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“And the thought of you selling up too? Okay, I know you haven’t said that, but you’rethinkingabout it, right? Well, that makes me miserable. When Dad left us the ranch and you bought me out, that was a key moment. It meant we could open the dude ranch. But Newt wasn’t thinking straight when he talked about selling up, just like I don’t thinkyouare right now. So I’m going to give you the same advice his therapist gave him. Donotmake any major decisions based on emotion, because right now? Your head is not in a good place. Give it some time.”

I breathed a little easier. “That makes sense.”

Another pause. “Are you two really over?”

“I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see. I went into this determined to stay detached, to keep my emotions out of it, to keep it just about the—”

“Power dynamic—or the sex?”

I huffed. “Both. But it didn’t matter in the long run, because I fell for him, so fucking hard.”

“You’ll bounce back.”

“We’ll see.” Lord, I loved her optimism. I wanted to believe her. Maybe Iwouldbounce back. But would Toby be there when I did?

Chapter Thirty

Friday, July 8

Toby

I crossed the street and stopped in front of the blacked-out windows of the club.

Why does he want to see me?

I’d phoned Sean on my return, but as yet, I hadn’t been anywhere near the club. My head was too full of Salvation, the hands, the landscape, the vast skies… Robert.

I miss him.

Two weeks. Two whole weeks and I still fuckingached. The last thing I wanted was a business meeting, but Sean had insisted.

Let’s get it over with.

I walked into the club and headed for the office. It wasn’t long before the comments started.

“Hey, where haveyoubeen?”

“We thought you’d been eaten by a grizzly.”

I ignored them and pointed to the office door. “Is he in there?”

Casey nodded. “He said he was waiting for you.” He cocked his head to one side. “You okay?”

I was far from okay, but I wasn’t about to tell him that. “I’m fine,” I lied. I opened the door and went inside. Sean was at his desk, his phone pressed to his ear. He glanced up, and waved me into a chair. I sat, and he continued his conversation.

I had to admire him. Sean knew how to run a club. That was the whole reason we’d gone into business together. I was the silent partner who’d come up with the money, and so far I’d made back my investment and then some. Sean did all the day-to-day stuff, but he didn’t play. He left that to me.

I hadn’t played for a while.

Not since a certain Shibari scene.

He finished his call and leaned back in his chair. “So… you’re alive.”

“We spoke, remember? You knew that already.” I gestured to the door. “I didn’t see Tyler out there. He and Will still loved up?”

“Tyler’s fine—no, he’s more than that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this happy.”

“Well, that’s what love’ll do for you.”