I smiled. “You’re the best, Jake.”
He pointed at me. “But that means we’re even.”
I gaped. “What? I saved your life. No way does that make us even.”
He rolled his office chair to the file cabinet, then flipped through the dividers and pulled one out. He threw it on the desk in front of me.
“I’m going for coffee. You have ten minutes.”
“That’s all I need,” I said.
He walked out while I opened the file, trying to calm Angel, but she was getting annoyed now and wouldn’t keep quiet. I flipped through the pages, reading the details when I came to something that made me pause and reread it just to be sure. I stared at the page for a few seconds, pondering the information, then continued. By the time Jake came back, I was done and rose to my feet.
“You leaving so soon?” he said, holding two cups of coffee in his hands. I smiled at his sweet gesture. Angel was not just fussing now but starting to cry. “As much as I would love to stay and catch up on old times, I have to get this one home and feed her before she gets really upset,” I said and rushed out the door, feeling satisfied that I had gotten what I came for, and then some.
Chapter 12
He was sitting in the corner of Juice ‘N Java, a local coffee shop in Cocoa Beach. Lily Mitchell spotted him from behind the counter and smiled as she took the customer's credit card and swiped it. It had been like this all morning. He would sit there, stare at her, and their eyes would meet. She smiled back, showing him what her boyfriend referred to as her charming overbite.
The customer got his coffee and bagel, then left. Lily remained at the cash register for a few seconds, fixing the receipts, then lifted her gaze again and met his. He smiled, and she smiled back, then lowered her eyes shyly.
She wasn’t sure why he was watching her so intently. He was handsome yet significantly older than her. Did he think she would be interested in someone like him?
The guy sipped more coffee when the door opened, and two local police officers stepped in. Lily studied the guy as his eyes grew wide, and he turned away.
The officers walked up to Lily and ordered their usual sandwiches. Lily noticed how the panic was painted all over the guy’s face as they looked around them, waiting for their coffee. He grabbed a magazine that was just lying there and looked through it, lowering his head as much as possible.
What’s he doing?
The officers received their coffee and breakfast in a bag, then thanked Lily, and one of them put a tip in the jar with a wink. They turned around and started to head for the door. The guy in the corner lowered his eyes and looked into the magazine. He was sweating heavily, and his torso was shaking. It seemed very suspicious, and for a second, Lily wondered if she should tell the officers. This guy had been acting strangely ever since he got here and ordered coffee from her, unable to take his eyes off of her. And now this? The officers walked toward the door when one of them stopped and turned to look.
He’s looking straight at him.
Lily held her breath while the officer stared at him. Neither of them moved a muscle.
Why is he just standing there?
Lily’s stomach turned to knots, and it felt like an eternity went by before the officer’s radio scratched, and he grabbed it, then spoke into it, running out the door, forgetting all about the guy in the corner.
Lily breathed. Maybe he wasn’t some wanted criminal after all. Perhaps he was just actually reading that magazine. The guy didn’t look up until the police cruiser drove past the window of the coffee shop. Lily stared at him while he breathed heavily, then finally was able to calm himself down just enough to finish his coffee.
Something is seriously off with this guy.
It was the end of Lily’s shift, so she took off her apron, then walked into the back and came out with her purse in hand. She walked toward her car when she spotted the guy from the coffee house walking out as well, his eyes still lingering on her. She paused for a second and looked at him, then felt a chill run down her spine. She turned around and rushed toward her car. She started the engine, then drove onto A1A, looking anxiously in the mirror to see if his car followed her.
Chapter 13
THEN:
“What’s up with you today? You’ve barely said a word since you got here.”
Lynn corrected her shirt. She had worn one that showed a little cleavage today, but now, she regretted it. She didn’t usually wear shirts like this. She knew why she had done it, and it made her feel silly. She should know better than to dress up for a patient. She even wore make-up. She never usually wore more than just a little mascara.
Jeffrey rubbed his hands together. He didn’t look at her, but she could tell something was tormenting him.
“It’s just…well…”
“Take your time,” she said, “to find the words.”
He sighed, then finally lifted his eyes to meet hers. “It’s just that…well, I can’t stop thinking about you. I know I’m not supposed to, but I can’t help myself. I look forward to our sessions so much.”
She felt a deep warmth rush through her body as the words fell. Her heart started to beat faster, and she felt such deep love for him in that instant.
“That’s okay,” she said, looking down briefly at her notepad. “It’s normal to get attached to your therapist. It’s actually what’s supposed to happen. It shows the therapy is working.”
His eyes grew wider, and his face lit up. “So, you’re not mad at me?”
That made her smile softly. “Of course not. Therapy is an intimate setting, and the relationship is quite special. But it must remain in this room, and there can be no physical contact.”
Lynn exhaled deeply. She was doing the right thing; setting the boundaries was so crucial at this stage.
“I just…I have this deep fear that I will lose you,” he said. “It’s driving me crazy.”
She smiled again and tilted her head. “That’s perfectly normal too. You have some serious abandonment issues that you’re trying to work your way through. Your girlfriend left you, and now you’re transferring those emotions and fears onto me. But rest assured, I am not going anywhere.”
Lynn tried hard to suppress her blushing, but with no luck. She felt her cheeks grow warm. It was such a sweet moment for them both. Jeffrey was getting attached to her. It was only natural, but a part of her couldn’t help enjoying it. It was sweet and made him so vulnerable.
“It just…it hurts,” he said and put a hand on his chest. “I don’t like depending on anyone. It makes me feel needy—like I was with her.”
“We’re talking about Joanna now, right? Do you still see her?
He blushed.
“Jeffrey, we talked about this. Stalking her isn’t doing either of you any good. You need to let her go.”
He nodded. “I know. I know. It’s just…I’m so angry at her for leaving me. I can’t stand it. No one leaves me. It hurt so much, and it makes me obsessed with getting her back, and…”
“Controlling her?” Lynn asked. “Do you think that’s why you’re following her?”