When Jack finally spoke, Daniel could practically hear an ax whistling toward his neck. “I’ve never addressed your f**ked-up track record with women, because hell, mine isn’t all that sparkly either. This is different. She is my daughter and she’s vulnerable after her breakup. I won’t have you taking advantage of her. She came here to heal, not to be your latest conquest. Hands. Off. My daughter.”

Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. Apparently his mentor didn’t think very highly of him. For good reason. His history with women happened to be abysmal, to put it mildly. No father in his right mind would want him anywhere near his daughter. He quickly made a joke to dispel the twinge in his chest. “Great to see the heart attack did nothing to dull your good humor.”

“This isn’t a laughing matter.” Jack made an impatient noise. “I hate being stuck in this hospital bed the first time she’s ever come to visit me. I can’t do a damn thing for her. Would you mind giving her a ride to my place?”

Daniel gave his head a quick shake. “Whoa. Wait. You just said—”

“What? You can’t drive her home without physically accosting her?”

“I’ll drive her home,” Daniel assured Jack quickly before he got too upset and set off the heart monitors. He’d have a lovely time explaining that to Story. “You can relax. She’s safe with me.”

“Good. I’m counting on it.” Jack lowered his voice when footsteps sounded once more in the hallway, moving toward the room. “She’s in a strange city and I need someone to look out for her. I suppose you’re my only option. But remember what I said. Keep it zipped.”

Story walked back into the room then and Jack brightened. “There she is. The girl of the hour.” She glanced over at Daniel with a small smile. From behind Story’s back, Jack slashed his index finger across his throat.

What the hell had he gotten himself into?

Chapter Four

Story and Daniel didn’t speak after trading stilted good-byes with Jack. On the elevator ride to the hospital lobby, the tension lay palpable between them. Story collected her two pieces of luggage from the pay locker, shrugging when Daniel insisted on carrying them for her. He’d parked his black department vehicle directly outside the entrance so they didn’t have far to walk.

After freezing in the subzero temperature of the hospital, Story welcomed the blast of July heat outside. Then immediately wanted to run back into the air-conditioned hospital. The humidity radiated off the sidewalk without a hint of breeze to soften the blow. New Yorkers hustled past in every direction, somehow managing not to run smack into one another. A dozen scents hit her at once. Car exhaust, meat being grilled by a sidewalk vendor, and was that…a slight hint of urine?

Daniel opened the passenger side door for her, meeting her eyes as she slipped into the seat. A different kind of heat trickled through her. At this rate, the combination of Daniel and the humidity would melt her into a puddle before dinnertime. He ducked into the driver’s side, his solid frame making the car feel infinitely smaller. Putting them much too close.

Discreetly, she hoped, Story studied his profile. Strong jaw, stubborn chin, deep black hair brushing the collar of his dress shirt. As he pulled into traffic, his teeth bit down into his lower lip in an unconsciously sensual gesture. Every movement of his body screamed sex. Combined with his ladies, ladies, there’s enough of me to go around vibe, she could understand why women stopped to gawk at him on the sidewalk. She couldn’t deny his magnetism. The guarantee of satisfaction practically radiated from him.

She wanted nothing to do with such an obvious ladies’ man, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t think about what it would be like. To let him “take her to lunch,” so to speak. She’d watched him peruse her body hungrily through the vending machine glass when he thought she wasn’t looking. A man who looked and acted like Daniel knew his way around a woman’s body, but she didn’t intend to assist him in honing his skills any further. She’d leave those honors to Nurse Helen.

But she could imagine. Later. Like when he wasn’t sitting five feet away.

Unable to stand the silence or her own pointless thoughts any longer, Story finally spoke. “So. That was an interesting turn of events.”

Daniel slanted a look in her direction. “Yeah. Interesting.” He didn’t elaborate.

Determinedly, she tried again. “I mean, you have to admit, this feels a lot like daytime television. Dad sick in the hospital…in walks semi-estranged daughter…” Nothing from Daniel. She had the sudden urge to shake him. “You and Jack seem close. I imagine he wouldn’t be too thrilled to know you made a pass at me.” With satisfaction, she watched his knuckles go white on the steering wheel.

“That’s putting it mildly.”

Story chuckled under her breath. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to rat you out.”

He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Listen, about earlier…I didn’t realize…”

“Realize what?” After a tense moment, it dawned on her. Apparently three thousand miles hadn’t been far enough to escape the constant reminder of her humiliation. Story ducked her head. “Ah. Jack told you about Fisher.” He made a low sound in his throat, confirming her suspicion. “What does my broken engagement have to do with you making a pass at me? If anything, it should be welcome news, being that I’m on the rebound.” Her attempt to make light of the situation fell flat.

“I’m not interested in being your rebound.” His voice sounded harsh. “Is that what you came here for? To work…him…out of your system?”

“No,” she countered. “If that’s all I wanted, I certainly didn’t need to fly across the country for it. I’m here for my father and that’s all.”

Daniel sent her a look she couldn’t interpret. “Glad to hear it.”

They pulled up outside a tall brick apartment building with a green awning. He cut the engine and exited the car to retrieve her luggage, frowning at her when she didn’t wait for him to open her passenger side door. She couldn’t get a read on this frustrating man. One minute his attitude bordered on hostile, and the next he was the picture of chivalry.

The simple marble lobby of the building consisted of a few potted plants and an elevator bank. They rode to the fourth floor in silence, although the atmosphere between them felt charged. Daniel stared at the double doors with his jaw flexing, increasing her irritation. She’d been perfectly willing to find Jack’s building on her own. She hadn’t needed him to drop her off on the doorstep like a helpless child. When the doors finally slid open, she breezed past him off the elevator, then was forced to wait for him when she realized she didn’t know Jack’s apartment number. Ignoring his amused snort, she followed him down the hallway to 4R and waited for him to unlock the door.

Her father’s apartment was sparsely decorated but comfortable. Couch, flat-screen television, dining room table. No pictures or knickknacks. Ruthlessly clean and organized. She smelled a hint of cigar smoke and smiled. The smell had always comforted her. She walked to the window and looked out onto a courtyard behind the building, which came complete with a flower garden, trees, and a bench.