Fire and Ice Read Online Free PDF

And Lorelei, we can schedule your next session if you’d like.”
    Crap .
    Adrius grinned victoriously. “It’s very nice to meet you… Lorelei.” He threw a wry smile over his shoulder, before disappearing into Greenbalm’s office.
    Phyllis looked up at me through clumped lashes. “How’s next Saturday at nine?”
    â€œCould we make it two?” I really wasn’t a morning person. The door to Greenbalm’s office clicked shut, leaving the room void of the only eye candy worth looking at. I was tempted to ask when his next appointment was, but then realized that would be ten different kinds of inappropriate.
    I took the date card and went to grab my cell — my bag… I’d left it in the office. Phyllis had disappeared again, leaving no other choice but to interrupt them. That or hang out for another hour or more until they were done. My hand was poised, and I fully intended to knock on the metal door right away. Someone violating my doctor-patient confidentiality would tick me off, even if there wasn’t anything worth overhearing. The voices behind the door were loud — muffled, but clearly raised in anger. That was especially strange. Greenbalm was known for his maddeningly neutral unemotional responses; getting into a heated discussion with a possible delinquent seemed completely out of character. I leaned closer and paused, my fist suspended in knocking position.
    â€œPerhaps you’d rather I let them take her. Or worse — end up like you!”
    The door swung open. I gasped and reeled forward. Golden olive eyes flashed as a hand reached out impossibly fast to keep me from falling — again.
    Adrius gave a slow smile. “Forget something, Lorelei?” If everyone said my name like him, I’d walk around with it written on my shirt.
    â€œMy, um…” I pointed. “Forgot my bag.”
    There it was, innocently betraying me at the foot of the desk. Dr. Greenbalm glanced up briefly. “Come in, Lorelei.”
    The room felt warmer than it had a short time ago. And the strange scent of herbs still hung in the air. My face flushed.
    â€œSorry to interrupt, I didn’t mean to…” Adrius looked like he was enjoying my discomfort a little too much. Greenbalm had already forgotten I was in the room. I grabbed my bag and darted for the door. “Sorry, for the interruption,” I muttered, fumbling with the handle. Greenbalm looked up at me perplexed for a moment by my profuse apologizing.
    â€œLorelei, this is Adrius—” He paused. “My son.” Then he went back to his paperwork.
    Son . That changed things.
    Adrius gave me a conspiratorial wink. “We’ve met,” he said.
    I stepped out of Greenbalm’s office, feeling more like an idiot than I had last night. Rescuing my cell from its jewel-toned case, I dialed my friend Abby’s number and listened to ring after ring. Finally, I got her voice mail.
    â€œ I’m away all weekend. Leave a message. Or don’t. It’s not like I care. Beeeeep. ”
    Right… How did I forget that? So much for my ride.
    Mom would have left for the airport by now. No point calling Camilla, she’d tell me to take the bus. And it was after ten, Brigit would be up to her eyes in errands by now. That left a taxi. More good news sneered at me as I stepped outside to discover it was raining. Not the soft spring shower kind, but the teeming, frigid, soak-to-the-skin-even-with-an-umbrella kind. And I didn’t have an umbrella.
    I took out my phone to call a cab. The screen flashed and then went out. Dead battery. Perfect. This whole morning had been one aggravation after another. Cars sped through the miniature ocean spreading from the gutters, sending surf onto the sidewalk. Jumping aside, I missed one wave only to be drenched by the next one. Icy wetness dripped down my back, plastered my hair to my face. I wanted to cry but what would be