Sweet Town Love

by Maggie Ryan

  Louisa Revealed, Women of Wintercrest Book One

  Lord Edward’s Law, Women of Wintercrest Book Two

  Claimed, Women of Wintercrest Book Three

  Designed for Submission, Divine Designs Book One

  A Submissive’s Dream, Divine Designs Book Two

  Lucy’s Journey Home, Hunter’s Ridge Book One

  Homecoming, Hunter’s Ridge Book Two

  Treasured Submission

  Charming Isabella

  Summer Solace

  Jewel’s Gems

  Lilly Blossoms

  http://www.maggieryanauthor.com/

  Follow her on Twitter @blushingmaggie

  Email: maggie.ryan.writes@gmail.com

  Or find her on Facebook

  On Thin Ice

  By

  Stevie MacFarlane

  Chapter 1

  Charlie was so angry her ears were hot. It was Friday night, which everyone with half a brain knew was singles night. The one night of the week she could hit the clubs with her friends and have fun without feeling like a third wheel. Her friends would be getting ready to strut their stuff and where was she? Stomping down the aisle of the Cassville Middle School auditorium to sit through the sixth grade production of Annie!

  Hell yeah, the sun would come out tomorrow, but she would wake up in bed alone having missed out on a possibly life-changing hook-up. Not that she’d found any recently, but hey, there was always a chance, right? This very night could be “the night” and she was missing it all because of her civic-minded boss and his daughter, Emma.

  Emma was a cute kid, but this sure as hell wasn’t Broadway. Why her boss thought his small town newspaper needed to review every school function, she’d never know and how she’d gotten roped into it was still a mystery. As the junior reporter she was the one who got stuck with all the crap jobs, and apparently that wasn’t going to change in the near future.

  Only a few weeks ago she’d been forced to walk through yards of muck at the county fair, been splattered with mud from the demolition derby, and nearly puked watching the pie eating contest. What a disgusting spectacle that was! The photographer who usually tagged along with her got out of that one quickly. He snapped a couple of shots and split while she had to wait to interview a guy who had chocolate pudding dripping out of his nose. She shivered at the memory as she sank into an aisle seat and slumped back with a groan.

  The next disaster-in-waiting was the Winter Festival. For that she’d be required to dress as a Polar Bear in a little pink skirt and have her picture taken with all the little kiddies, on skates no less. Daniel McClellan, her boss, thought it would be good publicity for the paper and he was big on community events. His brother, the doctor, like she hadn’t heard that a million times, would be there, handing out poison control information printed out on magnetic bears.

  Jeez, you’d think he was a famous brain surgeon, instead of a country doctor running a one-man practice in the neighboring town. Although she’d never met him, she pictured a slightly overweight do-gooder with glasses. It just wasn’t fair! Daniel should be here tonight, after all, it was his daughter, but his wife, due to have their third child at any moment, was on bed rest.

  Tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder she reached into her bag for her cellphone and popped in her earbuds. It was going to be a long night. Closing her eyes, she let her mix take over as she tried to imagine herself on a deserted beach, the warm breeze caressing her body and the sound of the waves…

  “Excuse me, miss, would you mind moving over a seat?”

  Charlie jumped when a hand touched her shoulder and she yanked out her earbuds.

  “What?” she demanded, looking up at the tall man waiting in the aisle.

  “I asked if you’d mind moving over a seat,” he drawled, indicating the empty seat beside her.

  “Why?”

  “My niece is performing tonight and with my height these seats are pretty uncomfortable in general. At least on the aisle I can stretch my legs out now and then,” he explained.

  “Yes, I know what you mean,” she replied, indicating her own long legs. “That’s why I came early,” she lied, turning back to her phone as a text came through.

  “I can see you’re quite tall,” the man persisted, “especially with those shoes, but I believe I have you by several inches.”

