Never Let Go Read Free Page A

that interrupt the progress I was making, but it might have been a further setback. You saw how he reacted. The last thing that child needs is to hear more people arguing, especially people he might be learning to trust. He’s obviously heard all too much of that.”
    Justin sighed and rubbed his eyes. “You’re probably right,” he conceded, though he didn’t apologize.
    “So, do I work with him or not? If it’s not me, it will be some other psychologist assigned by the state.”
    Justin glanced toward the room, and Mallory recognized an astonishing depth of pain in his eyes. It intrigued her that a man who appeared so cold on the surface was capable of such powerful emotions. She wondered if anyone at Fairview General had even begun to understand the complexities of Dr. Justin Whitmore.
    As soon as thethought crossed her mind, she brought herself up short. No way, she insisted stoutly. She wasn’t going to be the one to try. Davey was her only concern, and as she waited out a seemingly interminable silence, Justin apparently came to some sort of decision. He uttered a resigned sigh.
    “Do what you can,” he said at last, the words so quietly spoken that she almost had to strain to hear him. “I’ll write the order to make it official.”
    Then his gaze met hers and for one split, heart-stopping second, he and Mallory connected, electricity arcing between them. Mallory’s breath caught in her throat, and the thanks she’d planned to give died on lips gone suddenly dry. She longed to moisten them with her tongue, but didn’t dare for fear it would seem a blatant invitation for the kiss she suddenly yearned for. She swallowed nervously.
    Then, as quickly as it had begun, the sensual tension vanished, and Justin’s expression hardened again. “Just stay out of my way.”
    Inexplicably hurt by the abrupt return of his animosity, Mallory felt her own anger resurface. It sputtered to life, then died just as quickly when she looked in his eyes and saw those traces of pain again.
    “Gladly, doctor,” she retorted, but he was already gone, leaving her relieved, yet oddly puzzled and disturbingly intrigued. Outright, aim-for-the-shins fury would have been a more appropriate response.
    “I’ll workon it,” she muttered to herself as she walked away in the opposite direction.

Chapter 2
    S taying out of JustinWhitmore’s way was easier said than done. Once Mallory had met the infuriating man, she saw him everywhere—in the halls, in the cafeteria, even in the parking lot, getting into a surprisingly battered old sports car. She would have expected a shiny new Jaguar at the very least. Residents might not make much money, but there was an aura surrounding Justin that suggested a wealthy background.
    She was less puzzled by his choice of a car, though, than she was by his continued hostility toward her. His responses to her polite greetings were never more than a curt hello or nod of acknowledgment. Not once did he meet her gaze directly.
    Nor did he stop her to ask about her progress with Davey, and though she wanted to, not once did she insist on discussing the case with him as she would have with any other physician. The ground rules had been firmly established, and the barriers were in place. She found herself suspended in a sort of professional limbo where Davey was concerned. It was a thoroughly frustrating position.
    As the newestmember of the psychology staff, she also felt she couldn’t go running to her boss for advice. Dr. Joshua Marshall was a crusty old man who’d been reluctant to hire a woman in the first place. The fact that she was only thirty hadn’t helped either. He seemed to think white hair and wrinkles were among the appropriate qualifications for a staff psychologist. He’d probably automatically chalk up her problems with Dr. Whitmore to her inexperience and gender and simply cluck disapprovingly. She didn’t need someone just to tell her to try harder to get along with the