The Road Not Taken (Harmony Healing Collective #3)

Chapter 1

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“Call me Alice.” She clasped her hands tightly. “I’m actually worried about doing this.”

“Worried about what specifically?”

“Will I be unconscious?”

“No, you’ll be aware the entire time. Hypnosis is a state of heightened focus where you’re deeply relaxed but still in full control.”

“How many sessions are needed for results?”

“The number varies depending on the issue. Some clients see improvements in one or two sessions, while others may benefit from multiple sessions for lasting change.”

“What does hypnosis feel like?”

“Most people describe hypnosis as a deeply relaxed, peaceful state—similar to being absorbed in a book or daydreaming. Some feel light and floaty, while others feel heavy and grounded.”

Scarlet could see Alice’s posture change. Her shoulders lost their stiffness; she unclenched her hands and uncrossed her legs. Relaxation was the first step in the process of hypnotherapy.

Scanning the form in front of her, Scarlet added a few notes then smiled at Alice. “So, ready to give this a try?”

“Yes.”

Scarlet showed her to the therapy room adjacent to her office.

In here, she’d created a safe space: slate blue walls, a big window looking out at trees, cushiony couches facing each other and the same color as the walls.

Plants dotted the floor and the corners and nestled in the open shelving opposite the couches.

She’d chosen baskets of potpourri that filled the space with a light lavender scent.

“This is lovely,” Alice said scanning the room. “Oh, you have toys?”

A basket of children’s toys nestled next to a doll’s house on the floor. “Yes, for the children I treat.”

“Can they do this?”

“Anybody can, Alice. Now please, sit down.”

She dropped down on one of the couches.

Scarlet sat opposite her. “First we’ll start relaxing your whole body.

Concentrate on your head, neck and shoulders first.” When she did, Scarlet said, “You’re doing well.

Now your torso.” She waited. “Next your arms and hands.” Again she gave the client time.

“Finally your legs and feet.” Scarlet waited one minute to establish the deepest relaxation.

“Now, open your eyes.”

She waited. Then, “Finally, count down from twenty.”

When the woman finished, she was in a hypnotic state. “Let’s slow down your breath now. Breathe in…breathe out…” Once Alice achieved the requisite breathing, Scarlet’s next technique was to engage her mind with mental scenes. “I’d like you to picture the ocean with slow, steady waves…”

The core of the session—where real transformation happened—took another half hour. Here she’d addressed the client’s internal conflicts for behavioral change. “I want you to think about one of the three things you told me you wanted to unearth.”

“My relationship with my parents.”

“What’s the problem with them?”

“They’re too controlling for a thirty-year-old woman.”

“Can you think of ways to keep this from happening?”

“No.”

Here Scarlet used suggestions, where she led clients to positive beliefs and habits. “What about time spent with them?”

“I could see them less.”

“Why don’t you consider two times that you usually spend with them that you could bow out of?”

“Sunday dinner?”

“Another.”

“Shopping with my mother. I hate that.”

“Very good.”

Finally, at the end, she gradually brought the client to complete awareness by slowly counting back from 20 to full alertness.

“So,” she said to Alice when the woman came out of the trance. “How do you feel?”

“I feel refreshed and focused, like I can do something about my issue with my parents.”

That was the goal of her practice. Scarlet was pleased.

* * *

Joe Larson had been trying to stay away from Scarlet Smith since he’d bought the farm across from hers.

Something about her sparked a fast and furious attraction in him.

Maybe it was that fiery red hair or the freckles dotting her face.

Damn! He’d been blocking all that but now, sitting in her waiting room at the Harmony Healing Collective, the feelings came back.

There was no getting around seeing her. He had to do it.

Soon, Scarlet came into the reception area where he waited. She wore a pretty peach dress with heels that made her legs look longer. And there was that pull again, in full force. Even after two weeks of avoiding her.

Her soft brown brows shot up when she saw him. “Joe? What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you.”

She checked her watch. “I have a half-hour. Come on into my office.”

Her private space was right off the studio’s entry area.

It was efficient and cozy at the same time.

Taupe and peach colors with pretty Impressionist prints gracing the walls.

Two comfortable chairs faced each other over a curvy teak desk.

A matching bookcase took up one wall. And a window allowed in the August sunlight.

He sat down across from her. “I have a couple of things to say.”

“Okay.

“First off, I want to explain my claim that I had animal training that night in the barn when Stanley was tranqued.”

“I did wonder about that.”

“I used to be a veterinarian, before we moved to Rockford. I don’t want to go into details why I gave up my practice, but I had my reasons.”

“So you’re Dr. Larson.”

“Not anymore.”

“Sure, you’re entitled to your privacy. Anything else?”

“Yeah. Seth’s coming back from his grandparents’ house at the end of the week.”

“Okay.”

He moved to the edge of his seat and his head filled with the exotic scent of her. “I’m worried about his safety.”

“Because of that night?”

“Your horse was tranqued. Why would somebody do that to him?”

She sighed heavily and glanced around the office. “This place is an alternative medicine collective that opened a month ago. Besides hypnotherapy, we practice reiki, massage therapy, yoga therapy, women’s intimacy and gynecology and men’s health.”

“I know. I found that out when I googled you. You’re a hypnotherapist, something I don’t know much about.”

“I can go into all that later, if you want. But let me first explain that we seem to be under siege.”

“How?”

“Some odd and dangerous things have happened here.”

“Seriously? Are you safe?”

“We hired two people to guard the building 24/7 and us, when we arrive, so we’re hoping nothing more transpires here. The police have started an investigation, but so far they can’t connect all the incidents. They finally called in the FBI.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. Was what happened to Stanley two weeks ago part of that?”

“I’m afraid it was. Other practitioners have had things occur off site.”

“Scarlet…you poor people.”