  “I didn’t know this was a contest,” Charlie snapped getting to her feet feeling sure she was nearly as tall as he. She wasn’t. Not only did he top her by at least six inches, he was much broader. Clearly he needed the end seat more than she did, and what did it matter anyway? She was stuck here for the next two hours, at least. If she wasn’t in such a bad mood, she might find him somewhat attractive. His voice was deep and smooth with a slight country twang she normally found appealing and he did ask nicely.

  “Oh all right,” she sighed. Snatching up her bag, she plopped into the next seat.

  “Thank you,” Mark replied, turning his head to hide his grin. Boy, talk about a bad attitude. She was gorgeous. Her long wavy blonde hair and those endless legs were spectacular. In her short skirt he couldn’t help but notice her sweet little butt when she bent over for her purse, but on a scale of one to ten her personality was a negative two. No wonder she was at a kid’s play instead of out on a date.

  Glancing at her left hand as her fingers flew over her tiny keyboard he saw there was no ring. Not surprising. Her long manicured nails made clicking sounds that were slightly aggravating. He ignored it; surely she would stop once the play started. He was wrong.

  From the time the curtain went up she was like a crazed teenager with a new toy. With the house lights down, each text made her cell bright and the little tinkling sound over and over set his teeth on edge. Completely oblivious to the disapproving glances and glares being directed at her, she giggled, snorted and even laughed out loud in response to one text. Finally, Mark had enough.

  “Do you have someone in the play?” he whispered, frustrated beyond belief.

  “No. Why?” she asked without bothering to look at him.

  “I was just wondering why you’re here annoying the rest of us?” he asked, not bothering to keep his voice soft.

  Several other patrons murmured their agreement, with a loud “Amen” coming from behind her.

  “It’s open to the public,” she hissed. “I’ve just as much right to be here as anyone else.”

  “You haven’t taken your eyes off that phone since I sat down and certainly not to watch the play. You’re being rude and disrespectful to the kids who worked so hard to put this on,” he insisted, leaning closer to her.

  “They can’t even see me with the lights down,” she sassed back.

  “Well, I can see you and so can other people. I want you to put that phone away, no better yet shut the damn thing off. I don’t want to hear every missed call and text.”

  “No,” she replied, whispering “asshole,” under her breath.

  Mark heard her and so did a few others by the gasps. Slipping his arm along the back of her seat he dropped it around her shoulder and pulled her close. His mouth nearly nuzzled her neck as he whispered in her ear.

  “What’s your name?” he breathed.

  “Charlene,” she replied with a gulp.

  “That’s a very pretty name, and I don’t have to tell you how lovely you are.”

  Charlie almost relaxed against him. The timber of his deep voice, the warmth of his breath, sent a thrill down her spine and she shivered. The scent of his cologne was crippling. Tilting her head to look at him, she felt his slight stubble scrape against her soft cheek and sighed. Wouldn’t it be funny if she met Mr. Right at this silly play, she thought. His next words burst her bubble.

  “However, despite all your physical attributes,” he drawled in her ear, “your manners are deplorable and unless you put that phone away right now, come intermission I will take you out to my truck, or find a quiet little corner in this great big school and spank you to tears. Do
I make myself clear, sweetheart?” he asked, brushing his lips against her cheek.

  “You’re not serious,” she said with a shudder, but somehow she knew he was.

  “As a heart attack,” he replied, chucking her under the chin to close her mouth. “And it won’t be a few swats over your little skirt, it will be skirt up, panties down,” he promised.

  There was a challenging gleam in his dark eyes Charlie couldn’t fail to miss it. She tried once again to break his hold without causing a scene and failed as he pulled her even closer.

  “Just one more text to let my friends know I’m shutting down,” she pleaded, her blue eyes wide.

  “No.”

  “I have to go to the ladies’ room,” she said quickly.

  “No,” he replied, crossing his long legs and completely blocking her exit.

  Charlie knew the only way she was getting out of this row was to hike her skirt to her crotch and climb over him, and that was if he decided to let her.

  “Who are you anyway?” she demanded sarcastically. “The etiquette police?”

  “My name is Mark and I’ve traveled quite a distance to see my niece perform. You’ve already spoiled my enjoyment for the first two acts so we may as well step outside now,” he sighed heavily, starting to rise, his hand moving to her wrist.

