“Why? What is going on with you lately? You have been moody and grumpy for almost two weeks and that is your sure sign that something is wrong. Zane getting heavy handed?”
“What? No, he hasn’t touched me since, oh, a week.” They both laughed again.
“Well, if you want to keep your dry spell going, you need to change that attitude, girl. That gets a man’s hand itching quicker than almost anything else.”
“Yeah, well, I think he is just glad I said yes.”
Things were quiet for a bit while they shared the dessert.
“Hey, if you don’t have to go home, why don’t you and I go do something?”
“Hello, Zane?”
“No worries. He works late every night checking on the house and setting up his horse arenas, drumming up customers, and training schedules. He has the house and the new stables going up at the same time, so he doesn’t get home until ten o’clock some nights. We can go out, have a lovely evening, and be home by nine Tomorrow is your day off so no early morning. What do you say?”
“Well, I guess, if we don’t end up at a place like Boots, it will be okay.”
Shanna got a light in her eyes that Missy hadn’t seen in a few weeks and she would do just about anything to keep it there. Grabbing her things from the back, they climbed into Shanna’s car and set off for a night of painting the town red (with non-toxic paint, she hoped).
Boots was the area’s version of honky-tonk. It was getting rambunctious for a Friday night and Shanna was just grabbing her bag, heading for the ladies’ room when she felt a pinch on her butt and an unfamiliar hand slide around her waist. She stilled for a moment and then looked at the hand pointedly before following it up the arm to where it met the face of someone she had not met before. He was a nice enough looking man, but if he wasn’t Zane, he wasn’t her type. She put on a calm but dismissing smile, introduced herself, and then excused herself to the ladies making her lack of interest transparent. The man introduced himself as AJ and then let her pass. Agreeable enough man, she thought, but a bit fresh. I mean, he pinched me.
It was going on ten o’clock when AJ sat at the table with Missy, a couple of her friends and Shanna. When Missy’s friends said they were going home, and offered her a ride, she looked at her watch, deciding she was well past her curfew and accepted. Shanna felt a shiver of apprehension that she had not called Zane and told him where she was. Missy had asked her if she remembered to call him and Shanna had said she had. Well, she had remembered to call him she just didn’t do it. She didn’t want to hear him to send her home. Now, if she called, all hell would break loose.
She considered Missy’s invitation to leave with her, but she had had a bit to drink earlier and thought she needed to sit a while longer before she left to go home. Leaving her car at Boots was not even an option because Zane would want to go and pick it up tomorrow and guess where he would need to go? Right, not happening. Besides, AJ turned out to be a nice guy and he apologized for his rudeness earlier in the evening. She said good-bye to Missy and leaned back in her chair, feeling a bit lost and vulnerable sitting alone with a man who wasn’t Zane. Shrugging the feeling off and telling herself she would only be another half hour, she ordered another soda and left to the bathroom again.
When she came back, she was shocked to see Connor and Dylan standing at one of the pool tables, playing a game. Seems they hadn’t seen her either or maybe they had come in when she was in the ladies, but sitting at a table with AJ alone was not going to go over well with them.
“Hey, don’t go off just because your friend left. I’ll sit with you until you are ready to go. Sexy lady like you will attract attention and problems. Sit and talk with me. Where is it you work, sugar? I might find myself needing some of what you sell.”
“Um, I run the clinic in town.”
“No kidding. I had heard about the woman who ran it, but since I am never sick, I haven’t stepped inside.”
Shanna thought that if she talked, time would go faster and then she would go home and face the music that was Zane. She was beginning to think she didn’t care because she was safe with him and she just couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling she was having with AJ. She decided it was most likely her guilt for not calling and telling Zane what she was doing and where she was doing it. She knew he would not be happy that she was there alone. Missy would not have counted as being with someone. Missy could not have been able to keep Shanna safe. If Zane got wind of it, which he would, then Colton would hear. She wasn’t sure, but thought he would not be happy with Missy either. She resolved to have Zane understand it was her fault, not Missy’s fault.