“I know.” For some reason her eyes moistened—and Scarlet wasn’t a crier. “It’s affected all of us deeply, not to mention our clientele numbers.”

“I’m sorry. And I hate to be selfish about this, but if you’re in danger at home, I can’t let Seth visit Stanley.”

“I understand. But just so you know, I’ve also hired two private guards for my place. They won’t allow anyone near the barn or the house.”

“Huh.”

“And the barn will be locked at all times.”

“Damn it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Seth will be upset. But I am, too.”

“Because you’re worried about him?”

“No. I was planning to ask you out on a date.” He stared into her eyes. “I’m smitten with you, darlin’.”

* * *

Scarlet wondered how she was supposed to respond to Joe’s admission.

She’d missed him and Seth when they’d gone to visit his grandparents and kept checking out his place to see if they’d returned.

And she’d had some dreams that unnerved her.

She couldn’t deny that she was attracted to him, too.

And as he was sitting here, dressed in tight tan jeans, brown cowboy boots and a black and tan checked shirt, she felt a dark spark of excitement.

“Have I offended you by telling you that I’m smitten?”

“Of course not. I’m flattered.”

“I don’t expect you feel the same way, if that’s what made you flush.”

Her hands went to her cheeks. “I…I…”

A quick knock on the door and it opened, cutting her off. “Hey Scarlet. I—” Finn noticed Joe. “Oh, I’m interrupting. Sorry.”

Joe stood. He was as tall as Finn but more muscular. He held out his hand and shook. “Hello. We met already at the barn that night Stanley was tranqued. And no worries. I think we’re about done here.”

“No, we’re not, Joe. Please stay.”

He seemed surprised at that, but he sat back down.

“What can I do for you, Finn?

“Elise and I are going to dinner at Cutali’s. I saw you were still here and thought you might want to join us.”

“That’s sweet. Maybe next time. Joe and I…” she looked over at him “have some unfinished business.”

“Uh-huh.” Finn tried to bite back a smile, but Scarlet caught the makings of it. “See you tomorrow.”

Joe frowned when Finn left. “What unfinished business?”

She cleared her throat and realized she was nervous. “Would you like to come to my house for dinner tonight? We can make something on the grill.”

“Scarlet, that doesn’t make sense. I just told you—”

“That we can’t endanger Seth. But he’s not coming back until the end of the week.”

His brown brows furrowed. “So you want to…socialize with me until then?”

“That’s one way of putting it.” She took his hand in hers. It was big and masculine. “I’ve missed you these two weeks. I don’t see why we can’t have a few days together. Do you?”

His chestnut brown eyes glimmered with interest. And his soft beard made her want to touch his face. “No, ma’am. I don’t see why we can’t do that.”

* * *

“What?”

Joe batted back a smile as he glanced down at the steak she’d taken out of the freezer. “I don’t eat meat.”

“Because you’re a vet?”

“I was a vet. And, yes, that’s why. Saving an animal’s life then eating one seemed crazy.”

“I guess it would.”

He cocked his head. “Since you’re so different, hypnotherapy and all, I thought you might be vegetarian.”

The early evening sun came in through the big window in the kitchen and highlighted her hair. Some gold and brown strands threaded through it. “Well, I don’t eat red meat, but fish and chicken are my favorites.”

“So why the steak?”

“I thought you might want it.”

He angled his head to the sub-zero refrigerator. “What else do you have in there?”

“Salmon.” She opened the door to the freezer, put the steak back in and took out the fish. “It has to thaw.”

“Hmm. That works.”

Her green eyes filled with mischief. “What do you mean by it works?”

He slid off the stool and walked around the large island. “Because there’s time for this.”

He hadn’t thought of her as slender, or fragile or…little, but he towered over her. Slowly, he raised his hand and lifted her chin. She went up on tiptoes as if she wanted this as badly as he did. Her desire encouraged his. He slid his arms around her waist and lifted her up.

Hmm. She smelled like lilacs. Their mouths met. The contact started gently but then…she grasped his neck and pulled him closer. The kiss got deep, oh so deep, and his tongue went on to explore her. When hers did the same, he felt himself go hard.

She pressed her lower body against his. “Me, too, Joe,” Then she backed away and whispered in his ear, “I’m getting wet.”

“Holy hell!” He scooped her up in a carry. “Where’s the bedroom?”

“Down that hall. But shouldn’t we get to know—” she teased.

He cut her off. “We only have three days.”

“Right!”

He strode out of the kitchen in long, hurried steps. She cuddled into him as they reached the bedroom. He sat her on the bed and whipped off his shirt.

“Hmm,” she said running her hands over his torso.

He grinned and she undid his belt. It jangled when she set it free, then she rasped the zipper down.

He had to bend over to get off his boots, and she used the pause to remove her silver beaded top and kick off her shoes.

Standing again, he pulled her up and tugged down her light summer pants and panties.

“Oh, man! I can’t wait.” With that, he slid her onto the bed, followed her and grabbed a pillow for her head.

Scarlet laughed out loud. It wasn’t the right time to do that, but she was…happy. Elated. And magnificently aroused.

He eased her to her side. They continued to kiss. And kiss and kiss.

At one point, he whispered against her mouth, “I can’t take anymore darlin’” and lowered his hand. He cupped her hard and she moaned. Then he scissored her legs, said, “Look at me, sweetheart,” and pushed inside her slowly.

“Faster,” she said hoarsely. It was a demand and a prayer. Soon he filled her. It felt so good her eyes teared.

She was slick and ready. He drew back and plunged into her. She bucked toward him and felt the world spin, the lights dim; she went over the top.

Somehow he waited until she was done, then he exploded.

Scarlet felt possessed. Taken. And all those other romance novel words that she’d never, ever experienced before.