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Finn, the firefighter who lived nearby, had stopped in yesterday to let me know the municipality was eyeing a campfire ban next week.

We’d been particularly dry in the late spring, with almost no precipitation for the last month. Everyone hated the bans—but they hated wildfires way more. Tonight was to be our one and only campfire.

I unlocked my cabin door and slid inside, quickly relocking it. I hadn’t been in here all day, and hadn’t been running the air conditioning, so a warmth lingered. After putting my laptop bag on the dining room table, I set about opening all the windows. The screens would keep out the bugs, but hopefully some of the cooler night air could waft in. I eyed the ceiling fan and decided not to turn it on.

The gross, sticky sweat that had soaked me upon finding thegiftssomeone had left for me was now turning my skin cold and clammy. I secured the laptop in the wall safe, then headed into the bathroom.

Clear planning had gone into the design of this cabin. A four-piece bathroom was positively decadent, and I headed to the shower. The compact bedroom offered privacy, while the much-larger main room allowed for entertaining of up to six.

What had Alessandra been thinking? I had no idea when I’d ever be entertaining six people. Perhaps the next director would be more social.

I stripped and turned on the faucet. The hot-water-on-demand feature was appreciated, and soon I was under hot spray.

My mind whirled.

The image of the toy and treats were imprinted on my mind.

Who would know? Why would they threaten me with exposure? Why not just out me and get it over with? I’ll be let go from the camp forcertain—

That thought circled. Alessandra and Smith were kinky. Perhaps they would be more understanding of someone else whose…predilections…were more closely aligned with theirs.

Not all kinky people respect age- and puppy-play. Oh, and kitty-play.We’d had two cats who enjoyed coming to pup night. They tended to stick to their corner but could, with the correct inducement, be pulled into play. Usually a large ball or yarn or a laser pointer were required.Those were good times. Really good times.

Then Gary had discovered what I was doing in my spare time while he was off wining and dining clients on his expense account. That part of the job never appealed to me. I chose to stick to financial analysis and leave the selling to guys like Gary.

I’d never ascertained how he’d uncovered my secret. But one night I came home from the club to discover he’d gone through my private things.Stupid to believe he’d ever respect artificial boundaries.Except they hadn’t felt artificial to me—he had his space, and I had mine. I kept a suitcase at the back of my closet with my pup stuff. I’d come home to find it strewn across our bed.

Almost a sacrilege.

I shampooed my hair, using my nails in my scalp.

Any hope of containing the damage had been in vain.

He’d already called my parents, all the coworkers he could, as well as the managing partners of the accounting firm we worked for. I’d been gone just three hours, and in that time, he’d managed to destroy my life.

I’d packed a bag and gone to a hotel.

The next morning, when I’d shown up for work, my laptop had been confiscated, along with my security pass, and I’d been shown the door. One senior partner, Hazel, hadn’t looked pleased. The threemale partners, along with Gary, had been smug—clearly basking in their superiority.

Yeah, but what secrets did they hold?

Why hadn’t I found the courage to fight back?

Gary wasn’t in the closet…but he also hadn’t been out. How he’d explained finding my puppy paraphernalia while carrying on the illusion we werejust roommateswas beyond me. Or maybe he hadn’t. Who knew?

I’d gone back to the apartment, packed all my things, and headed home.

Only to find my father barring my entrance and demanding I return the key. After being away for six years, I had few things remaining in their house—certainly nothing to fight over. So I got in my car and drove east.

Stop dwelling.

I rinsed my hair and then stuck my face under the spray. The warm water hit my skin, and I reveled in the heat.

Aside from rest breaks, I’d driven straight through to Toronto. More than halfway across the country.

Even that hadn’t been far enough.

I quickly discovered I wouldn’t be getting a reference from my old employer. No one was willing to risk a lawsuit at the old firm, but they made it clear my work hadn’t been to their standards.