Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(179)

”


“She was my sub.”


“For how long?”


Not nearly long enough. “A month.”


“She ended it?”


“Yeah.”


“So what if she wouldn’t have?”


“I’d still be with her. The ironic thing about Dalton seeing me at the club? I hadn’

t been there for the month I’d been with Ainsley. As I walked around? I felt nothing.

I just f*cking missed her. Missed who I was with her.” And it all poured out. “Since

the night I met her I felt our relationship would be different. Club subs want good

times and the anything-goes sex. Bringing them out of that world and into mine wouldn’

t work. But Ainsley…works. She’s smart and sexy. She challenges me. She gets me. She

goes from bein’ the bank prez, to hanging out with me, to bein’ my sub, all in one

night. Almost seamlessly. She’s amazing.”


“So what did you do to f*ck it up?”


“She’s the bank president. No one can know she associates with lowlife sexual

degenerates like me who belong to the Rawhide Club,” he said with a slightly bitter

edge.


Gavin shook his head and chuckled.


“What?”


“You. All ‘I’m the dominant, I’m in charge’, and yet, here you are, moping around

in your house with your dogs. You’re not that guy, Ben. I’m that guy and trust me, it

’s beyond f*cking pathetic. So I’m going to mimic the ‘be a man’ advice you gave

our brothers. If you want this woman for the long haul, make it happen. Screw the club.

You haven’t needed it the last month, you don’t need it now. Play with her here. Or

at her place. Set your own rules. Or change the rules.”


Ben was as flustered by the admonishment as he was by Gavin’s admission of brotherly

ties. “It’s not that easy.”


Or was it?


Chapter Thirty-One


Ben had come inside from cleaning out the cattle truck when she burst through his front

door. The dogs went berserk. Barking and jumping until she threw two rawhide chews out

the door and slammed it shut behind them.


Christ. His mother was mad as a wet hen. She angrily pulled off her purple gloves

finger by finger. Only after she’d shed the outer layer did she seem calm enough to

speak. “Hello, son.”


“Mom. It’d be nice if you didn’t banish my dogs from their home every time you come

over.”


“Those mutts belong outside. I’ll take a cup of coffee if it’s fresh.”


He poured a cup, refilled his mug and faced her.


“You look like hell, Bennett.”


“Gee, thanks. What brings you by?”


“This and that.”


She curled her hands around the coffee mug and wandered to the kitchen window,

appearing to gather her thoughts.


Not good.


Finally she looked at him. “I heard something a little disturbing today.”


His gut roiled. Goddamn Dalton. Hadn’t he stressed the importance of keeping his big

mouth shut? Was it a coincidence that one day after Dalton’s accusations, Ben’s