When he lifted his head and paused, I leaned forward with my lips at the ready, but stopped before contact-so he could think he was in charge. Men liked that.

“Nice,” he whispered seconds later.

Soon we were both up, kissing and moving toward the bed with my hand in Neal’s as he kissed and licked my fingers one by one. Dizzy was the only word to use at the moment, until he reached into the drawer of the bedside table and took out a gold-foiled wrapper.

Gold. What else? I smiled to myself.

While endorphins swam through our bodies, the scent, the sound, the taste and the feel of Doc Forsyth melded into a culmination of pleasure. Soon there’d be no turning back.

Dr. Forsyth.

Dr. Forsyth!

I was on a case.

Suddenly I didn’t feel all too professional.

Thank goodness I still had my wits about me after accepting this “date.” I eased back, reluctantly explained to Neal that it was too soon, which he accepted like a gentleman, and we stopped before possibly making a mistake.

But it sure felt good to knock on that door.

I smiled to myself and thought I’d nearly had the chance to remember how to ride a bike.

Neal held the car door for me as I stepped inside. He leaned near and kissed me. “I had a wonderful time, Pauline-”

“Wonderful, Neal,” I said, and then we both laughed.

He shut the door, walked around the other side and sat next to me. “Fantastic. You’re right. It was fantastic. How about tomorrow?”

About ready to accept, again the stark reality that I was on a case hit me. I blew out a breath, wishing I were here in town on vacation. “You know, I’ll have to see. Let me tell you tomorrow. Depends a lot on how Goldie is doing. If that’s all right with you?”

He winked.

I nearly had an orgasm-I wish.

If there was a next time, I’d pass on the syrupy, expensive alcohol.

Thank goodness he drove rather quickly since I needed to get to my room and back to reality.

After he pulled into the parking lot of the lodge, he opened my door, I stepped out and threw my arms around his neck, planting a kiss on his lips. He held me for a few minutes, whispered “Good night,” and was gone before I made it up the walkway.

Something drew my attention to the second floor, where I noticed the curtains of Jagger’s room move.

He knows! was all I could think.

“Oooooooh!” Goldie moaned as I touched his arm, tickling his skin for comfort.

“In another hour it will be time for your pain med, Gold. Sorry I can’t give it sooner.” I tickled faster, hoping the soothing touch would take his mind off the discomfort.

Dear Gold didn’t have the highest level of pain tolerance around.

“Tell me a story, Suga,” he whined like one of my nephews.

I sat on the edge of his bed. “I’m fresh out unless you want a rerun. I think we’re on story number gazillion now, Gold. Sure you don’t want to sleep?”

He took my hand in his. “Can’t. Too painful. Tell me about last night. You and the doc.”

My face grew hot. Very hot.

Goldie peeked out from one eye above his bandaged nose. “Oh…my…God. Those details should take my mind off things.”

I slapped him very gently on the arm.

“I’m not the kiss and tell type. Use your imagination…and then add about two degrees of X-rated separation, then-” I sighed. “-subtract one.”

Goldie finally laughed. “Aye!”

“Hey, Gold. Listen to this.” I told him about Neal’s papers “falling” out of his briefcase.

“Brilliant, Suga. I’m very proud of you.”

“What do you think?”

Goldie ran his hand across his chin. “Maybe Doc Neal would be a real asset to your case. I’d say you have to go out with him again. You need to, Suga. You’re way too young to die a born-again virgin.”

I curled my lips at him. “You’re not talking fraud investigation here. Are you?”

He chuckled and took my hand in his. “Thanks for being you, Suga. I feel a bit better already.”

I figured a little attention-no, make that a lot of attention-paid toward my Gold would take his mind off his pain.

Once I had Goldie comfortably medicated and snoring away, I gently placed the mauve duvet over him, made sure the nurse’s call bell was within reach, and went to get a cup of tea. I knew Goldie would be asleep for hours, and he knew where I’d be.

I headed to the door, took one more look at him and pronounced him recovering splendidly, turned and went down the hallway to the staff’s kitchen.

Mugs hung from racks on the back of the counter, and as long as you rinsed them out and stuck them in the dishwasher, you were free to use them. Sadly I took a mug down, thinking that was Ian’s rule.

“Make sure you wash that out and stick it into the dishwasher.”

For a second I thought Ian was talking to me. I swung around to see Lydia standing in the doorway.

“How’s your patient?” she asked.

“Oh, hey, Lydia. He’s fine. Goldie is a real trouper. And, I will definitely wash out my mug.”

She took one herself and started to fix a cup of Earl Grey tea. “He’s an interesting person. Seems like a real doll. I got to spend some time with him Sunday before his surgery once you’d left.”

“Oh. Yeah, he’s one of a kind.” I wondered how much time Lydia spent around there. A young girl should be out with friends. Sailing. Eating. Talking. Laughing. But poor Lydia, today in a black silken blouse and black trousers, looked way too serious and solemn for a young girl.

She held the milk container out toward me. “Here.”

I chuckled. “You remembered that I take mine with milk. Neat.”

She didn’t crack a smile. “If nothing else, Pauline, I’m observant.”

Yikes! That sounded like some kind of warning. Did Lydia know about me? Who I really was? Naw. No way that she could.

As I sipped my too hot tea, Lydia set hers down on the counter. Only thing was, she didn’t just set it down in any casual fashion. I was talking thud with a splash here.

Anger? Was that anger that had her tea puddling onto the countertop?

Trying to change the subject so she wouldn’t start questioning me, I asked, “So, how do you like your new job? I’m sure it helps your aunt’s peace of mind to know that she has a relative working here.”

Silently Lydia turned toward me. I’d never noticed how dark black her eyes were, or maybe it was the lethal look in them when she said, “Who else can one trust?”

Yikes! Who else could one trust? Did Lydia know some deep, dark secret of Highcliff Manor? Sure seemed that way. Only thing was, as I watched her pick up her mug and take a drink of her tea, I certainly didn’t feel as if she’d willingly share any secrets with me.

Time to review Investigating 101.

And maybe time to meet dear Auntie-outside of this place.

I forced a laugh to lighten the mood and hopefully get Lydia talking more. “I hear you. Family is very important.”

She remained silent for a few seconds as if she were studying me. Slowly she drank her tea then said, “One would think.”

Oh, my. “Lydia, do you go to school?”

One would think dear Lydia imagined me a nutcase by her look. “I graduated from high school.”

“Not interested in college?” With her financial backing, I would have thought Lydia could get away from her aunt and Devin, with college being a godsend.

Tears welled in her eyes, making me feel horrible. “I’m sorry I brought that up. So, any plans for tonight?” I asked.

Lydia’s eyes cleared, then darkened. “Don’t try to change the subject. Ian must have told you about me.”

Yikes! “No. No, Lydia. He never said a word. Are you talking about college?”

Robotically, Lydia stood, set her mug, gently, on the counter and turned toward me. “I was accepted to Yale. In New Haven, Connecticut.”