Page 20 of Dare to Love Again

“Oh, thank you.”

He held up his hand. “I have conditions, however. While I can’t insist you find a therapist, I encourage you to call Val at least. She won’t mind my revealing you have something in common. She lost her first husband, too.”

Esme wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I’ve been thinking about starting counseling again, but didn’t know with who, or where.”

“Here.”

She looked up and took the tissue he extended.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I’m not done.”

She didn’t think she’d get off that easily. Nodding, she looked up at him and waited to see what hoop she’d have to jump through to stay.

“Sometimes you have to attack a problem to get past it, but it can be difficult on your own, especially in the lifestyle. You need a good therapist and a good dominant. The first I don’t think I can ethically require, the second I can insist upon, however. My condition during your extended probation is you find a dom to accompany you in the dungeon, or I feel I must suspend your membership until your sponsor returns.”

“Tonight?” she squeaked.

“I’m not such a hard-ass as that, subbie. You’ve paid for the month. I’ll allow the week you have left to find someone. I can make recommendations. A few of our members have lost partners and will know what you’re going through.”

She wrinkled her nose. A sympathetic shoulder to cry on and someone to open her old wounds. No, thank you.

He read her reaction adroitly. “You’ll tell me if you change your mind.” He stood, signaling their meeting had ended.

She rose, too, though unsteadily.

He took her arm and led her to the door. “I don’t think you should start tonight. Go home and think about what I’ve said.”

“Yes, sir.”

“That card, Esmerelda. Use it. Valerie may be my wife, but she’s excellent at what she does, and she’s been where you are now.”

She doubted anyone had been where she was—ever. But she answered politely, “Thank you, sir. I will.”

He escorted her down the hall and back to the lobby. With him watching, along with the curious eyes of the nosy, bitchy Alicia, she somehow held back her tears.

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