Corbin's Bend Homecoming

by Ruth Staunton

  “I love that we’re like this now though,” she continued. “I’ve never felt closer to you and living the domestic discipline lifestyle is a dream come true for me. I don’t think I could give that up. I don’t want to give that up.”

  Elation filled him, until she spoke again. “Do you think we could continue doing DD if we moved back to Rochester?”

  That wasn’t what he wanted at all. But could they do it? “Probably.”

  “What do you want to do, Sebastian?” she asked. “It isn’t all about me.”

  He was at a crossroads here. Did he tell her the truth and hope that she agreed with him? Because if she didn’t, and ultimately decided to move back to Rochester, where would that leave them? Would he be bitter about being forced to move? Would she always second guess her decision, leading to arguments and hurt feelings?

  If he didn’t give her his honest opinion, then he’d be lying to her and agreeing to something he didn’t really want, which could breed bitterness and anger for years to come.

  Sebastian decided to bite the bullet and go for it. Honesty was supposed to be the cornerstone of their relationship now, and that applied to him equally. “I’d like to stay in Corbin’s Bend. It’s a better place to raise a family, and I don’t want to take that away from Chloe. We’ve made a lot of sacrifices for your career, but now it’s time that our family comes first. And it’s the same amount of money you’re making here so other than the prestige of getting the cushy schedule a few years early, what other benefit is there in going back?”

  “It’s exciting,” she offered, but not with much vehemence.

  “Isn’t our new life here exciting in its own way too? We’re having our own adventure, as a family and as a couple, and that beats being stressed about losing patients all the time. The hospital had its down sides too.”

  She considered his words before responding. “That’s true. I did spend a lot of time upset. That won’t happen as much here. But in some ways it will be worse because I’m getting to know everyone in town.”

  He didn’t have a response for that so he said nothing, and neither did she.

  Nancy spent the next week doing girl things with Regan as much as possible. On Monday they spent the whole day shopping in Denver. Tuesday evening after Nancy finished work they had pedicures and manicures together. Wednesday Regan came over for dinner. Thursday they took a break because Regan said she wanted to take a day trip to a nearby resort town and spend the night. Then on Friday, Regan’s last night, Sebastian prepared a wonderful meal and they shared several bottles of wine.

  All week they’d both ignored the elephant in the room and not mentioned the job offer once. Of course once the alcohol kicked in Friday night, all bets were off. Nancy knew Regan had been swallowing her questions all week, but it only took two glasses of wine out on the back deck for her inhibitions to wear down.

  “Did you make a decision yet?” Regan asked once Sebastian went inside to put Chloe to bed.

  “I think so… I don’t know.” Her confusion had only grown over the last several days. She thought she’d figured it all out and made a decision multiple times, then one little doubt would creep in and ruin everything. Her current desires warred with dreams she’d held for ten years. She knew what she wanted to do now, but it somehow felt like she was betraying herself for making that choice.

  “I think you should stay.”

  Nancy’s jaw dropped in shock. She couldn’t believe those words had come out of Regan’s mouth. “Really?”

  Regan shrugged. “It’s a nice town and you seem really happy. Much happier than you were in Rochester.”

  “But I’ve always wanted to be the daytime attending in a hospital,” Nancy argued, halfheartedly.

  “And now you want to stay here and have a life. It’s okay for your hopes and dreams to change, Nancy. You’re not the same person you were ten years ago.”

  “What do you think about the fact that I’ll be living in Corbin’s Bend forever?” Nancy had tried to get a read on Regan’s thoughts about the town, but she’d been typically closed mouthed about her feelings.

  Regan shrugged. “It’s growing on me.” Tonight was apparently no different, even with the wine.

  Nancy didn’t bother to push, knowing it was a waste of time. Instead she turned Regan’s words over in her mind. Hearing it from another successful woman in her field validated her own feelings. Not that she needed Regan’s permission, but it made her feel better about changing her mind.

  “I want to stay,” she said without any more doubt. “I don’t want to go back to Rochester. This is our home now.”

  “Are you serious?” Nancy jumped when Sebastian spoke from the doorway behind her.

  She turned to look back at him. The warm night air surrounded her, and the candles they’d lit flickered in the breeze. Her life was perfect right now, and she wouldn’t change that for the world.

  “I’m serious. I don’t want to be anywhere but here.”

  Sebastian rewarded her with a grin that lit up his entire face. She knew he’d been worried all week, but had given her space to try to work through her feelings on her own. And that made her love him even more.

  “I’m so glad you said that, Nancy, because I don’t want to go anywhere either. You may have resorted to deceptive practices to get us to Corbin’s Bend but now that we’re here, we’re home.”

  Epilogue

  Sebastian, I’m home,” Nancy called as she walked through the door, slipping off her shoes and coat before entering the kitchen. The temperature had turned decidedly autumnal over the last week, not surprising since it was already October.

