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tracing the contours of her neck. “I will be forever in your debt, Sammy. If not for you and your work at the center, I would still be stuck in Manhattan living inside that awful penthouse.”
    “I can’t see living in a Manhattan penthouse as a terrible life, but if you say so, then it must be. While I hate what you’ve been through, I am very fortunate that you chose me as the one to help you. I love my work at the center, but sadly, I may have to close the clinic down soon. Patients are not as plentiful as they once were, and, of course, the economy is not what it used to be either.”
    Ida gently removed his arms from her waist, turning around so she could look him directly in the eye. He looked as sad as a lost puppy. For the first time in her life she actually held the power in her hands to make a change in a man’s life instead of its being the other way around. She cleared her throat, adjusted her shoulders, and held her head high before she spoke. “You have given me back my life, Sammy. I can’t ever repay you for that, but there is something I can do for you if you will let me.”
    “Ah, my dearest Ida, I couldn’t imagine you could ever do any more for me than you have already. You have filled an old man’s life with love and brightness.” He reached for her hand. “And I would be remiss if I neglected to mention our lovemaking. Never have I experienced such ecstasy, not even as a young man. Like a temple, your body is made to be loved.”
    Ida blushed at his compliment. “You’re too kind, Sammy. You make me feel young again, alive, full of passion. I know how much your work at the center means to you. How could you ever give it up? As you must know, I am a very wealthy woman. I’ve made, or rather my late husband made, some very wise investments, allowing me to do as I please. There is nothing that would please me more than to offer my financial help if it will save your clinic.” Ida paused, waiting for his reaction. He smiled at her, slowly shaking his head from side to side.
    “You are a very generous woman, my sweetness, but I am a gentleman. I could never accept such an offer, but it pleases me immensely that you would consider doing this for an old man such as I.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Now, while I still have a few patients left, I must get to the clinic before Amala thinks I’ve abandoned her and them. You may stay here for as long as you like.” Sammy adjusted his necktie while he spoke.
    “Thank you, but I’d better get back to that horrid beach house Toots now calls home. I’m sure if I don’t make an appearance soon, she will come searching for me. I can only use the sleeping late excuse so many times.” Ida smiled, then seductively dropped her robe to the floor, allowing Sammy one last look at her nude body before leaving.
    With a seductive smile, he raked his gaze across her naked body. “You will kill me, my love. Now get dressed, and I will have my driver drop you off at that ‘horrid beach house’ before your friends discover you’re not where you’re supposed to be.”
    Ida did not like Sammy’s driver, Mohammed. She guessed him to be in his early thirties. With olive skin, dark hair, and even darker eyes, he reminded her of one of those mob characters on television. He always gave her the creeps when he looked at her. It was as though he knew exactly what she and Sammy did behind closed doors and knew all of the details. He’d winked at her once before, and she’d wished that Sammy had been there to witness it, but this was his driver, had been for many years, he’d told her, so she wasn’t about to stir up trouble. Still, she would have rather taken a taxi back to the beach house, but taxis weren’t quite as plentiful in Malibu as they were in Manhattan. Come to think of it, she really didn’t like Sammy’s house either. She hadn’t the heart to tell him it lacked anything that stamped it as his. The house could have been a furnished rental for