Jackson’s words jarred her. “He does look the part, doesn’t he?”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s got a thousand-yard stare, for one thing. But for another…”
“But for another…what?”
“Just something about him, that’s all. He looks like trouble.”
“That’s what he’s been so far. He’s certainly not been too cooperative in session.”
“How’d he get in therapy?”
Maria gave him a brief case description, including the death of Ryan’s wife. She and Jackson consulted on so many of her cases they almost had a special language of their own to describe clients.
“I guess that explains everything,” Jackson said after she finished. His voice changed slightly. “You sound as if you’re worried. Don’t you think you can handle him?”
Not surprised by his perception, Maria started to answer then stopped. She was more worried about Ryan Lukas than she should have been. She spoke slowly. “I think he’s in a lot of pain but he’s made it clear he doesn’t want my help. I guess I just hate to see anyone suffer like that.”
“It’s nothing else?”
“Why do you ask?”
A slight silence built. Jackson finally broke it. “You aren’t thinking of mounting a rescue attempt, are you?” He chuckled then. “So to speak…”
It took her a minute to understand. “No, God…Jackson, it’s nothing like that. I’m not attracted to him, in any way.”
“He’s a handsome man.”
“He’s a client,” she protested at once. “And that’s all he is. And all he will be, I assure you.”
Jackson took a second too long to answer and she realized her mistake. She was being too defensive. Jackson might be retired but his clinical radar was still intact. He’d think she was covering something up. He started to come back at her, but she said goodbye and hung up quickly. She didn’t have the time to explain, she told herself later. Her evasiveness had nothing to do with Lieutenant Lukas being so attractive. Nothing at all.
RYAN SPENT the weekend doing household chores and trying to read the latest David Lindsey novel. By the time Monday rolled around he was actually glad to see it even though it meant another torturous day at the desk. Heading into the station that morning, he thought again about the kid he’d seen at the call-out last week. He hadn’t said anything to Lena and still didn’t intend to, yet something about the incident continued to bug him.
His mind was focused on a blue backpack and a black baseball cap when he rounded the corner to see Maria Worley in the corridor.
She was standing next to Lena and she had on a dark-gray suit with some kind of silky blouse beneath the jacket. Ryan knew little about women’s clothing, but the way it flattered her figure meant the outfit had to be expensive. Snuggled against one hip, she held a black leather notebook. As he watched the two women talk, Maria lifted her right hand and absentmindedly tucked a strand of her dark hair behind one ear. The movement was graceful and fluid, full of the kind of femininity he had once appreciated seeing in a woman. Once.
He wasn’t conscious of it, but he must have made some kind of noise. Both of them looked up. He met Maria’s eyes and ignored Lena. As she recognized him, the doctor’s gaze went from startled to wary.
“Hello, Lieutenant,” she said in a neutral voice. “How are you this morning?”
He ignored her question. “What are you doing here? Haven’t you done enough damage already?”
Lena held up a warning hand. “Ryan, don’t start—”
Maria cut her off. “It’s all right, Lena. Let him talk.”
Her support, even as insignificant as it was, made Ryan angrier, although he would have been at a total loss if asked to explain why.
“Well?” he continued rudely before she could say more. “What are you doing here? Ruining someone else’s career or just bad-mouthing me?”
“Actually I came by to pick up my tickets for the rally this weekend. I also stopped to tell Lieutenant McKinney that you failed to make your appointment last week.” She looked at him coolly. “Which concerns me greatly.”
“These sessions are mandatory, Ryan.” Lena spoke sternly. “If you don’t intend to keep them, then we need to talk—”
“My appointment?” Ignoring Lena, he stared at Maria and drew a complete blank.
“I gave you a card the day you were in my office. It had the date and time of our next scheduled conference, which happened to be last Thursday but you never showed up.” She raised one perfectly arched eyebrow. “I’m assuming something important must have kept you?”
For one long second, all he did was stare at her. She had brown eyes, he saw now, and they were deep and dark. She would never believe him if he told her he had completely forgotten about the appointment, but he had. A glimmer of remorse, which he immediately ignored, shot through him.
“I was busy,” he said abruptly. “I couldn’t make it.”
“I charge for missed appointments.”
“So send me a bill.”
Lena sighed loudly. “The department will take care of it, Ryan, but in the future—”
He shot her a warning look. “I understand.”
“Good. I’ll expect to see proof of that shortly.” She turned without another word and disappeared into the office behind them. The door clicked firmly as she shut it. Too firmly. That wasn’t a good sign, but Ryan didn’t care.
Maria made no effort to move. He wondered what she was waiting for, then she spoke and he wished he’d made his escape when he’d had the chance.
“When can you come in?” Her voice was crisp as she opened her notebook. “I have the Thursday after the rally open again. Is that convenient?”
“No.” He had no intention of letting this woman probe his brain. “It’s not.”
“Then when?”
“I’ll let you know after I look at my schedule.” He started to walk off, then he felt a hand, light as a bird’s wing, brush his arm before dropping. Surprised, he turned back.
“Lieutenant Lukas…” Two lines had formed across her forehead. It gave her an air of concern he didn’t believe for a minute. “You’re facing an emotional crisis and you need help. Forgetting these appointments—”
“I didn’t forget it,” he said. “I was busy.”
Conceding the point even though both of them knew better, she nodded slowly. “Well, then not making time for these sessions is a symptom of how strong your denial really
