The Awakening Aidan - By Abby Niles Page 0,4
to learn to cope. It’s only going to get worse.”
He finally looked at her. The sadness in his eyes reminded her why she’d never mate a shifter, never want to even garner the interest of a shifter. The man standing behind her burned into her awareness.
“I can refer you to someone who can help.”
Mr. O’Connell walked into her line of vision. “No. We need you.”
She glanced up at him. Big mistake. She had the hardest time looking away. “I’ve already told you I no longer take shifters as patients. I work strictly with humans.”
“Can you cure me?”
The soft words came from Liam. When she looked at him, she wanted to cry at the hope in his eyes. She was going to cave. It was why she’d gone strictly human. One look at an emotionally wounded shifter, and she was a goner. “I can help you cope. There is no cure.”
“I’d like for you to help me.”
She stood and grabbed a card from her wallet and handed it to him, unable to believe she was actually going to do it. “Call my office in the morning and we’ll set up a time for you to come in.”
He shook his head sharply. “No. You’ll come here.”
“I don’t make house calls.”
Mr. O’Connell stepped forward. “I’ll pay triple your hourly wage plus gas.”
She swallowed. “You have no idea what I even charge.”
He shrugged. “Money’s no object if Liam can get the help he needs. I’ve been told you are the best…so we need you.”
“But—”
He held up his hand. “Three hundred and fifty an hour, two hour-long sessions a week, and I’ll even pay you the hourly rate for your drive. It took you forty-five minutes to get here, so that’s an extra three hours a week.”
Her eyes almost bulged from their sockets. Seventeen hundred fifty dollars a week? Was he kidding? From his outfit to his cabin, he didn’t look like he had that kind of money just sitting around. She narrowed her eyes. Maybe he was all talk. She’d had it happen before, where the patient was desperate enough to offer anything to get help, but couldn’t follow through.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ll need half of the first week’s fee up front.”
Let’s see him get out of that.
He simply left the room.
She blinked. What did that mean? Did he or didn’t he have the money?
She shook her head and busied herself putting her supplies away. A few minutes later, a white envelope was thrust under her nose. She shot a glance up at Mr. O’Connell, irritated by the triumphant smirk on his lips.
“Do we have an arrangement?” he asked.
She took the envelope and opened the flap to find nine crisp hundred-dollar bills.
“Consider the extra payment for the gas you used on the way up here.”
For once in her life, she was at a loss for words. She’d been certain he was bluffing, that she didn’t have to worry about being around him anymore, that she’d leave here tonight never to see Mr. O’Connell again.
But money talked, and right now she needed it. Badly.
Since she’d cut her patient list by more than half, she was barely making enough to feed herself, much less keep the practice open. This kind of money would help with the loss of income and hopefully give her some time to grow her human patient list.
“Well?”
The one word grated on her nerves. He grated on her nerves. Yeah, she needed this money, but not if it meant dealing with this man twice a week. Then she noticed Liam rubbing his palms on his jeans. Cagey. Juiced. She grabbed the stethoscope from her briefcase. As she bent toward his chest, he jerked away from her.
“Hold still.”
He froze. She placed the scope back over his heart. The buzz of the Fewshon was still audible, although not as loud. The shock should’ve knocked the connection into submission and she shouldn’t be able to hear it. She listened under his rib cage. His beast made the mournful sounds of a wounded animal. Frowning, she straightened. The poor man was on the brink of another Bahrraj episode. But when would it hit? It could be an hour, a day, maybe two. But it was going to happen. Soon. Money or not, he needed her help and she couldn’t in good conscience walk away from him. “I have a few hours free in the morning.”
Mr. O’Connell stepped forward. “Perfect.”
She tilted her chin in the air. “My appointment is with Liam. I’m willing to