Shanna had a quick remembrance of the last time she was in a bar but quickly dismissed the thoughts it brought with it because she was in her own county and her own friends and neighbors were here. No one who had a lick of sense would touch her because of who she was in the community and who Zane was to her. She thought for a quick minute about who he actually was to her. She came to the comforting conclusion that Zane was hers and she knew that if she wanted him to be, he would be hers forever. Did she want that type of commitment? Yes. Was she ready? She hoped so.
“Mm, yeah, my fiancé hasn’t needed to come in for a professional reason either. Hey, look, I need to get going.”
“Hey, listen sugar, don’t run off so soon. Hmm, wonder where those drinks are. Let me go to the bar and pick them up. I’ll be right back.” He patted her hand as he got up.
Familiar, too familiar, she thought. Once again, she told herself, he had not done anything that would make her suspicious. She looked around and saw that Connor had seen her and tried to get her attention. She pretended she did not see him and decided it was absolutely time to go home. If Connor were here, then Zane would most likely be done or nearly done. She looked up one last time at the pool table Connor and Dylan were at and Connor had not taken his eyes off her and damn, but he was sliding something back into his pocket. Odds were it was his phone and she had no doubt as to who the person on the other end of the line had been.
She looked at her own phone for the first time in hours and a trickle of fear slid down her spine. There had been a slew of calls from Zane and several text messages. Damn. Time to get out of here and face the music although she was sure what would be playing was not going to be music to her ears. Standing up, she reached for her bag and started out the door.
“Hey, hon, wait. I will go with you. Since your boyfriend lets you out alone without protection, I’ll just handle that for him.”
“No, that’s fine. I have to get home. My fiancé just called and said he is waiting for me to get there. It was nice meeting you.”
“No, wait.” He fell alongside her and started walking with Shanna to her car. Feeling the fear overwhelm her and suffocate her, she began to turn around. She acted as though she needed to get something from her pocket and could not find it.
“Hey, I forgot something. I need to go back inside for a minute.”
AJ put his hands on her shoulders and Shanna began to shiver.
“Whatever you lost in there, honey, I’ll replace or you will find you don’t really need it. It is a shame you decided to leave so soon, but we can get on to the next part of the evening now. I hear you are real good at having a good time.”
He began to lead her towards a black pickup that looked like so many other black trucks. As he led her to the door, he tried to steal kisses roughly, but she was able to shake him off as he opened the door. Panic overtook her and she was not in the parking lot at Boots, but in another town in the Hill Country a long way from home and Zane.
She heard someone whistle and call out to Dylan. It was Connor. Where did he come from? Oh, right, I am at Boots and he was inside. Dylan was with him so why was he calling out to him? Thank you, God. It was a distraction. A distraction that worked causing AJ to turn his head. Shanna was pinned into a corner between the door and the seat but was able to jam her heel into his instep hard. As he yelled and shoved her forw
ard, her head banged the drivers’ wheel and stunned her for a moment. It didn’t matter, as Dylan was already pulling her out of the doorway while Connor impressed upon AJ that his manners needed work.
A set of headlights was shining in her face and she had to cover her eyes, feeling wet on her forehead. Damn, blood. She did not think she had hit that hard.
Dylan asked, “You okay, honey?”
Shaking like the proverbial leaf, but more afraid of what Zane would say, Shanna begged, “Oh, Lord. Please do not tell Zane. I will just stop at the clinic and clean up. I have another change of clothes there and I can patch this up. Please, Dylan, don’t tell him this happened. He won’t ever let me out of his sight. And Connor, I need to tell Connor not to say anything.”
Dylan looked past Shanna and then at her and said, “Don’t worry, honey, I won’t say a word to Zane. I am sure Connor won’t either.”
