Free Crack the Whip by Desiree Holt

wanted her to know that he really wished he’d been with her. “I agree with you. I thought maybe we could go forward.” He leaned toward her, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Just a picnic, Katie. You haven’t been out to the ranch in a long time. And you’ll come in your own car. Leave any time you want to. We have to start somewhere.”
    “I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize my job here. I really like it. If Sunday, or whatever, doesn’t work out, I don’t want to be in the position of having to leave.”
    Reece reached across the table and captured her free hand. “I can promise you that won’t happen. You absolutely have my word.”
    She frowned. “And exactly how would that work?
    We’d…what…just avoid each other?”
    He dropped his voice even lower. “We’re two intelligent adults, Katie, and we’ve known each other a long time. If there’s nothing left between us but friendship, then we’ll make that the best friendship we can. I promise.”
    Round and round the rim of the cup the finger journeyed again. Reece found himself holding his breath.
    “All right,” she said at last. “But if things get too…difficult Sunday…I’ll leave and we’ll still be okay. Right?”
    He nodded, trying not to let his relief show. “You call all the shots.”
    Was that a wicked gleam suddenly sparkling in her eyes?
    “Really? I thought that was the role you liked to play.”
    Now it was his turn to use coffee as a distraction. He took a healthy swallow, making a face at the now cool liquid.
    “I think we’ll just call it a level playing field on Sunday.
    How’s that?”
    Her eyes still held that mischievous light. “Sounds good to me. What time?”
    “Noon okay?” He could hardly believe she said yes. He was afraid to hope for anything other than the picnic, but he was going to try his damndest for more.
    “Noon it is.” She looked around, obviously checking the activity in the lounge.
    In one corner, Reece noticed two men slowly undressing a sub they shared. They’d been coming to Rawhide since it opened and brought their beautiful sub when they wanted to show her off to others. Or sometimes, if she’d been particularly bad, when they wanted to punish her in front of others.
    In another corner, a male sub sat at the feet of his Mistress, stroking her cunt beneath her skirt while she carried on a conversation with another client. Near them, another couple was in the first getting-acquainted stages.
    Every couch, chair, and table was completely filled. A good night at Rawhide.
    Katie finished her coffee and checked her watch. “We have a demonstration with the St. Andrews Cross starting in twenty minutes. I need to make sure all the equipment is ready and the sub properly oiled.” She stood up. “I…This was nice. I’ll see you Sunday.”
    He dipped his head once. “Sunday. I look forward to it.”
    And that was certainly an understatement.

Chapter Six
    Katie changed clothes five times Sunday morning before eventually settling on a pair of jeans and a tank top in a shade of emerald that turned her eyes green. It was a warm, sunny day. Maybe she’d get a little tan on her arms and face.
    Finally, she dug her old boots out of the closet. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn them. Certainly not in Atlanta. But they felt like old friends when she shoved her feet into them.
    She took a last look in the mirror. Hair pulled back in a ponytail to keep it out of her face. Minimum of makeup, as much to open her skin to the sun as to keep Reece from thinking she wanted to impress him.
    Who am I kidding? Of course I want to impress him. What will I do if he makes a move? What will I do if he doesn’t?
    Mentally smacking herself, she picked up her keys and purse and headed out to her car.
    The Golden Spur looked almost exactly as it had the last time she’d seen it ten years ago. The shutters on the big limestone house wore a fresh coat of paint, as did the comfortable wooden