Page 21 of Worth the Risk

“I believe it says on page twenty-eight in the member’s handbook that it’s prohibited in designated aftercare areas within the club. This is an office for authorized personnel only, so it doesn’t apply.”

“Hell, Dan,” he exclaimed. “If you know the page number, you need to get a life. And a sub.”

“I’ve been trying, but whenever I have my eyes on one, they’re scooped up by an owner.”

“This is true, Lucky,” Mara agreed, giving Dan a sympathetic look. “First, Lil T scooped up Angie then, Arturo claimed Marilee, and didn’t you have a thing for Livia, too?”

“No. Joe collared her the first night before anyone else could make a move. But there have been a few others—”

“You gotta move faster, old man.”

“He’s not old, master,” Mara stated, coming to his defense again. “He’s only a few years older than you.”

“He’s got kids in middle school, babe.”

“Really! I didn’t know that. How many, Master Dan?”

“Two,” he replied. “A boy who’s thirteen, and my daughter just turned eleven.”

He wondered if his having kids would be a problem for Bella. Not all women enjoyed taking a back seat, but, when they were in his care, Caden and Emily were his priority. If they didn’t understand and couldn’t accept that, it was a deal breaker.

“Do they live here in town? You should bring them to our next annual barbecue and baseball game.” Her hand fell to her belly. “Everyone is so prolific in the Rossi extended family; the kids will soon outnumber the adults.”

“Thanks, but they live with their mother in Austin, and I have to schedule around her and their glut of activities.” His eyes went from her hand to Sean. “Are congratulations in order?”

He squeezed his subbie wife close as a big goofy smile replaced his frown. “We were waiting for the doctor to confirm it before making an announcement. That happened this morning, and you’re the first we’ve told.”

“The baby is due in August,” Mara disclosed, beaming.

“I’m happy for you. Kids are such a joy,” he murmured around a pang in his chest.

The divorce had been ugly. His wife at the time threatened to use his lifestyle to win total custody and carve him out of his kid’s’ lives if he didn’t agree to all of her demands. It was out-and-out coercion, but he’d had to go along with it. His career as a police officer would have been over. Worse, something that salacious was hard to keep under wraps. He didn’t want his kids to hear and think their dad was a pervert, an abusive one at that, which, from the outside looking in, people would believe.

So, with Allison’s threat of exposure hanging over his head, he’d had to grin and bear having them for a weekend every other month, one week in the summer, and on rotating Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. It wasn’t nearly enough for him, and his time with them was precious.

Sean, who knew his history, uttered, “Sorry, man. It isn’t right.”

Mara, who obviously didn’t, looked between them, frowning. He left it to her dom to fill her in, and replied vaguely, “Yeah, but what am I gonna do except take the scraps she throws me? But, circling back to the reason I’m here. Bella, the new waitress.”

“I’ve met her, Master Dan. She’s very sweet.”

“And a little green,” Sean put in, eyeing him up and down. “Does she realize what she’s getting into with you?”

It was a valid question, and he didn’t take offense. “A little green! Man, your sub radar must have been on the fritz the day you hired her because she’s never been inside a kink club, to a play party, or anything remotely close to the lifestyle. And she claims she isn’t submissive.”

Sean barked with laughter, making Mara jump. When Dan didn’t crack a smile, he stopped. “Oh, you’re serious?”

“That’s what she told me less than an hour ago.”

“Bullshit!”

Like him, Sean had years of experience, more so because as the managing partner in charge of operations, he was swimming in it daily. He dealt with club members of all persuasions and levels of experience and had seen it all. And he oversaw everything employee-related, from hiring and training to firing staff if needed. Because they were his responsibility, he took a personal interest and was protective, even defensive of them.

Back to frowning, Sean asked, “What do you want to know? She’s an employee, not a member. And she declined the free membership we offer to everyone who works for us who is so inclined. I don’t have a member contract with a disclosure agreement, so I don’t have permission to give her private information to a perspective dom. I can say there isn’t much.”

“Does it mention why she’s so hard up for money she’s living in a South Town motel, paying by the week?”

Sean stared at him for several silent beats then lifted Mara onto her feet. He crossed to a filing cabinet and opened the top drawer. It took him under three seconds to locate Bella’s personnel file.

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