The Effing List

by Cherise Sinclair

  “Spot on, Mom, spot on.” Hailey’s laughter could lighten any irritation.

  Valerie smiled. The gods had blessed her with two magnificent children…and a grandson, as well.

  At the car, she gave Luca a big hug before fastening him in his car seat. “After all the bird chasing and fresh air, he’ll be asleep before you reach the highway.”

  “Maybe before we even get out of the parking lot.” Hailey hugged Valerie.

  When Valerie didn’t get in her own car, Hailey gave her a confused look. “Aren’t you leaving now?”

  Valerie motioned toward the stores on the boardwalk. “I’m going to visit a friend who owns one of the stores.”

  “Ah-hah, and there’s the reason you wanted Foggy Shores.”

  “Exactly. It’s also quieter than the big beaches.”

  “It was great. Good choice.” Hailey grabbed a last hug. “Love you, Mom.” She popped in her car, and then they were gone.

  Valerie felt the ache as the distance increased. “Nope, don’t even start with whining.” The goal of a parent was to raise his or her offspring to be happy, productive adults, which meant the children eventually left the nest.

  There were times she wanted a culture where three generations lived under one roof. Then again, she’d fled her parents as soon as she possibly could.

  Life was full of odd balances, wasn’t it?

  Boxing up mugs behind the counter of Linda’s small beach store, Natalia breathed in the spicy scent of potpourri, the lighter fragrance of sand candles, and, best of all, the wonderful briny air off the beach.

  I love this place. The store carried handcrafted items made by Floridian artisans and was always full of sunburned, cheerful tourists. The only dark spot in all the brightness was knowing she owed her job to Mistress Olivia.

  Back in January, after Uncle Bartolo had shouted at Natalia for what seemed like hours because she was slow at doing the accounting books, Olivia had found her in tears. After the Mistress made a phone call, Linda had offered Natalia a job.

  “There you go. They should be safe for your trip home.” Natalia handed the Canadian shopper a well-padded box containing two etched coffee mugs.

  “Thank you so much.” The woman joined her friend.

  Natalia glanced at the few people scattered through the store. Two were considering the beach tote bags. Near the right wall, a blonde woman and a couple were checking out paintings of Florida beaches.

  A Tampa woman made the next purchase—a beautiful sea grass basket Linda had woven. “It’ll hold my yarns and be lovely in my living room.”

  When she left, the man and woman took her place. The man held…one of Natalia’s paintings from the wall.

  She barely contained a squeak. “Um, you chose a pretty one.”

  “Isn’t it though?” The woman’s smile was so happy. “We’re from North Dakota, and when we’re snowed in next winter, I’ll enjoy this and remember there really are warm places on this earth.”

  The man tucked his arm around his wife and kissed the top of her head so lovingly a pang of longing ran through Natalia. “We’ll make it back here someday. Maybe not next year, but someday.”

  “And, in the meantime,” Natalia cleared the hoarseness from her throat, “you’ll have a lovely memory of the beach to look at.”

  “Exactly.”

  As they wandered out, holding hands, Natalia stared after them, heart full. They’d bought her painting.

  She’d sold other paintings—and every single time, she experienced the heart-stopping surprise that someone valued what she’d painted.

  Her family never had.

  She shoved the dismal thought away. Wasn’t it wonderful her painting of a pelican resting on a dock above sunlit water would give someone happiness during a cold, dark winter?

  “You can tell the customer you created the painting,” Linda said from behind her. “People would be thrilled to meet the actual artist.”

  Natalia turned. “Not a chance. No way. Uh-uh.”

  In her forties, Linda had a sociable nature—and a confidence Natalia could only hope to achieve someday. “No pressure. I won’t out you to your fans.”

  “Too late. She’s outed,” someone said from the other side of the counter.

  Natalia spun.

  The woman had caramel-colored hair pulled up on top of her head. She wore shorts and a sleeveless white top with deep blue embroidery the color of her eyes. What interesting cross-stitching. “Whoa, Valerie, I didn’t recognize you at first.”

  She laughed. “No one looks the same when out of a corset, right?”

