"You'll be his therapist, Ilida?"

She sighed, "I'm the only therapist who will take his case."

The idea visibly shook her. Perhaps bringing Mike here was a bad idea. Too bad the Heamo High Council hadn't thought of Rehab centers for drugged up vampires. Those bald rats thought of everything else. "A male should take Mike's case, not a slip of a woman such as yourself."

She moistened her luscious, brown lips, and then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She smiled tight, making my c.o.c.k stir to life. A storm of indignation brewed inside her tiny body.

"I wasn't aware we were back in the fifties, Daedalus, and you haven't answered my ques-"

I held up my hand. "Peace! If you think Mike is a danger to you then a male should be his counselor. I should take him out of here."

"That won't be necessary." She cleared her throat again, sat up, and put her shoulders back ready to fight my concern. "I'm comfortable with physical confrontation, so I can handle Mike."

"You've been attacked before."

She hesitated contemplating whether to lie to me or not. "Yes."

A quick possessiveness came over me. Who would hurt her? She wouldn't hurt a fly. "When? And by whom?"

She shifted in her seat not knowing how to take my questioning. I felt the same way. She's independent and doesn't want anyone to worry about her. She'd rather worry about everyone else. "It was three years ago. My first go around as a recreational therapist. One of my patients punched me in the face."

"And?"

She moved her head trying to force the truth out of her mouth. "And I was out cold for ten minutes. After that I took self-defense cla.s.ses." For the first time she met my gaze. "You won't see me flat on my back anymore."

As though realizing her slip, she reddened attractively. "Wait! That's not what I meant to say."

"You weren't on your back." After that, I stood up, paced her tiny office, annoyed with her and this situation. Why did I care so much? Simple. Because she cares. She went to Juliana's funeral. She let me make love to her in the most intimate way possible. It scared the s.h.i.t out of me and seeing her again filled my heart. A heart I thought was long, long dead. "How long do you want to dance around this, Ilida?"

"Dance around what, Daedalus?"

She played dumb well, but I saw through it. Why else would she be so on guard around me? "You and me and this dangerous connection we have."

"I can't..."

"We need to talk about it. You showed up out of the blue at Juliana's funeral. What happened afterward, and the dream I had. I know you had the same dream."

"What dream?"

I sat down and leaned over, pinned her with my gaze. Her dark brown eyes widened with fear. "Is this a game now?"

"Do you know how arrogant you are, Daedalus?"

I leaned back in the chair, crossed my knees, enjoying the hunt more. I shrugged. "I've heard once or twice."

"Just twice?" she said tightly.

A knock made her jump. Her office door opened before she could say come in. A man with dark red curly hair, beard, and mustache peeked in. From our first meeting, I knew I despised him. Unknowingly he told me why.

"How's it going?"

Ilida's posture changed again from alertness to positive vexation. Interesting. Thom makes her uncomfortable.

"It's going fine, Thom."

Want to explain Thom the wonder boss?

I don't have to, to you.

You don't look happy to see him. One can only guess why.

"Mr. Sqourakis, Ilida is the best recreational therapist I have on staff. Mike will be in good hands with her."

Singing your praises.

I'm good at my job. "Thanks, Thom."

"Bye."

The door closed. I waited until I heard the man's footsteps shrink down to a dull sound. "Your boss carries a torch for you."

"We're a family here. All of us went to college together with the exception of Sally, the nurse."

"Spare me The Big Chill a.n.a.logy. He wants to f.u.c.k you, Ilida. Tell me, how many men do you have sniffing around you?"

"How many women do you have clawing at you?"

"I asked you first."

"I gave you one night, Daedalus. Just one. I don't owe you anything."

"I own your body, and you know it."

She jumped up from her chair and stared me down. "No we don..."

"Your heart is beating at a frenetic pace. You slept with him."

"It was a mistake. "

"I like a woman with experience. It makes life interesting."

You're staring at me as if you want me for dinner, Daedalus. I don't appre..."

I reached out and grabbed her hand-needing the contact. Then an electric current traveled up my arm, to my heart and back. G.o.d, bad mistake touching her. I wanted more and was beyond curious now. "I know. You're a therapist. You love your job. You love helping people, and I'm not being condescending. I'm talking about a different kind of therapy."

