Never Let Go Read Free Page B

man.
    Mallory was left to work out a solution on her own. She spent an exorbitant amount of time doing it. Even after meeting him, Mallory didn’t understand Dr. Whitmore’s antipathy toward psychologists in general any more than she understood his attitude toward her specifically. It was clear he was only tolerating her for Davey’s sake, even though he obviously maintained his private doubts that she would have any luck. She knew he didn’t actually want her to fail, but she was equally certain he wouldn’t be surprised if she did.
    To her chagrin, his continuing coldness bothered her, especially after that spark of excitement that had flared between them. Admittedly, it might have been better for their professional rapport if it had never happened. An all-too-attractive element of danger had been added to an already volatile situation. Justin clearly had withdrawn from such danger, while Mallory found herself reluctantly and inevitably lured toward it. She felt like one of those moths that couldn’t resist a fatal flame.
    Late at night, asshe lay alone in a bed that seemed suddenly too big and too empty, the image of Justin’s piercing gaze would tease her senses. She could practically feel the strong caress of his long, tapered fingers and the sensation left her restless with a long-suppressed yearning. Then she determinedly swept away the disturbingly sensual thoughts by reminding herself of his demeaning, belittling attitude.
    She wondered if he would have been quite so arrogant or distant had she been a male colleague. Maybe he was one of those chauvinists who, like Dr. Marshall, felt that women had no place in medicine. She’d been told that, although news that he was a bachelor had been circulated widely and optimistically upon his arrival at Fairview General several years earlier, no one had ever heard of Dr. Whitmore dating anyone around the hospital. Then again, perhaps he just kept his personal and professional lives separate. She certainly couldn’t fault him for that, though once she’d found that working closely with someone she loved had given a special dimension to their relationship.
    Whatever his problem, Mallory wasn’t interested in having her friendly overtures rebuffed or her professional courtesy thrown back in her face. He’d told her she could work with his patient and for now she would try to be satisfied with that.
    That didn’t mean her curiosity wasn’t piqued, though.
    “What’s the story on Dr. Whitmore?” she asked Rachel Jackson, a good friend who also happened to be the social worker on Davey’s case. They’d run into each other in Davey’s room and gone to the cafeteria for lunch.
    Rachel couldn’tcontain her grin, but her tone held a note of warning. “Forget him, girl. He’s a loner, a real type-A personality. Find yourself another man. The place is crawling with them.”
    “I’m not interested in him as a man,” she retorted.
    Rachel’s hoot of disbelief rang through the cafeteria. “Then you’re the only red-blooded female around here who’s not. He’s so cool to everybody, and that seems to present an irresistible challenge. I hear they’re even taking bets on when the mighty will fall.”
    “Count me out. I’m not into masochism,” Mallory swore, though she couldn’t quite meet her friend’s speculative gaze. “What kind of a doctor is he?”
    “The best, according to the other docs on neurosurgery, and they’re a tough bunch to impress. I hear he was the unanimous choice for chief resident, the best and brightest of the current crop. He’s pulled some people through when even the trauma team was convinced they couldn’t make it. Those hands of his ought to be insured for millions, like a pianist’s or something. I hear it’s worth buying tickets just to see him operate.”
    “Does he ever warm up?”
    “Around here?” Rachel shrugged expressively. “Not that I’ve seen, though word is he was plenty hot under the collar when he called