Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(192)

Ben’s mouth went dry as the words he’d never said to a woman poured from his mouth,

from his heart. “I love you.”


“Oh. God. Ben.”


“I feel whole with you. Before I kept the two halves of myself separated. But when I’

m with you, I’m a whole man. I’m the man I want to be. I’m the man I was meant to

be. You are everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman but thought I’d never find. And

here you are.”


She laughed, sniffing against the tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. “I love

you. The whole you. The Dom side. The rancher side. The intuitive side. The sweet side.

The raunchy side.”


Ben kissed her with a lingering smooch as he tried to slow the thundering of his heart.

“I like who I am when I’m with you, angel.”


“Ben.”


“I want to be with you. All of you. I want to pick you up at the bank, take you out

for lunch and let everyone know we’re together. I want to support your community

events. I want you to come to my family deals as my woman, not my friend. I want to

take you dancing, and horseback riding, and then I want to tie you up, turn your ass

pink before I f*ck you hard.” He traced her jawline. “I want to be with you every

damn day. I want this angelic face to be the first thing I see in the morning and the

last thing I see at night. If I had my way, I’d move all your stuff over here tonight.

”


“But?”


“But I understand that you probably wanna take it slow. You’re still trying to find

your place in a new town. In a new job. In a new type of relationship. I’m just as

shocked as you are that so much has happened between us and it’s only been a little

over a month.”


“Seems longer, doesn’t it?”


“Mmm-hmm.” Ben peered into her eyes. “I’m here whenever you’re ready to take that

next step. I’m a patient man.”


“Except for when you’re not.”


He smirked. “Well, there is that.”


Ainsley pecked him on the lips. “I want to be with you too, Ben. And I know in my

heart we will be together, sooner rather than later. But we have a few serious, major

things to discuss before that day comes.”


Ben didn’t like how she’d dropped her gaze. Instead of commanding her to look at him,

he tipped her chin up and saw uneasiness swimming in her eyes. “Give me an example of

a major thing.”


“Like…you’re a dog person and I’m a cat person.”


“Well, that is a deal breaker. Who ever heard of cats and dogs living together in

harmony?” Ben chuckled and smooched her nose. “Try again.”


“I don’t know anything about ranching.”


“I don’t know anything about banking, so that one’s a wash too.”


“I’m older than you.”


“So?”


“So?” she repeated. “I’m the older, clichéd divorced woman.”


“It’s not like you’re the same age as my mother, for Christsake. You’ve got five

years on me.” His eyes gleamed. “Since I’m a dog person, let’s say that adds seven