“And he comes in at night?”
“After we’re closed.”
“His choice or—”
“My suggestion. I’m seeing him off the books—pro bono. And…I don’t want my other patients seeing him,” she said, when really what she meant was I want to keep him secret. All to myself.
Jessie sat up. “Whoa. George, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“No! Of course not! But…but more than his skin or my compulsion to help people, there’s this…thing between us.”
“Not his thing, I hope?”
“Oh, come on, pl—”
“Just kidding. Keep going, I’m…” Jessie waved her hand in front of her face, like a fan. “I’m actually kind of worked up by this. It sounds…intense.”
“God, yes,” George said, almost in relief, because that was it. Exactly. Intense. “He’s intense, and between us, there’s this…chemistry. I’ve never felt anything like it. Not even with my husband. It feels like pain and excitement and titillation, and I want to hold him and… I’m mortified. The man is unwell, and I took advantage.”
“You did?”
“Yes! I’m a professional! But he needed help, and there I was, rubbing his back, and instead of doing the job he came to me for, I acted like a prostitute in a backstreet massage parlor.”
“Holy crap.”
“I mean, I gave him everything except the stupid happy ending!”
“WHAT??!!” Jessie jumped up like a monkey, crouched on her chair, excitable as a child. “Tell me everything!”
“I don’t know, but I started it. It was like I was possessed or something. Oh my God, Jessie, when he takes off his shirt, it’s like—”
“He takes off his shirt? What the hell do you people do in that office?”
“I’m examining his skin! I’m treating him; it’s all aboveboard!”
“I know, I know. Just kidding. Geez, I’m flustered. It’s… It sounds sexy.”
“Yes. Yes, it’s sexy. Painfully sexy.”
“Why painful?”
“He fired me. So that we could…continue to kiss, I guess.”
“Kiss? So you kissed him?”
“No. Actually, he kissed me. And then I asked him over last night. And he almost didn’t come, and then when he did, he…he freaked out. Or something. And he left.”
“Oh, shit. Drama queen. Stay away.”
George opened her mouth to protest but stopped. Stay away. Right. Good advice.
Unfortunately, no matter how dangerous the man might seem, she didn’t particularly want to follow that advice.
* * *
After another sparring session with the sheriff, Clay left town. He headed to Norfolk, making sure he was a good three hours from Blackwood before turning on his phone and checking in with his boss, against his better judgment.
“McGovern.”
