Bared by Stacey Kennedy

weekend and bookthe time off. Cora wanted a couple days to herself. Those days were open for someone to take vacation, and she was taking it.
    “And I thought I was the only one who worked too hard.”
    Cora laughed, spinning in her chair to face her coworker, Sandy-Lynn. Her auburn curls were perfect atop her head, as always. Cora had never seen her not perfectly put together. She had round brown eyes and a kind face. One of those faces that Cora could picture as a grandmother surrounded by grandchildren.
    “I had a cancellation and just wanted to confirm my schedule was clear.” While she always checked e-mails to make sure no teenagers were trying to reach her, she really hated bringing work home. “I’m taking Tuesday and Wednesday off.”
    “Good for you,” Sandy-Lynn said.
    Cora smiled. “Um … why are you here?”
    “I received an attempted suicide call tonight. He’s at the hospital now, but I wanted to stop by and document it while it was still fresh.” Sandy-Lynn drew in a deep breath, and as they’d been trained to do, she shook off the darkness in her gaze. “Any exciting plans for tonight?”
    “I’m going out with the girls.” That was Cora’s go-to answer. If someone asked who Cora felt guilty if she didn’t invite them to join her, she went with “Dinner with the family.” But Sandy-Lynn was in her forties with four children. After her evening, Cora suspected she wanted to go home and be with her family.
    Everyone had their thing they did on their weekends to unwind. Cora’s was to go to a BDSM dungeon and orgasm until she couldn’t possibly orgasm anymore. She loved that she wore sexy lingerie under her clothes—her dirty little secret. That tonight she wouldn’t be looked at like an everyday woman who counseled teens, but that she was a woman to be admired.
    “Enjoy,” Sandy-Lynn said with a genuine smile.
    She was a good woman. Her arriving tonight only proved how thoughtful she was to her clients. She wanted to make sure she remembered every little detail to help the person later. “That client’s lucky to have you, Sandy-Lynn.”
    She gave a sad smile. “Thanks, Cora.”
    Cora supposed most people in her line of work had a natural nurturing part of them. How could they not and do this job without having a breakdown themselves? “Okay. Now go home toyour kids. I’m sure they are missing you.”
    “I’m sure they are making a mess.”
    Cora laughed as Sandy-Lynn gave her a wave and left her office.
    Too bad for Cora her mess wasn’t something so easily picked up and put back together. With thoughts of Aidan on her mind, she left the office and got back on the road. At a few minutes past nine o’clock, Cora drove through Club Sin’s wrought-iron gates and headed up the cobblestone driveway.
    When she spotted Aidan’s motorcycle resting near the front entrance, she heaved a sigh and parked next to him. She cut the ignition and stared at Club Sin, which was also Dmitri and Presley’s home. The Georgian-style mansion with its red brick, black shutters, and white pillars stood proud on its large plot. Set back from the road, private from the lives of others, the club offered much consolation to many people.
    After a deep, long breath, she exited the car. Her muscles twitched with each step as she approached the house. When she reached the dark hardwood front door, she swept her hand through her curled hair before she turned the door handle.
    Her gaze settled on the huge balcony that curved the entire upper floor and the grand wooden staircase. Cora wrapped her arms around herself as she took it all in. From the art on the walls to the decorative pieces, the home exuded wealth.
    Lucky Presley.
    Cora wiped her feet on the mat in the foyer and inhaled the citrus scent coming from the kitchen. As she headed down the long, wide hallway, she strode by an oval-shaped dining room, and then continued on past Dmitri’s home office.
    Her mind raced with thoughts of tonight and of