  “Hi, Mommy! Look what I made in school today.” Chloe slid into the kitchen on her sock-covered feet, holding her latest project and talking a mile a minute, as usual. She’d started kindergarten without a hitch, loving her teacher instantly and making new friends right off the bat. Of course, Sebastian starting his new job as a teacher at her school on the same day Chloe started may have helped ease the transition.

  Sebastian was shocked when, just a few days after they’d decided to stay in Corbin’s Bend, the elementary school principal called and asked Sebastian to submit his resume and teaching credentials for consideration for a position in the fall.

  After some discussion, they’d agreed that he should go for it, and it only took the school three days to make an offer. Once Sebastian confirmed that Chloe could stay until he was done for the day, he happily accepted. Now he and Chloe headed off to school in the morning together at the same time Nancy left for the clinic.

  “How was your day, sweetie?” Nancy asked, bending down to give Chloe a tight squeeze.

  “Good. We went to art today and I finished my ocean picture. Look, here’s a dolphin and a turtle and an octopus…” Chloe continued on, reciting all the sea life she’d learned about over the past month and included in her picture. Nancy listened with half an ear, wondering where Sebastian was. Usually he greeted her at the door with Chloe, mostly because he normally was in the kitchen making dinner when Nancy arrived home every day.

  When Chloe finally had to take a breath, Nancy seized the opportunity to slip in a question. “Do you know where Daddy is?”

  “In your room on the phone.”

  That was strange, Nancy thought as she moved towards the stairs. “I wonder who he’s talking to?” she asked aloud, not expecting a response.

  But Chloe had the answer. “Aunt Regan.” That made Nancy pause halfway up the stairs and turn to peer down at Chloe, who was right on her tail.

  “Really? How do you know that?”

  “He said Aunt Regan was upset and he needed to talk to her in private.” Chloe paused, thinking hard. “Oh, and he said to let you know he was upstairs when you got home.”

  Nancy couldn’t help but laugh at Chloe’s sheepish expression, though her words made no sense. Why would Sebastian need to talk to Regan privately? Not that she was concerned about anything improper between the two of them. She
and Sebastian were rock solid, and becoming stronger as a couple every day. Adding DD to their marriage, with both of them fully embracing it, was the best thing they ever did. Nancy just hoped Regan was okay.

  “Why don’t you go put your picture on the fridge, Chloe?” Nancy suggested as she approached the closed bedroom door. She suspected that whatever Sebastian was talking to Regan about was not meant for little ears.

  “Okay, Mommy.” Chloe dashed back down the stairs, on a mission now, leaving Nancy in the hall alone. She couldn’t hear anything through the door, so she had no clue what she’d be walking into. With nothing left to do but enter, she opened the door, only to find Sebastian tapping out a message on his phone. Not talking to Regan.

  “Hey, honey, what’s going on? Is everything all right with Regan?”

  “Give me one minute to finish this email to Brent,” Sebastian responded without looking up.

  Why was he emailing Brent when she needed to know about Regan? Nancy felt her old impatience flaring up, urging her to demand answers now, but fortunately she smothered it, knowing she should give Sebastian the time he asked for without harassment. He was in the middle of something and it was important to him, and she knew better than to be rude and interrupt. At least she did now.

  It was a lesson she’d learned the hard way, after pestering him with questions about his new job while he was on the phone. She’d assumed he was talking to Sean about some silly HOH thing, but Sebastian was actually speaking with his new boss, finalizing some last minute details for his new classroom. Unfortunately, he’d informed her of her mistaken impression while she was bent over their bed, bottom in the air. He’d also firmly impressed upon her the need for politeness and manners, even when she felt like she had important questions. So now she forced herself to wait.

  After what had to have been at least five minutes, not one like he’d said, though she’d keep that thought to herself, he looked up and smiled at her.

  “Thank you for waiting patiently.”

  Nancy returned his smile, grateful she had a husband willing to acknowledge even her smallest successes. “It was hard,” she admitted. Nancy didn’t hide anything from Sebastian any more, even fleeting feelings that it never would have occurred to her to mention before. But now that he was done, her tenuous grip on restraint disappeared. “What’s going on with Regan? Does she need something?”

  “She wanted to know who she could contact about applying for a position at the clinic and to live in the community.” Nancy’s jaw dropped at this news, but Sebastian kept on going. “She also wanted to know if she could come out for a visit and stay with us. Of course I told her yes, but she didn’t really have an exact timeframe, said she needed to check with her boss first, so I told her to let you know.”

  “Wow.” Nancy couldn’t think of anything else to say. That was the last thing she’d expected him to say. Regan loved being busy, loved the hustle of the hospital and the rush of the emergency room. Working at the clinic would be a huge change, especially since she didn’t have a family to come home to every night. “Did she say why she wanted to leave Rochester?”

  “I tried to get her to tell me, but all she would say is that she needed a change and it was pretty here. I stopped asking because she started getting upset, so I gave her Brent’s contact information and let her go. Then I sent Brent an email giving him a heads up that she’d be contacting him. I think you should try to call her tonight to see what you can find out.”

