“Did not, but I’ll give it to you anyway.” With a wink, he lowered his hat and turned toward his spread. Waving, he called back, “See you at the clinic tomorrow, kid.”
Muttering, “I’ll show you next weekend I’m not a kid,” she returned to the house to attend the chores waiting for her there.
Connor stopped by Caden’s, whose house sat on the same acreage as their barns, on his way in for therapy Monday morning. The two of them had taken over the thirty-thousand-acre Dunbar spread when their parents retired and moved into a condo in Billings but kept separate homes as they each valued their privacy. They kept their dad in the loop concerning the business side of ranching, but Connor and Caden had cut their eyeteeth on running a ranch and he trusted them to know what they were doing.
His lifted spirits after riding with Tam yesterday still remained, and he was looking forward to seeing her again, even to the annoying workout she would put him through. God, he’d missed hanging out with her, seeing her, talking to her, hearing that infectious laugh of sheer pleasure. Every time he’d caught a glimpse of her or heard through the grapevine she had returned for a visit and he’d visited with Richard to ease his mind by ensuring she was doing well he would leave missing her all over again. He never should have let her avoid talking to him for so long.
The only thing keeping their relationship from getting back to normal was the uncertainty of whether she would insist on returning to the club. As long as that was a possibility their bond would remain fragile. But he refused to mar what looked like a beautiful day emerging with a cloudless blue sky and warmer weather by fretting over whether she would prove as stubborn about that disagreement as with others they’d had.
“Where are you headed?” Caden greeted him as he came out of the house and walked down the drive to lean his arms on the open passenger window of Connor’s truck.
“Therapy.” Rotating his shoulder, he felt a twinge, but it had improved since he’d been doing the stretches Tam had given him. “It’s getting better, slowly.”
“Good. If you’re up to it, we could use an extra hand branding. We’ve got calves running around unmarked.”
“I know, and that’s not good. With the meat packers and auction houses on alert for stolen brands, we need to get them tagged. I can handle it. I’ll be back shortly.”
Caden gave him a knowing look. “You weren’t happy with your therapist the other night.”
Blowing out a breath, he tightened his hands on the steering wheel as he recalled seeing Tam restrained over the spanking bench and his uncontrollable reaction to her. “No, as you well know. I still say she had no business being there. She’s too young, too naïve and innocent for our lifestyle.”
“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, Con,” Caden returned with a derisive curl of his lips. “In the meantime, she’s joined and paid a month’s fees.”
“What? She’s planning on returning?” He jerked as if struck. “Stubborn minx,” he growled, wondering how much of her decision had to do with genuine interest as opposed to a way to get back at him.
Caden chuckled. “You should see your face.”
“I don’t have to. Shit.” He sighed with frustration. “What am I going to do with her?”
Shaking his head, his brother backed away from the truck. “Oh, no. I’m not helping you with this one. You’re on your own unless you screw it up again. Later.”
“You wouldn’t be getting hitched if it wasn’t for me!” Connor called out as Caden strolled toward the barns.
Lifting his hand in acknowledgement, he admitted without turning, “There is that. Good luck.”
Putting the truck in gear, Connor pulled away, still baffled by how happy and content Caden acted over the end of his bachelorhood. He’d never dreamed pushing him toward Sydney would lead to a commitment but had to admit they were well suited. Shifting gears, he turned his mind to another relationship and the dilemma over what to do about it.
By the time he pulled into the clinic’s parking lot, Connor had decided he needed to take one more shot at gently steering Tam away from the club. If reasoning didn’t work, maybe a hint of what she thought she wanted would be enough to deter her from pushing forward. She hadn’t taken it past bondage the other night and he didn’t doubt she would have backed off if things had gone further and someone had given her a taste of the discipline side of BDSM. He didn’t want her hurt, or even disillusioned, just safely away from his proclivities and their comfortable relationship back on track.
Given the setting, he’d have to keep it quick and simple, but he was good at improvising and even better at getting his point across with a small demonstration that needed few words if she wouldn’t listen to reason. Either way, he couldn’t risk seeing her at The Barn again. His resolve to keep their relationship platonic, thus preserving their bond, wouldn’t hold out.
Chapter 6
Tamara looked up as the door to the PT room opened, this time prepared for seeing Connor again, unlike yesterday when he’d ridden up unexpectedly and joined her on a run just like old times. Her response was the same, a quick rush of pleasure and a jump in her pulse. But being prepared meant she could handle it without letting him know how easily he got to her with his presence and from one look.
With her decision to return to the club made and sealed with payment of a month’s fees, she needed to work on keeping her feelings in check around him. It would be a waste of time and money if she couldn’t concentrate on exploring and enjoying her newfound interest in what she’d seen going on there because he was nearby.
“Good morning.” She greeted him with a smile, rising from behind her desk. Connor removed his hat, placing it on a hook before turning that enigmatic gaze on her. His smile warmed her blood but the look in those eyes as he approached drew a ripple of unease down her spine. “What?” she asked as he reached her and just stood there, his look assessing.
“After all these years, I didn’t think there was anything you could do that would surprise me. I was wrong.”
She had to harden herself against the way his deep voice and slow drawl washed over her. “You talked to Caden. I never said I wouldn’t return to the club, Con, only that I would think about it. I did, and decided I’m interested enough to keep exploring. Now,” she said, her tone turning brusque as she set aside her reaction to his nearness. “Have a seat on the mat and I’ll do range of motion on your shoulder to see if you did your homework.”
She expected more of an argument about the club, but all he said was, “Sure,” before sauntering over to the raised mat. Tamara couldn’t help admiring his tight butt showcased in snug denim or recalling the way those taut buttocks clenched as he had driven himself into the woman in his barn.
Sitting down, Connor looked up at her with a wicked grin and spread his muscled thighs. Grasping her hips, he pulled her to stand between his legs, the warmth of his large, rough hands seeping through the thin cotton of her medical uniform pants. “You can get an ea
sier grip and range standing here.” Releasing his hold, he held out his arm. “Tell me why you’re insisting on coming to The Barn. You’ve never displayed a submissive tendency before. In fact, you’re excellent at giving back as good as you get, or, at least you used to be.”