Taming His Brat

by Piper Stone

  “Take it easy, man. You don’t have to do this.”

  “I do. I need to tell someone. I have to get this off my chest.”

  Denton patted him on the shoulder. “Okay. I’m here. Tell me.”

  He tapped his foot, counting each time his boot hit the floor. One. Two. Three. Four. “I was to pull back and wait until the other units came. Backup. But I refused to wait. I headed in. I wanted to take those motherfuckers out so badly that I could see nothing but blood. So, I rolled. Then...” He gasped for air as the vision slammed into him, almost knocking him out of the chair.

  “Whoa, buddy. Take it easy. You’re not there. You’re safe and back in Texas.”

  He heard Denton’s voice, knew exactly where he was but the images, the men screaming for help was too much to take. His grip on the beer bottle became firmer, squeezing, his mind reeling.

  “Rex. Hey. Come on. That beer bottle did nothing to you.” Denton placed his hand over Rex’s, sliding closer. “Rex.”

  He blinked several times until the vision faded, leaving him aching, clammy. “Yeah, I got it. I know. I’m here.”

  Denton exhaled. “Fuck. Me. I think we need another beer for this. I’ll buy.”

  As his friend walked away, he tried to calm his nerves, sucking down the rest of the brew. Yeah, this was no way to live. None at all. He allowed Cooper’s face to flash into the forefront of his mind, soothing his very soul and helping him come back to the present. He could almost hear her laughter. He studied his hand, the way the veins popped out along the back before clenching his fist. The rage bursting at the seams was far too volatile.

  “Here we are.” Denton shoved a bottle in front of Rex, his expression dour. He turned the chair around and straddled as he eased down, resting his arm on the hard back. “What happened?”

  “Assholes got off a shot. Direct hit. Next thing I knew, I was in the hospital.”

  “And the other guys?”

  “They were hurt, the majority survived.”

  “The majority?”

  Rex shook his head several times. “Don’t want to talk anymore about it. I just...”

  “Dude, you have some serious guilt you’re dealing with. Seriously. Didn’t you earn the Purple Heart for that mission?”

  “Yeah, but they gave it to the wrong person. I killed my buddy. I murdered him.”

  “You’re certain about that?”

  “Feel it in my gut. He was critical. That much I know. Didn’t hear shit about him after they transported him to the states. Everything was a fucking blur, man. I was sick in my mind, my heart. My body was broken, but I knew what happened. You feel those kinds of things in your gut, like a jagged knife carving out your heart.”

  “Whew. You went through some shit. And did you ever try to find him?” Denton gave him a wide-eyed look.

  Shrugging, he realized he’d asked twice about Trent then just assumed, falling into his own pit of desperate despair. “Nope, but I don’t know if they would have told me anything. I’m not family. I’m not even his...”

  “Kind of stupid, don’t you think?” When Rex said nothing, he groaned. “What was his name?”

  “Trent Michaels. Best man the Marines ever saw.”

  “Then I think you need to find out exactly what happened to your buddy or you’ll never have closure.”

  “And what if I confirm that I killed him, gave him a death sentence? What if I find out that he died because of me? He’d just had a baby, a new wife. The whole bit. The one thing I heard was that the man had no chance of surviving. None.” A single tear trickled down his face and he turned his head, embarrassed for various reasons.

  Denton snorted. “Dude, you got some heavy baggage there. Look, I ain’t never been in the military, but I seriously doubt the Marines would award you a Purple Heart without checking all the facts. But I tell you what, this is eating you alive. I suggest you talk to someone and find out the truth.”

  “I know the truth.”

  “And I know you. You’re stubborn as they come. Once you get something in your mind, that’s all you’re going to pay attention to. Period. Find out what really happened, Rex. Talk to people. Get your facts straight.” Denton sniffed and took a long pull on his beer. “Sounds like you have PTSD, if you ask me.”

  He gritted his teeth. “I know what I know.”

  “Uh-huh. Have you told that pretty girl of yours this story?”

  Rex turned his head slowly, glaring at him. “Hell, no. She doesn’t need to hear that kind of shit.”

