The Sheriff and the Mayor

by Starla Kaye

  He’d barely picked up the invoice when Evelyn appeared in his doorway. She nodded at the paper and said, “Cassie dropped it off this afternoon. She said you could talk to her about it, if you ever had time to talk to her. Her words exactly.”

  Before he could respond, Evelyn went on, “I take it you’re not on her ‘good’ list.”

  “I’d have to say that’s a mutual thing. I’m not extremely happy with her at the moment, either.”

  He’d tried to call her a couple of times in the afternoon, but she hadn’t answered. Then he’d tried again when he left the Taylor Ranch a short while ago. This time she’d answered and then hung up on him before he could even say anything. He was still upset about that.

  Shaking her head and giving him a chastising look, Evelyn said, “I think the two of you need to sit down together. Talk whatever problem you’re having over before it gets worse.”

  Frankly he was thinking more along the lines of toasting Cassie’s butt so she couldn’t sit down. Not wanting to share that with Evelyn, he avoided looking at her. He picked up the stack of messages and started glancing through them.

  Frustrated and not seeing anything urgent, he tossed them back onto the desk. “These can wait until tomorrow.”

  “I think so, too.” She heaved a sigh. “It’s been one hell of a day.”

  He glanced up, concerned at the weariness in her expression and voice. “You should have left here when Mary Beth came in. I worry about you.”

  “You don’t need to fret over me. You’ve got more than enough to be worried about.” But she gave him a gentle look. “You should go home, too.”

  Yes, that’s exactly what he should do, but he had something to do first. He stood, giving her as much of a smile as he could manage. “I’m afraid my day isn’t over yet.”

  She moved aside so he could walk by her into the main room. “Do you need to go back out to the Taylor Ranch?”

  “No. That situation is dealt with…at least for today.” He’d had to watch Doc put one of the horses down, put it out of its misery. God, he’d hated that. “I sure would enjoy putting my hands around the neck of that damn nephew.”

  Evelyn studied him and looked sympathetic. “I imagine most people around here would feel the same.” She placed a hand on his forearm. “You should go on home and get some sleep. You look like death warmed over. Whatever else you think you need to do can wait until tomorrow. Even talking to Cassie.”

  He felt as bad as he apparently looked, but he patted her hand and said quietly, “Some things can’t wait. You’re right. I’ve got to go see Cassie.” Part of him was more than ready to see her again. Another part of him dreaded a confrontation with her and he knew there would be one.

  Mary Beth spoke up. “I’m not sure if Cassie has gone home yet. She’s spent most of the day at the warehouse helping the cheerleaders.”

  He frowned. He knew what pressure she was under to finish up the last of her paintings for her upcoming show. She didn’t have time to spare for doing anything with this parade. But she would put her needs aside to help out anyone in the community. He respected her for that and still it rubbed him wrong.

  He grumbled a curse, only to receive a chastising look from Evelyn.

  Heaving a frustrated sigh, he headed for the door. He’d need to calm down before he met up with Cassie.

  “Just remember you love each other,” Evelyn called after him.

  “Sometimes love isn’t enough.”

  He heard her gasp of surprise at his hurt-filled words, but he just walked on out the door. He wasn’t at all sure he could keep playing these games with Cassie. Either she wanted to be part of his life, or she didn’t.

  ***

  Cassie tucked a final artificial sunflower in place and straightened. Her back all but screamed at her in protest after spending a big part of the day bent over or contorting her body around to work on the float. She was dead tired and sore didn’t even come close to how she felt. She’d used muscles that hadn’t been used in years. Tomorrow she probably wouldn’t even be able to climb out of bed.

  She stepped back to the middle of the warehouse and joined the cheerleaders as they admired their handiwork. The float for the high school was finally finished. It was the combined work of a lot of people and it didn’t look half bad. She’d had her doubts when they’d started, but she’d tried not to let the girls see that. She’d worked crazily alongside them and now she was glad she had. Even if helping out here today had put her further behind schedule on her own work. It would take a miracle to get the last of her paintings finished in time for the show. The realization weighed heavily on her.

