by Megan McCoy
“Feel better?” he asked.
She nodded. What was one more lie? Just pile them on!
“I’m not going to spank you for not telling me, but you have to promise to keep me updated,” he tipped her chin up and made her look him in the eye. “Promise to tell me about any and all doctor appointments or tests from now on?”
She whispered, “I promise.”
“Good. Then we will let this go today. Want to go out and get something to eat?”
No, she really didn’t. “Can we maybe please order in and watch a movie or something?”
“Not up to showing off your pretty shoes tonight?” He teased her in a gentle tone.
“Just wanting to cuddle with my man on the couch,” she said, kissing him on the cheek and whispering, “and early bed maybe?” Maybe he could love the guilt out of her. Was sure worth a try.
“All that can be arranged,” he replied.
Ronnie sat across from Katrina and looked at the wine and champagne choices that would be served at her wedding. “And place cards?” Ronnie hesitated. She wasn’t sure who all was coming to her wedding. Tyler had sent out the invitations for Logan’s family and most of her new acquaintances in town. He would know more than she would because the RSVP’s came to him.
“Oh, we haven’t even started talking about the music. Do you have a song selected for your first dance?”
Ronnie envisioned herself gliding across the ballroom floor in her white dress with rich lavender accents and shoes – oh, she needed to get her shoes dyed! “How long will it take to get my shoes back?” she asked Katrina. “I want to practice dancing in them before the wedding.”
“Back from?”
Why did this woman often look at her as if she’d grown two heads? It was ridiculous! “From wherever dyes them,” Ronnie explained.
Katrina bit back a sigh and physically stopped her eyes from rolling. How did they get from music to dyed shoes in the blink of her non-rolling eyes? “I’ll check on that,’ she said and typed into her laptop.
Where was The Sensible One? Shoot, she’d even be happy if The Hot One showed up. They’d had such a blast picking out flowers. It had been years since she’d had so much fun while at work. She played Ronnie to the hilt, spoiled little rich girl, and he seemed to be fairly knowledgeable about flowers and what was needed for the wedding. Between the two of them, they went a little over the flower budget, not that Ronnie knew or cared, but The Sensible One might. Lucas said he could handle Logan, though he confided that Logan wasn’t going to care. She believed him. She’d done high-end weddings before and it seemed no one really cared about the budget except her, and of course, despite all the outrageous demands, every penny over was all her fault at the very end. She knew how it worked by now.
Once again, Ronnie’s brain seemed to shift gear. “Do you think I need someone to walk me down the aisle?” Katrina looked up from her laptop and saw a glimpse of an insecure little girl in the eyes looking over at her.
“It has been done a few ways,” Katrina said, trying to be as considerate as she could. Knowing Ronnie’s dad and mom had both passed away, and she had no other family made this tricky. “One, the bride walks down alone. After all, who needs to be given away in this day and age, right?” Ronnie nodded at that one and took a sip, seeming to wait. “The other is a family member of the groom walks her down, such as Prince Harry’s new bride. Her soon to be father-in-law walked her down when her father was unavailable.”
“Yes! I saw that!” Ronnie said. “Wasn’t she beautiful?”
“She was,” Katrina agreed. “The other thing that can be done is the bride and groom to walk down together.”
“Oh, I could have Lucas do it and everyone would just think it was Logan, and be shocked when they see two of them,” Ronnie giggled. “But really, I don’t want a spectacle at my wedding. It’s my big day.”
Katrina almost had to bite her tongue not to tell her that ship had long sailed, but nodded professionally again. “I understand that completely. Are you leaning toward any way in particular?”
“Oh, are we having a red carpet to walk down? I don’t want a red carpet. I want one in rich lavender,” she switched the subject again.
The woman was like wrangling cats, Katrina thought. “In the ballroom? We need to go in one day within the next month and confirm some things there, including where you will be walking and changing, and how we will want the food and band set up.”
“And the two fountains,” Ronnie reminded her.