  “I’m going to give you one piece of advice, and this is something my pappy knew about. If you start off a relationship with lies, there’s never going to be anything good that comes out of it. Talk to her. Cooper will understand if she’s worth her weight in salt.”

  “She’s worth everything. She’s special and caring and doesn’t deserve to be with some broken-down veteran who has nightmares.”

  Denton lifted his eyebrow and grinned. “And you, my friend, are head over heels in love.”

  He groaned and broke into a smile. “That ain’t true.”

  “Mark my words. By the end of two weeks, you’re going to get down on one knee and propose.”

  “Will not.”

  “Bet you a crisp one hundred dollar bill.” Denton eased his beer bottle off the table.

  “You’re on.” Rex wanted the same fairy tale that Cooper did, but there was no such thing. Only heartache and hard times.

  “You’re going to lose! And if I know you, you’re gonna be shakin’ in your boots.” He laughed then gulped more of his beer.

  Yeah, he was already shaking in his boots. The thought of having Cooper in his life on a more permanent basis was ridiculous, but he’d never wanted anything so much in his life. You bet he was a goner.

  “Finish up that brewski, partner. I have a date tonight.” Denton’s eyes twinkled.

  “You? A woman is actually going out with a Neanderthal like you?”

  He shot Rex his middle finger. “Very funny, hot shot. We all can’t be gorgeous and buff like you. Damn knows I try.” Denton smacked his belly and rolled his eyes.

  “Uh-huh. I see you trying and you know what? I have a date with a wild and wicked redhead myself.”

  “Maybe she needs that firm hand of yours. Never thought about spanking a lady. Might just have to try. You believe in that shit, don’t you? I mean for real.”

  “Yep, for real.” Rex grinned, his thoughts shifting from darkness to something else entirely. “You’d be surprised what a heady round of blistering a girl’s ass can do. Makes the romance that much sweeter.”

  “My. My. Who would have thought.” Denton patted him on the shoulder.

  He felt immensely better just telling anyone about the boulder shitting squarely on his shoulders. Maybe his buddy was right. Just finding out the truth would at least give him some angle or perspective. Maybe. Just maybe. He chugged the remainder of the beer. At least tonight he was going to have a good time. Tomorrow? A serious conversation with his father. Fucking fantastic.

  “Come on, dude. I’ll walk you out.”

  Rex followed behind Denton toward his truck, squinting from the powerful sun. He opened his door and turned toward his friend. “Thank you.”

  “For?”

  “Talking me down off the rails. Helped.”

  “That’s what I’m here for.” Denton narrowed his eyes as he glanced into the truck. Snorting, he pushed Rex aside, reaching in.

  He sucked in his breath as Denton pulled out the two paddles he’d purchased, feeling more embarrassed than he had in a hell of a long time.

  “Well. These are just.” He held first one toward the sun then the other, twirling the handle of the square paddle. “I don’t even want to know where you managed to get these in town. Wait. Maybe I do.”

  Rex grabbed the largest one out of Denton’s hand, rubbing his hand down the smooth wood. “She deserves a hard spanking with an implement that leaves a solid thud. You know, an impact. O
kay?”

  “Impact. Thudding. Jesus Christ.” His mouth slightly open, he turned his head very slowly in Rex’s direction. “Dude. You surprise me more every day.”

  Snatching the second one, he tossed them both into the cab. “Don’t knock it until you try it.”

  * * *

  Cooper sat in front of her laptop, glaring at the screen. She had to do something to help Rex and the ranch. She’d heard the terrible angst in his voice, the kind of despair that was going to eat the man alive. But what? How could she do a damn thing? The idea about boarding horses wasn’t bad, but she’d checked around. There were at least a dozen places close to Whitehorse Ranch. They’d have a snowball’s chance in hell at making a go of it.

  She brushed her hands through her hair a half dozen times, flipping through various internet sites, looking at recreational facilities in the state. There were limited options that didn’t come with a hefty price tag. Plus, she’d seen enough of the various barns and outbuildings to know there needed to be a significant amount of work completed before they would be ready for any kind of business.