  Unaware of her exhaustion and troubled thoughts, the cheerleaders were now all but bouncing around in delight. Ah, to be that young again with so much energy. She felt ninety.

  Emily, the cute blond team leader, captured everyone’s attention and spoke for them all. “We couldn’t have done this without you, Miss Davis. Thanks so much!”

  She felt humbled and unworthy. “I just helped with the construction,” she corrected. “Your parents came up with the supplies. This was a huge joint effort.”

  One of their parents had managed to scrounge up enough boxes of toilet paper from every source in the area to decorate the twelve-foot-long float. Another parent had found colored crepe paper. A couple of others had located fake flowers. She was still shocked that it had all come together so fast after only learning about the problems this morning.

  “But you coordinated everything,” another peppy young girl countered.

  “And you got the town council involved in finding tires to replace all the ruined ones,” Emily added. “You’re amazing. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.” The group did an impromptu cheer in her honor.

  Their enthusiasm made her smile, almost for the first time all day. Yet as she looked around, she was well aware that there were still six more floats in various stages of construction. No matter how stiff and sore she was tomorrow, she had promised to come by and help the other groups involved. So much for lazing about in bed the next day. So much for her own work.

  “I’d better get going.” She started to turn around only to stop when Emily beamed from her to someone behind her. She had a bad feeling.

  “Come in, Sheriff! Look what we got done today!” She grinned at Cassie. “We couldn’t have done it without your lady’s help. She’s amazing!”

  Once more the cheerleaders bounced around and gave their A-M-A-Z-I-N-G cheer.

  Cassie inwardly groaned and her stomach fluttered anxiously. She wasn’t sure at the moment if he still considered her his lady. Or if she wanted him to. She hesitated in facing him, but she sensed his frustration.

  Dalton walked right up next to her so that she had to look at him. He glanced down and she saw the weariness in his expression, the tight lines beside his mouth. He needed a shave. He needed a hug, but she wasn’t in the mood to give him one. Especially when she noted irritation flashing in his eyes. No doubt he was annoyed about the way she hadn’t taken his calls today. Pay back for his treatment of her. Okay, it had been petty of her. Still…

  Somehow he dredged up a smile for the girls. “It looks real good.” Even his voice sounded tired.

  She watched him look at the other end of the building, saw him frown at the obviously new tires on the trucks and trailer beds. Had he seen the invoice she’d delivered to his office? He wasn’t going to be happy about it, but she hadn’t known what else to do right then. She’d felt responsible, even though she really wasn’t. In truth, she’d known all along that she would have to take the bill to the town council. But she’d been mad at Dalton for avoiding her and had the bill made out to him personally.

  Under his breath he said, “We’re going to talk about those tires.” Then he nodded toward the other floats. “Apparently there’s still a lot of work to get done before Saturday.”

  He looked down at her pointedly, “By other people.”

  She shifted uneasily. He wasn’t going to like he
r decision to help out. But then lately he didn’t like any of her decisions.

  His scowl deepened as if he knew her thoughts. She saw him tense; saw a vein pulse in his neck.

  “My decision,” she said quietly, heart racing.

  “We’re going to talk.” The words came out as a warning and a promise.

  The night wasn’t going to end well. But then the whole day hadn’t been good. Of course she didn’t have to let him “talk” to her, especially when she was pretty sure what he really wanted to do. He didn’t have to say the words for her to know he was eager to turn her bottom up over his knee. He planned to spank her. If she would let him…

  Oblivious to the underlying tension between she and Dalton, Emily said confidently, “It’ll all get done. Miss Davis said it would. She’s amazing!” And yet again the cheerleaders high-kicked and did their now irritating A-M-A-Z-I-N-G cheer.

