Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(140)

inside of her lips, she pulled him closer. Threading her fingers through his hair,

holding him in place as she took a hungry kiss. All at once she remembered her place

and abruptly released him.



“Sorry. I just needed…you to anchor me.”


“I’m glad you asked me for what you needed, instead of making me guess.” Wasn’t it

ironic she opened up to him on their last night together? He brushed his hand over her

silky hair, from her scalp to where it curled against her shoulder. “We’ve come a

long way in a few weeks, haven’t we?”


“Mmm-hmm.” Ainsley pressed the side of her face against his chest. “I’ll miss this.

”


It hit him then, the finality. It wasn’t just the Dom/sub relationship he’d miss; he

’d miss her. Everything about being with her.


They stayed wrapped together for so long the room grew cold and Ben knew the fire had

dwindled to cinders. He smooched her forehead and slipped away, covering her with a

fleece blanket.


Ben restocked the wood stove. He crouched and warmed his hands, his thoughts racing a

million miles an hour. His gaze moved to the loan paperwork waiting on the counter. It

wasn’t too late. He could toss the envelope into the fire. They could continue

exploring this thing between them.


Then what happens? You spend time together and you fall for her even more than you

already have? You’ve no guarantee she won’t end it anyway, because you know she’s

not convinced this is sustainable. She hasn’t acted like she’s bothered you’re

ending it, besides the snippy comments she made at Rielle’s. So either way, you’ve

still lost her and you’ve also lost the land.


“Ben?”


He turned around. “Someone took a little cat nap.”


“Sorry.” She yawned. “Did you eat?”


“No.” He seemed to have lost his appetite. “Are you hungry?”


“Not any more. But I’ll leave it for you.”


“You’re taking off?”


She nodded and wrapped the blanket around her nakedness and headed for her clothes,

which he’d picked up and placed on the chair. As she finished dressing, her gaze

landed on the envelope on the counter. “Did you finish the paperwork?”


“Yep.”


“Will you be around tomorrow if I have specific questions?”


“Should be.”


She grabbed her purse and hastily threw on her coat.


Go to her. Tell her how you feel.


But he couldn’t.


“Goodbye, Ben. I’ll let you know when I hear about the loan.”


“I’d appreciate it. Drive safe.”


Then she was gone.


And for the first time in his life, his dogs didn’t provide the companionship he

needed.


Chapter Twenty-Three


She’d probably get cauliflower ear from the hours she spent on the phone. Ainsley

rubbed the sore appendage and switched ears. She didn’t get a chance to leave her

office until lunch, and when she returned she noticed the blinds in Leslie’s office

were closed, which was unusual. She knocked and heard a scratchy, “Come in.”