Truth or Lies? by A. Gomez (book club recommendations txt) 📗

of my hand trailing up my wrist. Butterflies took flight in my stomach as he did it. That was so damn hot, heat and desire went straight to my sex. I got wet just gazing at him. I turned my head to look out the window so I could think clearly. There was something that kept bothering me about my victim’s case. I couldn’t put my finger on it. The rest of my notes on this case were in my office. I wanted Josh to hurry so I could just get there. Could he go any slower? For goodness sake! My grandmother drives faster than this.

“What?” Josh said loudly.

He startled me. “What do you mean, ‘what’?”

“You just let out a loud huff. What’s the matter?” he demanded.

“Nothing really,” I lied. “Well, that’s not entirely true. There’s something about this case that keeps gnawing at me and I just can’t seem to piece it together. Yet.”

“I’m sure it’ll come to you. You seem like an intelligent girl.” He smirked at me.

“Um, thank you?” I said.

At last we made it to the hospital. I directed Josh to my parking space. His giant truck barely fit but he seemed to make it work. I was gathering my things and was stepping out of his truck when I looked up and he was right there holding the door helping me out. He took my bag and held my hand. I shut the door and the truck beeped, indicating it was locked. I felt awkward and self-conscious. People were going to stare at us as soon as we walk out of the elevator. Well, really just stare at Mr. Greek God. I wasn’t mentally ready for this. I still had feelings for Dr. David Summers. I was still hopeful, stupidly, like a teenage girl. I really didn’t get to see him that often, only when I got called down to the ER for a consult or referral, but surely word would get to him that I had a boyfriend. We were in the elevator going up fifteen stories. Snap out of it, Isabel! I yelled in my head. This was your idea to begin with and it’s a good idea. Think of the kids you help and their parents and guardians. How would they react if they knew you needed protection? They wouldn’t want to put their children in any sort of precarious situations. Their imaginations would get the better of them so they would just stop coming for help or worse, I would lose the good rapport I have with the parents and guardians and possibly lose the kids’ trust. The elevator dinged and the doors started to open.

“Smile, Isabel, you look scared.”

“Do I?” I exhaled, not realizing I was holding my breath.

I tried my best to look casual and not like a scared schoolgirl walking to my classroom on the first day of school. No one really paid us too much attention. Just a few women looking up from what they were doing to ogle over Josh, which I expected would happen. The other two psychologists in my department were either at court because they were subpoenaed or they were in one of the therapy rooms with a child. Pam, our director, didn’t always see patients. She only took the more high-profile cases. So, that made a total of four of us in this small department. When we got to my office, I put my things on my desk and Josh helped me with my coat. He closed the door and walked around my office assessing everything. He took one of my business cards off my desk and read it out loud, “Dr. Isabel G. Langley.” He placed it in his suit jacket pocket. He ambled toward the windows and stood there for a long moment, making a mental note of everything, I imagined. He then turned to my play therapy area, picking things up and moving furniture around. My office was pretty spacious considering this was Cook County Hospital. I think I just got lucky with the office space. I had a loveseat with two chairs and a coffee table that fit nicely in there, yet still had plenty of room for the play therapy table and chairs for the younger kids. I even had my own restroom. The other two psychologists had to use the restroom down the hall. Pam had her own as well. I smiled inwardly about that. Josh was still walking around moving things around. I wondered if all this was really crucial. He was acting as if I were some sort of important governmental figure. I rolled my eyes.

“I can feel you rolling your eyes, Isabel.” He turned to look at me with a smirk.

“How do you…” he didn’t let me finish my question.

“You’re huffing and puffing. Your huffs are beginning to remind me of earlier this morning.” He was gazing at me, still smirking.

I cleared my throat. “Yes, well, I know you want me to show you around, but before we do that, I need you to meet my boss, the director of the psychology department here,” I informed him. “Her name is Dr. Pam Hobbson and she emailed me letting me know she’s abreast of the situation so she’d like to meet you first thing.”

“Yep, got a text from my supervisor about that,” he said, not sounding surprised.

He took my hand as we walked out the door and headed for Pam’s office. No more boyish grin on his face. He looked serious, almost intimidating. Gulp! Here we go.

Pam’s door was open so I lightly knocked as we walked in. Josh still had my hand in his. Pam was on the phone with what sounded like Josh’s boss. She held up one finger indicating to give her a minute. The handholding caught her eye. She raised her eyebrows.

“They’re here now. I’ll fill them in.” She hung up