Shanna relaxed in relief until she felt a warm body behind her and she stiffened with fear of the possibility that it was AJ, even though she knew it could not be.
Breath bathed her ear, hot, warm, breath. Then came the voice. Deep. Dark. Reckoning. The shiver this time was from the expected retribution. The evening of not quite good choices that added up to the one big colossal wrong decision brought on the tears that she had tried hard not to shed until she was safe, protected and facing chastisement. Until now.
Letting out the breath that she was holding and then taking a deep breath in and out, Shanna turned to look up into her extremely upset man’s eyes. As he saw her face, Zane swore. Not just a damn or hell, this man swore a blue streak. Then he pulled out his dirty handkerchief and dabbed at her face.
“It’s nothing, Zane. The face bleeds more, that’s all.”
“Shanna, get in the truck.”
“But, my car…”
“Now, Shanna.”
“Yes, but how am I…”
“Dammit, woman, if you do not get in that truck right this damn minute, I will start blistering your ass now and won’t stop until I am done. Maybe by tomorrow this time, I might be satisfied.”
Shanna looked into his eyes and began to cry for real. Not just a few tears, but a flood began to flow and she was angry that she had never cried until Zane. Not until she had a man who cared about her to the very marrow of her bones. They flowed quickly bringing with them sobs, like thunder after lightning.
“Aw hell, baby.”
Zane scrubbed his head with his hand and scooped this woman he would never get enough of in his arms, placing her in the truck. He leaned down to kiss her hard with a taste of desperation before putting her seat belt on, locking the door, slamming it with purpose.
The men had talked outside for a few more minutes before Zane shook their hands. He pulled Shanna’s extra key off his key ring and gave it to Dylan to take her car to the ranch for tonight. Zane then silently drove her home.
They went in to clean her wound, to stop the bleeding that was still free flowing and look at the severity of the cut. She was right. More blood than cut. He disinfected it as she gave her direction. He ignored it all and bandaged her up his way. He left her on the granite while he put the first aid kit away and placed a hand on the countertop on either side of her wiggling bottom.
“Before I ask anything, let me tell you what I know. I know you were with Missy and then Missy left to go home. I called her and she is home safe. Colton can deal with his wife when he gets home.”
“Zane, it isn’t…”
“Hush. I am not done. Instead of going home with her, you stayed and a man stayed with you. Andrew Jackson Callahan stayed, to be exact. Guess he is the one man in the county that did not get the memo you belong to me and that means you are not on the open market. It is a damn good thing that Connor and Dylan were there because there is no telling if AJ would have eventually heard your refusal. He had had too much to drink, as well.” Zane leaned into Shanna as he spoke with quiet, deliberate intent. “Do you know how long I have been trying to find you?”
“C-can I answer?”
“If you would, please.” Zane’s voice was deceptively mild.
“An hour?”
“Try again and think longer.”
“Um, three?”
“Three. And do you remember where you put your note? I could not find it. And which phone did you leave your message on because my cell must have been too far out.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Just what are you sorry for, Shanna?” Zane’s voice became intense which Shanna heard as louder. “Are you sorry for not leaving a note? Maybe it was because you did not call me as agreed. On the other hand, maybe it was because you told no one where you were going or who you would be with when you left. Maybe you are sorry for being gone for more than five hours. Or, and here is the big one, maybe you are sorry that you drank too much and couldn’t drive home.
“Possibly that instead of calling me or going over to Connor and Dylan, you decided to try to drive home anyway. Or maybe because you were just inebriated enough for AJ Callahan to think that you were a prime target and he acted on it. Therefore, he jumped your ass hoping for a good time. Maybe it is because you put in danger the most important thing in my life. Huh? Just which damn thing is it you are sorry for, Shanna?”
Just then, Dylan knocked on the door, which Zane crossed the room to answer after a moment’s hesitation. Dylan left the extra key to Shanna’s car with Zane, saying nothing other than a wish for a good night. As he turned to go, Zane, who was about to ask why they did not just take the car to the ranch, could see Connor was standing behind him and spoke quietly to Zane before leaving.