  “No lie.”

  Linda was laughing. “Valerie, welcome to my slice of heaven on the beach.”

  “You have a lovely shop.” Valerie turned to Natalia. “And your impressionist paintings, Ms. Natalia Rosales, are amazing.”

  Linda beamed. “It’s what I keep telling her. In fact, she’s one of the featured artists in a gallery opening coming up. You need to come—it’ll be fun.”

  “Congratulations,” Valerie said. “And I will.”

  Natalia studied the woman. In the Shadowlands, Valerie had seemed somewhat nervous. Then again, who wouldn’t after being verbally attacked by an ex-husband’s new girl?

  Today, she was perfectly self-confident. As Linda showed her around the shop, they chatted comfortably, and Valerie’s compliments were both sincere and knowledgeable.

  When she and Linda returned to the counter, Natalia sighed. “Can I be like you two when I grow up?”

  “You lost me,” Linda said.

  “I get it.” Chuckling, Valerie glanced at Linda. “She’s like my introvert of a daughter. Ask Hailey to create a computer program and she’s right at home. Ask her to attend a party and chat with strangers? One traumatized girl. In elementary school, she hid in closets to avoid attending birthday parties.”

  “Oh, wow.” Natalia straightened slightly. “I’m not that bad.”

  “Not even close.” Valerie’s expression held approval. “We worked on her social skills, and she can hold her own at a party now, but she’ll probably never be entirely comfortable with people-centered activities. Which is okay. After all, I can’t program computers. And if you handed me a brush and canvas and said, ‘Paint something’, I’d panic.”

  The reassurance was like…like standing in a warm rain on the beach, feeling it clean the gritty sand away. Natalia sighed. “That’s what Linda keeps telling me.”

  What Mistress had been working on with her. “And I know it, but sometimes I forget.”

  Especially since Olivia had shoved her out the door, ripping all her hard-won self-confidence to shreds.

  Valerie’s smile was rueful. “Don’t we all?”

  Linda moved behind the counter. “Let me get you checked out. The store is closing early since we have a moving-in housewarming party to attend.”

  Valerie handed over a pair of blue handcrafted earrings and a matching set of Natalia’s paintings where she’d been playing with sunset tones. One showed Spanish moss hanging from a tree. The other was of a delicate blue heron in the wetlands.

  “Being in a small apartment, I don’t have much wall space, but these will fit perfectly with what I have,” Valerie said. “They’re beautiful.”

  Would she ever get tired of hearing compliments? No, never. “I love trying to capture sunlight and shadows.”

  After ringing up the earrings, Linda held them up. “The rich blue is definitely your color.” She gestured toward Valerie’s shirt. “Your embroidery looks almost like Tatreez, but I don’t recognize the designs.”

  “Some of the motifs are my own,” Valerie ran a finger down the cross-stitch. “I learned the Palestinian designs when I was growing up, but I wanted designs from my own heritage. Tatreez is one of my meditations.”

  “No way.” Natalia leaned forward. “Meditation stitching?”

  “In a way.” Valerie chuckled. “The motifs can tell a story, and I like the way it makes me conside
r my life as I pick the symbols and colors for what’s happened. What stiches should be repeated or adjacent to something else. When I embroider, I can let the world go and simply focus on that stitch and the related aspect of my life.”

  “How awesome,” Natalia breathed.

  “Sweetheart, I’ve seen you paint. You do much the same thing,” Linda said, then clapped her hands. “All right—let’s close up and get this show on the road. Valerie, unless you find a really good excuse, you’re coming with us.”

  “I…what?”

  Natalia nodded. “Yes, you should come. Totally.”

  “You can’t just drag a stranger to a party. I mean, yes, maybe to a party, but housewarmings are for friends.”

  “You’ll know some of the people. Cullen and Max will be there. And so will Sam who’ll be unhappy if I fail to get you to show up.”

  Natalia snickered. “Ooooh, good threat. Don’t make the sadist unhappy, Valerie.”

  “Really, this is a work party to help unpack,” Linda added. “The move was a hasty one, and we could use some extra hands.”