  And she had a terrible feeling that Rex and his father didn’t have that kind of time. She glanced at her watch, grinning like a little kid. She was meeting Rex for drinks in a little over an hour. As she reread his text message, a series of quivers raced down her spine all the way into her legs. The same damn bar he’d spanked her at. In front of people. In front of his friends.

  Had she been mortified? Hell, yes. Rex certainly had a mischievous streak in him as well. She’d get him back for this one way or another. As she twisted in the chair, stinging sensations pulsed up the crack of her ass. A reminder of the last spanking. Or maybe the one before that. “Mmm...” The moan slipped out of her mouth. The man knew how to handle her. That was for certain. Maybe she’d call Angie, just to make certain she had a friend on her side. Yes, a good plan.

  Before she had a chance to pick up her cellphone, a blip from her email caught her attention, the flag from Outlook brief but making her eyes open wide. The company she’d applied to in New York was interested in... “What?” Her fingers were shaking as she shifted her trackpad, finding the recent email and opening it. She blinked several times as she read the message, numb from the realization that she’d moved forward on the food chain. Damn, she barely remembered even answering or sending in their round of questions. Now, she was terrified, her stomach in knots.

  They wanted to talk further. She sat back, a bead of sweat suddenly appearing on her upper lip. “Just a phone interview. Doesn’t mean anything.” This was true enough. Then why was she shaking like a leaf?

  They’d given her options. Wednesday or Thursday morning. Hesitating for at least a full moment and trying to gather her wits, she selected Wednesday, hitting send before changing her mind. She pushed back hard from the desk, her stomach nauseous, full of butterflies. A long-distance relationship couldn’t work. Nope. Not with a man like Rex. He wouldn’t stand for it. She was his little princess, even now, and he’d want full control over her. There would be rules and requirements and discipline and punishment and...

  She was breathless, panting like a big dog. This job could change her life. This job could put her on the map. More money than she ever dreamed, clout and influence, the possibilities endless.

  But no cowboy.

  Maybe if she made a list, that would help in her decision. What were the positives and negatives? She shifted in her seat, tapping her pen on the single piece of paper, a bead of perspiration finding its way into the crease between her breasts. “Oh!” She hated this kind of thing, was totally discombobulated at her confusion. She’d come home determined to ratchet her emotions and here she was, unable make any decisions. “Just shut up and make the damn list.”

  Rex was kind and loving, sexy as hell, and refused to take crap from her. Positive.

  New York was exciting and alive, the position taking her further. Positive.

  Amarillo was smack in the middle of somewhere she’d wanted to get the hell away from. Negative. But Lubbock was much larger...

  New York was crime ridden, crowded, the rent was expensive, and she’d never be able to purchase a little place for herself. Negative.

  “What the hell am I doing?”

  As if in a counter measure, she pulled up her Indeed account, frantically trying to find the ad from the firm in downtown Lubbock. “Come on. Come on.” There it was. She hadn’t even saved it. She hunkered closer, reading the qualifications again. Okay, she was definitely a match. This could work. She pulled up one of her other cover letters and changed the heading, reading it over once. Then twice. Whatever happened, she wasn’t forced to take any job. This might, just might give her options.

  Her finger perched over the trackpad and the button titled ‘apply,’ she counted to five then clicked. Satisfaction replaced the apprehension. She’d taken the bull by the horns. She’d made a decision to try to see what would be best in her life. Wait a minute. She already knew that cold. The answer?

  One sexy cowboy with a firm hand.

  Now, she just had to make the remaining puzzle pieces of her life fit.

  Chapter Eight

  “Why are you bringing me here?” Cooper whimpered as she hunched forward in the passenger seat, glaring at the neon sign flashing on and off, illuminating the cab of the truck. Given the open windows, she could hear the hum of the flickering light tubes, matching the rapid beating of her heart. She remembered every detail from the spanking incident just a few nights before, the humiliation fodder all over town. Just going into a local convenience store had told her that. The snickers and lewd comments had almost turned her into the Incredible Hulk, crushing everything in her path. She huffed, the sound exaggerated.

