“He asked me if I considered us happily married, if I was satisfied with our relationship.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“What did you say?”

“What did you say when he asked you?”

“He didn’t ask me,” Lina bit out. “How did you respond, Phil?”

“I told him you were taken. I told him we had been satisfying each other for over twenty-five years and that wasn’t going to change.”

Lina closed her eyes, knowing Phil had meant sexually and having no doubt it was conveyed that way to Dr. Drayton. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my God. Why would you say that to him?”

“Because it’s true. And I wanted him to know in no uncertain terms that you were mine.”

“I can’t believe you. That man brought Katie back to us.”

“And what? He plans to take you as payment?” Phil was leaned back in his chair, the ankle of his right leg propped on the thigh of his left, his beer dangling from one hand. “I have spent my career reading people. My comment was not out of line. He is out of line.”

“Is that how your session ended, with that remark?”

“No, he assured me that his interest in our relationship was purely professional. I told him he was full of shit. And then I reminded him I’m a lawyer. Do you want to know what the son of a bitch said? He said you weren’t his patient.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“He was implying that lusting after you is okay.”

“And then you left?”

“I told him to fuck himself first.”

12

“Does he?” Adele asked.

“Does he what?” Lina was sitting beside Adele at their pedicure appointment and had just finished telling her about Phil’s appointment with Dr. Drayton the evening before.

“Does he have a thing for you?” Adele’s eyes grew wider when Lina blushed. “Oh my God! How come you didn’t tell me?”

“There’s nothing to tell,” Lina insisted, but she could feel her blush deepen.

“You talk about him constantly, but you never thought to mention he has the hots for you?”

“Don’t be Phil,” Lina said. “He’s Katie’s psychiatrist. That’s it.”

“I won’t be Phil if you don’t treat me like Phil. Your face is bright red. Tell me what’s going on.”

“It doesn’t matter. Phil is taking Katie to her appointments from here on out. I’ll probably never see him again.” Lina looked away from Adele’s prying eyes.

“Wait. What’s going on? You’re actually upset, aren’t you?”

“Of course I’m upset. I’ve been talking to him every week for months, and suddenly it’s done. I’m sad.”

Adele’s eyes narrowed. “You have feelings for him?”

“Not like you mean,” Lina insisted. “I liked talking to him, and now I can’t.”

“Phil’s suspicions aren’t unfounded, are they?”

“I don’t know. I think he may be attracted to me, but he’s never said anything inappropriate. He seems to generally care.”

“You should fuck him,” Adele said.

“Adele!” Lina looked around, but besides the Vietnamese women working on their feet, there was no one in the shop. “Are you out of your mind?”