  “Oh. In that case, I’d love to help.” Valerie smiled. “I’ll follow you there.”

  Natalia followed Linda to the back to get their purses. “You are a very sneaky woman. I noticed you didn’t say who the party is for.”

  “No, I didn’t, did I?” Linda smirked. “Have you seen the way Ghost watches her? He likes her, and it’s our duty as submissives to give the Masters what they want.”

  “There’s an interesting way to look at a set-up. But I’m in.” Wouldn’t it be fun when Valerie realized who the housewarming was for?

  Following the other two out of the store, Natalia sighed. Linda sounded so positive about knowing how to give a Master what he wanted.

  So…how did a subbie give a Mistress what she wanted? Because Natalia sure had failed in that endeavor.

  Chapter Ten

  Humming to himself, Ghost wandered through his new place…flat…quarters. Hell, what did one call a living space on the third story of a mansion?

  A home?

  Not yet.

  Relocating after only two years in his apartment was sure a pain in the ass.

  But Z was a friend, and being an overworked shrink with a pregnant wife, toddler, and new home, the man didn’t need any added stress.

  So Ghost had put out some extra cash to expedite a move and ease Z’s worry about the property.

  Admittedly, the three-story stone building was beautiful. In front, the long palm-lined drive led to the parking lot on the left. Behind the mansion was a screened lanai, gardens, and pool for the private quarters—his, now. The larger area on the other side of the mansion held the club’s Capture Gardens.

  The Shadowlands took up the first floor. The second floor housed the club’s private theme rooms.

  And the third floor was now his living quarters, which held more than ample space. And was beautiful. The tall arched windows let in light—and the scent of tropical flowers blooming in the extensive private gardens below.

  The living and dining areas had brownish walls—what Jessica had called cappuccino—with white crown molding and trim. The deep red Oriental carpets he’d brought home from his tours of duty looked good on the polished hardwood floors. Since he preferred oversized, deep-cushioned furniture, his beige chairs and couch filled the big room nicely.

  However, the boxes piled high around the room detracted from the ambiance. The moving crew earlier had unpacked the bigger items—and barely made a dent.

  “Yo, you home?” Cullen’s bellow from outside the mansion would have echoed off the mountains…if there were mountains in Florida.

  What the hell? He walked through the kitchen and out the door that overlooked the patio and gardens. “I’m home.”

  “C’mon down, Colonel. You have company,” Cullen yelled.

  Company? More than Cullen—who wasn’t expected either? Hell, he hadn’t been expecting anyone.

  Since his leg was aching, he took the steps slowly, stunned as people flowed in from the parking lot.

  The tough Brit Olivia and tall, slender Anne were first. Anne had brought her submissive, Ben, who tossed Ghost a friendly salute.

  Cullen and Andrea were already inside the screened-in lanai.

  Z was carrying two-year-old Sophia and helping Jessica who scowled at the assistance. Z did tend to hover over his pregnant wife.

  Max, Doc Alastair, and their feisty submissive, Zuri, carried in a stack of pizza boxes.

  “How’s the moving going, Ghost?” Anne asked as he approached. The Mistress planted a kiss on his cheek.

  “The movers unpacked the big stuff, but I still have boxes piled everywhere.” Ghost frowned at Ben. “I’m holding you responsible for the mess my life has become.”

  His friend, a retired Army Ranger, had the size and appearance of a pro wrestler…and was a world-renowned photographer. Not something most people would guess from seeing him. He scowled. “And exactly why am I to blame?”

  “I was enjoying a well-deserved retirement when you talked me into helping you out as a Shadowlands security guard.”

  Ben snorted. “Colonel, you were bored out of your mind. Besides, if you’d been smart enough to stick to being a guard, you wouldn’t have these problems.”

  “There you have it, Ghost,” Cullen agreed. “We all know someone waggled a crop and a couple of masochists in front of you”—everyone looked at Z—“and lured you right into the dungeon.”

  Jessica giggled. “You sadists—so easy to entice.”

  Ghost laughed—and who wouldn’t? Z’s half-pint submissive was rounder than hell with the unborn baby and had the glow and assurance of a well-loved woman.

