11. Drawn To You

11

DRAWN TO YOU

“ U s?” she asked, lifting her eyebrow.

Zander knew he was putting her on the spot, but that was what he did best.

She came to him like he hoped and now it was time to see where this could go, if anywhere.

“Yes,” he said. “We’ve had two dates now.”

“Dates?” she asked, grinning. She was playing with him, he could see that. Or maybe having fun.

Both things he hadn’t expected from her personality.

He had to admit he was pleased over it since most times she was so professional.

Nice to know she could cut loose a bit.

“You know we have. Takeout in my office. Then you came to me for dinner tonight.”

She laughed. “You’re right. What is it we need to discuss? Rules? Guidelines? I know some have thought I’m stuffy, but I’m not that rigid.”

“I’m not so sure stuffy is the word that I’d use to describe you.”

“Oh,” she said. “Do tell me what words you’d use.”

“This isn’t going to turn into a session, is it?” he asked, grinning. Then was disappointed she caved so quickly and her smile faded.

“Sorry,” she said. “We got off track.”

“No,” he said. “We didn’t. Now I want to know why I just changed your mood on our date.”

“Why?” she asked. Their desserts and coffee were brought out that they’d ordered when the server had been over before.

“So I don’t make the same mistake again.”

“It’s not a mistake,” she said.

“Sure, it is. I don’t want to turn you off.”

“Not sure you can,” she said. “What you said was more of a reminder.”

“Reminder of what?” he asked. He picked his fork up and cut into the rich chocolate cake in front of him. She’d gotten strawberry shortcake.

“That at times men think I’m trying to turn a date into a session. That isn’t the case. It’s hard to have a conversation and not have someone thinking I’m digging for a deeper meaning. It’s just small talk.”

That hadn’t occurred to him and he wasn’t sure why. It’s not like he hadn’t experienced the same thing.

“Just so you know. You aren’t alone there. Maybe that is why I’m drawn to you.”

Her head snapped up and her mouth closed while she quickly chewed her bite of dessert. “Drawn to me?”

“Yes,” he said, smirking, his eyes taking in her face. The loose waves in her hair were flowing down her back. Her light blue eyes were like a clear spring day. “Aren’t you going to be upfront and admit the same?”

“Of course I am,” she said. “No reason to shy away from a fact. It’s human nature to be drawn to someone’s physical appearance first.”

Zander snorted over the clinical straight-faced way she’d delivered those words.

He pursed his lips and nodded his head and answered in the same dry tone. “Of course.”

Then they both burst out laughing.

“You’re funny,” she said.

“The same,” he said to her.

They ate their dessert in silence for a minute. He knew he had to work things out in his mind and she probably was doing the same.

Might not be a good thing that they both had that in common.

“I’ll be serious,” she said. “Or sort of. What is it that we have to talk about? We’ve had two dates. I like you. I think you like me.”

He winked at her. “I sure do. More so after this dinner.”

“Agreed,” she said. “Would I like another date? Absolutely. But we both have very busy careers that take up a lot of our time. I’m not someone that is going to hold a grudge if something is planned and has to be canceled.”

“That’s a good start,” he said, feeling relieved.

“I’m going to assume this is an issue with you? Or has been in the past?”

“About the same as it’s an issue that men think you are doing an assessment on a few dates.”

“If we want to be technical. Doesn’t everyone do a personal assessment on a date?”

“They absolutely do,” he said.

“Which makes it unfair of men to accuse me of something they were doing also. I think they were just jealous I have better assessment skills.”

He had to laugh at her comment with a massive grin. “I’d say we are evenly matched but in different aspects.”

“I’d agree with that,” she said. “You’re coming at it from a secret aspect. At least I think so. You are looking for what someone might be hiding or a hidden agenda. It’s your job to find things. Discover things.”

“Your job also,” he said. He might not have liked that she called him out on trying to find more of a negative light in people’s actions though it was true.

“It is,” she said. “My job oftentimes is to get people to admit their own strengths and weaknesses. I know it’s a misconception that a therapy session is about correcting behaviors. What people don’t realize is sometimes it’s what they think is positive is negative or vice versa. It could be just looking at life differently once you know that information.”

“I can see that,” he said. “I wouldn’t have until you said it. Meaning someone could come to you with OCD tendencies and you point out they are strengths that help them overcome ADHD?”

“Absolutely,” she said. “A negative to one person is actually a positive in that person’s life to help them cope. I seem to have a strong couples clientele, but that isn’t all I deal with and don’t advertise it that way.”

“What do you like to do more of?” he asked.

She shrugged. “I think I like it all. It’s good to have a wide range to keep me connected to everything going on. It’s rewarding to see couples working out their problems. Or couples coming to me without serious problems and just wanting to learn to communicate better or in a healthier way.”

“Unlike the woman I directed to Trent’s office.”

She smiled and winked right back at him. He didn’t expect her to give specifics and wouldn’t ask either. It was more of a comment.

