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
