Page 12 of With this Ring

“Everything’s fine.” She released the shade.

“Oh-kay.” Ashley sounded as unconvinced as Sasha was.

“Promise.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

Which didn’t always serve her well. She gave a small laugh to fill the awkward silence.

But obviously relenting, Ashley asked, “Do you need me to work tomorrow?”

“No.” She tried to always give her staff Sundays off. Rest made people sharper. “But if you don’t mind letting the answering service know to contact Justine if I can’t be reached, I’d appreciate it.” Pathways had hired a service so they appeared to have staff twenty-four hours a day, and Justine was the agentwho’d been with Sasha the longest. “Oh, and give her a heads-up that I’m unavailable and that we’ll move our weekly meeting to Tuesday?”

“Got it.”

“You sure you don’t mind? I know I’m interrupting your weekend.”

“I’ve got you covered.”

“Appreciate it.” Aware of time ticking, she paced the room.

“Can I hope you’ll at least get some relaxation?”

As if.“Maybe.” Then, trying to be polite, she simply asked, “How about you?”

“Yeah. Jonah and I are going to grab some takeout and…” Ashley laughed. “Well, you know.”

At least one of them would be enjoying a hot hookup.

Sasha’s last one had been so long ago that she barely remembered it. The date, on the rebound after her hot, mind-blowing experience in the janitor’s closet with Gregorio, had been disastrous.

She wouldn’t have spent any time with the blind date except for the fact she’d been trying to prove to herself that Gregorio meant nothing to her.

Unfortunately, the sex had been so awful she couldn’t recall the man’s name.

And he’d done nothing to shove thoughts of Gregorio from her head.

Then came her boss, Toby.

If she hadn’t been so obsessed with her girlhood hero, would she have made such disastrous decisions with Toby?

“Seriously, though. Don’t work too hard,” Ashley urged.

Sasha actually wasn’t sure what she’d do if she had an hour to herself. Spend more time worrying was the most likely scenario. That’s what happened during the lulls in her life. Which was another reason to stay busy.

Ending the call, she faced the waiting outfit once more.

No more stalling.

She’d set her course, and she needed to look the part, even if the outfit was ridiculously skimpy.

Because tonight’s event at the Den was for ladies, particularly ones who were new and didn’t have a sponsor, an informal event had been arranged. She was expected to meet others downstairs in the hotel conference room thirty minutes from now.

Rules and protocols would be discussed and there would be time for questions. Evidently the hosts were an actual D/s couple, Brandy and her Dominant, Master Niles.

Doubtless all the attendees were being vetted, which was smart, and something she appreciated. After all, people would be getting naked together, and no doubt some of the profiles contained lies or half-truths.

Hers certainly did.

---