Yes, champagne and chocolate, Katrina nodded and typed in a note. Hearing Ronnie squeal, she looked up and saw The Hot One come in.
“Lucas! I thought you went home!” Ronnie threw herself in his arms dramatically. “You stayed!”
“Decided to help you move this weekend,” his eyes met Katrina’s over the top of her head and she smiled at him. “Heard there wasn’t much getting done on the packing and thought you might need a brotherly hand.”
“I do!” Ronnie said. “Sit, have a drink with us.”
“I think I will,” he sat next to Katrina while Ronnie beamed at them both. Katrina just knew she was thinking ‘look at my helpers! How high can I make them jump through my hoops’?
Suddenly Ronnie’s phone dinged and she grabbed it. “Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t want to be late for my appointment. You all have a drink for me. We were done, right, Katrina.” It didn’t seem to be a question, Katrina noticed, and offered her cheek for Ronnie’s air kiss. “See you Saturday, and Lucas, thank you so much for coming to pack!”
“And carry,” he said, flexing his arm.
“Yes,” she giggled and took a big last gulp of her drink and headed out. “I’ll call about our next meeting; good luck getting it all done,” she called over her shoulder.
“I assume I’m paying. Again,” Katrina said, watching her go.
“I’ll get it,” Lucas smiled at her. “She is my soon to be family after all.”
“If your brother really is blistering her butt, he needs to do it way more often,” Katrina slapped her hand over her mouth. What was it about The Hot One that made her brain disconnect and her mouth spew unprofessional idiocy? She needed to stop that, immediately.
“I am so so sorry,” she said.
“Maybe you are the one who needs a spanking?” He touched her nose with his finger and smiled again. Her stomach did that fluttery thing but she decided to make a joke.
“If it will help,” she removed her glasses and fluttered her eyelashes down in what she hoped was a demure fashion. What would she know about demure? Despite her professional image, she was anything but, at least she thought so. “However, since it doesn’t seem to help Miss Veronica much, I have very little hope.”
“Maybe my technique is better than my brother’s,” he said, raising his eyebrows, suggestively.
Wisely, Katrina bit her cheek before replying, ‘well, you are The Hot One’ and again, wisely, giggled and put her glasses back on and changed the subject back into safe territory. “She is a handful. I wish him, and me, luck.”
He changed on a dime, and said, “How can I help? What’s on the agenda for today?”
“Cake tasting. Ronnie and Logan were supposed to do it, but they opted out for whatever reason. We don’t really have to taste though. I can pick out something.”
“But we can go tasting!” He waved at the waitress and handed her some cash and then, held out his hand to Katrina. “Let’s go have some fun spending my brother’s money. He’s going to have a helluva cake.”
And she was going to have a helluva time, Katrina knew, as their hands touched and she felt a zing she had never felt before.
Ronnie looked at the woman in front of her. She’d been at the store, working, almost her two hours now and she was so over being here. Done. Yet this woman… she sighed. “Okay, hon, I’m going to help you out.” She said she had two small kids and her husband had left them. She had her first job interview in five years and she needed some clothes.
“All I have are jeans and leggings,” she said, looking around, her frustration overwhelming her. “I really need something decent to show I can do this job and put out a professional appearance.”
For some reason the woman melted her heart, which wasn’t that hard, she told herself. She had a big heart and she was going to use it for good. It was why she was volunteering here, after all, she changed her own narrative in her own mind. She was here to help people.
“Tell me about this job,” she asked, “And I’ll help you find something. Despite what it looks like in here, we do have some really good pieces.”
“Have you heard of Fischer Shoes?” the woman asked.
Ronnie opened her mouth, then closed it and simply said, “I certainly have.”
“They are holding a hiring fair this afternoon. I don’t know how many positions they are hiring for, but I’m hoping for an assistant manager job. I used to work in retail while I was in college, before I got married and he wanted me to stay home with the kids. A huge gap on my resume isn’t going to look good and I want to at least look the part, you know?” she said nervously, flipping through the racks. “I’m Shanna, by the way.”
