Free Intrigue Me by Jo Leigh Page B

need therapy, thank you. And I don’t know about going home.” The adrenaline ride had reached its peak. “I’m fine.”
    She could see exactly how much he disagreed with her plan. “I’m calling a cab for you. No arguments.”
    “Oh, all right. Although I’ll have nothing to do at home except work.”
    “Improvise.”
    She hopped off the table, fixed her clothing then went to the mirror. Behind her, Daniel was tidying up. She looked ravished. “Oh, my God.”
    “What?” He was at her side in seconds.
    “We had sex.”
    “I know.”
    “No, you don’t... It’s just...”
    “Are you sorry?”
    “Not at all. Surprised. But I guess that’s appropriate. Although, I had sort of thought we’d start by meeting for coffee?”
    He kissed the side of her head and smiled. “I think we can still manage that.”
    Now that she was getting back to normal she’d have to think about it. God, she’d actually had sex with him. She finger combed her hair, but it still looked pretty crappy. “You might consider a therapist.”
    He reared back. “Are you serious?”
    “You’ve been through a traumatic experience yourself.” She turned to him, pulled him close by his lab-coat pockets. “My advantage is that I’ve been trained in martial arts. I know how to calm myself. No one got hurt, so that’s another plus, but I’m guessing you haven’t been faced with something like this before.”
    “Uh, medical emergencies?”
    “Not the same. Your life was at risk. It’s a big deal. Don’t play it down. Having expertise in one area doesn’t mean you can ignore a trauma. I’m sure if you diagnosed you, you’d agree.”
    “Yet you don’t need a therapist,” he said, looking entirely too curious.
    “I have someone if I need to talk.” She went on tiptoe to kiss him. She couldn’t deal with questions about herself, not now. Maybe never. “Now, I need to leave this room, and so do you. We should walk out as if we hadn’t...”
    “Right. Together. But check again. Do I have your lipstick on me?”
    She looked, tempted to kiss him again. “Nope. Do I look appropriate for the circumstance?”
    “Yes. Does it smell like sex in here?”
    She winced. He bent at the sink, pulled out a fragrance-free air cleaner, which actually did have a fragrance, but since it wasn’t sperm, it was fine.
    “Just, before we go out, please note that I’d like to have that coffee at your earliest convenience.”
    “Me, too.” She sighed and touched his face. “I’ll remember this for a long time.”
    “Me... Okay, now we’re looping. Let’s head out.”
    He opened the door for her, and she left the room to find a very appreciative and concerned group of staff and patients in the waiting room. Mrs. Washington was still there, and she was holding Daryl’s hand. “You all right?”
    Lisa nodded. “I was rocketing with adrenaline and shock, but Dr. Cassidy was right there for me. So, I’m going to go home, and get some rest, but I’m fine. How about you?”
    “We’re good. Mostly ’cause of you. But there’s a pediatric therapist coming here shortly, and she’s gonna talk to Daryl.”
    Lisa crouched in front of the somewhat clingy young man. “You were so, so brave,” she said. “I am so proud of what you did. I bet your grandma is, too.”
    “Granny,” he said.
    “Right. Good to know. Do you have any questions for me?”
    He looked down, then up again, hiding a little behind his granny’s arm. “Do you know Spider-Man?”
    She put on a thoughtful face and then shook her head sadly. “No, I don’t. I wish I did, though. He’s a great hero.”
    Daryl nodded.
    “Go on,” Mrs. Washington said. “You can tell her. She won’t bite.”
    Daryl dragged his sneaker on the linoleum. “Thank you for saving me. And you is—”
    “You are,” Granny said, a gentle correction.
    “You are real pretty and brave, too.”
    She held out her hand. “We were both brave today. I think we should shake on it.”
    He took her