  It was odd Valerie didn’t have the same confidence. As a professor, she obviously knew her worth. She was an excellent lecturer, vibrant and interesting with a good understanding of her students.

  Had the divorce sabotaged her self-assurance when it came to man-woman interactions?

  As Sam sauntered through the gate, Ghost considered the growing crowd. “Am I having a party?”

  They laughed.

  “A housewarming one, yes, to celebrate your moving in so quickly.” Z pulled out a chair and seated Jessica. “You’re getting help with moving furniture, hanging paintings, and hauling boxes away. Also, Olivia needs to orient you to the security system here, since it’s different from the one in the club.”

  Olivia gave him a cold nod.

  “Good thing Wrecker didn’t have the codes to the security system on this side,” Nolan muttered.

  After seeing the mess in the club’s private rooms, Ghost was grateful for that small favor.

  “Start thinking of what you need done.” Cullen slapped his shoulder. “You got railroaded into being manager, and we appreciate you taking the job on. Don’t even try fighting us; you’re getting our help.”

  Ghost noted the determined expressions. “Be like trying to fight a Bradley tank. While on foot. And armed with a .22.”

  “Now you’re getting the idea.” Cullen’s laugh boomed out.

  Ghost grinned. “In that case, thank you all.”

  “Drinks are here!” Beth held open the gate as Nolan wheeled in a chest-sized cooler.

  A second later, Linda and Natalia walked in.

  Followed by Valerie.

  The evening was looking up.

  How did she affect him this way? She wore no makeup, made no effort to appear sexy, and yet she was. The way her streaky golden-brown hair gleamed in the sunlight brought back the memory of its silky weight. Her shorts hugged a soft ass designed for a man’s hands—his hands—and her sleeveless shirt showcased full breasts that were—

  Mind out of the gutter, soldier.

  “Let me help you there.” He took the paper sack from her and set it on a table.

  “Happy Housewarming Day, Ghost.” Linda started pulling paper plates out of the sack. “When we closed down the store, we dragged Valerie here with us.
”

  A frown creased Valerie’s forehead. “Um, I hope it’s all right…”

  He took her hand. “I’m very glad you came, Professor.”

  Her eyes were as deep a blue as he remembered. Simply lovely. When her lips tilted up, he couldn’t help remembering how she’d responded to his hands, his mouth...

  She flushed pink.

  Although he released her, his smile and words might perhaps have been warmer than discretion called for, considering the speculative stares he was receiving.

  Hell. He didn’t give a damn, but Valerie might.

  At a pat on his thigh, he looked down.

  Sophia held up her arms. “Gose, up.”

  “My favorite bundle of trouble.” Bending, he picked up the cutest two-year-old who ever walked the earth. She had Jessica’s fluffy light hair, Z’s gray eyes, and her very own dimples.

  When the mini-Domme patted his cheek approvingly with her tiny hand, he grinned at the two Mistresses. “You two are going to have serious competition from the next generation.”

  Anne laughed…because everyone knew she was firmly under Sophia’s thumb.

  “Where are the rest of the munchkins?” he asked Anne and Ben, then glanced at Nolan and Beth.

  “Our two have Boy Scout activities this evening,” Nolan said, “so we’re free to help.”

  “Wyatt’s with the babysitter.” Anne snorted. “Ben and I wouldn’t get any work done otherwise.”

  “A shame. I could have played with the kids while everyone else worked,” Ghost said. Best of all worlds.

  “We have Sophia because we can’t stay. A contractor’s coming to the house in a bit,” Jessica said apologetically, then pouted. “Z wouldn’t let me lift anything, anyway.”

  “Good. I’d hate to have to hurt him for being a negligent Dom.” Ghost received a scowl from Jessica and a quick grin from Z. “No, seriously. There are a lot of heavy boxes up there. I’m still not sure how I accumulated so much considering I divested myself of almost everything when I moved from Seattle.”

  “Speaking of Seattle…” Scowling, Max leaned against a table. “I’m still pissed-off I walked past you every weekend for a year before I finally realized I knew you from Chains.”