Mastered by Malone (Haven, Texas 6)

“How do you know? Do you talk to a lot of shrinks about your personal shit?”

“One, don’t swear. Two, what makes you think I’ve got any shit to talk about? Three, the shit you’ve got going on is more than most people could take without having a breakdown. There’s nothing to be ashamed of, Mia.”

“One, I’ll swear if I want to. Two, I may not know you well, but I do know that there’s a lot you don’t talk about. Three, that’s exactly why I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to bring it up. I don’t want to think about it.”

“Burying stuff doesn’t make it disappear. Believe me.”

And then she had to shut up, because the pretty redhead had stopped talking to Tanner, who had somehow miraculously appeared out of nowhere, and was coming up the steps.

Right. It seems she was doing this whether she wanted to or not.

Turned out Molly was nothing like she’d expected. For one thing, she’d kind of thought she might hate her. Mostly because of the hint of fondness in Alec’s voice when he talked about her. But Molly was warm and funny and kind. She was also married to the Sheriff of Haven; which Alec had left out. The ass.

“Thank you for coming all the way out here, Molly,” she told the stunning redhead. “I’m really sorry to be a nuisance. Alec wouldn’t let me go to you.”

“Understandable. Best no one knows you’re here. Even though I trust everyone who lives in Haven, there are all the tourists and people driving through. You never know who might be around.”

“There’s little chance he’d have anyone here.” But the thought of it was enough to keep her from protesting too much. Actually, from protesting at all.

“But better safe than sorry,” Molly said softly.

“Am I putting you in a tough position, with your husband being the sheriff? Alec never told me that and I wouldn’t want to make things awkward.”

Molly waved that away. “Doctor-patient confidentiality. No reason for Jake to know.” Molly smiled. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

“I know . . . it’s just . . . what about the medication? You can’t prescribe me anything unless you fake my name. Is that even possible? How does that work? Won’t you get in trouble?”

“Mia. I can call you Mia?” Molly leaned forward in her chair. They were in her small living room.

Not hers. Not her home.

“Yes, of course.”

“Mia, I knew what Alec was asking of me when he called. You don’t need to worry about me. But if you don’t want to talk to me, if you’re being forced to see me—”

“No, it’s not that,” she said quickly, not wanting to seem ungrateful. “Well, it’s not only that. I guess a part of me is scared to talk about it. I want to forget; I don’t want to relive it.”

“I understand. But honestly, sometimes the best thing you can do to break free of the things that scare you is to talk about them.”

“Yeah that’s kind of what I’d expect a shrink to say.” She slammed her hand over a mouth as she said, looking at Molly and horror. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.”

Molly waved that away. “Oh, don’t worry, I know exactly what you mean. It does sound like a typical psychiatrist thing to say. After all, I wouldn’t have much of a job left if everyone stopped talking about the things that scare them or worry them or keep them awake at night. But I’m not insulted, believe me I’ve heard everything coming out here. These boys don’t hold back.”

She wouldn’t exactly refer to the Malones as boys. But she thought it best not to say that. She kind of figured she’d insulted Molly enough as it was, and she was just doing her a favor. Or, rather, doing Alec a favor.

She wondered just how well Molly knew Alec.

Don’t ask. Don’t ask.

“How well do you know Alec Malone?”

Well, that whole don’t ask thing lasted all of thirty seconds.

Molly looked slightly surprised. “Well, to be honest, not that well at all. Alec tends to keep to himself. I see him sometimes at the club, of course.”

The club? Did she mean a BDSM club? Okay, this time she definitely couldn’t ask.

Molly grinned. “I can see you’re dying to ask. Go ahead.”