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Chapter 1

The end of August

“Are you sure I can’t walk you out to your car?”

Leslie Collins sroup said their goodbyes Shaking her head, she wished she could return the interest in Alan Colwich’s hazel eyes, but where had wishing ever gotten her? “Thanks, Alan, but I’ve already ordered another drink You go on and I’ll see you Monday” She prayed he wouldn’t insist on staying until she was ready to leave the club Asto her apartht, and weekend alone, it would be worse if he asked her out again or she had to sit here for another hour ’ looks

Alan hesitated and Leslie held her breath until he nodded and stood “If you’re sure then I’ll head out See you Monday” After dropping a tip on the table, he waved and she breathed a sigh of relief watching hih the tables in the dim interior

A heavy weight of despair pressed against her chest Doing the right thing al and left her future in liht circumstances fairly well until recently Her mind drifted to another club, one where she’d discovered a satisfying distraction that helped her get through the long, lonely days and even longer, lonelier nights, or so she’d thought Tomorroould mark the third Saturday she wouldn’t s to the private BDSM club, The Barn, and she missed what she’d found there

“Thank you” Leslie sin and tonic, re drinks as she’d worked her way through college

Too bad her higher education hadn’t offered a class on how to cope after testifying in a murder case where the defendant’s father vowed retribution Being in the wrong place at the wrong ti close friendships with her co-workers and the cluba relationship of any kind could have no future and ht even put someone else at risk if her identity in the witness protection program were discovered

Keeping herself isolated had been the hardest part about accepting her fate when the threats against her had escalated to a drive by shooting at her house She’d been enjoying a friendly visit from the older er next door when he’d opened her front door just as several bullets pelted the front porch He’d recovered froh to convince her to accept the offer of relocation

Leslie sipped her drink as she gazed around the quiet bar, the low hu her secluded corner table With the exception of the lone, dark haired man with broad shoulders seated at the bar, everyone had soht with, hts at The Barn, the relief from the stress and despondency of her solitary life she could attain by indulging in a long scene with an attentive Dom The limited relationships with both the Masters and the other sub the private club three years ago, but that was before witnessing the blissful happiness of severalto the one person who could fulfill all their needs

No, Leslie thought, taking another long drink, it was easier to stay away than return and spend an evening pretending she was happy for those ere free to enjoy everything life, and the right person had to offer The Doood to her, but not one ever looked at her the way the newly coazed at their wives The hardest relationship to accept had been Nan’s recent co-tiTo ht of sex with a friend like Alan without getting his hopes up that it would lead to so more, and she refused to use him that way

Leslie should have known by noing in self-pity never helped She took a liht nose and the sardonic curl of one side of hiswoman approached him His reply to whatever co off in a huff Leslie wondered ho her spirits would have to sink before she approached a stranger with a needy proposition Maybe, if one look stirred her juices the sa that man, she wouldn’t ht indulging in sex with a stranger would alleviate the loneliness for a short ti else to think about

By the time she downed two more drinks, stood to leave and the room spun around her, she realized she should have paidas I go slow Since she wasn’t about to call one of her co-workers to drive her the few blocks back hoht path toward the door She made it with only one stumble and as she breathed in the warm summer air, her woozy senses calmed a bit

At least, Leslie thought her head had cleared enough to drive until she teetered through the well-lit parking lot in search of her car and rammed her hip into the bu under her breath, she pushed away and wobbled toward the sidewalk she could follow straight to her apart the return to her lonely apartment she never heard or saw the punk purse snatcher sneak up behind her until he tried pulling her bag frorasp