Cowboy Casanova (Rough Riders #12)(79)

Ben tried to remember what the hell he had done today. “How about while I’m thinking

on that you tell me something out of the ordinary you did today.”


Silence. Then she sighed. “I can’t think of a single thing.”


“So banking is as boring as ranching?” he teased.


“At least it was today. Tomorrow I’m hoping for—”


“A bank heist?”


“Bite your tongue, Ben McKay.”


He laughed. “Well, tomorrow afternoon I’ll be doin’ something out of the ordinary. I

’m taking my folks to the Rapid City airport.”


“Where are they going?”


“Phoenix.”


“On vacation?”


“Of sorts. They’re mostly goin’ to see my brother Gavin.”


Ainsley tilted her head to look at him. “I remember you talking about your older

brother, Quinn, and your younger brother Chase, but not about Gavin.”


“That’s because Gavin is…let’s just say Gavin recently came into our family.” Ben

laid out the situation. “Long story short, we’re still tryin’ to figure it out. On

the spur of the moment Gavin invited Mom and Dad to Arizona. So I won’t be around

tomorrow night.”


“Oh.”


Did it make him a bastard for being happy to hear disappointment in her voice? “Which

is why you’re spending the weekend here starting Friday night.”


She blinked at him. “I am? I don’t remember agreeing to that.”


“Because that wasn’t a request.” Well, it was, but he didn’t want to risk she’d

say no.


“Okay. Should I bring anything?”


“Your collection of vibrators.”


Her cheeks pinked. “How did you—”


“You told me at the club, remember?”


“No. That’s not something I usually share.”


Ben kissed her nose. “We’re sharing a lot, though, aren’t we?”


“Some of us more than others,” she snipped.


That stopped him. “You think I’m holding back?”


“I know you’re holding back, cowboy.”


“About what?”


“About how you became Master Bennett.”


He frowned. “Master. I hate that f*ckin’ term.”


“I know.” Her smirk faded beneath his scrutiny. “You’ve grilled me about why I

believed I was a Domme. You’re determined to prove I’m submissive, but you’ve never

explained how you became interested in this lifestyle.”


“I don’t suppose you’d buy the explanation of pure dumb luck?”


“Not entirely.”


He settled back in the cushions. Had he ever explained this to anyone? “About eight

years ago, me, Cody, Trace and Trent were drinking at the Rawhide Bar after closing

time. Bullshitting about jobs and women. Complaining about not getting laid enough.

Them guys were coming up with sure-fire strategies to get laid and what kind of women

they were goin’ after. When the conversation rolled to me and what I wanted from a