Laying Down the Law

by Laylah Roberts

  Warning: This item may not be reproduced or distributed without the written permission of the author. The distribution of this book on the internet is illegal.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places and events is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination.

  Copyright held by Laylah Roberts, 2012.

  Cover produced by: Carey Abbott: ebookcoverdesignsbycarey.com

  ebookcoverdesignsbycarey.com

  Laying down the law

  By Laylah Roberts

  Laylah.roberts@gmail.com

  Prologue

  Callie heard the siren before she spotted the sheriff’s car behind her. Damn it. She slowed down, putting on her blinker and pulled off the road. She did not need this. She was in a hurry.

  As impatient as she felt, she couldn’t help but feel a thrill of attraction as she saw the Sheriff emerge from the car, his short blond hair glinting in the sunlight before he placed his hat on. He calmly, slowly walked toward her.

  Callie jumped from the car impatiently.

  There was no time to wait around.

  “Tanner, look, I know I was speeding, but I’m in a rush, okay?”

  She made to jump back into her car; certain he’d back down and let her go. After all, he was her brother, Tripp’s best friend. He probably hadn’t even realized who it was when he’d stopped her. The old Sheriff never bothered to pull her up. Not after the first half dozen times anyway.

  But instead of sheepishly letting her go, he grabbed her arm in a gentle but inescapable hold. She stilled, feeling a buzz race up her arm as the heat from his palm seemed to envelope her body. Her clit throbbed. And this was just from being close to him? Jeez.

  “Is it an emergency? Because you were driving 10 miles over the speed limit, Callie,” he said in a deep, stern voice. A shiver ran he said in a deep, stern voice. A shiver ran down her spine. She’d always been attracted to Tanner, ever since she was a teenager.

  Unfortunately, her crush hadn’t lessened with age. If anything it had grown.

  “Not an emergency, no. But I really have to get to Sanderson’s, I’m already running late.” She couldn’t afford to lose this client.

  She’d only just established her veterinary business. Many people in the town she lived in were reluctant to use her, feeling loyal to that quack, Hendricks. It wasn’t as though she were trying to poach all his clients. He preferred looking after horses, cattle, larger animals.

  Callie preferred taking care of smaller animals, herself.

  The Sanderson’s had a ranch about 15

  miles out of town. Callie had gotten a call from Mrs Sanderson last night begging her to come out in the morning. One of her pet goats wasn’t feeling well and whatever Hendricks wasn’t feeling well and whatever Hendricks had done wasn’t making a lick of difference.

  “There’s no excuse for driving so fast then. What if you’d crashed? Then you’d never have made this oh so important appointment, would you?” he growled.

  She gulped and stared up at him, feeling nervous at the dark tone to his voice.

  “Look, just give me a ticket and let me go, Tanner.”

  He shook his head. “Still a brat, aren’t we? This is completely unacceptable behavior, Callie. You could have killed yourself.”

  “Then I’d be dead. The world would go on, blah, blah, are you going to write a ticket or talk me to death?”

  She pulled her arm away from his hold, glaring up at him defiantly.

  His blue gaze narrowed as he stared His blue gaze narrowed as he stared down at her thoughtfully. “Your brother should have spanked you more often.” Her pussy immediately clenched. She drew on anger to hide her reaction.

  “My brother never spanked me at all.” He’d have to actually care to do that, she thought. “And that was inappropriate.”

  “Not as inappropriate as I’m going to get.

  I’ll be around to see you tonight. We’re going to have a chat you and me. Now I’m going to trust you to continue on your journey without speeding. But if I catch you speeding again, I won’t be around tonight, I’ll be taking you to task wherever I catch you and no matter who is looking.”

  With that ominous statement, he turned and stormed back to his car, leaving her gaping after him in shock.

  ***

  Later that night there was a knock on her door. Callie was tired, exhausted really, and did not feel like talking to anyone, let alone Tanner Jamieson. But if there was one thing she knew about Tanner, it was that he would not give up. He was a stubborn bastard.

  And a damn attractive one too.

  She shook her head at that thought. She had no business being interested in Tanner Jamieson. He was too bossy, too domineering, and too gorgeous for her. Callie needed to concentrate on building her veterinary practice not her love life.

  “Come in,” she yelled out as she lifted yet another box of books. She’d only just moved into this small house. She was using the bottom floor for her clinic. The top floor was going to be her home. Unfortunately that going to be her home. Unfortunately that meant she had to move all her stuff upstairs.

  By herself.

  She didn’t wait for his answer, instead walking towards the stairs, balancing the box precariously in her arms. Tanner was so silent as he entered, he gave her a hell of a fright when he turned up beside her, plucking the box from her arms.

  “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Ahh, moving?”

  “Damn it, Callie,” he growled, glaring down at her. “That is the last time you let someone in without looking to see who it is first. I could have been anyone. And why was your door unlocked anyway?”

  “I knew it was you. And no one locks their doors around here and you know it.”

  “You do. From now on that door better

  “You do. From now on that door better be locked and you sure as hell better check on who is there before you open it!” By this time they’d reached her living room. He put the box down where she gestured. He wasn’t even winded, damn him.

