Risk It All (Risqué #2) by Scarlett Finn Page A

going for her in Jersey, it was Blaser who occupied her mind. Dreaming about this apartment complex, and the time that they spent here, got her through tough times. When she felt scared or alone, she reminded herself of what it was to be safe and loved, and that was what she was truly looking for in life.
    Not being able to get Blaser out of her head made her reach out to him, for curiosity sake. A year and a half ago she’d looked him up, after a few flirty emails, they got to talking on the phone, and eventually they agreed to a date.
    Bri had been sitting at that restaurant, nervous and excited that this could be the beginning of her future. Blaser was her first love, he was her only love. The truth was that there was nothing horrible about the way they had broken up; nothing except how little choice she had in the matter.
    Still lying in the sheets that Blaser had stuffed into the sports bag for her, Bri told herself that she couldn’t lie here all day because there was too much to get done. It was also only a matter of time before Rafe tracked her down.
    She made herself get out of bed and get ready for the day. Coffee was all she could think about throughout her shower, so as soon as she was out of the bathroom she darted along the hall and into the open plan living-kitchen-dining space.
    The sight of a person in the kitchen brought her up short. Bri was relieved that it was a strange woman, and not a familiar male such as Rafe, who would have sinister intentions.
    ‘Can I help you?’ Bri asked.
    The brunette whipped around and her stunned expression quickly became a smile. Bri relaxed further when she recognised her therapist, Lyssa Cutler. ‘Sorry… I had no idea that Blaser had rented the apartment already and to a female no less,’ Lyssa said. ‘That just confirms how special you are to him.’
    ‘To Blaser?’ Brianna said. ‘I guess if you suck a guy’s dick enough times he starts to take a shine to you.’
    Instead of shocking Lyssa, Bri was surprised to see the doctor’s smile get wider and her eyes begin to glitter. ‘Wow, take you off the therapy couch and you really open up,’ she said.
    ‘I’m sorry, I… I don’t know why I said that,’ Bri said, ashamed by her urge to try and shock or scare this intruder away.
    Lyssa’s smile faded and her posture straightened. ‘Don’t feel ashamed of being honest. It’s fine to be sassy. I invaded your space… unknowingly I’ll admit. But you’re allowed to be annoyed and to express that annoyance.’
    ‘I know that,’ Bri said. Swallowing, she moistened her lips to delay asking the question she wanted the answer to. ‘Did you…? Have you spoken to Colt about what I said? Did you tell him that I came to you?’
    ‘No,’ Lyssa shook her head. ‘Colt knows nothing about it. I don’t discuss my patients with him.’
    ‘I’m not your patient, though, am I?’ Bri said, tucking in her towel again to keep it secure. ‘I mean, I’m not paying you or anything.’
    ‘You are my patient and everything you say to me is confidential. My specialty is sex therapy, and I deal with abuse victims all the time so I know that trust takes time to be earned,’ Lyssa said, fishing in her purse and pulling out a business card. ‘My personal phone number is on this.’ When Lyssa began to cross the room, Bri backed away, holding up her hands.
    ‘Please, don’t,’ Bri said and Lyssa immediately stopped. Maybe it was because she was naked, or because this woman knew intimate things about her, but her proximity alarm manifested as a tickle of anxiety on the back of her neck. ‘I don’t consider myself an abuse victim.’
    ‘How do you identify what happened to you?’
    ‘It didn’t happen to me, it—‘ Biting her bottom lip between her front teeth, she rolled her gaze to the side. The familiar scorch in her sinuses was a prelude to tears that she promised herself she’d never let come again. ‘I’m really not interested in talking about it