  “Of course.” Nancy crossed the room and climbed on Sebastian’s lap. “You’re the best husband ever, you know that?”

  “Only because you made me that way,” he countered, resting his hands on her hips. “Was your day good?”

  “It was kind of rough, but I’d rather talk about that later. Right now I want you to give me a kiss.”

  “You’re a little bossy today, aren’t you? Be careful. You know what happens to young ladies who don’t know their place.” Sebastian gave her a wicked look, promising all sorts of delicious fun.

  “I may have forgotten. You should probably remind me tonight.”

  “Good thing it’s maintenance night, isn’t it?” He rubbed her behind as he spoke, making Nancy squirm in anticipation on his lap. Then he pulled her close, until their lips almost touched.

  “Yes, it definitely is.”

  The End

  Tabitha Marks

  Tabitha Marks lives in the Northeast with her husband and two children. She prefers books to television, coffee to tea, jeans to dresses, and beer to wine. Her depressingly limited spare time is usually spent either reading or writing. Except when she’s dragging her husband across state lines to attend rock concerts.

  Don’t miss the rest of the Corbin’s Bend Series!

  Welcome to Corbin’s Bend

  Return to Corbin’s Bend

  At Home in Corbin’s Bend

  Corbin’s Bend Homecoming

  Love in the Rockies

  Don’t miss these great titles by Tabitha Marks and Blushing Books!

  Chances of Discipline Series

  Last Chance - Book One

  Surprise Chance - Book Two

  Chance Encounter - Book Three

  Risky Chance - Book Four

  Chance of Redemption - Book Five

  Connect with Tabitha Marks:

  www.tabithamarks.com

  A Holiday Ruse

  Rayanna Jamison

  ©2015 by Blushing Books® and Rayanna Jamison

  All rights reserved.

  No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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  Rayanna Jamison

  A Holiday Ruse

  Ebook ISBN: 978-1-68259-200-7

  Cover Design by ABCD Graphics

  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as Blushing Books' or the author's advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.

  Prologue

  That was a bit of an exaggeration tonight, don’t you think?” Carlton’s face remained blank as he slowly rolled up the sleeves of his white dress shirt.

  Cecily gulped, unable to peel her gaze from his forearms as inch by inch his dark skin was revealed in contrast with the crisp white of his pristine shirt. It was an action that normally meant nothing to her, as unambiguous as the straightening of his tie, or the smoothing of his slacks when he stood up.

  However, ever since she had read her mother’s latest book, and then others like it, she couldn’t watch the seemingly innocent gesture without sending delicious shivers of anticipation down her spine. Her mouth went dry as he crossed the room to stand in front of her expectantly, eyebrows slightly raised as he waited for her response.

  “I don’t know what you mean.” Her voice remained outwardly cool, even as her stomach did flips and her panties moistened just looking at him. She had never really noticed it before, but Carlton was a born dominant. Cecily crossed her legs tightly in front of her, willing her body to stop reacting this way. One thing was certain—she was no submissive.

  “You know exactly what I mean,” Carlton persisted, taking her chin into his large hands, and tilting her face upwards to meet his unwavering gaze. “That was a dirty stunt you pulled tonight at the book signing. The plan was to go, surprise her by showing our support, and inform her that we were moving into the area. Maybe invite her to meet us for dinner over the weekend while we were in town, or ask her to help
us house hunt. Simple, straight-forward, easy.”

  She gulped and nodded curtly, unable to pull her eyes away from his, his pupils seeming to darken with every word he spoke. “You went rogue on me, Cecily. What happened?” Dropping her chin, he stepped away, his hands fingering his belt as he continued the process of undressing.

  “I panicked,” she squeaked, her eyes glued to the thick strip of leather at his waist. Every move Carlton made was slow, methodical, and predictable—until it wasn’t.

  “Panic? Is that what it was? It seemed a little more like an ambush to me. For god’s sake, Cecily, that was my first time meeting your mother, and now she probably thinks I’m some spank-happy ogre stuck in the dark ages.”

  “Oh, that will just make her like you more,” Cecily muttered, quickly dismissing his worries, realizing that he had no idea that her mother didn’t just write spanking fiction—she actually lived it, and had for many years. First with her husband Greg, Cecily’s father, and now with her new husband Jeff. “Besides, it wasn’t a lie!” Her voice rose shrilly to make her point. “Our marriage has improved since we read her book!”

  Her husband’s face relaxed some then, as he smirked at her, hands crossed across his chest, his belt dangling from its loops. “Cecily, we have been married for three years, and in that time we have spent a total of four months together, half of which was over the last two. Sharing breakfast two days in a row counts as an improvement!”

  Her face flushed as she silently acknowledged the truth in his statement. Their marriage had been sudden and unexpected and had continued out of convenience only for several years.