Page 37 of Donovan's Men

She wagged her finger at me. “Oh no. You need to quote Cole exactly. He’s going to check up on that.”

I said something about it not being my first rodeo. She questioned my age. After a bit of chitchat—where I hoped I’d won her over—I’d taken off.

With the certain knowledge that I was going to get a phone call.So do I call him first? What’s the proper protocol for this anyway?Unsure and somehow knowing seeking advice from Alessandra would invite more questions for which I didn’thave answers, I finished my report. As I shut the laptop down, another moment from this morning hit me.

Cole knows Smith. And logically, he knows Alessandra.

Since Smith owned Club Kink and Cole had been there a few times—with Donovan, no less—obviously Smith and Cole knew each other. And since I’d known Smith owned the club—and that he and Alessandra wereintoBDSM—none of this had been a shock. Just not how I’d thought that session of therapy was going to go.

Smith knows Donovan.

I expected discretion from everyone.

So why didn’t Donovan bring up knowing Smith in a—

I hesitated. Professional capacity? Smith, professional, and Donovan… I tried to shut down that line of thought. Because that way led to madness. I could speculate about everyone’s relationship to everyone else, or I could focus on my job. I moved to the kitchen to boil some water. Chamomile was the perfect antidote to a racing mind.

Well, and one oatmeal cookie. I could allow myself one.

My phone buzzed.

My heart sank.

My head shouted.

Donovan.

Even though I knew better, I answered the phone. “Hello, Donovan.”

“Hey, Doc.”

I rolled my eyes. He knew that irritated me to no end—and yet he did it anyway.

Don’t give him what he wants. Don’t let it affect you.

Yeah, right. “How can I help you this evening?”

“You can tell me what lies Cole told you about me today.” He chuckled. That deep, resonant sound that always made butterflies flitter low in my belly.

“Of all people, Donovan, you must be aware I cannot share what is said in a therapy session. Hell, I shouldn’t even confirm or deny whether a session took place—”

“Cut the bullshit, Doc. I knew you were going, and given the conversation I just had with Cole, I can guarantee it took place.”

“Oh?”Don’t sound too interested.

“Yeah,oh.” He cleared his throat. “He says he gave you a message to give to me.”

I sighed. “This is some kind of weird test, right? If I don’t say the right thing, then you’ll both question my competence?”

“Jesus.” He bit off the word. “I know this isn’t a game for you. I know how seriously you take this.”

Sometimes I do wonder if this is a game for you, though.

Again, I sighed. “‘Tell Donovan I say to mind his own fucking business.’”

He barked out a laugh. “Holy shit. You actually did it.”

“Did what?” The kettle boiled, and I unplugged it.