of the other. “As you mentioned, I’ve heard gossip. People know you treated Eli, so they try to ask Aidan and me about you, but I haven’t heard anything specific about Jake. I didn’t realize you knew him so well.”

It wasn’t just that she didn’t want even Beth to know she’d been daydreaming about Jake from afar. If it came out that she was treating Leila, she didn’t want anyone to think she’d been unprofessional with the girl’s father.

“I hardly know Jake at all.”

“That wasn’t what I thought as I watched you.” Beth shut the door.

“Do we have to talk about Jake Sloane?” She sighed noisily. “Or Griff? I could use a change of subject.” She’d never make a good actress, but Beth took the hint anyway.

“Let’s talk about dinner next Saturday. Maybe by then you’ll want to join us. We can watch Eli on the half-pipe Aidan built for him, and you can talk to me while I cook. Then we’ll fight for the best spots in front of the TV while we make the men clean.”

Maria’s first instinct was to plunge her head into the nearest pile of sand, but if someone in her situation had come to her as a client, she’d have cautioned against wallowing in a safety net of invisibility.

“Thanks, Beth. I’d like that a lot.” She stood back. “Would you like a—” she glanced down the hall toward the kitchen “—something?”

Beth chuckled. “I’ve arrived in time. You don’t even know what you have to eat or drink?”

“It’s been rough. People seem to be lining up on Griff’s side or mine.”

“For once, I can offer you good advice. Don’t hide out here.” Beth hugged her again and then inched toward the door. “I’m going to skip your generous offer of ‘something.’ I have errands to run and several guests arriving at the lodge tonight to get in some last-minute fishing before the holidays.”

Maria walked her back onto the small, covered porch. “Thanks for the pep talk. What can I bring Saturday?”

“Aidan likes your sweet-potato soufflé,” Beth said.

“Perfect.” Sweet potatoes and brown sugar wouldn’t deplete her small bank account too much. “And what time should I show up?”

“Early is good.” Beth patted her shoulder. “Try not to worry. The rats will swim back to the ship.”

Maria laughed for what felt like the first time since the trial had ended. “I know you grew up with Griff’s mother and aunt, but thanks for being on my side, too, Beth.”

“You didn’t know you could count on us?” Beth started toward the sidewalk. “Thanks to you, my son acts like any normal teen. He doesn’t lurk in his room. He gets angry with me and resents Aidan and loves his baby sister.” She peered back, her hair flying in the cold wind. “My child is interested in life because you treated him. You are a hero at our house.” Beth lifted her hand in a brief wave. “Bad stuff fades if you wait it out. Isn’t that what you told Eli?”

“I just needed someone to remind me. See you next Saturday.”

LEILA HAD stood him up again. From his colorful red chair in La Fiesta’s window, Jake watched a crew arguing over dead bulbs as they strung the last of the holiday twinkle lights in the market.

He checked his watch. Also dead. Then he pulled out his phone to see the time. He got a jolt as he read the ID of a missed caller. The Psychology Review Board. He’d dialed them and finally gone as far as letting the phone ring before hanging up.

Nice. Grown man so distracted by a need for sex that he’d betrayed the rules he lived by—do the right thing. Don’t sway justice. Don’t cheat on your wife. Don’t abandon your daughter to day care and teenage angst. Be objective and do the right thing, even when it hurts.

Calling the review board had hurt. This time, doing the right thing could destroy someone else. Maria’s practice might not survive investigation. At least in Honesty.

A sudden movement caught Jake’s eye. Outside, halting so suddenly her scarf lifted in the cold breeze to touch her face, was Maria. She was tired, and weariness only made her look more fragile. The sweet curve of her mouth made him drop the phone.

She took a deep breath and pulled her mittens out of her coat pocket. He felt hot as he recalled furtively shoving the dropped one in her mailbox after a visit to his Aunt Helen, who lived in Maria’s neighborhood. Maria watched him, with a kind of hungry concentration that reflected all his desire for her. Shaking her head, she plunged into the crowd on the street and walked away from him.

He picked up his phone. There was the board’s number—orange on black. To call, he had to push one button.

He pushed the off button instead and dropped the phone onto his folded coat. Why did he feel so damn guilty?

A FEW DAYS LATER, Maria was in her office, going over notes for her earliest appointment, when the door opened and a man she’d never seen before entered.

“Dr. Keaton?” he asked, looking official in a crisp suit, snowy shirt and thin black tie.

“Do you have an appointment?” Obviously not, but she was stalling for time to assess the stranger. The whispering that had dirtied her name in the past couple of weeks had made her wary.

“I have this,” he said, pulling a letter out of his pocket. “From the Psychology Review Board.”

Ah. Thank you, Buck Collier.

She took the envelope, willing her hand not to tremble. “Thank—” she started, but he turned and left before she finished. The ultimate show of disdain.

Instead of his face, she saw Jake’s, his expression closing as all his worst suspicions were confirmed by this letter. She tried to see what Beth had seen—his hands on hers, his head bent toward her with concern.

She shook her head, trying to free herself. Wanting too much from Jake was no answer.