  “No, wait, I’ll shut it off,” she pleaded.

  Mark released her and watched as she sent one last mass text to whoever she was talking to before stuffing her phone in her purse. She placed it on the floor between them and moved as far away from him as possible. Crossing her arms over her chest, she glared at him.

  “That was your second mistake,” he said quietly as she sent out the text. Three minutes later he clearly felt and heard the cell phone vibrating. “And that was your third.”

  Charlie bent over, shut the phone completely off with a huff and waited nervously for intermission.

  Twenty minutes later she was being guided through the crowd exiting for refreshments by a man who had his large hand firmly clamped around her upper arm. He wasn’t hurting her, but she didn’t struggle either, knowing instinctively it was useless. Instead she moved closer to him, letting her body brush against his.

  “So what did you say your name was?” she asked sweetly. Looking up at him with her big, blue eyes she used her most perfected innocent expression.

  “Mark,” he replied shortly as he hurried her along, “and it won’t work.”

  “What won’t?”

  “Going all soft and sweet now that the damage is done. This isn’t my first rodeo, sweetheart, and a few long soulful looks from those baby blues aren’t going to cut it.”

  For a moment Charlie let her lower lip pout and tremble, trying to appeal to his gentler side but she gave it up as soon as he laughed out loud, shaking his head.

  “I could scream,” she snapped, finally trying to tug her arm free as he steered her past the fringes of the throng and down a long deserted hallway. Charlie barely kept up with his long stride.

  “Most likely you will scream,” he replied, checking door knobs until he found one that opened and spun her into the room. “Oh, shop class. Prefect,” he said, smiling as he looked around the room. Apparently spotting something that looked promising; Mark towed her toward a work bench and snagged a substantial paint stick, suitable for a five-gallon pail. “This will do,” he said slapping it against the table.

  “Wait, you can’t do this,” Charlie cried, swinging her purse at him and catching the side of his head with a solid thwack. “I don’t even know you.”

  “Would it make any difference if you did?” Snatching the purse out of her hand, he tossed it on the bench. His dark eyes traveled over her like a caress from her wildly disarrayed hair, her cream sweater and her full breasts. They paused at the short navy blue skirt she wore that ended mid-thigh, which she always thought showed off her long silky legs to perfection.

  Charlie sensed his hesitation and immediately tried to take advantage of it. He was very attractive but for the scowl creasing his forehead. If playing nice for a few minutes could get her out of this mess, she was all for it.

  “It might make a difference,” she breathed, licking her pink lips and forcing her body to relax. Moving closer, her fingers crept to the collar of his crisp shirt, fingering it and letting her nails slide along his neck. “I don’t have any experience with spanking, but hey, I read.”

  Mark’s lips twitched in amusement. Was there anything this girl wouldn’t do to get her way? Still keeping a firm grasp of her arm, he took his other hand and threaded it through her hair, cupping the back of her head and tilting her face to his. Intending to inspire a little fear in her, he took her mouth quickly, slanting his lips across hers. Her gasp gave him room to slip his tongue inside her mouth, tasting the peppermint flavor of the endless mints she’d eaten, crinkling the cellophane with each one until she’d apparently run out of them. He was certain it was done purposely to annoy those around her, mainly him, but he had to admit she tasted refreshingly sweet. At first her hands tried to push him away, but he wouldn’t let her wiggle out of this anymore than he would what was coming next. The ill-mannered little brat was sadly mistaken if she thought he could be manipulated so easily, and long before the kiss was over, she was gripping his shirt in her fists, hanging on.

  The announcement that intermission would be over in five minutes, shocked him. Somehow she was in his arms, embraced tightly against his chest. Lifting his head, he looked down into her face as her eyes fluttered open. The baby blue color now looked like a stormy sea and there was a question in them he couldn’t answer. Her body shivered as he released her slowly, aware that his own heart was beating in time with her breathy little pants. Forcing himself back to the business at hand, he gently bent her over the table and lifted her hips higher until her feet no longer touched the floor.

