LOGINBen gave them credit for quick thinking. “We’ve always wanted that creek front section. But they’ve always refused to sell.”“It don’t look like Rielle’s got an option now. The sale of that acreage will give her enough money to keep her bed and breakfast open if she wants.”“Who else have you talked to about this?”“No one,” Dalton said. “Not even Brandt.”“Why not?”“Because as much as we appreciate that Brandt’s a hard worker, he’s a damn do-gooder. He’ll see even talkin’ to Rielle as takin’ advantage of her. We don’t see it that way. We figured you wouldn’t either. So, we’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention this to Quinn.”It clicked. “Quinn would feel the same as Brandt.”Tell nodded. “You’re practical, Ben. And to some extent, unsentimental, like us. It’s just business.”“Good business,” Dalton inserted. “It has to be just the three of us, if we can swing it.”“Because you don’t want Uncle Carson or Uncle Cal to get wind of this either.”“And buy it right out from under us? Fuc
“He drinks until he passes out. We stop by to check on him.”“To make sure he ain’t dead,” Dalton said.The muscle in Tell’s jaw flexed. “Mom would have a conniption fit if she saw the state of the house. It’s nasty. Dad’s been livin’ like a drunken hermit since their divorce was finalized.”Dalton scowled. “Even after all the shit Dad did to Jessie over the years, she still tried to help him. Cleaned the place top to bottom. Washed his clothes. Cooked for him. He’s such an ungrateful bastard that Brandt won’t let Jess go over there anymore.”“Too bad you can’t just move your dad’s stuff to Brandt’s trailer and then he and Jessie could have the house. It’s at least fifteen minutes closer to her job.”Tell and Dalton exchanged a pained look. “We think that’s what they’re waitin’ for.”“Waiting for Uncle Casper to die?” Ben said sharply.“He’s killin’ himself, Ben. He won’t listen to any of us. Believe it or not, Mom had some influence over him, but that’s gone. They haven’t spoken sinc
“Yes, you’re definitely a master at what you do.”A harsh look darkened Bennett’s face. “I don’t have a playbook. I’m not thinking, if I stroke her pu**y fourteen more times she’ll cream on my hand.”Ainsley knew he’d intentionally used crude language to drive home his point. “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant. I meant you should have that designated Master title because…well, you are a master at this stuff. It’s a compliment.”When she looked at him, Bennett was gone. Seemed strange to think of him as two separate personalities, but he really did have a switch that turned Ben, the easygoing rancher, into Bennett, the intense Dom.“I ain’t gonna lie. I want more of that with you. I’ve been kicking this idea around all day.”“What idea?”“I want you as my submissive.”He wasn’t joking. She narrowed her eyes. “I’ll never be a lifestyle submissive like Layla.”“And I’d never demand that of you.”“What would you demand?”“Time alone with you. Conditioning you to learn to let go. Showing
After they’d taken a couple of bites, Ben spoke. “Given the way we met, seems strange to swap life stories, but I reckon we oughta get the basics out of the way. So go ahead. Ask me anything.”That was a loaded question. “You’re part of the McKay family ranching dynasty.”“Dynasty.” Ben snorted. “I’m just a simple rancher.”“So your main job is…”“Cattle. Feeding them, breeding them, moving them, selling them. I work with my older brother Quinn on our section of the ranch. But we all help each other out if need be. Certain times of the year are busier than others. It ain’t a nine to five job, like bankers’ hours.”She bristled until she realized he was teasing. “Funny, cattleman. Have you ever been married?”“Nope.” He shot her a sideways glance. “You?”“I was married for almost five years. Been divorced almost two years.”“Kids?”“None.”“So what happened to bust up your marriage?”Ben’s forthright manner was refreshing. “The things that made us compatible in the beginning of our rel
“No, we were just finishing up. But as long as you asked, what can you tell me about him?”“Besides he’s as hot as fire? Mama, those blue eyes of his just like…look right into you, know what I mean?”Yes, she’d been on the receiving end of those soul-pondering looks.“He’s pretty quiet compared to the rest of his family. But like the rest of them, he’s involved in the McKay ranching operation. He’s not much into the bar scene around here. He probably gets sick of women hanging all over him, but he’s too polite and gentlemanly to say anything, know what I mean?”No, that didn’t ring true. Ainsley clearly remembered Bennett telling her exactly what he wanted her to do.“He doesn’t really date, definitely not like his cousins do. Because of that, some nasty people around here whisper he’s g*y, but I don’t believe that for a second.”That man was far, far from g*y.Evidently Jenny realized that Ainsley hadn’t responded to anything she’d said. Her baby blues widened. “You aren’t involved w
“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,
She didn’t think she’d ever failed Ken or embarrassed him, but now that paranoid side of her wondered just that. If he was somehow ashamed of her, that she was too outgoing, too bubbly for the staid, moneyed clients he catered to. His not wanting her to be a part of him courting and wining and dinin
Her mind shook with a mix of shock and disbelief. Dismay wasn’t far behind.And she was still naked. She, who never slept bare, still lay in the bed of the man who instigated her downfall into the most forbidden sin and found a way to make her pant for it. And now, she laid in his bed like she was wa
James walked up to stand beside Karla, adding his silent support as he stared Ken down. There was open disgust in James’s expression. Ken wouldn’t even meet James’s gaze. Guilt was plastered all over Ken’s face and then resignation swamped his eyes and he stepped aside so Karla could enter the front
Fierce satisfaction lit his features and he curled his hand behind her neck, pulling her down to him as their lips met in a heated rush. She went down on top of him, her hands splayed over his muscled chest, fingertips pressing deep into his flesh.He kissed her hungrily, his mouth feeding ravenously







