Page 358 of Billionaire Temptations

“Yes,” I involuntarily blurted out. Damn it.

He looked at me with a smile and nodded his head.

“Congratulations, Anna. You just took the first step in healing yourself.”

We talked some more, and I didn’t want to leave when the timer went off. I felt like we were making some sort of progress.

“Do you think you want to come back and chat again?” he asked.

“Yes, Dr. Stark. I do. I actually want to come every day if possible.”

“Every day?” he asked with surprise.

“Yes. We have a lot of ground to cover. I don’t care what it costs because I can afford it. So, pencil me in for the rest of the week. And if you can’t get me in, then make it after hours, and I will pay double your fee.”

“Okay. Cindy will set up the appointments for you.” He smiled.

I walked out of his space and hailed a cab back to the apartment. When I walked in, Franco was in the kitchen cooking.

“How did it go?” he asked without turning around.

“It was fabulous. I love Dr. Stark. He is so cool, and his space is like I was transported to the 70’s.”

He turned around and looked at me with a shocked expression on his face.

“You, Anna Young, liked therapy?”

“It’s not therapy. It’s chatting.” I smiled.

He walked over to me, placed his hands on each side of my face, and forcefully planted a kiss on my lips.

“It is so good to hear you say that and to see you smile again.”

“I have an appointment with him every day this week. I told him we had a lot of ground to cover. Thanks, Franco.”

“You’re welcome, sweet cheeks.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Wes

Three weeks had passed, and I hadn’t seen or heard from Anna. I’d been a bear to anyone who crossed my path. My bed at night was lonely and even lonelier in the mornings. I couldn’t bear to go home after the office anymore because everything there reminded me of her. The home I once loved was now the place I dreaded the most.

It was mid-afternoon, and I was walking down West 84th Street when I saw Anna turn the corner. I quickly stepped into a store and watched her pass by. She looked beautiful, but the spark in her eye wasn’t there. I stepped out of the store and followed her, mixing in with the street crowd so she wouldn’t notice me. She went inside a building, and when I reached it, I looked at the name that was engraved on a brass plate that hung on the brick wall to the left of the door: Dr. Nathan Stark, PsyD. A psychologist? Was she seeing a psychologist?

Later that night, the door opened as I was sitting in my usual spot at the Post Bar. When I turned around to see what all the noise was, I noticed a group of people filtered inside. My heart started racing when I saw Anna amongst those people. I turnedaround, desperately trying to remain calm, as I threw back my drink and asked the bartender for another one.

“Wes?” I heard her soft voice from behind.

Shit.

I turned around as she stood there, and our eyes locked on to each other’s.

“Anna. What are you doing here?”

“It’s Lars’ birthday. Are you here alone?”

“Yeah. I am.”

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