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emotions to control her actions. Not anymore.
    She heard the bell on the front door tinkle, so she walked out of her office and through the short hallway. She poked her head into the store. “Hey, Destiny, just wanted to make sure that was you.”
    “In all my glory.” Destiny’s dreadlocks were swirled into a bun and she was wearing a fiercely tailored gray pinstriped business suit. “Great wedding, huh?”
    “Perfection. Where were you sitting? I didn’t see you.”
    Destiny ducked to turn on the computer. “In the back so I could get in and out. The store was crazy busy this morning.”
    The bell on the door tinkled again and a small, bird-like woman peered into the shop. Crystal waved. “Looks like my two o’clock is early. Send her back when she’s done with the paperwork, okay?”
    Destiny rose to greet the client and Crystal headed back to her office to tidy up.
    A few minutes later, she heard a scratch at her door. She opened it and ushered her new client into the room. She waited until Darla was comfortably seated on the red velvet couch. “I’m glad you’re here, Darla. I’m Crystal. You’ve read the disclaimer and you’ve signed the waiver?”
    Darla bobbed her head.
    Crystal reached for the box of chocolates on her desk. “I’ll have to warn you that I’m not really very businesslike otherwise. Would you like a chocolate?” Crystal felt she would.
    “No, thanks.” Darla leaned away from the box of truffles.
    Crystal held it out to her. “Darla, your time is really valuable to me. Take a truffle. No, take two, and then let’s get started.”
    Darla took a truffle. Then another one. Her eyes stopped darting to the corners of the office and settled, owl-like, on Crystal as she joined her on the couch.
    Crystal shut the box and placed it on the couch between them. She smiled in approval and leaned over to give Darla’s hand a lingering pat. She felt hunger, but not the food kind. Denial. Courage.
    Good. Courage she could work with.
    Crystal followed the hunger, figuring it had to be the dominant emotion, right down to its base. She opened herself to Darla’s feelings, widened her perceptions until the boundary between them wavered, blurred. First she would feel with Darla, and then she would know how to help her.
    Almost there. Just a little more, just a little further, and she would know. She dropped her mental shield completely.
    Lust ripped through her, immobilized her. It was the same blast that had hit her when she was standing next to Ryan before the wedding, only stronger. She was blind, uncertain whose passion she was channeling, Darla’s or her own.
    She snatched her hand away from Darla’s fingers and cleared her mind. Crystal wanted to physically shake off the lust that gripped her, but she was afraid to move. That blast had her so revved up she was afraid she might have an orgasm if she even crossed her legs. That would be really hard to explain to her new client.
    “Darla, I’m sorry but we’re going to have to reschedule.” Crystal forced the words out.
    Darla’s already tight expression became even more pinched as she frowned. “I knew this was a mistake.” She stood and glared at Crystal. “I don’t know why I thought a sex psychic could possibly be for real.”
    Without reaching out to touch her emotions, Crystal couldn’t be sure, but she guessed the source of Darla’s anger was disappointment and frustration. “I don’t blame you for being angry, Darla, but please don’t give up. I know I can help you, but my emotions aren’t cooperating right now.” An understatement but accurate, since arousal still paralyzed her.
    Darla didn’t look convinced, so Crystal tried again. “I won’t charge you for today’s session. Since we’ve spoken several times on the phone, I think I have a good idea of what is going on with you and your fiancé. I’d like you to try something simple for me. Next week we can dig a little deeper, I promise.” Next week, Ryan would