Perfect Specimen by Kate Donovan Read Free Book Online

that would cause him to have a stroke.
    At least Sara had had eleven full years with her dad before that happened. And another twelve before it happened to Daniel.
    “Sara?”
    “Oh, sorry. What did you say?”
    Mark smiled. “You seem tired. Let’s make Clay talk for a while, shall we?”
    “Thanks, I’d like that.”
    Clay slipped his arm around Sara’s waist and informed them cheerfully, “I don’t have any secrets. Ask me anything.”
    Mark arched a disapproving eyebrow. “No touching the patient on my watch, buddy.”
    When Clay scowled but moved away, Sara bit back a laugh, loving the way the brothers interacted—grown men one minute, kids the next. Affection, respect, and a healthy dose of rivalry. They clearly enjoyed each other’s company, especially because they had no idea what was at stake.
    But Sara knew. She couldn’t be sure whether Ga’rag was actually in the Ryerson house, listening, or was just trusting her to report the truth to him later that morning. Either way, the danger was palpable.
    She only hoped that if the Ra-ahli was hiding nearby and listening, he’d see what was so obvious to her. Clay—and Mark—were too upstanding and decent to ever read a word of her diary without her permission.
    Now if only they could make it through this therapy session without saying or doing anything to arouse suspicion.
    “Okay, Clay,” Mark was suggesting. “Tell me about the night you met Sara.”
    “You were there,” Clay retorted, adding for Sara’s benefit, “All three of my brothers were there watching a game on the big screen.”
    “I heard all the cheering,” she said, remembering the bar’s raucous atmosphere. “But I was preoccupied. Because of the blind date.”
    “Yeah, you didn’t know we were there. But we noticed you . You were impossible to miss. For me especially. From the minute you walked in and looked around, all shy and pretty, I was hooked. And I was instantly jealous of the guy you were supposed to meet. Plus, I thought he was a jackass for not being there on time, especially since you seemed so—well, out of your element. I had this fantasy that I’d steal you away from him, but I figured, no such luck. Then you sat down, and waited, and fidgeted, and I realized I actually might have a shot, because this guy was actually stupid enough to stand you up.”
    Clay paused to give her a sheepish grin. “You walked over to the bartender and told him to be on the lookout for someone asking about Sara. Then while you were in the restroom, I asked him what you’d said. So when you came out—well, you know the rest. I called you Sara and you looked so happy to see me. Man, it still gives me goose bumps. I was going to buy you a drink, but you said you wanted to go to my place right away. By then, I was pretty sure I was dreaming—or drunk—but it was fate. I see that now.”
    Sara stared at him, honestly stunned. “You make it sound so romantic.”
    “It was.”
    “Sara?” Mark asked her quietly. “Why don’t you tell Clay how you remember it?”
    “Okay.” She took a deep breath. “I wanted to have an anonymous sexual fling. Something to distract me from the rough patch I was having with my husband. So I found a guy on the Internet who sounded close to my own age, normal enough to be disease-free, and just looking for casual sex. We arranged to meet at the sports bar. I was supposed to wear a pink dress so he’d recognize me, but he knew my first name too, and I knew his. It was Adam, by the way. Anyway, I waited a while, and it looked like he wasn’t going to show up. I was disappointed, then Clay walked up and it was such a relief, because I didn’t want to have to go on the Internet and start all over again.” She flushed and added simply, “That’s how I remember it.”
    The psychologist leaned forward again. “That’s not exactly how I remember it.”
    “Huh?” Clay interrupted. “I thought you didn’t remember anything about it.”
    “I