  “What are you doing?” she cried, struggling to get down as his heavy arm settled across her back.

  “Exactly what I said I would do if you didn’t behave. I’m sorry that time restraints prevent me from doing a thorough job, but we’ll have to make do,” he sighed in mock disappointment as he picked up his paint stick. “I really would much rather bare that naughty bottom and warm it up with a number of hand spanks, but as that’s not possible I’ll move right to the important part. Be thankful that the rush necessitates leaving your clothes in place.”

  Charlie saved her breath and put every ounce of her strength into getting away. She tried to get a knee up on the table and crawl forward, but he had no difficulty in holding her down. Her feet kicked wildly, one shoe flying off before Mark deftly removed the other one and dropped the heel to the floor with a thud.

  “Those are very expensive shoes,” she huffed, puffing her bangs off her face as she turned to glare at him over her shoulder.

  “I’m sure they are,” Mark replied, grinning as he brought the flat stick down briskly across her bottom. “Too bad you don’t value people as much as you value those shoes,” he observed dryly, giving her another spank.

  “Oh, ow, I do, of course I do,” she insisted, no longer actively fighting him.

  “It doesn’t show,” he said, smacking her five times rapidly as she squirmed.

  “Ow, ow, ow. You don’t even know me, so save kindly keep your character assessment to yourself,” she hissed, determined not to give him the satisfaction of making her cry although it was getting more difficult with her bottom stinging like crazy. “You’re no prize, you know,” she added.

  Mark growled and flipped her skirt up, exposing a lacy black thong.

  “Perfect,” he said admiringly before he picked up his pace and delivered twenty very firm smacks to her unprotected bottom. “I may not be a prize, but I know how to behave in public. That audience out there has parents, grandparents, aunts and uncle and others who came here tonight to see their loved ones perform, not to be distracted by a selfish young woman with a very bad attitude,” he said, finishing and tossing the
stick on the table. Yanking her skirt down, he lifted her and set her bare feet on the floor.

  He was much taller now. Her eyes filled with tears she refused to let escape as she gnawed her lower lip. There was no sense in arguing with him. He was clearly much stronger than she, and at this point, her spanking was over. Looking around, she spotted her other shoe and bent to pick it up, suppressing a groan as her skirt tightened over her flaming butt.

  “It seems unlikely we’ll run into each other again. However, you should consider that you got off lightly. When I say I’m going to spank a woman to tears, I mean it,” he said darkly. “Are you ready to go back?”

  “I…I have to go to the ladies’ room,” she said, a slight hitch escaping.

  “Do you want me to wait for you?” he asked kindly. Having taken care of business, he now seemed more than willing to resume his normally amicable manner.

  “No, you go ahead,” Charlie whispered, slipping on her shoes. “I’ll be along.”

  “All right, but come in quietly,” he warned. “We passed the restrooms in the hall. I think it’s about three doors up,” he offered before going into the hall.

  Charlie waited a good five minutes before peeking down the hallway. It was empty. Wiping the last of her tears away, she walked out of the room, down the hall and right past the auditorium. Once through the double doors, the cool night air felt good and she wished she could raise her skirt and let it blow where it would do the most good.

  What a jerk, she thought. I should have him arrested but I don’t even know his last name. Imagine a man acting like that in this day and age, it was ridiculous! And all the while spouting off about good manners and respecting others. Was it proper to drag a total stranger off and spank her with a paint stick? No, it clearly was not.

  Unlocking her car, she looked around the poorly lit parking lot and slowly raised her skirt, sitting on the cold car seat with a sigh of relief. The kiss had been nice though. No! No it hadn’t. It was just a kiss, a regular boring old kiss, nothing special, she maintained as she pulled out of the parking lot. Because of Mr. Bossy she was really in a pickle. Daniel was going to expect a glowing review of the play on his desk by nine in the morning and she hadn’t actually watched much of it at all. Oh well, at least she had the program in her purse. She could come up with something and if she made Emma the star, all would be well.