of sex with Daniel would not only be safe, but would cure a lot of what ailed her. It would be a very big step, but she didn’t know when she’d have another chance like this. If it worked out, then maybe she’d check into the trading-card thing for herself. But that would be later. Much later. Or maybe never if it made her feel this shaky. What were the odds of her picking the one psycho in the bunch. Pretty damn high.
Besides, she was too busy fantasizing about Daniel Cassidy to even think about strangers on cards.
The question now wasn’t whether to sleep with Daniel one time. But whether she could have both a single night of down and dirty sex and a semi-regular gig at the clinic.
She could imagine volunteering as a form of long-term therapy. The clinic was an ideal place to learn how to function now that she had her new armor in place. The idea of actually helping people instead of finding evidence of adultery or embezzlement or tracking down deadbeat dads would help her feel more productive.
Having sex with Daniel would be the first step to embracing her new definition of intimacy. Feeling pleasure? Fine. Getting sweaty and wearing herself out? Fantastic. Letting herself trust or feel or care? Never again.
After a heartfelt sigh, another five files went into the box. Then another five.
Even though her shift was over, she kept on working. There were still patients out there, and she hadn’t managed a moment alone with Daniel.
A few minutes later he showed up and nearly got himself a knee to the groin. She let out a breath and shifted to give him room. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. Wasn’t sure you’d be here.” He looked good. Tired, but good. “In fact, what are you still doing here?”
“I wanted to finish the row of files I was working on.”
His smile increased her already rapid heartbeat. “Don’t you know they multiply the moment you turn your back?”
He’d taken off his lab coat, leaving him in jeans and a blue shirt. When he leaned back against the table where the finished boxes went, she moved closer to identify the weird marks on his tie. Viruses, maybe? Bacteria?
“You getting hazard duty pay for this?”
“What?” She looked up, then at the stacks of files still left to do. “Oh, right, I really should, huh?”
“How did you end up with this job?”
Lisa shrugged. “Somebody has to do it,” she said and jerked with a start when he touched her cheek.
“Dust,” he said, holding up the smudged pad of his thumb as proof.
“Oh, yeah, I’m sure I’ve got dust in all kinds of places.”
Daniel’s look of amusement faded as his gaze lowered to her hands. “Jesus.” He caught her wrist and inspected her fingers.
Self-conscious, she drew back and pulled out the tissue she’d been using. “They’re only paper cuts,” she murmured.
“You should be wearing nitrile gloves. That’s one thing we’ve got plenty of in the clinic.”
“I hadn’t thought of it but you’re right.” She stared down at her hands and then at his, stunned at how much she wanted him to touch her again. Her cheek, her fingers, she didn’t care—she just wanted to feel his warm skin against hers. It had been so long.
She cleared her throat.
Searching her face, he gave her a gentle smile. “May I?”
Wadding up the tissue, Lisa stared down at his extended palm. She laid her hand on his much larger one and didn’t even blink when he cupped her elbow and drew her closer.
His hands were solid, comforting and everything she needed. He studied her fingers, but his other hand moved from her elbow to her back. When he stood, they were close enough to kiss.
Looking at him, she could see her own hunger in his gaze. He’d started breathing faster, which made her pulse race.
“I’ve thought about you all day.”
“That’s...nice,” she said, wondering whether she was supposed to make the first move. Or if him pulling her almost against his body was the first move, and now she was supposed to react.
“And last night.”
“Oh,” she said, understanding perfectly. “I hope I didn’t keep you up late.”
He inched forward. There was no longer any shred of doubt that he wasn’t just inspecting her paper cuts. This was it. Her big chance. With a man she’d wanted from the moment she’d seen his picture. One night of down and...
She took a step back as panic ripped through her.
DANIEL HAD FELT her tense several seconds before she backed up. Something had changed. She seemed...frightened. He got the feeling that with one wrong move, she’d bolt. At least, after his own step back, he could look at her hand properly. A scar near her thumb caught his attention. It must have happened a few years ago, definitely not more than ten. Someone had done a bad stitching job. The mark could have been barely visible with just a bit more care.
Lisa sighed, and Daniel noticed he was petting the scar with his thumb as if he could fix it. “No more filing for you,” he said. “Doctor’s orders.” He relaxed a little when he saw her smile.
“I’ll be sure to tell Valeria you said so.” She drew her hand back, but before she turned away, she rubbed her scar.
“Valeria sent you back here?”
Lisa nodded. “Apparently Eve left her a note.”
Of course word had spread about the lounge incident. That was inevitable. But Daniel would have a talk with Eve. Find out what the hell she was thinking. Now, though, he took the box from Lisa and stacked it on the others. “So, this is it? Your last day?”
“I’m not sure,” she said, wiping her hands on another tissue and then looking around the room as if she’d forgotten something. “Valeria asked me to come back.”
He was of two minds about her returning to the clinic. It would be a lot easier to ask her out if she was finished, but the clinic needed all the help it could get. “I’d say no, if they’re just going to stick you back here.”
“If everyone did that, the files would never get done.”
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