  “Or what? What’s going to stop me from doing either of those things?” She couldn’t help but taunt him. Callie had always hated being told what to do.

  “Oh, I’m going to make sure you never even think of risking yourself that way again.”

  “Yeah? How you going to do that?” she asked curiously.

  “By spanking your ass red.”

  Her stomach dropped even as she felt her clit tingle. She could not be aroused by that threat. She would not.

  “Get out,” her voice came out strangled,

  “Get out,” her voice came out strangled, breathless.

  “No. You need some discipline, young lady. My deputies have been telling me stories.

  About all the speeding tickets you accumulated before they gave up on pulling you up. That stops now. Leaving your door unlocked, letting people in without checking, that also stops. If you can’t take care of yourself, Callie.

  Then I will do it.”

  “Why? Why would you care?”

  “Because you’re my best friend’s little sister. I care about you, Callie. And I hate to think of you being hurt. Now, you can tell me to go to hell, that you don’t want this and I can write you a ticket and keep my distance. Or you can admit to yourself and me that you are in need of some discipline then come over here and lay yourself over my lap for a spanking.

  What’s it to be, Callie?”

  She hesitated, thinking. She should tell him to go straight to hell. But when was the last time someone told her they cared about her?

  She couldn’t recall.

  Besides, the idea kind of intrigued her.

  �
��Why do you want to do this?”

  “I believe that a man should always protect women. Particularly his woman. She should be able to rely on him to make the tough decisions, to ensure her happiness and safety by giving her what she needs. And sometimes what she will need is to be shown that certain behaviors will not be acceptable to him.”

  “What sort of behaviors?”

  “Putting herself in danger, for instance.

  Speeding, not taking care of her personal Speeding, not taking care of her personal safety, not taking care of herself, not trusting in him, lying to him.”

  “But we’re not in a relationship,” she pointed out.

  “Maybe not. But I care about you, Callie-girl. More than just a friend. I would like to be more than a friend.”

  “If I don’t want this?” she asked.

  “Like I said, I’ll write you a ticket and keep away from you. If you can’t admit that you need this then I will keep away from you.

  We’ll go back to being acquaintances. If you say yes, then you’re accepting me into your life. And this is bound to happen again. You have no discipline, Callie-girl. And I suspect very little idea of your own self-worth. I want to show you that you are worth looking after, worth protecting.”

  Her eyes watered a little.

  Her eyes watered a little.

  “Well?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said. She wanted him in her life. Close to her. Even if it was just as a friend. And maybe he was right. She didn’t particularly worry about her personal safety.

  And so she found herself moving over to him and laying herself over his lap. He pulled down her sweatpants. She stiffened, but he made no move to remove her panties.

  Smack!

  “Ow,” she cried, reaching back a hand to rub the sore spot on her butt. He grabbed her hands, holding them in the small of her back.

  “No reaching back.”

  He’d smacked her hard! “That hurt.”

  “It’s meant too.”

  He spanked in earnest then, setting her He spanked in earnest then, setting her butt on fire as he scolded her until her ears were burning as badly as her bottom.

  When he finally stopped she was sobbing her heart out, lying over his lap, limp with exhaustion.

  And yet she also felt free. Free of guilt, of worry. There was only Tanner and her flaming bottom. He pulled her to her feet.

  Callie made to step back, needing to get away, to rebuild her walls. But Tanner was having none of that. He tugged her close, holding her against his chest as she cried.

  He murmured in her ear soothingly, meaningless words she couldn’t really understand. Yet she felt comforted.

  “Where’s your bedroom sweetheart?” he asked.

  “Over there.” She pointed at the door. He picked her up and carried her over, opening the door.

  “You sleep on a cot?” he asked

  incredulously.

  She shrugged. “I don’t need a bed.”

  “We’re getting you one tomorrow. You need a bed, Callie.”

  “When did you get to be so bossy, Tanner Jamieson?” she asked tiredly. “You planning on going around spanking everyone who breaks the law?”

  He set her down by her cot. And clasped her by the shoulders. Leaning down, he kissed her on the forehead.

  “No, only you. Now get some sleep. I’ll pick you up at nine.”

  With that, he turned and left, leaving her staring after him in disbelief. Sheriff Tanner staring after him in disbelief. Sheriff Tanner Jamieson was a law onto himself.

  He was arrogant, bossy, a know it all.

  But damned if he didn’t have the best butt she’d ever seen.

  CHAPTER ONE:

  Tanner carried the injured dog up to the back door, frowning fiercely as he found it unlocked. He grumbled under his breath angrily. She had no right leaving her door unlocked like this. No right at all. He’d warned her about what would happen.

  Putting herself at risk this way was unacceptable to him. But Callie seemed to have no regard for personal safety and he feared that one day he wouldn’t be around to rescue her.

  rescue her.

  Callie hurt was something he didn’t care to think about.

  “That girl is in trouble,” he said quietly to the dog.

  The dog in his arms whimpered in reply.

  He was a homely little mutt, but surprisingly good-natured despite the pain he must be in.

