Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(182)

”


So Ainsley hadn’t lost her job? A weird, wonderful kind of hope began to overtake his

feeling of defeat. If Ainsley was living in Sundance, he had a chance with her. Until

he remembered why he didn’t have a chance with her.


His mother clucked her tongue. “The poor girl sounded so lonely.”


That tore at him. “How the hell can she be lonely?” Ben demanded. “When up until

last week, she was with me most nights for the past four weeks?”


“Why are you asking me? Maybe you should trot yourself to town and ask her. Because

God knows, I would never hear the end of it if I poked my nose into your personal

business.”



Unreal.


His mother threw a gaudy sequined scarf over her shoulder like a Hollywood diva. She

placed her hands on Ben’s cheeks and stood on tiptoe to peck him on the mouth. “I

love you. So here’s some advice, and please don’t take this the wrong way. You are a

strong, independent man. A good man. A man who deserves happiness. But don’t be a

stubborn man. It doesn’t make you weak to want to rely on someone or to want someone

in your life who understands you fully. Who accepts you completely. Who gives you

something you can’t get from anyone else. Everything in life is about compromise. If

it’s worth it, you’ll change to get it. Changing things about your life that don’t

fit who you are anymore doesn’t mean you have to change who you are inside.”


He stared at her with his mouth hanging open.


“It’s scary how well I know you, isn’t it, son? We’re a lot alike.” She laughed.

“And that absolutely horrifies you, doesn’t it?”


The door slammed behind her and she yelled at his dogs before she sped off.


Smart woman, his mother. Between her advice, and Gavin’s, he’d finally found the

answer he’d been looking for.


Without changing clothes, without giving himself a chance to change his mind, he jumped

in his truck and headed for Gillette.


Chapter Thirty-Two


Late Tuesday morning Layla showed up at the bank, practically spitting fire.


As soon as Ainsley shut her office door, Layla was in her face. “What did you do to

Bennett?”


“Me? Nothing.” Panic surfaced. “Why? What happened to him? Is he all right?”


“No, he’s not all right. He resigned from the Rawhide Club.”


Her stomach lurched. “He did? When?”


“Last night.” Layla poked her in the chest. “We’re friends, A, but if you did

something to hurt him, I swear I’ll—”


“Hold up. Why do you assume it was something I did?”


“Because he told me it was.”


“Sit and start from the beginning.”


Layla flopped into the chair. “I just happened to be at the club last night.”


“The club was open last night?”


“No. The guys have a meeting every couple months to deal with schedules, new members,

any problems. Ben showed up, which he almost never does. But he looked awful. He had

bags under his eyes. I think he came in wearing cow-poop-covered clothes. That isn’t

the Bennett I know. He gave no input during the meeting. As soon as it ended, he stood