“Speaking of that,” she said. “First, I came over to see if you wanted to have dinner with me tonight and not for this other reason. I don’t want you to think that. It just happened on the same day.”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“I have a client who permitted me to speak to you about this. She’s shy and nervous. She is coming to me for one thing, but in our sessions she said that the place she works is causing some of her issues. She feels or worries they are doing something wrong and is terrified she is going to get caught up in it or be the one left holding the bag. But since she is also a little paranoid in general, she doesn’t want to blow a good thing with her job if she’s wrong. She wondered if there was a way for you to look into her employers without anyone knowing. She also would like to not have her name used just in case, so I would be the go-between.”

This reminded him of the company he had to look into for the Fierces. He didn’t find anything illegal but there were some questionable and unethical practices with their employees and why there was so much turnover.

“Sure,” he said. “Give me what she has, what she is looking for. You’re going to be my client then. Are you okay with that?”

“I am,” she said. “If it will keep her name out of it, but I will contact an attorney to cover myself in the process. To make sure that not only do I have it recorded that she gave me the authority to do this, but that it’s in writing.”

“You record your sessions?” he asked.

“I do,” she said. “Everyone is aware of it. It’s because I like to be present in the moment and can’t take as exact notes as I’d like. When I do video sessions it’s easier to watch for expressions when topics come up. I can even go back and show them how their actions and movements changed when specific topics were discussed. My clients appreciate that.”

“I’m assuming you’ve got an attorney,” he said.

“Actually,” she said. “I had one. They are busier than I’d like and I can’t always get through. I’ve got an appointment to talk to Trent and see if this is something he can draw up for me.”

“I use Trent also, but it should be fine. We are working together and it’s really to cover you. As I said, you’re my client, not your client.”

“I’m the middleman,” she said. “Understood.”

“Let me ask you, do you think there is an issue?” he asked.

“I don’t know and don’t want to make that judgment. I’m only going by the information she is giving me. She is a paranoid type of person. I’m getting emotions and reactions but not facts. It’s not my wheelhouse.”

“And you don’t make decisions on emotions, but rather facts?” he asked.

“Not true,” she said. “A lot of my job, I’m only going on emotions. Words can always contradict themselves and I have to weed through it and decide what is more important. Their reaction to those words or the words themselves.”

“Yeah, not for me,” he said. “I’ve done it enough in law enforcement. They only want facts and it’s easier to do that way.”

“Even if in your gut you know there might be more to it?”

“Which is why I’m not in law enforcement anymore,” he said, nodding. “I can skirt things here, but it comes down to the client and what they want, not always what I can provide. Sometimes there is no answer for them and nothing but dead ends.”

Which drove him nuts, but he was paid to do the work and he’d do it until he felt like there was nothing else left and he’d tell them that too.

“I’ve had clients like that. There is no solution for them because the truth is they don’t want one. They just want to talk.”

“Do you keep them on?” he asked.

“I do if they admit that is what it’s about. It’s advice and conversation but not solutions if they aren’t willing to do the work to get to a solution. Why waste both of our time? I’ve got other clients that want or are willing to do the work and I’d rather spend it on them.”

“Bet you’ve ticked some people off saying that,” he said.

“I’ve managed to tick off clients in my career. Just like you have. It’s as I said, not everyone wants to hear the truth or put the work in to find it. Sometimes they want to be told they are right even if they are wrong.”

“The customer isn’t always right,” he said, finishing off the last bite of his cake.

“Absolutely not,” she said. She’d pushed half her dessert away and had been just drinking her coffee.

“And now back to us,” he said. “We got sidetracked and that is fine. It was a smooth transition and gave us a lot to talk about. But I’d like to talk about another date.”

She smiled. “I would too. I don’t happen to work over the weekends, but I’m sure you do.”

“I try not to unless I need to travel, which does happen. I do check emails and get texts but keep work to a minimum when I can. Having my father pick up a few things has helped already.”

“Then how about we try for date number three tomorrow,” she said. “We’ve got each other’s number. Since I’m not doing anything and you are or could be, you can text me tomorrow and let me know your thoughts.”

“I can do that,” he said. The bill was brought over and he paid for it when she went to pull her purse out. “Business expense.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Really?”

“My client wants me trailing his wife. This is part of it. He pays all the expenses I incur to do it since he sends me out last minute. I don’t do that with all my clients, but most, depending on what is involved. Some would just rather pay a straight fee, others less of a fee and the expenses they can control.”

He handed his card over and they waited.

“Might make bookkeeping harder to do it,” she said.

“Betsy does most of that for me,” he said. Which meant she’d see this bill for a dinner for two and might question it just like she did his two plates the other night.

But it’s not like it was the first time he’d submitted a receipt for two, as it was part of him blending in. Sometimes he’d just be out with another guy. He’d had dates with him before, his sister or even his mother. His family thought it was funny and enjoyed it.

It was more for a cover than anything else and they got a meal out of it.

When his card was returned, he signed it and they got up to leave.

They walked to the parking lot and he went with her to her car.

At her door, he told himself he was going to make sure she didn’t go back and have any doubts this wasn’t a real date and leaned down to kiss her lightly on the lips.

She leaned into him, her arms around his neck, letting the kiss linger but not deepen.

Just enough to tease them both.

“Until tomorrow,” she said. “That will hold me over tonight.”