“What other options do I have? I can’t think of anything. I don’t care if it’s a long shot. I’ll takeanyshot right now. The last thing I need is to chat up a bunch of invisible buyers at my first and possibly last gallery show.”
He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure this out.”
She was quiet for a few moments, then faced him squarely and asked, “Dante, are you sure you want to get involved with a woman like me?”
He glanced over and took in her serious expression. He desperately wanted to put a smile back on her beautiful face.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Well, some people might think I’m unstable and dangerous.”
“Don’t worry.” He flashed a grin. “I love unstable, dangerous women.”
She leaned back against the leather seat. “Well then, you’ve met your dream girl.”
* * *
“What brings you here today, Miss Summers?”
“Didn’t Dante tell you?”
“I spoke to Mr. Fierro about the problem, but I’d like to hear it in your own words. Also, I want to know what you’re hoping the outcome of our session will be.”
“Okay. I see dead people. I think. At least I see and can speak to people who others say aren’t there. It’s confusing, because I don’t know who’s real and who isn’t. For all I know, it’s all an elaborate hoax and everyone is in on it but me.”
“That must be disturbing.”
“Yeah, for everyone involved. Except for Dante. He seems really cool about it. I don’t know why.”
“Maybe he really cares about your well-being. Is that not true?”
“No. I mean, yeah. That’s true. I’m sure that’s it.”
The therapist let it drop. “And what would you like our work here to do?”
“Make the spirits go away. I only want to see and speak to real people. Can you make that happen?”
“We can certainly work toward accomplishing that. Will you be all right if someone shows up during our session?”
“You mean, will I freak out? I haven’t yet. Most of the people are quite nice.”
“Good. The reason I ask is that if someone arrives, you’ll know for a fact that no one is here but you and me. The door is closed.”
“True.” Mallory’s stomach fluttered with nerves as she put her sanity in the hypnotherapist’s hands. The guy seemed nice enough.
“First, I want you to know you’ll be in control the whole time. If at any point you want to come out of hypnosis, simply raise your hand. I’m here to keep you completely safe and comfortable.”
She would have felt safer if Dante was in the room, but she had insisted she’d be fine. Now she was sarcastically chastising “five-minutes-ago Mallory.” Dante said he’d go and browse through a bookstore nearby and come back in an hour, so she really had no choice but to get comfortable with this stranger.
“You won’t make me cluck like a chicken, will you?”
He frowned. “No. What purpose would that serve? I’m a hypnotherapist, Miss Summers. Not the type of hypnotist you see on stage.”
“Okay. Good.”
“Besides, remember how I said you’d be in control? All you have to do is tell me you’re uncomfortable, and I can change the script or end the session altogether. I’m here to help you, not entertain myself.”
She figured that would be his answer. He probably wouldn’t have much of a business if he didn’t do what he said he was going to do. “So, I’ll be able to talk to you, even under hypnosis?”
