Page 67 of Rip Ryder's Second Chance

She sashayed back into the room wearing light blue scrubs and stopped to make the bed. “Not wanting a relationship makes you sensible?” She gave a little snort. “Haven’t you heard that a married man lives longer than a single one?”

With a casual shrug, he slipped his boots on. “Is that something you read on Google?”

“No. Just yesterday Damon and I were discussing this very subject. Men and relationships. He has an undergraduate degree in social science and is currently in a graduate program for modern sexuality.” She jerked at the sheet and he stood, lending a hand in making the bed.

“Who’s Damon?” He gave the blanket a sloppy tuck.

“Chan, don’t tell me Candy didn’t teach you boys how to make a proper bed.” She looked down her nose at him. He redid his side. “Damon is the yoga instructor at the spa. I thought I mentioned him. Anyway, he’s amazing.” She stepped over to the dresser to put in her earrings. “You haven’t met him yet? Sky blue eyes. Dark skin. Big muscles. I’d bet my eye teeth all those single women coming in for class couldn’t care less about core strength.”

“Nope, afraid I haven’t.” Did he have something to worry about? And why did he care about a yoga dude who was studying sexuality? Sadie certainly seemed excited when she talked about him though. Shoving the thought from his mind, Channing extended his arms high over his head, giving his back a good stretch. “I guess I’ll die a young, single man.”

“You have enough spitfire in you I’m sure you’ll outlive us all. Your back still giving you problems?”

“On occasion.” He’d suffered an injury a few months back and he was slowly healing. Years of bull-riding, pitching a baseball, and all the other outrageous things he and his brothers did, had put a hurting on his bones.

“I thought maybe you were cheating on me, but if you’re still having all this trouble, I guess you’re not.” She smiled.

“Huh?”Cheating? What the hell?

“Cheating on me with another massage therapist. Why don’t you drop by the spa later and I’ll pencil you in. Thirty minutes with you naked on my table and you’ll feel like new. We were making progress before we started sleeping together and you stopped coming in.”

“I’ll think about it.” But he wouldn’t. He wasn’t sure why but seeing her for a massage felt like a blurring of lines.

She turned and her brows scrunched. “Do you bring other women here?”

“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.” Sadie was the first, and only, woman he’d invited up to the hunting cabin. He and his brothers had bought the place, along with ten acres, and had plans to do remodeling when next spring rolled around. Channing had even tossed around the idea of building houses along the ridge.

She nailed him with a critical gaze and reached under the bed, pulling out a bra. “Since when did you start wearing red lace?”

“Red isn’t my color.” He chuckled.

“Funny.” She tossed the garment at him, and he caught it against his chest. He threw it on the bed. “You don’t have to lie to me.”

Wasn’t this breaking one of their unwritten rules?

“Why would I lie? I don’t have a clue where it came from and don’t care. You’re the first woman I’ve brought up here. My brothers do have the ability to use the cabin too.” He really didn’t have to explain, but he wanted to. They hadn’t made any promises to each other, but he was still a gentleman.

She leaned against the edge of the dresser. “Are you saying that I’m the only one you’re sleeping with?”

“That was one of the rules, wasn’t it? Are you sleeping with someone else?” He wasn’t sure what that jagged feeling was in his chest.

“I barely have time foroursecret meetings,” she said smoothly then turned back to the mirror to apply lip tint.

“Same. Last time I came up here, Carter was looking all over for me. I told him I had been here taking measurements. Why is everyone so nosy?” He bent and petted Waffles. “Have you mentioned us to anyone?”

“No, not one word. I don’t think everyone would understand.”

“You mean like our friends and family?”

“Why is it so hard for people to get that people can have sex without allowing emotions to invade? We’re adults. But keeping this secret reduces drama. Damon said he thinks the excitement of a secret affair is fifty percent of the fun.”

How had the Yoga Man invaded their discussion once again?

“Wait, I thought you said you didn’t tell anyone?”

“I haven’t. We were talking about his past affairs.”

“Well, we are in Dove Grey. Have you thought about if someone does find out?” He picked up a stress ball from the table and squeezed it repeatedly.

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