Page 79 of Fiery Romance

With a concerted effort, Darrel folds himself into a chair and lets the silence linger. Finally, he says, “What do you think happened just now?”

I reach up and yank one of the wires off my head. “You’re the shrink. You tell me.”

“Coward.”

I stiffen. My fingers coil into fists. “Want to take this outside, Hastings?”

Darrel keeps his posture open, hands loose, eyes focused, “That’s my professional opinion.”

I growl, “I’m not afraid of—”

“You’re afraid of being vulnerable.”

“Bull. I came here looking for help.”

“You came here seeking evidence for an upcoming custody case. If not, you wouldn’t be in this room.”

My eyebrows hike.

He tilts his head. His voice softens. “I want to help you, Clay. But I can’t if you don’t open up to me.”

“How many times have you used that line?” I grumble.

“People generally see me because they want to be heard.”

I frown.

“What were you thinking about during your scan?”

I notice that he’s not assuming I saw Anya.

“Her name is Island.”

Darrel’s expression remains blank. “And who is she?”

“My daughter’s nanny. A really annoying, stubborn—”

“I meant,” Darrel stops me, “who is sheto you.”

I blink rapidly. “She’s… she’s… something.”

“Something.” His eyes dart to the ceiling as he chooses his next words. “Do you know how expensive that machine behind you is?”

If I took Darrel into my private garage and asked if he knows how expensive my Black Hawk helicopters are, he’d probably be as lost as I am right now.

I shrug.

“There are only five machines like this in the entire world. The technology is so accurate and detailed that I can tell exactly what the brain is doing in a moment of time.”

“Good for you.”

“Do you want to know what I saw when you were thinking about Island?”

Not really.

Darrel continues anyway. “The nerves in your endocrine system lit up,” He gestures to the screen, “releasing chemicals into the brain that—”

“English, Hastings,” I growl.

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