Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(178)

“Drinks all around, boys,” Quinn said lining up four shot glasses and filling them

with Scotch. He raised his glass. Paused. “What the hell are we drinking to?”


“To Dalton bein’ a dumbass,” Chase drawled.


They laughed and clinked their glasses together.


Gavin motioned for Quinn to set ’em up again. “As much as you won’t apologize for

the lifestyle you lead behind closed doors, I won’t apologize for buying Rielle’s

place. So if you want to berate me, go ahead. But I don’t want it to be a point of

contention between us forever, Ben.”


“I’ve no interest in beatin’ that horse anymore. It’s dead. And buried.”


“Fair enough.”


“I can’t believe you all showed up.” Ben looked at Chase and Gavin. “Do Mom and Dad

know you’re here?”


“Nah. We didn’t wanna worry them. Now that we know you ain’t some psycho killer, we

’ll probably just take off without telling them. It’ll stay between us.”


Ben fiddled with his full shot glass. “Ah, thanks.”


“I’ll admit it’s a slippery concept to grasp, pain as foreplay. But as long as I don

’t gotta watch you in action? It ain’t none of my business,” Chase said.


“In all seriousness. The reason I laughed so f*cking hard when Dalton said you were

outta control? Because I know you, Ben. I work with you every goddamn day. You have

more control, more cool-headedness and more compassion, in any situation, than anyone I

know.”


Ben had no idea what to say to that.


They bullshitted about nothing. But it didn’t seem forced. Or like they were all

trying to avoid the elephant in the room.


Quinn and Chase took off, cracking jokes about examining Ben’s collection of chains,

whips and sex toys. Ben would’ve been worried if they hadn’t given him a rash of shit

about being a pervert.


But Gavin wasn’t in a hurry to leave.


“So was Sierra covered in body piercings when you picked her up a few weeks back?”


“No. Luckily for her mother. She’s a piece of work. It’s no wonder I steer clear of

anything resembling a date.”


“Your ex-wife has ruined you for all other women?”


“Christ, she’d have a field day thinking she still had that much power over me.”

Gavin sighed. “I just don’t have the…hell if I know. Desire? Patience? Time? Balls?

My excuses change every week. It isn’t so much Ellen’s fault anymore as it is I find

reasons not to meet women, let alone get mixed up with one.” He sipped the Scotch.

“What about you? Still involved with that new banker?”


Ben shot him a sideways glance. “Bein’ involved with Ainsley wasn’t common

knowledge, so where’d you hear it?”


“Rielle said her car was here a lot.”


“Yeah, well, it’s over.”


“Why? Because you came clean to her about your club life as a dominant?”


How did he phrase this and keep Ainsley’s experimentation as a sub a secret?



Gavin whistled. “She’s into the life too, isn’t she? I’m guessing she’s your sub?