“Ronnie,” she said, and looked her up and down. “Okay, hon, let’s get you dressed. What time is this shindig?”
“Two hours, so I don’t have a lot of time. My mom is watching the kids and I’ve got to get back before she goes to work later. I’ve still got my car, but if I don’t get this job, then I’m going to have to sell it, and start taking two kids on the bus.” She shuddered and Ronnie followed suit. Yeah, no one wanted to do that.
Marching over to the rack she’d stocked earlier, she pulled out a dark gray skirt and a muted blue and gray blouse. “Here, you go try these on, and I’ve got something in the back I’m going to grab.” She knew that Kate Spade bag and those shoes she’d been told were useless here, weren’t. This woman needed her help, and if there was anything she could do, and do well, it was dress to dazzle. Even she, who rarely interviewed in her life, knew that this woman didn’t want to dazzle like she did on a daily basis, but she needed to feel confident. Confidence was everything, and Ronnie was determined to help her feel that way.
“What size shoe do you wear, hon?”
“Eight, but I can’t afford shoes!” came the answer from behind the dressing room door.
“Let’s not worry about that.” Ronnie wondered what there was about this big-eyed little mama that touched her heart, but something did. Determined to help her no matter what, she headed to the back room.
“Ronnie, your time is up for the day. Come on, and I’ll do your paperwork,” Allie said, bracelets jangling.
“Oh, hon, I’m in the middle of helping a customer. You don’t mind if I stay a little longer today, do you?” Ronnie snatched up the bag and the dark gray low-heeled pumps she knew were back there. Yes, eights!
Allie smiled. “No, I don’t mind a bit. You just go right on helping.”
Ronnie looked at her, and confided, “When we go to the register, I’m going to ring up a really low price for this stuff, but then I’m going to reimburse the store, so you know. I feel like doing a good deed today, but I didn’t want you thinking I was trying to rip you off.”
“Don’t make a habit of it,” Allie said, “but just this once, that should be fine.”
Don’t make a habit of it? What did that mean? She hurried out as Shanna came out, looking adorably professional in the outfit she’d picked out.
“Here, these were in the back room, hon, try them on,” Ronnie handed her the shoes and then the bag to hold.
“I can’t afford Kate Spade!” she said, as she turned in front of the full length mirror.
“Oh, in this store you can,” Ronnie assured her. “Confidence is everything in an interview. Those are high-end stores and you need to look like you belong with the women who shop there.”
Shanna turned in the mirror, and smiled at Ronnie, “I don’t know how much all this is going to be…” she started.
Ronnie waved her hand, “Oh, hon, we’re having a sale! Don’t you worry.”
“These shoes, though,” she began again.
“Match perfectly. This outfit makes you look like a million bucks! You just going to wear it there? I think you should. Just leave it on and walk in like you own the place. Fluff your hair a little right before you go in.” She ran her fingers through her hair as an example. “Now, let’s get you checked out.”
Five dollars later, with tears in her eyes and after giving Ronnie a huge hug, Shanna left. “Good luck, hon!” Ronnie called and turned to find Allie.
“I knew you’d find something you were good at doing,” Allie said.
Ronnie beamed at her, as she went to make up the money to the register. “It did feel good to do that.” After putting her money in the register, and filling out her paperwork for the day, she went to her car and pulled out her phone, “Thomas, hon, this is Ronnie. Oh, I’m good, you? I hear you are having interviews today. Could you do me a favor, hon?”
Logan slid his phone in his pocket and leaned back in his chair. Something was going on with his beautiful bride-to-be. He didn’t like not knowing what it was and planned to find out. She was moving in with him in two days and he needed to nip this in the bud. Evidently she’d been lying to him. Why, though?
