by Starla Kaye
Her mother’s eyes widened, but, oddly, she remained silent. For a second. Instead of the angry protest Mandie expected, Marilyn said, “I hope you can live with these decisions you’ve made.”
The calm tone took some of Mandie’s anger away. “If what I’m hoping will happen doesn’t work out, I’ll figure out something else. But I’ll survive, Mother.”
Surprising Mandie, her mother reached up to cup the side of her face. “I know you think I’m an unloving mother sometimes, but it’s not true. Okay, I tend to be stern. But I do love you, daughter. I’ve always wanted the best for you.”
There was no denying her mother could be stern. She’d been lectured enough times in her life over this and that. But she hadn’t doubted her mother’s love. They would never have a touchy-feely, good friends kind of relationship. She’d long ago accepted that.
“Truce then?” Mandie asked, feeling better than she had in a long time around her mother.
“If he hurts you, I swear I’ll make that man’s life a true misery.”
“Who?”
Her mother smiled and stepped back. “Don’t be obtuse. That Kansas rancher you’ve gone and fallen in love with, of course.” With a sigh and a look of regret, she added, “Now, go break the news to your partners. I think they’ve been expecting this for a while.”
Mandie watched her mother walk away and confidence swelled within her. She was making the right decision. And she needed to get this meeting over with so she could focus on how to approach the man she’d walked away from and hope he’d take her back.
* * * * *
Cole sat across the booth in Pearl’s Diner from Danielle and for the first time didn’t feel anger rolling through him. She’d called him earlier this morning about needing to meet with him. This time she hadn’t sounded demanding and so he’d reluctantly agreed. Now he was waiting for her to get to why she’d called him.
She pulled in a breath and smiled at him. A real smile, something he hadn’t seen from her in longer than he could remember. “I’m getting married, Cole.”
He wasn’t sure what to say to that, or how he felt. He hadn’t loved her in a long time, if ever. But she looked different today. Softer. Gentler. Happy. Not the Danielle he was familiar with.
“Tom is a good man and he loves me, in spite of how I act sometimes.” She fiddled with the napkin-rolled-silverware. “A good man like you, Cole. I never deserved you.”
The admission took him back. “Tom does?” Hopefully the man had the spine to put up with her shenanigans.
She nodded and leaned closer so no one else could hear. “He loves me enough to not let me get away with some of the stunts I pulled with you.” She sat back, blushing. “I think you know what I mean.”
The man turned her over his knee and spanked her, like Cole had talked to her about wanting to do but had never done. Maybe he should have. Maybe then their marriage might have had a chance. No. They’d never been right for each other. Only Mandie was right for him and it was time he went after her.
“I’m glad he makes you happy, Danielle. Really. I wish I could have, but we both know things never would have lasted between us.”
She rubbed the ring on her finger, which reminded him he needed to find one for Mandie. He’d look for one before he left town.
“I’m sorry for all the pain I caused you. I was a real brat and I admit it. But I’m trying to change, with Tom’s help.”
Again she blushed and he finally recalled how gingerly she’d sat down. He’d bet she’d had her butt warmed earlier for something. It reminded him of how he’d been thinking about flipping Mandie over his knee and burning her bottom for leaving him. He knew from the many lectures Victoria had given him that Mandie loved him, but she’d foolishly decided to give him up rather than trying to fight for him. Yes, he was going to spank her for that. Then he would love her so long and intensely….
“Cole?” Danielle interrupted his thoughts.
“Sorry. Other matters on my mind.” He gave her a smile, something he hadn’t done in a long while. “I hope you’ll be happy with Tom. He sounds like just the man you need.”
He shifted out of the booth. “Now, I’ve got to go.”
* * * * *
“Ooooooohhhh.” Mandie struggled against the paddle landing steadily on her tender bottom. “Uuuuhhh.”
“Lie still,” Cole said, tucking her right arm higher on her back.
The special paddle he’d made for her, complete with her name on it, sailed down again. She’d been waiting for him in his bed, wearing a sexy red, see-thru nightie, when he’d come back from meeting with Danielle. She’d hoped she hadn’t made a mistake by just showing up. But then when Rusty had told her who Cole had gone to see, she’d gotten ridiculously jealous. She’d intended to seduce him into loving her. Instead she’d gotten bitchy. She couldn’t even remember what she’d said now, but it had led to her being shown this new paddle and becoming far too acquainted with it.
Two more swats on top of the couple of dozen or so she’d already received had her kicking her legs out and crying her misery. “Oooooowww. Stop! Please. I’m sorrryyyy.”
“Why didn’t you fight for us?” he asked with pain in his voice.
The horrible sting on her bottom made it hard for her to think about anything but it. “Why didn’t you ask me to stay?” She asked miserably.
“What?”
She angled up to look at him through teary eyes. “Why didn’t you ask me to stay?”
“I wanted to.”
Stupid, stubborn man. “Why didn’t you?”
A frown creased his brow, looking like self-disgust. “I wasn’t ready. I had to get my head straight first. You deserved better than a man who couldn’t deal with his past.”
“Can you now? Deal with your past? Go on with your life?” She sniffed back tears.
He nodded. “Yes.” He tossed the paddle to the floor and released her arm. But he held her in place.
After a second he carefully smoothed his hand over her burning bottom. “So how’d you like your paddle?” He continued caressing her bottom, his tone growing husky.
Heat built within her at his now tender touch. “I can’t say that I like it much. It sure delivers a powerful sting.”
“That was the idea.” He eased her to her feet. “Okay, rub away, sweetheart.”