  Rex leaned over, kissing the top of her head. “Because this is my favorite bar. Because you’re my gal. Because you need to face these people again, especially if you’re going to live here.”

  She gave him a nasty glare. “You’re still a mean man. An asshole actually.”

  “Watch your mouth, little lady.” He leaned across her, flipping open the glove compartment and pulling out a bar of soap. “I come equipped.”

  The grin on his face was infectious, but she could tell he was serious. She wasn’t just experiencing shivers any longer but delicious rounds of excitement. Flutters remained in her stomach, crawling their way toward her mouth and neck. Wiggling in her seat, she’d forgotten about his latest rule and worn panties. Oh, she would pay for that infraction big time. “Why, yes, sir. I’ll be a good little girl tonight.”

  “I’m sure you will.” Laughing, he yanked the keys from the ignition, issuing a long sigh, the grin fading away. The silence was deafening.

  “Are you going to tell me what happened at the bank today? I know I probably shouldn’t ask.”

  “You can ask, but I don’t want to talk about it. Not tonight anyway. Lots of stuff to think about.”

  Cooper wrapped her hand around his. “Just so you know, I want to help you through this.”

  “Not your problem though. You have enough to worry about looking for a job. Not a lot around here. You need to be tenacious in your efforts.” He gently shifted, pulling his hand away, his face pinched.

  She cringed given he now expected her to settle down in Amarillo. “But I want it to be my problem, I mean with you,” she whispered, trying to find the right words.

  Another long sigh was followed by a snort. “Gotta sell the ranch. There’s no other choice.”

  She frowned and reached for his hand but pulled back again. She’d already figured out that he was a very private man, the tendency toward anger making him that much more frustrated when things didn’t go his way. “I’m sorry, Rex. I really am.”

  “Just as well, I guess. Dad and I certainly aren’t getting along. Never will. At least with the sale I can help find him a suitable place to live, maybe with full time care. I don’t know.”

  “Isn’t there something you can do? A personal lo
an? An investor? You could turn the place into a dude ranch for all the tourists.” She attempted to keep the tone of her voice light, almost frothy, but the shadows crossing his face told her that he was in no mood for frivolity.

  “I’ve tried to think of anything I could do. I talked with Mr. Tyler at the bank. Kinda told him I was trying to work on a few things. I know I’d need a lot of help and that doesn’t come cheap either. Still, doesn’t matter. We’re too far behind on the mortgage. He can’t cover the payments any longer.”

  “What bank?” Her inner voice was concocting several almost evil thoughts. Hmmm... This was going to have to be handled very carefully.

  Rex wrinkled his nose. “Lubbock National. Dad has been doing business with the man since he and Mom purchased the place. I think that’s the only reason the ranch hasn’t been foreclosed on. I got the feeling Mr. Tyler was waiting until I came back to town. That’s why I’ve had so many phone calls.”

  “That you ignored. Right?” she dared to ask. She could feel him bristling.

  “I did. I just have to come to terms with this and explain the situation to my dad. Just don’t know how he’s going to take it. The ranch is the only thing he really has left of my mom.”

  This time, she grabbed his hand without hesitation. “He has you.”

  Rex squeezed her fingers, giving her a short smile. “He doesn’t want me, Cooper. I’m just the son who abandoned him years ago and he’s right. I was young and hardheaded.”

  “You still are.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Don’t give up. Do you have any time left?”

  “I can make this month’s payment. It’ll buy thirty days, but Mr. Tyler is already putting out feelers for purchasers. Can’t blame him. No one to blame but myself.”

  “You didn’t do this. You didn’t make the economy wacked or the government unstable. You certainly didn’t set out to ruin your father’s ranch. Things happen, Rex. You have to come to terms with that, as well as your relationship with your father. He’s important to you and you are to him. Family is the most important thing in life. Money, fame, fortune mean nothing without people you care about. You fight, you disagree, you say you hate them, but the truth is that blood is thicker than water. Plus, you’re not a quitter. I knew that from the very first day I saw you on the football field. You were somethin’ else and you still are.”