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Mia wouldn’t be surprised if he had them custom made.
    It suddenly struck her how strange it was to see him in Meyers Park when they’d never ever run across each other here before. Why today…?
    The answer eluded Mia as she rubbed her fingers together and realized that not just her boots were slimy with dog drool. Chess slipped a cloth out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Here. Maybe this will help.”
    Mia held it for a moment, blinking. A genuine cloth handkerchief. Monogrammed, no less. It felt silky and expensive. “Thank you,” she finally managed. She couldn’t help but feel she was desecrating it as she wiped her hands. When she finished, Mia held it crumpled in her hand, at a loss. Handing it back to him dirty wasn’t quite the thing.
    “I can, uh, I can get this cleaned for you,” she offered.
    He nodded. “That’s fine. Just hold on to it for now. You can give it back to me when you see me at the club.”
    Bailey returned with his stick, his wagging tail thumping Chess’s pant leg as he looked up hopefully at Mia. Again he dropped the stick, this time on the grass by her feet.
    “Bailey, you’re a pest.” Chess bent down and picked up the stick and tossed it. “Go now.”
    He looked at Mia once again. “Speaking of the club, I haven’t noticed you there lately.”
    She flushed, not knowing how to answer. She’d never been to Restraint without Philip, and had no intention of returning now. What for? To watch him with another woman? A sick feeling of helplessness came over her.
    If Philip visited the club without her, surely the news had spread that she was no longer his sub. How humiliating to think they all knew he no longer wanted her.
    The helplessness instantly morphed to anger at the thought of being the object of everyone’s pity. Her eyes flashed to Chess. Did he feel sorry for her too?
    “I’ve been busy,” she answered, her voice flat.
    Yeah, real busy. Busy feeling sorry for yourself while Philip’s having fun with someone new.
    She let the mean thought roll around in her brain to punish herself for caring. She wanted to hate Philip, but she couldn’t, in spite of all her anger and sadness.
    Chess spoke. “Yeah, I know how that can be. But I hope you can make some time to come back. We miss you.”
    Mia swallowed hard. Who was we? It certainly didn’t include Philip. Surely Chess didn’t mean he missed her.
    She calmed herself. It didn’t mean anything. He was just being polite.
    Bailey returned once again, now dropping the stick at his master’s feet. “No. No more stick,” Chess said firmly.
    The Lab huffed in disagreement and pawed the stick. Mia smiled. None of Master Chess’s subs would ever be able to get away with that kind of misbehavior.
    Chess gave her a half smile and a knowing look. He attached Bailey’s leash to his collar and tugged. “Come on, you. You’re making me look bad.”
    Suddenly Mia flashed to what it might be like to wear Chess’s collar, be attached firmly to his leash. Connected to him. Heat zipped through her.
    God. What was going on with her?
    She held the crumpled hankie in her palm. “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” Something glinted in his eyes. “I’ll see you soon.”
    No, he wouldn’t. Not unless she again bumped into him accidentally.
    “Take care of yourself, Mia.”
    She blinked. His tone made the parting words sound not like a farewell, but like a command.
    “Good-bye.” By the time Mia found her tongue, he had already walked away.
    * * * *
    Chess Ryan unlocked the door of his SUV, and Bailey clambered in, settling in the driver’s seat.
    “No,” Chess said shoving at the dog’s hip. “ I’m driving home. Move over.”
    After delivering a long-suffering sigh, Bailey scooted to the passenger’s seat, whapping his master in the face with his tail.
    “Settle down, you clown.”
    Chess climbed into his seat and adjusted his seat belt. “Well, guy, we found her. Finally.”
    Bailey tilted his head and