Read Online Smoke on the Water by Lori Handeland - Free Book Online Page B

here. He was the boss, brought in from the outside and given oversight of several doctors who could easily have had the job, considering their records and tenure. Sebastian didn’t want anyone thinking he was incapable of handling the tough cases. He certainly didn’t want anyone to discover the truth.
    He daydreamed about kissing Willow Black, and in the night he dreamed of doing a whole lot more.
    He’d seen her several times over the past few days, always with Mary. Neither one of them seemed to have any friends but each other. He found that both endearing and very sad.
    Mary was better when she was with Willow. Everyone said so, even Willow. However, a young woman should have dozens of friends her own age. But, in here, that wasn’t going to happen.
    â€œDoctor?”
    Sebastian lifted his gaze from the file he’d practically memorized to find the subject of that file standing just outside his open door. She was wearing practically the same thing she had the first time he’d seen her: tennis shoes with Velcro straps—no shoelaces in here—scrubs, and a T-shirt advertising this facility. The only difference was her scrubs were green and the shirt was blue, one shade lighter than her eyes.
    â€œCome in.” Sebastian stood too fast, sending his chair clattering backward. “Shut the door, please. Have a seat.”
    She shut the door. Her gaze flicked to the obligatory couch.
    â€œUnless you’d rather—”
    â€œNo!” She sat in the chair so fast it clattered too.
    Her cheeks had pinkened, causing her eyes to shine nearly as blue as her shirt, making Sebastian wonder what she’d thought when she glanced at the couch. He knew what he’d thought whenever he glanced at it lately.
    Sebastian took his own chair. “What were you and Dr. Eversleigh discussing the last time you met?”
    Best to keep this professional from the beginning. In that vein he didn’t voice his usual “call me Sebastian if you like” spiel. He needed all the distance he could get. If she called him Dr. Frasier, it might help. Certainly couldn’t hurt.
    Willow’s gaze went to the file on his desk. “I’m sure you’ve read all about our last session, and any others too.”
    â€œI’d like to hear it in your own words. Unless you’d rather discuss something new. That’s fine too.”
    â€œYou shaved your beard.”
    The statement might seem random, but it wasn’t. Willow was trying to form a bond with Sebastian, which was what he, as her therapist, should be trying to do with her. According to the file, Willow had been receiving therapy longer than Sebastian had been dispensing it. Like Mary, she knew the drill better than he did.
    â€œI did,” he agreed.
    â€œIt suited you.”
    â€œIt didn’t make me scary?”
    â€œI don’t think shaving off your beard is going to change that.”
    â€œYou’re scared of me?” he blurted, surprised. She didn’t seem to be.
    â€œNo.” She laughed. “You’d never hurt me.”
    She said that as if she’d known him longer than the few days she had. Before he could question her about that, she questioned him.
    â€œHow much longer?”
    He glanced at the clock. “We just started.”
    â€œI meant how much longer do I have to be in this place?”
    â€œThat depends.”
    She tilted her head. “On?”
    â€œAre you still having visions?”
    Her brow furrowed. “You say that as if you believe I had them.”
    â€œYou believe you had them.”
    â€œI did.”
    â€œHad them or believed that you did?”
    She shrugged, glanced away. “By believing I had them does that mean I actually had them?”
    â€œIf a man speaks in the forest and no one hears him is he still wrong?” His sister’s favorite joke, though whenever she’d said it to Sebastian she hadn’t been