Satisfied he’d delivered his message, he sat back, ready to pick up the pieces.

“No.”

Daniel was prepared for a storm of tears. He wasn’t prepared for “No.”

“What do you mean, no?”

Monique looked up at Daniel from beneath those eyelashes. “She makes you unhappy, Daniel. I will make you happy.”

Daniel shoved his testosterone down. Way down. “Monique, it can’t be that way.”

The thin veneer of Monique’s bravado cracked. Her bottom lip dropped, then her eyes, and then the tears.

“I think it’s just—”

“You can’t do this to me!” Monique stood in a rush, and the door banged hard into the arm of his couch as she stormed out.

Daniel closed his eyes as his pulse thumped in his ears. He was being a case study in how to stay true to his marriage vows, unlike the men who filtered through his counseling door, eyes glued to the carpet or defiant in a firmer-than-normal handshake.

He needed air before his next appointment. Daniel grabbed his phone and headed down the corridor, running headlong into Peter.

“Great dinner the other night!”

“Thanks, Pete. It was . . .” Daniel’s indignation needed an outlet. “Hey, thanks for taking a photo of Milly standing on the railing and not telling me.”

Peter’s gaze probed him. “I never saw Milly on the railing. I can assure you that if I had, I would have told you.”

Daniel backpedaled. “Sorry. I’ve just had an uncomfortable but necessary conversation with Monique.”

“Is everything okay?”

“It is now.” Daniel moved past Peter and headed for some fresh air.

Peter’s voice came from over his shoulder. “If I didn’t take a photo of Milly on the railing, who did? Could you show me the photo?”

No, he couldn’t. Showing Peter Milly’s photo would lead to the group photo.

Monique’s desk was empty. The reception area wasn’t.

“Daniel!”

Laurie Wood jumped to her feet, hand extended. “Sorry if we’re a bit early, but it’s so nice of you to greet us out here.” She pumped his hand. “You are a miracle worker. Well, your book is.”

Daniel edged back from the wave of enthusiasm Laurie was surfing. He nodded to a smiling Mark on the couch, sitting under the empty space on the wall where there should have been a large photo of the Crossroads Counseling team.

“It’s just an amazing book. How did you jam so much great counseling advice in there?”

Daniel tried to shut out her voice so he could think. “It’s difficult to do, Laurie . . . Why don’t you head down to my office—”

But Laurie’s wave was just cresting. “Saying you’ve got to be open. If your partner is offering help, it’s proof they care—just wonderful! I’ve already read it twice and told everyone on Facebook your next book will blow them away! When is it coming out?”