Page 1 of Caging Cessie (Submissives of Rawhide Ranch #20)

The late afternoon sun cast long golden streaks across the polished wood floor. The aroma of leather was faint compared to the verdant scents carried on the breeze through the open window as Jared Stark scanned the application.

“You’re hesitating.” Derek leaned back, his own copy of the application on his lap. He’d read it, analyzed it, and was now simply waiting.

“I don’t know about them.”

“What’s concerning?”

“They’re a couple.” Jared tapped the application.

“Yes, they are.”

“A couple whose relationship is about to fall apart. We help people heal, not give them a place to have a breakup fight.”

“You think they’re so broken they can’t be put back together?”

Jared sighed. “I know, I know. You always believe everyone can heal.”

“But you don’t?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then why are you thinking about turning them down?”

“Because I wonder if the only way for”—Jared paused to check the application—“Leon and Cessie to heal is to walk away from one another.”

Derek shook his head. “And my gut is telling me what they need is to walk toward each other. There’s no better place for them to realize that’s what they need than here at the Ranch.”