Page 47 of Tempting Her Dragons

“How do you know?” I whisper back.

“Sweetheart, you already feel it.”

“Shit,” I mumble. I go into the bathroom and turn on the sink. I hear the timber of their voices in the kitchen, but I’ve been dimming my hearing. I hope they have, too. “I’m scared,” I admit.

“Of course you are,” she says softly. “It’s scary to open your heart.”

“Sally, there are things you don’t know.” I swallow harshly. “Things they don’t know.”

“We all have things in our past that hold us back,” she says, and I lean on the counter. “I see visions. I know more than I should.”

“You’ve seen me in your visions?” I ask, rolling my lips.

“Sometimes.” She lowers her voice even further. “I know what happened to you.”

I press my hand to my head. “You do?” Tears fill my eyes.

“I will say this,” she says. “Your experience doesn’t make you weak. The man who violated you was weak. You are so fucking strong.”

“He didn’t rape me. He didn’t get that far.” I close my eyes, and I can see his face above me.

“It doesn’t matter,” she growls. “Your trauma isn’t less because he didn’t. You have put on a brave face for years. I see it. I see you, the real you. My advice is to allow them to see the real you.”

“I don’t know if I can.”

“Of course you can. Those men are already dedicated to you. You have used your power to help others who can’t. It’s your time to help yourself get the love you deserve,” she says.

“How do you know so much?” I ask, sniffling.

“I’m observant. Kingston and Maverick will take care of your big heart; you just have to let them.”

“Fuck, you should be a therapist.” I snort.

“I tried it once,” she sighs. “It’s not much fun.”

“Sally,” I giggle. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. You want to know the best thing that’s happened to me?”

“Yes.”

“I opened a restaurant and met Saylor. When I moved here, I found a family. The day I met you was one of my fondest moments. You hugged me tight and said you loved rabbits.” I remember the day and was thrilled to have her in the group. “The day I met your mates, they said the same thing. Everything happens for a reason. Your past is shitty, but you wouldn’t be the woman you are today if it didn’t happen. We all wish it didn’t, but we can’t deny it. You have to move on. They will help you.”

“Dr. Sally has a nice ring to it,” I laugh. She always knows the right thing to say.

“It does,” she cackles. “I would rather be a Mrs. Doctor. He could do all the work and spend his money on me. Plus, love me desperately.”

“I want you to find your happily ever after.”

“Girl, I’m my own happily ever after. I don’t need a man for that,” she scoffs. “But it would be nice to snuggle up to someone that wasn’t plastic.”

“Sally,” I gasp.

“What? A girl has needs.”

“You’re the best.”

“I know.” She blows out a breath. “I can’t guarantee their mom and I won’t raise hell.”

---