“I do not,” I protested.
Georgia wrinkled her nose. “You are a little... prissy. You like everything a very particular way—”
“And sometimes you get mad at us if we mess it up,” Bridgette added matter-of-factly.
“I do not,” I repeated. “And I am not prissy.” I looked down at the bottle I held. My pinky was sticking out as I prepared to sip my drink. Bridgette eyed me. I clamped my pinky firmly to the glass.
Georgia put her hand over mine, saying softly, “We like you just the way you are. I’m just saying that it might cause you some friction with Hayes.”
“Why would it cause friction with Hayes? It’s just me, doing my job and telling everyone what needs to be done and when,” I huffed.
Georgia shrugged. “If you enter a relationship with Hayes, he will have the final say on matters. And you always seem to like to have the final say. I’m just saying, I could see that causing some friction between the two of you.”
“And Jenkins men resolve friction with one thing,” Bridgette said.
“Spanking,” I murmured.
“Bingo,” Bridgette said.
I could be a tad uptight. And yes, I was known to freak out on our employees from time to time for their silly screw-ups. But overall, I was easy to get along with. Wasn’t I? There was only one person I trusted to give me an honest answer. My sister, Josie.
Chapter Three
Snuggling into my mom’s couch under my favorite afghan we’d had since I was a baby, I looked at my sister. She sat on the floor across from me, flipping the pages of a magazine on the coffee table. Her bleached blonde hair was twisted up on her head in the cutest messy bun. The colorful tattoos lining her arms were pretty against her pale skin, each one added to the collection during a last-minute trip she had taken. She wore the comfiest looking sweatpants—ones I would not be caught dead in—and a tee shirt with holes in it from some rock band I would never listen to. She was my opposite. And the person I loved most in the world. The one who knew me best. Taking a deep breath, I asked, “Do you think I’m bossy... and... uptight?”
Not bothering to look up from the glossy ads, Josie snorted.
“What’s that snort supposed to mean?” I asked.
“That snort meant yes. You are uptight,” Josie said with a roll of her eyes, flipping the magazine closed and throwing it onto the coffee table.
“But I’m fun. I’m spontaneous,” I protested.
She held out her fingers, counting my faults on them. “And you freak out if things don’t go according to your plans. You boss everyone around—which, don’t get me wrong, it’s the main reason the events go as smoothly as they do, but things have to be done your way.” She gave me a curious look. “Although these past few weeks you’ve been a lot easier to work with. What’s up with that?”
I gave an innocent shrug.
She rolled her eyes again. “As far as being uptight goes, you haven’t dated anyone for two years! It’s like instead of needing a guy, you get off decorating rooms with tulle and ribbon,” she exclaimed.
My face burned.
A laughing twinkle entered her eyes. “Sorry, sis—did I take it too far?”
“No.” It was true. I’d had quite a dry spell. Josie had slept with her first boyfriend at the age of fifteen, so it wasn’t like I was trying to role model for my wild child younger sister. Why hadn’t I dated in so long?
Josie’s voice softened. “Louie, in all honesty, you get the job done. If you weren’t uptight at work, you wouldn’t be able to pull off the gorgeous events you do. And you make it look effortless. So, yes... you are incredibly bossy and very uptight, and we all love you for it. Why do you ask?”
“I... I... uh...” I stammered.
She lifted a brow, playing with the stack of jangling bracelets on her wrists. “Did Hayes say something to you? He seems like a pretty hands-off boss.”
“But a hands-on boyfriend,” I mumbled before I could stop myself. My hand flew to my mouth. Damn that second drink!
Josie laughed at me. “It’s no secret, sis. I know Hayes and you have finally succumbed to your feelings for one another. I saw the kiss Friday night after the cake cutting. I tried to get you to talk about it on the ride home, but I could tell you weren’t ready. You and Hayes are a perfect match. And now that the time is right for the two of you, you need to face the facts.”
“What facts?” I asked.
“You are going to be getting spanked... sooner than later,” Josie said.
I was mortified. My head fell into my hands as I wailed, “Josie—what am I getting myself into?”
She shrugged. “Don’t ask me. I’ve been trying to get Colton to spank me for a year now. Every time I’m working on the ranch, I try to be sassy, or bend over a table, just so...” She hopped up from her spot on the floor, demonstrating for me over the coffee table. Her sweatpants-covered bottom wiggled in the air, making me laugh.
“I don’t think that’s how it works,” I said.
“Still, I try,” she said, plopping down beside me on the couch. She tugged half the afghan off me, covering herself up.
I asked, “Did you know Bridgette calls Travis... Daddy?”
Josie rolled her eyes. “Like, for over a year now. What planet have you been on? I swear—all you do is work. You need a vacation.”
How had I missed that? Maybe I was too involved in my job. Josie continued, “I sure hope Colton is a daddy. Yummy,” she said, licking her lips. “That man can be my daddy any day—”
I held up my hand to stop her. “Enough, Josie.”