He was a nice guy, most of the time, anyway. There was no reason she couldn't tell him anything she wanted to, or that she should be telling him. There were things she should be talking to her future husband about. What was the worst thing he would do? He’d never raised his voice at her. Sure, he’d warmed her butt a few times, but damn, the woman needed it. Surely she wasn’t so terrified of a spanking she’d out and out lie to him? If that was the case, he planned to give her one she’d remember for a very long time as a warning. It would make the others feel like a walk through the mall. Those high heels she loved so much would be kicked across the room by the time he was done welting her rear.
She didn’t have a clue how easy he’d been letting her off.
He had a meeting tonight he couldn’t postpone, and then was spending tomorrow working. Tomorrow night he and Ronnie had a date with Lucas and their wedding planner for a late dinner. He planned to take her back to her house, since Lucas was staying with him, and finding out what was going on with her. There had better be a good explanation for everything he’d heard, and he’d do a little digging in the meantime and see what he could find out.
Picking up his phone, he hit her number. “Hello, darling,” he put as much warmth in his tone as he could.
“Logan! Guess what!” she squealed in his ear.
He couldn’t help but melt. All this would be straightened out, he knew. “What, love?” he asked.
“I just found the cutest set of luggage for our honeymoon!”
She was shopping, naturally. He needed to give her some tasks. Maybe instead of a spanking husband the woman needed a stern Dom. He’d done that job before and rather enjoyed it. Never long term though, always for a short amount of time. Well, Molly. He had lived with Molly for a few months, so that was long term. He’d required her to be naked and kneeling when he walked in from work. He’d had a list of tasks for her to do while he was gone and regular check-in times via phone calls, texts and pictures of her and her meals while he was gone. He loved it when she missed a time, knowing how sweet her punishment would be later. Logan smiled, thinking of her begging to sleep with him every night. He’d enjoyed that a lot. Kneeling, kissing his feet and asking so prettily if she’d be allowed in bed. He laughed out loud thinking about Ronnie begging him for anything but to stop spanking her. She’d just do what she wanted and assume she was entitled to it and everyone else should respect that. Well, she just assumed they would. Mostly she was right, and when she wasn’t, she didn’t really seem to notice.
He, however, noticed her deep down insecurity. Working to build that up so that she was almost as confident as she pretended to be wa
s his goal. He’d thought he was doing a good job, that she was settling down and coming into her own, figuring out her life and feeling safe in his love and accepted by his family. But mostly accepting herself as she was, that was what he really wanted for her.
Now, he finds out this. He sat up and shook his head at the phone where she was prattling on about luggage. He would find out. He would deal with it. It would not happen again. He would not have her lying to him. Keeping things from him. What was she thinking? That he wouldn’t know she was disappearing for hours every day. That she was hiding something? Not working on the class that was now past due and she’d failed? Not helping the wedding planner plan their wedding like she kept saying she was doing? Not meeting with Thomas about the stores she owned? Well, until today when she apparently made a call out of the blue. Thomas had thought it so out of character he’d called to check-in about it. Logan was under the impression she was talking to Thomas often about her stores. The stores she owned and that he’d hired Thomas to be the supervising manager over all of them. Thomas was supposed to be Ronnie’s support system and apparently had been doing it all.
The first time she stopped for breath, he said, “I didn’t tell you about the hiring fair today.”
“Oh, I knew about it. Thomas and I didn’t see any reason for me to be there, and you know how busy I am with the wedding and packing.”
Yeah. He knew exactly how busy she was because he was talking to Katrina, too. Evidently Katrina called him The Sensible One which made him wonder what she called Ronnie and Lucas. He probably didn’t want to know about the former and had some pretty good guesses about the latter.
“I do know. Now you have a decent dinner and then go to bed early, long day tomorrow, you know, and then Saturday we are moving your stuff here.”
“The movers are moving my things,” she said and then giggled, “well, I’ll pack my underthings. No one needs to see those but you.”
You better be packing more than your delicates he thought but said out loud, “Just mine.”