In Good Hands by Kathy Lyons

dismissive of it, even though she died.”
    He lifted his hands, trying to find a way to express his thoughts. “I didn’t expect a cure, and I don’t think she did either. And I have my own health issues that are making me think about alternative methods lately.” He had, in fact, spent half his afternoon searching the internet for some sort of blood pressure treatment. Something that a hospital couldn’t offer.
    Her lips curved in a soft smile. “An open mind. I like that.”
    â€œYeah,” he said slowly. “You know, I’m beginning to think the universe does work in mysterious ways.” Because right here, right in front of him might be the answer to his prayers. But just in case he was wrong, he tried to think logically about it. He started tallying up facts in his brain.
    His blood pressure was out of control. So out of control, he might have to quit his job.
    He’d exhausted all the options that modern medicine could offer.
    She was a doctor, but was serious about alternative methods and sounded like she took a scientific approach.
    He needed to find a cure. Maybe she had the answer.
    â€œSo,” he said, feigning casualness, “find any therapies that work?”
    She nodded, the most confident movement she’d made during the entire discussion. “I think so, yes.”
    â€œOkay then,” he said, coming to a quick decision. “I’m game. Let’s do it.”
    She blinked, obviously not following him. He didn’t blame her. It’s not like he had explained where his brain had taken him.
    He smiled. “You’re a former doctor doing scientific research into energy healing.”
    She nodded.
    â€œWell, I’m a patient who’s looking for some nonstandard treatments. For high blood pressure. Really high blood pressure.”
    She gaped at him. “What?”
    â€œI want to hire you, Amber. For the magical mystery tour of energy healing. I’ll do whatever you want, however you want, so long as I don’t have to quit my job to do it.”

6
    A MBER STARED AT the man who had just given her the two top orgasms of her life. “You want me to be your doctor? ”
    â€œYes,” he said firmly, as if that made all the sense in the world.
    â€œDo you know how completely unethical that is? I mean, we just… You…” She couldn’t even put into words what they had done except that it had been incredible. The last thing she wanted was to suddenly step into a professional relationship with him.
    He just waved away her concerns with a mild shrug. “Well, you just said you’re a researcher now, not really a doctor.”
    â€œThat doesn’t mean—”
    â€œAnd I’m not asking for traditional medical science, obviously. Been there, done that, and it’s not working. I want you to do the other stuff. Acupuncture, voodoo, mystical whatever.” He spread his arms wide. “Experiment on me. Just so long as I can keep my job.”
    She sighed. She hadn’t thought of him as a quick fix kind of guy. From what she’d heard and seen of him so far, he made quick decisions, but that was because he was a quick thinker. Not because he was searching for a short cut.
    â€œI’m sure your doctor discussed with you all the other options for lowering your blood pressure. Diet, exercise—”
    â€œYeah. I’m doing it. Not helping.”
    â€œMedications.”
    He ran through the litany of meds he’d already tried. She leaned forward.
    â€œJust how high is your blood pressure?”
    He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a little card where he had recorded all his readings for the last five months. Her eyebrows shot up. Yes, he certainly did have a problem. “How long has it been like this?”
    â€œClimbing steadily since my teens. You’re looking at my stable point for the last year and half.”
    â€œAnd you’ve been