Intrigue Me

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 (#u29f6196b-deaa-504d-bda9-645d9b847cef)

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?”

“Yeah.” Just what he’d thought. Eve really didn’t know anything about his dad’s grandiose plans. She thought Daniel was being stubborn and childish. He wished he could explain to her why he needed more time, but he couldn’t. Not until he could figure out what to say to Warren.