“But everyone doesn’t know about those nightmares. Does she talk about them?”
“She doesn’t talk, period.”
“Then how do you know she’s dreaming about Vasaro?”
She glanced down to her cup. “It’s logical, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“And you were able to bring her out of it because you were at Vasaro.”
“Also very logical. Why did you think she’d react to me?”
“You were a new element. It shook up the structure of the dream. When the President first told me about you, I had an idea you could prove useful.”
He smiled mockingly. “I’m glad to have been of service. However, I don’t think Andreas would agree I was the right candidate for the job.”
“You’re the only candidate Cassie will accept. He’d agree to anything to help his daughter.”
“Then if you want to use me again, you’d better get on the horn and tell him so. I’d make a bet the Secret Service guys will be reporting in.”
“What?”
“Call him and tell him you need me. He can’t be any more stubborn than that Secret Service man you were ready to take on to get me into Cassie’s room.”
She had been so tired and numb, she hadn’t thought past this one episode. But evidently Michael Travis had already been considering the next step. “I might not need you.”
“Do you want to take that chance?”
No, she didn’t. “It might not work a second time.”
“And then again, it might.”
Her gaze narrowed on his face. “Why are you so willing to help me?”
“Why do you think? My kind, generous spirit?”
“I don’t know anything about you except what Andreas told me.”
“That should be enough. Though it may be a little unfair, since I’ve made a study of you since I arrived at Juniper.”
“What?”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’m no Peeping Tom. I read your book. It was very revealing.”
“Oh.”
“I didn’t have anything else to do. It’s been a very boring week. This is the most exciting thing that’s happened to me since I left Amsterdam.”
“You sound exhilarated. I’m glad what happened to Cassie furnished you with amusement.”
“Amusement? No, but I have to admit that helping the kid did bring me a certain rush. I’m sorry if that offends you, but it’s the nature of this particular beast. I can see you believe I should be as profound and selfless as you obviously are, but you won’t find that in me. I don’t get involved.”
“Then why are you offering to help me?”
“I have a passion for disrupting the status quo. It interests me to change what most people think of as set in stone.”
“How very . . . cool.”
“You mean cold.” He smiled. “I’m not cold, Dr. Riley. And changing the status quo isn’t always bad. You had no objection to my doing that with Cassie.”
And he hadn’t been cold when he’d been talking to Cassie. His passion and forcefulness had jerked Cassie out of that deadly nightmare.
“Many things aren’t black or white.” He was reading her expression. “I promise I won’t hurt your Cassie.”
“She’s not mine.”
“Isn’t she?”
He saw too much. “I want her well.”
“And, unlike me, you do get involved.”
“Most people do.” Jessica studied him. Strength. Intelligence. A hint of recklessness. What else lay behind that face? “Why do you want to help Cassie? It isn’t only boredom.”
He chuckled. “You drew me into the situation as a pawn. I forgot to tell you that I also have a passion for control.”
She stiffened. “I’m the one in control of Cassie. No one else.”
“Cassie’s in control of Cassie.” His smile faded. “You need me, but you’re not going to get me as a pawn.”
“You couldn’t stand aside and let that little girl die.”
“You don’t know that. I’m a wild card to you. I could be anything. Do you want to take a chance?”
He knew she couldn’t, damn him.
Travis shook his head. “I’m not going to move quickly. We’ll start out with me being humbly at your beck and call. I just want an understanding.”
She thought about it and then nodded jerkily.
“Good.” He finished his coffee and stood up. “Now I’ll get back to the gatehouse and you get on the phone to Andreas. Okay?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Up to you. It will be harder if he calls you after hearing from the guards here.” He waved and moved toward the door. “See you.”