  Dalton’s smile remained forced for their benefit another couple of seconds. And then he took Cassie firmly by the elbow and pulled her closer. “I think it’s time I took my lady to her home. She looks on the worn out side.”

  The girls giggled and a couple of them made kissy noises, then they all giggled some more.

  Cassie’s face flamed, but at least the cheerleaders wouldn’t have any idea what was going on between them. She tried to pull her arm free, but Dalton wasn’t allowing it.

  She glowered at him. “I can drive myself home, thank you very much.”

  He led her away and, fortunately, the girls had already lost interest in them. A few steps later, he gritted out, “I’ll follow right behind you.”

  Over her thundering heart, she heard footsteps. Evidently so did Dalton and he let go of her arm.

  An instant later Harold Raintree stepped out from behind one of the floats, Jim McAdams with him. Both men looked curiously at them.

  Jim raised an eyebrow in question. “Glad to see you, Dalton, but you’re looking about as exhausted as Cassie.” He hesitated, shook his head sadly. “I heard about the animal abandonment out at Taylor’s place. Horrible thing that.”

  “What animal abandonment?” Cassie asked, gazing up at Dalton.

  He didn’t answer, just gritted his teeth. He didn’t want to discuss whatever had happened.

  “We heard about the horse Doc had to put down today,” Harold added, scowling, clearly not understanding Dalton’s not wanting to talk right now. “Real sorry to hear about it.”

  She felt sick. “Doc had to…”

  “Let it go, Cassie,” Dalton said grimly.

  “But—”

  He took her arm again and tugged her with him. End of discussion and the men were wise enough to know it. They didn’t say another word.

  ***

  Dalton had ground his teeth nearly to a pulp as he’d heard Cassie’s defiant “My decision” over and over in his head ever since he’d driven away from the warehouse. Darn woman was going to put what she needed to get done off because she was determined to help out with those damn floats.

  He blew out a breath as he parked behind her ridiculous small car in her driveway. She was exhausted, running on zip energy. Just like him. She was probably sore, too. Although he knew she was in pretty good shape, he also knew how she must have pushed her physical limits today to work with those young girls. He worried about her, even if she didn’t.

  He watched her climb out of her car and glance anxiously back at him. She looked resigned when she realized he wasn’t simply following her home, understood that he meant to come in with her. And, no doubt, she was worried about him, too. More specifically about what he intended to do to her. She didn’t need to worry that he would really hurt her. He’d never do that. But he certainly planned to burn her sweet ass.

  She didn’t wait for him, instead marched right into her house and turned on the lights. What she didn’t do was close her front door. She might be dreading what was about to happen, but she wasn’t refusing him entrance into her home. Relief swept through him at that.

  She stood at the entrance to the great room with her chin tipped up, attitude galore sparking out of her green eyes. “We’re both tired. Both feeling testy,” she stated, boldly facing him.

  “Then let’s get to it.” He nodded toward the great room.

  Just to push his buttons, she sassed him. “I take it that you don’t mean having quick and dirty sex.”

  For a second he blinked at her. His cock immediately hardened and that was exactly what it wanted. He wasn’t going to be swayed by his lower brain. “Maybe later.”

  “I don’t think so, cowboy.” While she could have insisted he leave—and probably should have, she pranced into the other room. “I really don’t know why I’m doing this,” she muttered grumpily.

  “Because you know what a brat you’ve been acting today. Answering my calls, but hanging up before we could talk.” That still ticked him off.

  She flipped on a table lamp and then stomped over to the window and closed the curtains. “It was payback.”

  “I had a hell of a lot more serious matters on my mind to think about when you called me.” He did feel a guilty, though.

  “You could have given me some kind of explanation. Something more than ‘I can’t talk now.’” She faced him and he saw the hurt in her eyes.

  He sighed. “I’m real sorry about that, sweetheart.”

