Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(54)

and have a seat,” and slid into an oversized chair.


“I’ll stand, thanks.”


“I’d think you were a gentleman, saving the chair for your wife or girlfriend, if I

didn’t just see you order her to sit alone in the truck.”


Any veneer of calmness fled. Ben cut across the room and placed his hands on her desk,

looming over her. “First off, I wouldn’t have been in the Rawhide Club screwing

around with other women if I was married or seeing someone.” Breathe, man. His gaze

dropped to the nameplate. Whoa. Her name wasn’t Angel? “Maybe I oughta be questioning

you and your motives, since you, oh, lied about your damn name and wore that ridiculous

wig.”


“Given my occupation, I’m sure you understand why I disguised myself. Plus, I had no

idea what to expect from an establishment like the Rawhide Club since it was my first

foray into such a place. Better to be safe than sorry.”


“Fine. I guess I can buy that.”


She fiddled with a pen. “Can you please sit down?”


“Am I makin’ you nervous?”


“We already established last weekend that you make me very nervous, Bennett.”


“Call me Ben,” he corrected, perching on the edge of the floral-covered wingback

chair. “I only use Bennett at the club. Or my mom uses my full name when she’s pissed

off at me about something. Which you can imagine is all the damn time.”


Ainsley smiled.


“I like it so much better when you’re smiling at me, angel. The name fits you,

although that’s not your name.” His gaze tracked over the engraved nameplate. “So,

Ainsley Hamilton, you’re a bank president.”


“So it would appear. You surprised?”


“No. I knew you were sharp, and I figured you had a job where you were used to bein’

in charge. You haven’t been in Sundance long.”


“How do you know?”


“I’ve lived in this area my whole life. People talk when a hot single lady moves into

town. I’ve haven’t been in town in recent weeks… Shame on me for not introducing

myself earlier.”


“You’re part of the infamous McKay family.”


“Infamous is an exaggeration.”


“Not from what I’ve heard. Anyway, I haven’t been out and about Sundance. There’s a

lot to micromanage when opening a new branch. I spent the first weekend unpacking and

last weekend—” Her blush seemed to annoy her. She squared her shoulders. “I don’t

need to give you a play-by-play of last weekend’s events.”


“No, you surely don’t, because I’ve been reliving them in my head every damn hour

for the last day.”


“Really?”


“Yeah. Were you gonna show up Friday night? Or stand me up?”


“I hadn’t decided. It was all so…surreal.” She rolled the pen between her palms. “

But having you here in my office is surreal too.”


But damn fortunate in his opinion. “You can’t deny something clicked between us last

weekend. How about if we talk about it tonight over dinner?”