When Zane came back into the kitchen, he found Shanna rocking back and forth with her arms folded tightly around her waist, crying. Zane had been so angry and worried. He was so thankful when he had gotten the call from Connor that he could have cried. He did slam a few doors. All of his fear, hurt, and frustration came pouring out when he saw Shanna, safe and sound, if not a little shaken up. He knew he was trembling, but when he saw Shanna’s face, he put all of that aside to get his woman home. Once he had her cleaned up, everything safe and sound at home, however, his anger returned full force.
He knew even before Connor told him at the door, that he was in no shape to deal with this tonight. He was going to have to deal with it tomorrow, in the cold, sane light of day. With a weariness he had not felt since Shanna came into his life, he brought her face up to his and gave her a sad little kiss, tracing her lips with his thumb, wet with tears.
“Shanna,” he said gently, “you know we are going to have to deal with this, don’t you, baby? You know I am going to spank you for all the danger you put yourself in tonight. And most importantly, you know I love you, right?”
Shanna nodded her head.
“But, I am still too tied up in knots to do it now. It is going to have to wait until tomorrow. I need a clear head.”
Shanna looked anxiously up at Zane. “Oh, but, Zane, you have to do it tonight. I cannot bear it to wait until tomorrow. I will not be able to sleep. Please, please don’t make me wait.”
“I can’t. I do not want to hurt you. And you have been drinking.”
“You won’t. You are always so careful. Please, Zane. Listen to me. I do not know why he came on to me. I did not really drink too much. I was just afraid to drive, just in case. It wasn’t Missy’s fault. I told him I had a fiancé. I was just feeling so overwhelmed.”
“I love you so much it hurts. I am angry, but mostly from fear and relief. However, because I am still tied up, I am not settling this tonight. I need you to go clean up now, baby.”
He pulled her off the counter and pushed her hair out of her face. Running his hand to the back of her head to grip her hair, he kissed her hard before letting her go.
“Sorry, I can’t. Go take a shower, honey. I am going to bed. Come to bed after your shower. We will deal with this first thing in the morning, sunshine. I promise.”
First thing in the morning,
she was gone.
Chapter Thirteen
She spent the weekend with her parents, refusing his phone calls. She declined to speak to Zane when he came to the house. He sat for hours Saturday and Sunday, talking to her parents. She cried the whole weekend.
Shanna spent time listening to Missy.
“What has gotten into you? You have the best man next to my Colton and for you he is the best man you will ever find. He came over yesterday trying to find out where you were and if I had known then, I would have told him. You are grown up, girl. Catch a clue. That man loves you so much you are killing him. He sat and talked to Colton for hours. Does heartbroken ring a bell? He feels like he is already married. Building you that big house, living with you in that dinky apartment when he doesn’t have to stay there, putting your safety first by not pounding your butt when he was angry. All of that is screaming the words, I love you.”
Missy paused a moment to see if there was any response from Shanna but just those ever present tears silently rolling down her cheeks. Did you run because he was going to spank you?”
“No, I left because he wouldn’t. His sisters have told me that he only would punish me if he cared enough and I went too far. I have been too much trouble. He said he couldn’t do it Friday night. He said it was because he was too emotional, but that’s not the reason. I have used him up. He needs someone less bothersome.” Missy threw her hands up and decided to give her some time. Shanna thought all she had was time now that Zane would be gone from her life.
She talked to her mother.
“Shanna, that man loves you and it hurts when you put yourself in danger. He can’t protect you. It scares a man when they can’t keep what is theirs safe. You bound his hands by not telling him where you were and he was sick with worry. You need to go make up with him. Apologize, grovel if you must. That boy is my son just as surely as if you had paper between you. I always thought I would take your side, but I can’t on this, Shanna. Go makeup.”
Cowboy Welcome Page 16