  Some of her bluster faded, some of the hurt as well. “But you’re still upset with me. Still want to…”

  He gave a curt nod. They were both tired, like she’d said, so he looked directly at her. “Pull those jeans down.”

  Her eyes widened and he saw her sharp intake of breath. He waited to see if she would do it. This would be a telling point for them. If she didn’t obey, she would be telling him they were essentially finished. If she did… Well, they still might be finished.

  She seemed to barely breathe as she stepped in front of him. Her lower lip trembled, but she undid the tight-fitting jeans and pushed them to her knees. His mouth watered as he stared at the scrappy bit of black lace bikinis. His heart thudded. He wanted to…

  Then she shoved the panties down as well.

  He was dumbstruck, brain dead. He could only think about sliding into her warm body, driving deep.

  Surprising him, she snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Are we doing this or not? Because if we aren’t, then I’m going to bed. Alone.”

  He shoved the lust aside, focused on his irritation once more. “Stretch over, Cassie Anne.”

  Now she backpedaled. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  He patted his knee. “Over. Now.”

  What had she been thinking provoking him like that? What was she even doing about to slide over Dalton’s lap? To be spanked. She didn’t like getting spanked, didn’t want to go to bed with a sore bottom. But instead of changing her mind, she sucked up the courage to ease across his hard thighs. The denim rubbed against her mound and she tingled low in her body. The reaction irritated her.

  “Good girl.” He nudged her forward a bit more.

  “I’m not a girl,” she protested, although she always felt like a naughty girl when he spanked her.

  He gently rubbed her bottom, stroked a calloused finger between her legs, and flicked her clit. “No, darlin’, you’re definitely not a girl.”

  “Stop that.” She squirmed, uncomfortable with him discovering the moisture beading between her lower lips. “Just do it. Spank me, I mean.”

  His hard hand landed firmly on her right buttock. She sucked in a breath. “How about not so hard?”

  Instead of obliging her, he sent a half dozen biting smacks down. She yelped and craned her head back to glower at him, her braid landing in her face. “I’ve changed my mind.”

  To her surprise, he raised both hands. “Your choice.”

  If he let her up and she didn’t take this spanking, she knew there might not be any saving their relationship. Was she actually ready to give up on them?

  “I mean it, C
assie. This is your choice.” His gaze held hers, but she couldn’t read what he really felt.

  “You’ll be done with me if I don’t let you spank me.” She tried to see his reaction, but his expression still gave nothing away.

  “We might not find our way out of this problem between us. Spanking you doesn’t have anything to do with that.” He carefully put his hands on her slightly tender bottom. “But I’m a spanker.”

  Meaning if they did manage to salvage their relationship, she would face spankings from time to time. She might not like them, but they weren’t that big of a problem. If she loved him enough to want to be with him, she would accept his ways.

  She settled back down, uncertain and confused. “I don’t know either…about staying together or not,” she admitted. She planted her hands on the floor. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but spank me anyway. I probably do deserve it. And I know you need to do it.”

  She heard his sigh of relief and then felt his body stiffen. His hands went up, and then one came down fast and hard. He didn’t say another word; spoke only with that hard hand. By the time he was done, she was a limp, sobbing mess draped over his lap.

  When she’d recovered a bit, he helped her stand and helped her out of her clothes. All of them.

  Still without speaking he bent her over the sofa he’d sat on. As she struggled to stop sobbing and braced her hands, he shoved down his jeans. He didn’t even ask if she was ready for him, they both knew she was. His hands gripped her waist, she held her breath, and he rammed deep.

  It only took a few long intense thrusts before she cried out in her release. He followed seconds later.

  “I love you, Cassie.” He pulled out of her body and eased her up as well. “But…”

  He didn’t finish the sentence, but she understood. “I love you, too, Dalton. But…” Tears filled her eyes as he redressed and silently left her house.

  It struck her as she heard him drive away that they hadn’t used protection. Just one more possible problem to add to the rest.

  Chapter Seven