Free Slapping Leather by Desiree Holt

than that, I’ll have to stop the sessions with him. I
can’t take the risk again.”
    “Liz, listen to me.”
    Liz shook her head. “I hear all the things you’re
saying, but I can’t risk my heart again. My feelings for Alex are all over the
place. If I can keep them confined to Rawhide, I can handle it.”
    “But maybe this time the risk is worth it,” Katie
said in a soft voice. “Everyone is different, you know.”
    “And what if all he wants is a fling? I’m not
saying he’d be as obsessed as…the other person was. But if I let myself fall
for him, which seems to be what’s happening, when he’s ready to move on, I’m
not sure I could handle it.”
    “But what if he doesn’t want to move on?
What if he has strong feelings, too? He and Reece have been friends for some
time now, and I can promise you if his personality was twisted in any way, my
husband would have dumped him and barred him from Rawhide. And I don’t think a
man interested in just a fling would casually try to enlist the help of his
friends.”
    “Oh, Katie, I just don’t know if I can make
myself take that chance.”
    “I get that. But you’ll never know if you aren’t
willing to test the waters with him.”
    Liz sat in silence, thoughts whirling in her
mind. “I have to think about this,” she said at last. “I just hope Alex doesn’t
bug you.”
    “Oh, listen, it was just a casual comment. I didn’t
mean to make such a big deal out of it. I just thought two people who seemed to
click the way you guys do might have a chance for something outside the club.
That’s all.” Katie pushed back her chair and stood. “And that’s all I’m saying
about that.” When Liz walked her to the door, she gave her an impulsive hug. “You
know I’m here for you, right? Anytime?”
    “I know, and I appreciate it.”
    Katie studied her face. “Maybe it’s time to let
go of the baggage and live a little again.”
    Liz shrugged. “I need to think about my situation
here at the Lucky L, too.”
    “Phooey. You’re entitled to a personal life. If
anyone gives you a hard time simply fire them and hire someone else. Reece can
always help you find new ranch hands.”
    For the first time that evening Liz laughed. “You
make it all sound so simple.”
    “It is, if you just give it a chance. And I’ll
tell Alex to back off.”
    “No,” Liz said quickly. “Don’t call attention to
it. I’ll handle it myself.”
    “Okay, but be sure you handle it in a way that’s
good for you.” She smiled. “And that’s all I’m saying.”
    Liz leaned against the door after closing it, her
brain still spinning. She’d been doing so well convincing herself that Alex had
forgotten about that first invitation she’d turned down. Telling herself that
her anticipation of their sessions together was nothing more than a high state
of erotic arousal. Pretending-yes, pretending-that she could compartmentalize
the whole thing.
    But deep down inside, where she kept her emotions
locked away, she knew that Alex Wright had become more than just a playing
partner to her. Despite her best efforts, her traitorous heart had taken a leap
and landed her in a place she’d sworn never to be again. And she had no idea
what she was going to do about it.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter
Seven
     
    Liz stood at the counter of the tiny Soda Pops
restaurant, the really great new burger place that had recently opened up, when
she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.
    “Glad we frequent the same places.” Alex’s low
voice vibrated through her. “Maybe I’ll get to buy you that meal after all.”
    Liz turned, startled, then sucked in her breath
when she realized she was practically pressed up against him. She took a quick
step back, a logistical feat since the place was both small and jammed with
lunch customers.
    “Oh, um, hi!”
    Brilliant conversationalist.
Act like a teenager, why don’t you?
    But the man’s electric presence sizzled all her
nerve endings. Even outside