Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(142)

She’d miss the way he called her angel. The way he’d growl it against her skin. She’

d miss the way he pushed her to accept what she was. The way he wouldn’t let her hide

from herself or from him. The way he gave her what she’d needed for so long but hadn’

t the guts to admit it she’d wanted.


This was temporary. And he’d rather have the money than you.


How long had he known he’d needed a loan? And what would he have done if she’d

refused to help him? Would it have strained their Dom/sub relationship? Or ended it

completely?


No way to know now, but she couldn’t help but feel a little used and a lot

disappointed.


Through all her questions and doubt about what could’ve been, she still felt his pull.

She wondered how long she could stay away from him.


Not long, as it turned out. But she’d convinced herself it was a matter of necessity,

not personal choice.


She paced, clutching the phone. “Ben? Are you really busy right now?”


“Why? What do you need?”


Then she felt ridiculous and almost gave him a breezy, Oh no reason, just calling to

see how you are, rather than coming across as incapable.


“Ainsley? What’s wrong?”


“I don’t want you to think I’m inept or that I only called because I needed

something, although both those statements are true—”


“Take a deep breath, angel, and tell me what’s goin’ on.”


“My bathroom sink is leaking and I can’t figure out what’s wrong and I can’t get

ahold of the landlord.”


“I’m on my way.”


“Really? Just like that?”


“Just like that. Be there in fifteen.”


She gathered the wet towels and tossed them in the tub. After piling clean towels on

the toilet, she sat on the floor, listening to the drip drip drip of water into the

plastic pail beneath the sink.


When her cats tore down the hallway she knew Ben had arrived, even before he called

out, “Ainsley?”


“In here,” she yelled back. Her heart flipped over when he entered the bathroom. The

man looked even sexier carrying a toolbox than he did carrying his toy bag.


Ben flashed her a brief smile and, “Hey,” before crouching down with his toolbox.

“When did you notice the leak?”


“After work. I was in that cabinet this morning and it wasn’t leaking then.”


He turned on a flashlight and the beam arced inside the cabinet. He stuck his head

under the sink. “Looks like the nut to the cold water valve is loose. Here. Hold this.

” He handed her the flashlight and he rummaged in his toolbox. When he found the tool

he needed, he scooted under the sink. “Can you point the light where I’ve got the

pipe wrench?”


“Sure.” In such tight quarters, she pressed her body to the outside of the cabinet

and held the light steady.


A couple of hard clanks, a loud screech and then water spewed forth.


Ben jerked back, hit his head under the sink and yelled, “Fuck.”


“You okay?”


“Hold that flashlight steady.”