Delilah smiled, "Nice to meet you.. officially."

Donovan grinned, "Likewise. Shall we?"

He escorted her back into the club and she soon found out he was also one of their bouncers.

"Thanks again!"

She called as her friends ogled Donovan and eyeballed her.

"Girl, don't you know who that is?!" Laura asked, "Damn, he's fine.. oh my gosh my ovaries.."

"I don't know who that is, " Delilah shrugged, sipping her soda,"He's a tough one. "

Bridget smiled,"That's Donovan 'The Flash' Dixon. "

"The Flash? "

Millie nodded,"Makes a woman come almost immediately. "

Delilah sighed and shook her head.

"You're joking with me. "

"He's a dom."

"What's a dom?"

Bridget's eyes widened,"A dom! A dominant.. like a dominatrix, but a dude. "

Delilah gasped,"How do you know that? "

Laura smiled,"We don't know from experience, sadly, but Theresa and Clare have had some fun times with him. "

Delilah blushed,"Oh.. well, he seems like a nice man. "

Millie smirked,"A nice man who keeps eyeing you, D. "

Delilah bit her bottom lip and slowly turned in the direction that Millie was motioning to and Donovan was staring right at her.

"Probably thinks I'm going to need help again," Delilah shrugged, "The nerve of those two."

Millie nodded,"You're always going out side doors! "

Delilah lifted a shoulder,"I needed some air. Tell me more about this guy. "

Laura leaned in,"He's like 42 or something maybe 43. A millionaire.. loads of money... divorced with kids in college. He's been at the dom job for years. "

"Did his wife, -"

"His wife was a dom," Laura said,"Crazy, right? "

"Yeah.." Delilah took another look at Donovan,"Crazy."

The night slipped by without any other mishaps and the four headed out to Lyra's Bed and Breakfast where Millie had made a two night reservation, plus spa treatment the next day.

Delilah couldn't help but think about Donovan, though.

"This is so nice," Delilah said as the four got mani-pedis, courtesy of Laura, "You sure go out of your way for us."

"Nonsense!" Laura scoffed, "You deserve to be pampered."

No men talk, no kid talk, no troubles... it was just the four of them like it was in their early college days, but Delilah was so lost. She'd never in a million years think Brett would turn into the monster he'd become.

Never once had he raised a hand to her until she was pregnant with their fourth child.

She remembered it so vividly. It was when he'd started drinking every night and nothing she did was right.

"So, it's back to reality!" Bridget laughed, "Good ole Salem! So, meet up Wednesday for dinner?"

The others agreed as Millie dropped everyone off one by one, leaving Delilah for last so they could pick up the children.

"I missed them," she said, "But I had a great time. Thank you for taking me."

Olivia, Beatrice, Isaiah, and Ezra waved to their mom as they rushed out to Millie's car.

"He doesn't deserve those kids," Millie scowled as Delilah got out to hug her children, "That twat waffle douche needs a good ass whooping."

Delilah held up a finger to her lips so the kids wouldn't hear her discus Brett. They weren't strangers to his anger, but they hadn't seen him in a while so their hearts were happy.

Waving to her parents, Delilah thanked them and said she'd call.

The children talked non stop about their game nights with Pa and Nana. Millie made the weekend in Boston sound like a boring old lady outing and the children didn't probe.

"You sure you're alright?" Millie asked as she dropped the crew off at Delilah's cottage, "See you tomorrow, though?"

"Bright and early!"

Delilah grabbed her bags and headed in with the kids, popping in a frozen pizza and wings for her brood.

They settled in to finish us homework and baths, a little conversation and then bedtime.

Delilah always made sure to lock even her windows when they were home alone.

Danger always seemed to find her.

The next morning found them too soon and the kids were shuttled off to school while Delilah made her way into the bridal shop.

"You're early!" Delilah said, eyeing Millie, "Rough night?"

Delilah gasped as the door opened and Laura and Bridget walked in.

"What's going on? Shouldn't the two of you be at work?"

Laura shrugged,"I own the accounting office, love, I do what I want. "

"And your patients? I'd think they'd want to keep their therapy appointments."

"No clients until two," she said,"One PT session with a hot former Army medic. I need to get laid."

"Lord... " Delilah rolled her eyes, "Just stopped in to say hi? That's sweet of you."

Mille stepped forward and placed her hands on Delilah's shoulders. She squeezed, gently, knowing her friend hated surprises and teasing.

"We have a surprise for you," she said, "Call it an early birthday present from us to you."

"But my birthday isn't for months! Four months, to be exact!"

Laura giggled, "Well, you can't miss this appointment. It's special, very important."

"What appointment? I don't remember having anything planned. Did I forget something important?"

Bridget smiled,"Something that a certain someone was eager to have with you, even on his off days. It's more like a consultation, really. "

Delilah frowned, her heart racing. She didn't like surprises.

"What appointment and with whom?"

Millie narrowed her eyes and grinned, mischievously.

"You've got an appointment this Friday with the Flash."