“See—you are uptight. Case in point,” she sniffed.
I protested, “I don’t like hearing you talk about Colton that way. You are my little sister, and he is like a brother to me. You’ve only been working on the ranch for two years... you need to maintain a professional composure. Which does not include trying to get the boss’ brother to... spank you.”
“Fine. Enough about me. But man, you and Hayes? Finally? I can barely wrap my head around it. He’s been in love with you since what... fifth grade? I can’t wait to tell Mom when she gets home,” Josie said.
I said, “Don’t you dare. I haven’t even made it official with Hayes, yet.”
“Then why are you sitting here with your sister? Go find him and get rid of your old maid status. Maybe even get yourself laid, finally. You’d be doing us all a favor... Miss Uptight,” she teased.
“Josie Dixon! You ought to have your mouth washed out with soap,” I said.
She wiggled her eyebrows. “Maybe you should tell Colton on me.”
* * *
I sat in my mom’s driveway, unable to make myself put the keys into the ignition. So much had happened in a short amount of time, and I needed to process it all. The spanking, the dance, the kiss, the conversation about daddies and discipline with Georgia and Bridgette, the chat with Josie, it was all starting to tumble together in one messy knot of emotions.
There had to be a way to sort out my thoughts. Or at least make myself feel like steady Louanne once more. Get back down to Earth and put my feet on some solid ground. There was one thing that always made me feel better when I was overwhelmed with wedding planning. And that was—making a list.
Pulling my phone out of my purse, I tapped in my password, ‘wddngplnnr,’ and opened the notes app. I would make a list. One that would outline what had changed between Hayes and me and how I felt about it.
A list describing the course of events leading up to this constant fluttering in my stomach and how I feel about it...
The spanking—I’ve wondered for a very long time how it would feel. It hurt way more than I expected! During the spanking there were so many emotions... lust, fear, pain. But it also made me feel incredibly... sexy. No denying that! Afterwards, it grounded me at work and made me mind my manners. Overall it was a very positive experience.
The first kiss—this was the moment the lines really began to blur between Hayes and ne. How ca
n you go back to being friends after a kiss that makes your knees turn to jelly? You can’t—and I don’t want to.
The dance—being in Hayes’ arms like that... then him telling me he was in love with me! Everyone on the ranch has been trying to tell me how he felt for years. But coming straight from his mouth—my heart is still racing.
Baby girl—am I naïve to think there is no woman who wouldn’t love a big, strong man to call them baby girl? The name makes me melt and feel all soft inside. I was already used to the pet name. And it made me want to call him Daddy.
Convo with the girls—I have mixed emotions about this one. Instead of making me feel better, I think our honest discussion may have created more fear about being with Hayes than excitement. I mean, in this day and age, is it really okay to be a... spanked wife? Will I lose my independence? Become a doormat? Or will I gain something?
Josie—what a brat. Calling me uptight, lol. But really, it sounds like she is the one who should be dating a Jenkins man! How I wished I knew what I want like she does and be brave enough to go for it. Or, to be as comfortable in my own skin as Bridgette is... that would be incredible. Then, there would be no question what I would do... march right up to Hayes and tell him this baby girl has found her daddy.
Which says it all, right? I want Hayes. The man who would love me forever... and never leave me. Right?
Sighing, I read over my list. It was no use. The truth was that this thing happening between Hayes and me couldn’t be simplified by a numbering of events. I tapped on the little picture of the trashcan on my screen, and my list disappeared. Fumbling for my keys, I started my car and got on the road. I would just have to be patient, relax, and let our future unfold naturally.
Pulling up to my house, I was surprised to see the red ranch truck in my driveway. Taking my phone out of my purse, I checked my messages—nothing. There had been no emergency on the ranch, but it looked like Hayes was paying me a visit. A nervous knot formed in my stomach. Checking my hair in the rearview mirror, I gathered my things, leaving the car. When I walked down my drive, I saw Hayes, rocking on a rocker on my front porch. My heart lurched into my throat.
Why was he here? Were we going to have ‘the talk’? And, which ‘talk’ would that even be? The ‘are we boyfriend, girlfriend’ talk? The ‘things are weird between us since we kissed, and you declared you love for me the other night’ talk? The ‘how do we slow things down after years of sexual tension between us’ talk?
Or, more important, would it be the ‘are you going to spank me and be my daddy’ talk. Taking a big breath, I braved my way up the stairs to Hayes. The words I had written for number six on my list echoed in my mind... there would be no question what I would do... march right up to Hayes and tell him this baby girl has found her daddy.
His hands rested casually on the arms of the chair as he rocked back and forth. His handsome face shone under the warm porch lights. “Hey there. You have fun with the girls?”
“I did. Thank you,” I replied, sitting down on the rocking chair beside him. “How long have you been here?”