"I thought that was a one time thing?"

"It doesn't have to be."

"I know your kind. You want a toss then you move onto the next conquest. Who cares if the person being left behind was affected."

"For the record you don't know my kind. And if you did, you'd regret it."

"I hate it when you get cryptic on me."

"I know I affected you."

"I can't do casual s.e.x, and I'm on company time. I dr-I don't... d.a.m.n!"

"Dream, you were about to say?"

She pulled her hand away and cupped her face in her hands. "I wasn't going to say that."

I was pushing her. I had to pull back. She wasn't ready. "Freudian slips," I said quietly. "When you're ready to talk, let me know. This could be fun."

"The next time we talk it will be about Mike."

I stood up this time matching her stance. I was on working on pure animal instinct now. "Then again, maybe we'll be too busy doing other things to talk."

She gasped. "You're bold, you know that?"

"I'm honest, and you're blushing."

"I need to tell you Mike's schedule and when you have to come down for parent weekend."

"Then let's set up a time to meet and talk."

Before she could respond, the office door swung open again. A tall, round woman in flowing clothes stuck her head in. "Sorry, to interrupt, Ilida. I knocked before. We're ready to put Mike into Detox now."

Ilida was thankful for the interruption, I noticed. I needed the moment to collect myself, too. Finally, with the subtle shift in her posture I felt down to my bones, she spoke.

"We can't let you see Mike before he goes into Detox, Daedalus. It's policy here."

"Can't argue with policy."

"I'll need your cell number to contact you in case there are any problems."

I jotted it down for her and handed it over. Ilida avoided making eye contact with me. I didn't want her to squirrel out of this so easily. "Let's talk the old fashioned way. Contact me telepathically."

"I don't..."

"The connection is already there. Let's use it."

I caught her that time.

"I should say no."

"That would be useless."

"Okay. Bully."

"I use whatever I can to get what I want, and you aren't complaining."

"Do you challenge every woman you meet?"

"Mike's schedule?"

"As soon as Mike comes off Detox I'll set up a schedule for him. It's similar to the other residents' here but certain activities will be tailored to his specific needs."

"Contact me telepathically with it."

"You seem comfortable with being a telepath."

She still doesn't know I'm a vampire? Any practiced telepath would have known within first contact. She needs my help. "It's a part of me the way it should be a part of you."

"The phone would be much better for me."

"I can help you."

"I have someone who can help me already."

"Why haven't they been helping you lately?"

"I haven't asked."

She was lying. Whoever had been helping her in the past is no longer able to help her now. "It's a precious gift that can help others, and acceptance of self is everything."

"I'm helping others by counseling. I have my patients to attend. I'll check on Mike later and call you if anything goes wrong. I doubt it will."

"I will keep in touch with you. I'm not the easiest person to get in touch with in the daytime."

"Do you work at night?"

"Overseas phone calls. It's the nature of being an international business person."

"Wait! How are you?"

"I'm okay. Death and I know each other quite well." I closed her office door behind me and took a deep breath. I did a lot of that lately. As if my lungs couldn't get enough breath. Death and I were on an intimate basis. I cheated death by living and meted it out to my enemies. Now the situation was changed. My daughter was dead and I couldn't bring her back. Ilida's concern for me... touched me in a way I didn't want to examine.

I walked down the steps of the Victorian home. Wind blew the short waves on the nape of my neck. With my thoughts, I commanded the car door to unlock. My sensitive ears picked up the muted click. Telekinesis was helpful at times.

I opened the car door, sat in the driver's seat, and then rubbed my forehead. Ilida's presence had followed me. On impulse, I looked up at her office window and caught her staring at me. She didn't bother to hide. I shut my eyes tight and forcibly kept my a.s.s in the car. I will not go to her. I didn't do that sort of thing. There I went again, but every time I gazed in her eyes, I felt her concern. The vulnerability tried to creep in and take over. I need good old-fashioned primal physical contact. If I can't exercise my grief by letting it run its course, then I'll get it beat out of me. I turned the key in the ignition; the car started and in a shot sped down the road away from Ilida's eyes.