Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(177)

really gets off on it. So I fill a need.”


“So you like beatin’ on women,” Dalton said.


Snapping at his clueless cousin would serve no purpose. “Only if they ask me real

nice.”


“That ain’t funny.”


Gavin laughed. “Yes, it is. I’m getting quite the education. I’m impressed, Ben.

Shocked, but relieved.”


“Not me. I sort of suspected,” Chase said, “when I noticed instruments of the trade

Ben accidentally left on his bar last summer. And the missus says sometimes when she

looks into Ben’s eyes, she has the urge to do whatever he tells her.”


Ben’s eyebrows went up. “Ava said that? Really?”


“Yep. Now I’m wonderin’ if you can teach me that trick.” Chase smiled slyly.

“Because, bro, the ‘be a man’ advice really worked.”


“He gave you the ‘be a man’ advice? Hell, when me’n Libby were havin’ problems he

told me I needed to romance her. Be a different man than I’d been.”


“And it worked, didn’t it?” Chase said.


“Best thing I ever did.”


“Maybe when I’m not so pissed that I took my marriage vows seriously and my ex-wife

did not, and I’m ready to dip a toe into the dating pool, I’ll come to you for

advice, Ben.”


That acceptance, coupled with the fact Gavin had flown up here out of concern, was sort

of an olive branch. “Sure. Will I be giving the advice over the phone? Or in person

over at the B&B?”


“Only time will answer that question.”


“So what now?” Dalton asked Quinn, Chase and Gavin. “I’m the village idiot because

I didn’t know this was…what did you call it? A lifestyle? A real lifestyle out of the

movies and shit. You guys are on board with Ben’s whole tie ’em up, whip ’em and

f*ck ’em attitude toward women?”


Ben ran his hands through his hair. “What do you want from me, Dalton? I don’t talk

about this part of my life. I don’t need your acceptance or your approval. I just need

your promise this won’t go any farther than you. I don’t want members of the McKay

family lookin’ at me like I’m an abuser. Or wondering if the woman I’m with has no

self-esteem because she is submissive to me in the bedroom.”


“Fine. I ain’t gonna tell anyone, because Christ, who’d believe me?” Dalton stood,

confusion warring on his face, looking like a twelve-year-old boy who’d just watched

his first porn flick.


“What?” Ben asked wearily.


“Are you pissed that I told them?”


I’m more pissed about the shitty things you said to me regarding the land deal.

“I’ll get over it. Eventually.”


“Well, that’s…good, I guess. I’ll see you around.” Dalton practically ran out.


Ben sort of felt sorry for him. Sort of.


Quinn stepped behind the bar. Ben sat on the barstool between Gavin and Chase. Which

was strange because Ben usually kept the bar as a buffer between himself and those he

served.


Maybe that’s an indication of how you view the world.