  He was too thin, Tanner could feel his ribs easily, and he didn’t smell too wonderful either. But Tanner knew Callie would be willing to treat him. She had a soft spot for anything wounded and defenceless.

  This made it hard for her to say no to anyone with an injured animal. She worked too much. People tended to take advantage of her good nature and generosity. It was up to Tanner to ensure that Callie was taken care of.

  He wasn’t afraid to be the bad guy, to tell her when enough was enough.

  Callie was going to find herself with a red butt for this bit of forgetfulness. A woman living alone should always have her doors locked, particularly at 1am in the morning.

  He’d feel much better if she lived with him.

  Then he’d know for sure that she was protected 24/7. Because he would ensure it.

  But he was taking this slow. She still wasn’t entirely sure of him and he didn’t want to scare her off. There was a lot to get used too, particularly when she wasn’t used to answering to anyone. She was having to adjust to his rules, to his domineering ways and he figured that if he insisted she move in with him too soon she’d bolt.

  So he’d kept his advances to mere kisses and caresses, resisting the ever pressing urge to pick her up, carry her to bed and make love to her all night. Even now, angry as he was, his cock was hard, pressing against his jeans. For cock was hard, pressing against his jeans. For the last two months, since he’d pulled her over for speeding, he’d been in a constant state of arousal.

  A light shone from the front part of the building where her clinic was located. Holding the whimpering dog as gently as he could, he walked through the overcrowded backroom, and opening the door to the surgery, stepped inside. He knew that was where he would find her.

  She was so tiny, so small and defenceless sitting there that she could easily be mistaken for a child. But Tanner knew too well that she was all woman. The light glinted off her long black hair which hung in a thick plait down her back. She leaned over a table, her head resting on her folded arms. Weariness was written in every line of her body. Tanner cleared his throat quietly, not wanting to frighten her.

  With a gasp, Callie turned, her violet With a gasp, Callie turned, her violet eyes widening as he heard her breath catch. But she didn’t scream, for which he was truly thankful. Callie could yell loud enough to wake the dead.

  “Tanner, what are you doing? You frightened me. Oh, no, what happened?” Her gaze turned immediately to the injured mutt in his arms, depriving Tanner of her full attention.

  He was used to it.

  For Callie, animals always came first, above anything or anyone else. It was one of the truly frustrating and truly remarkable things about her. It was also the thing that made her the best vet in town.

  “Come in, place him here.” She guided him over to an exam table and he placed the dog on it gently. “Poor fella.” She ran her hand over his head and the She ran her hand over his head and the dog immediately turned his head so he could lick her hand. Didn’t matter what sort of animal they were, large or small, wild or tamed, they all fell in love with Callie. Not that Tanner blamed them, no, he didn’t blame them one little bit.

  “Sorry?” he asked, embarrassed when he realized she’d asked him a question. He was the Sheriff for God’s sake; he was always on the top of his game. But this little woman almost had the power to bring him to his knees. Almost.

  “I asked what happened. Are you okay, Tanner? You seem a bit shook up.” Tanner shook his head. “Just a long day, squirt. He ran out in front of my police car,
I tried to stop in time but I think I hit his back leg.”

  “Poor baby,” she murmured. Tanner

  “Poor baby,” she murmured. Tanner wished she’d look at him like that, speak to him in that soft murmur. He could see her now, under him, a smile on her face, her eyes half-closed with arousal. He’d thrust his way into her wet sheath, drive himself inside her, make her scream with pleasure.

  He shook himself as he realized she was speaking.

  “I think it’s just bruised, but I’ll have to take some x-rays. I can take care of him. You should head home, Tanner. It’s after midnight and you look like you need some sleep.” Tanner frowned. If anyone needed sleep it was Callie. She had large, dark circles under her eyes, which stood out like bruises against her pale skin. She’d lost more weight since he’d last seen her a week ago. And he really didn’t like the fact that she thought she was going to take care of an injured animal by herself. They knew nothing about this dog. He herself. They knew nothing about this dog. He could turn on her at any moment and someone as slight as Callie would have no chance against an animal its size.

  Sure, he seemed placid enough at the moment, particularly considering he was injured and in pain. But that could change at any moment.

  Yeah, like hell he was going to leave her here alone.

  “Why don’t you just give him some pain relief and take care of the rest in the morning, Callie?” he asked.

  She shook her head tiredly. “Best to get it out of the way now, particularly if it turns out to be broken. Besides, I’m fully booked in the morning. And it’s not like I could sleep anyway.”

  She worked as she talked, and as always he marvelled at her confident movements, the he marvelled at her confident movements, the strength she held in that slight body.

  “Is that why you’re still up?” he asked, concerned. “Why haven’t you taken the sleeping pills the doc gave you? You have to get some sleep. Insomnia can be very unhealthy, squirt.”

  Callie snorted. “What are you, my father?”

  “Callie,” he growled warningly, and she nodded slowly in recognition of that tone.

  Both of them knew he wouldn’t hesitate to take her to task for her behavior. He wasn’t going to be denied.