Immediately she threw her hands back and gingerly rubbed her poor bottom. She sniffed back tears. “This wasn’t the homecoming I’d hoped for.”
He watched her rub her bottom, shifted to ease his hard shaft more comfortably. “Homecoming?”
In spite of the way he’d just blazed her butt, she wanted him. “I came back to fight for us, as you put it.”
The impossible man grinned. “About time.”
“That’s it? That’s all you’ve got to say about me coming all the way back here to see you?” She scowled at the paddle. “Just so you know, I’m burning that thing first chance I get.”
“No, you’re not. I’m thinking we’ll get a lot more use out of it in the years ahead.” He reached to pull her to him. “Now come here and give me a kiss.”
Mandie stepped out of his reach. “Why would I want to do that? You just paddled me.”
He grinned even more. “If you don’t come give me a kiss, I’ll paddle you again. I need a kiss from the woman I love. Bad.”
She studied his darkened eyes and saw the warmth in his expression. “You love me?” She wanted him to say the words again.
He reached for the paddle and she rushed forward to kick it further away. “Okay, you win. I’ll kiss you.”
He chuckled and stood to pull her close. “I love you, Mandie James.”
She absorbed the tenderness in his tone, relished the words. Then she curled her arms around him and hugged him. She’d missed this. She’d missed him.
He tipped her chin up and lowered his mouth to hers. He kissed her so intensely that her knees went weak. She was lost in the power he held over her, in the
fierceness of his kiss.
* * * * *
It was almost midnight when they went down to raid the refrigerator. After hours of serious make-up sex, they were both famished. But more than being hungry, Cole felt more satisfied than he’d ever been in his life. Mandie was back. He never intended to let her go away again. Well, at least not permanently. Occasionally maybe for her business, but never for long lengths of time.
He pulled a plate of covered ham slices, cheese, and mustard from the refrigerator. When he turned around, the sight of Mandie still naked and looking sated from his loving took his breath away. He put the items on the counter and knew what he wanted to do.
“I’ll be back in a minute. Get the bread out, okay?”
“Okkkkay,” she said, sounding confused.
Five minutes later he returned wearing jeans. He couldn’t see himself doing this naked, although he was perfectly fine with Mandie being that way.
“I’m feeling a bit awkward.” She blushed and he felt another wave of love rush over him. She was definitely too good for him. But he meant to keep her, always.
Not wanting her to be uncomfortable, he grabbed Bessie’s apron from a hook in the pantry. “Maybe this will help.”
She put it on, still looking uncomfortable. But he thought she looked damn sexy. Before his body became serious about taking her again with that apron on, he reached into his jeans’ pocket. Then he slid down to one knee.
Tears filled her eyes in anticipation. “Oh, Cole.” She blinked repeatedly.
He reached into the small box he held and showed her the diamond engagement ring he’d picked out before returning to the ranch today. He swallowed hard. He’d proposed before, but neither of those times was as important this time.
“I’m going to screw this up,” he said, afraid he couldn’t find the right words.
She touched his face. “Yes.”
“Yes what?” He looked at her in confusion.
Now she smiled and held out her left hand. “If you were intending to ask me to marry you, my answer is yes.”
His hand shook as he slid the ring on her finger. It was too big and he sighed in disappointment.
She touched his face again and he met her smiling eyes. “We can get it sized.”
“I can’t believe you said yes.”
He climbed to his feet, grimacing. “That was hard on these old knees.”
“You still haven’t actually asked me, you know,” she said, holding out her hand to admire the ring.
“Oh, right.” He pulled her close and cupped her bottom. “Will you marry this beat-up cowboy? Share my life. Let me share yours. Grow old with me.”
She reached around to cup his bottom. “Will you let me love you forever?”
God, he didn’t deserve her. “Damn straight, sweetheart.”
She pinched his butt, giggled, and slid out of his hold. She took off for the doorway. “Bet your boots I can beat you to the bedroom.”
He glanced at the food, decided it didn’t matter, and sped after her. He scooped her up into his arms. “Got any new tips for us, Miss Romance Therapist? Something kinky maybe?”
She leaned up to lick under his chin and he shuddered.
“I’ll think of something, My Cowboy.”
Starla Kaye
“Live, love, laugh…such simple words, but words I take to heart. There are never enough hours in my day to do even half of the things I would like to do. But no matter how crazy my life gets, I try to incorporate my words to live by (live, love, laugh) into each day.”
Visit her website here:
http://starlakaye.com
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Starla Kaye, published by Blushing Books!
Abigail’s Earl
A Cowgirl's Christmas
The Sheriff and The Mayor
His Lady Ashlynn
So Not a Cowboy
Hot Days and Hotter Nights
Aimee's Cowboy
Daniel: Braddocks Book One
Adam: Braddocks Book Two
The Great Scottish Devil
Attitudes: A Collection of Real-Life Spanking Stories
Maggie Mine
His By Valentine's Day
Cupid's Mistake
Thankful For…
Bet Your Boots
His Only Wish
Santa's Surprise
All he Wants for Christmas
North Pole Magic (box set)
So Not a Cowgirl
Ranch Christmas
Santa Wears Spurs
Law and Order
His Personal Trainer
Dude Ranch
Deadline… Whenever
Crooked T Ranch
Bah Humbug, Cowboy!
Valentine's Cowboy
Operation V-Day
Mistletoe and Holly
Taking a Chance
The Marshal's Rebellious Bride
Ranch Heat
If You Loved Me
Hawke's Lady
Blushing Books
is one of the oldest eBook publishers on the web. We've been running websites that publish spanking and BDSM related romance and erotica since 1999, and we have been selling eBooks since 2003.
