"Those coals need about twenty minutes to get good and hot, then I'll be grilling steaks."
"Mm, sounds delicious."
They brought the rest of the food down and set the potatoes on the side of the grill while the steaks sizzled away. By the time they ate, they really were starving. After they finished, they took a walk and Savannah helped Ben bring the horses into the barn. Watching her put one of them in his stall, Ben thought about how natural she looked handling him and how her face sparkled when she was around them. He had a fleeting thought about how good it would be to make a permanent life that way. Then he gave himself a mental shake and reminded himself that she was only there temporarily. The ache that left in his gut shook him.
The two of them were quiet on the drive to GG's house, both of them lost in their thoughts. Ben thought about the time they had just spent together. The sex had been amazing and immensely satisfying. And he wanted more. Not just more sex but more of Savannah. The thought of her leaving to return to her own life left an empty hole in his heart. It was unbearable to imagine. He resolved to do everything in his power to make her want to stay.
Savannah, for her part, was as satisfied as a kitten who had just finished a bowlful of cream. She would have purred if she could have. Her needs had been wondrously satisfied, and she told herself that now she would be able to get Ben out of her head and get back to her normal self. She had just needed to get Ben Conner out of her system, and she figured their interlude had been a fine way to do it. She felt wonderful and energized, looking forward to finishing the work she had to do for her grandmother and then saying her goodbyes to Boone and her family. With a little twinge of conscience, she resolved to visit a little more often and to stay in closer contact with her loved ones.
Ben pulled up in GG's driveway and shut the truck off. Turning to her, he gave her a slow, easy smile and said, "I'm not sure I covered all the points I wanted to about riding out in the open."
Savannah laughed. "We'll play it by ear. I think I learned a great deal."
"Darlin', I think I learned a few things myself."
Savannah's smile was pure feminine satisfaction. "You're quite a teacher, Ben Conner."
He was getting hard just looking at her and remembering the feel of her under his hands.
"I think I should walk you to the door before I decide not to let you out of here at all."
Savannah raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really. I have something to say about that, don't you think?"
Warning bells were going off in the back of Ben's mind. "I think maybe it's time for you to find out what it is not to be the boss for a change."
She was intrigued in spite of herself. "And you think you're the man for the job?"
He took her chin in his hand and tipped her face up to his. "I think it's a challenge I'd like to take on. You could use a little bossing."
Savannah's eyes narrowed. "I think we've been down this road once."
Ben remembered well her knee in his balls. "Believe me, it won't end like that again."
She opened her mouth to speak, and he stopped her with his lips. She stiffened for a moment and then found herself sinking into the blistering heat of his kiss. There was that tingle crawling across her belly again, that dampness between her legs, her nerve endings springing to life. There was that little hum of pure pleasure in the back of her throat. She dimly decided that it might take a little longer to get Ben Conner out of her system. Then he pulled away and hopped out of the truck, walking around to open her door.
Savannah was just a little dazed as they walked to the door. Ben tilted her chin up again and planted a light little kiss on her lips. "See you Wednesday," he said as he turned and walked away.
Stunned, Savannah slipped in the door and watched him back out of the driveway. "Well, point to you, Ben," she murmured to herself, closing the door gently. She walked into the kitchen for a bottle of water and went up the stairs to bed.
Chapter 11
Savannah woke early and stretched lazily, savoring the loose, well used feel of her body. She had stood under the warm spray of the shower the night before and soaked away the stiffness of muscles that hadn't been worked in too long. She slipped on a robe and went down to brew coffee, finding her grandmother already in the kitchen waiting for the brewing to finish.
"Good morning, dear."
Savannah kissed her on top of the head and said, "Morning, Gran. How are you this morning?"
GG watched her with a little smile, reflecting that her granddaughter had the look of a well-satisfied woman on the morning after a good night. "I'm well. And I can see how you are."
Savannah laughed and turned to get cups out of the cabinet. "I'm just fine this morning."
"I take it Ben's lessons went well?"
"As a matter of fact, the lessons went very well. I'm all ready for the next step."
"Really."
"Yes. You know, riding out in the open."
"Oh. Right," GG said. "Well, what's on your agenda for today?"
"I have some things to go over with you on my laptop, and we can make a decision on the painter I went to see last week. If we make a deal, she wants to come and see the shop in person before she signs the final papers."
"Good. I like that."
Savannah nodded. "I do too. It'll be good for the two of you to meet in person. I think you'll like her, and her work is beautiful. And tomorrow, you're taking off, right?"
"Yes, I have my yearly checkup in Indy. It certainly was a lot handier before Doc Harper retired. But once a year is not so bad. I have that in the morning and then a spa appointment right after lunch, so it'll be evening when I get back."
"Not a problem. Enjoy yourself, and if you want to stay over, just give me a call. I don't have anything scheduled for Wednesday until late afternoon when I ride."
"Thank you, dear, I just might do that. I could get together with my friend, Sharon, for dinner."
Savannah poured coffee and said, "Well, why don't you just plan on it?"
GG took a sip and replied, "I'll do that. I can visit my favorite shops on Wednesday morning and be back by midafternoon."
"It's a plan then." Savannah smiled at her grandmother and carried her coffee upstairs so she could get ready for her day.
The day slipped by quickly and the next day did as well. GG enjoyed her time away, and Savannah found herself once again enjoying working in the shop. Her riding lesson on Wednesday went by quickly as well. Ben let Savannah ride outside again and he quizzed her on some of the things he had told her on Sunday. He had discovered that Savannah soaked up knowledge like a sponge, and even though she had been thoroughly distracted on Sunday, she remembered everything he had told her.
As she was putting Reba in her stall, Savannah turned to Ben and said impulsively, "Would you like to come with me to my brother and sister-in-law's house on Sunday for a cookout?"
"Sure, I'm free on Sunday. That sounds a lot better than doing laundry."
"Okay, I'll have the details on Saturday," Savannah said.
"Speaking of Saturday, how would you like to come for your lesson about an hour early? Once you get warmed up, I'll saddle up Chester and we'll have a ride away from the arena."