“Just a little while. The girls got back to the ranch a little while ago, so I thought I’d come by here and see if you were up for a chat. I thought you’d be home by now,” he said.
“I stopped at my mom’s on the way back—to talk to Josie. I had something I had to discuss with her,” I said.
His brow furrowed. “Can I ask what?”
I took a deep breath. “When we were out at Bud’s, Georgia and Bridgette told me I’m... uptight.” I snuck a peek at Hayes’ face. He was smiling. “I stopped to ask Josie if it was true.”
“What did she say?” he asked.
I answered, “She didn’t even reply at first. She just snorted. Which was a resounding ‘yes.’”
“What do you think?” he asked.
“I don’t think I’m uptight. I just think things need to be a certain way for everything to run smoothly.” I hesitated, then asked in a small voice, “Do you think I’m uptight?”
He smiled again. “I think you’re perfect. And there would be no events at the ranch if it wasn’t for you and the way you run things. You just need a tiny bit of adjusting every now and then.” He lifted his hand, bringing it back down on his thigh with a gentle pat.
A grin tugged at the corners of my mouth. “Thank you.”
“What brought the subject up?” he asked.
White heat covered my face. My stomach was a bundle of nerves. So quickly we had arrived at the conversation I had been putting off... possibly the reason I had put off dating Hayes for years. Time to be brave, Louanne. I looked Hayes right in the eyes and said, “They were guessing the reasons that you would want to spank me, if you and I were to enter a relationship. And... whether or not you were a... daddy.”
His smile was a full grin. It made my knees weak and my heart beat faster. He leaned in toward me, my pulse further accelerating. He asked, “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve already spanked you once for being sassy—and it worked wonders,” he said.
I gave a shrug. My mixed emotions caused a cloud of confusion to rise up around the conversation.
“And why do you think I would spank you? If we were to enter a relationship?” he asked.
“I don’t think I would let you,” I said huffily. “Besides—I’m a grown woman and I don’t need spankings.”
He eyed me curiously. “But... do you want them?” He continued to stare at me in a way that made me feel I was sitting on my porch without a stitch of clothing on my body.
A fire burned on my cheeks. My pussy throbbed, my breasts ached, my nipples peaked. I wanted his fingers back in my panties. “I haven’t decided,” I answered.
“You can’t decide if you want something or not. You just know it.” His hand reached out toward me. His finger brushed over my hardened nipple as it made its way to my heart. “In here.” Eyes trained on me, his hand left my breast, making its way down to my knee. Slowly, it slipped up my skirt. “And in here,” he said. My breath caught in my throat, my head lolling back as his fingers pressed against my wet pussy. He began to rub, picking up where he had left off in the office. “Tell me, Louanne... do you want it?” My breath quickened. I rocked the chair back and forth, moving my aching pussy up and down along his fingers. His whispered words intensified the pleasure, my clit pulsing under his touch. “Do you want me to take you over my knee? Pull your skirt up over your bottom? Pull your panties down around your ankles? Spank your bare bottom with my hand? Tell you what a naughty girl you’ve been? Do you want me to be your daddy?”
My eyelids fluttered as I gazed at him. His eyes were heavy with lust. He licked his lips as he watched my face. His fingers moved faster over my panties. Closing my eyes, I rocked harder in my chair. There was a tightening within me as my clit felt as if it would explode. “I... I... ah...” I moaned, the words caught in my throat.
I gasped as an explosion happened within me. I shuddered, pushing at his hand. I could take no more. He leaned in, his lips brushing over my earlobe. “You will be mine. And you will be spanked.” A shudder racked my trembling body. “And you will call me Daddy.”
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move.
He took my hand, leading me into the house. As we turned the corner, I gasped at the scene that awaited me. Dozens of tiny, flickering flames rose from white candles. Real wax candles that burned warm and filled the air with the scent of vanilla. They dotted the coffee table, my side tables, the mantel. A small fire burned in the fireplace. On the coffee table was a chiller full of ice, a bottle of champagne nestled within it. Two cut-crystal champagne flutes waited beside the chiller.
“Hayes. It’s gorgeous.” I walked over to the couch, taking a seat in my favorite corner and admiring the candles. No one had ever made such a romantic gesture for me before. I asked, “How did you manage this?”
“You left the door unlocked,” he said with a frown.
“Did I?�
� I shrugged. I always left the door unlocked. It was easier to get back in.
He eyed me. “You did. And we’ll be talking about that later.” A thrill ran through me at the threatening way he raised his brow. “First, champagne.”
Holding the bottle up, Hayes undid the cork, letting it go with a loud ‘pop.’ He poured the champagne into one of the flutes, handing it to me. I took it from him, waiting for him to fill his. He held his glass up, holding it to mine. “I propose a toast. To a lifelong friendship that has blossomed into love.” We clinked glasses and took a long, slow sip of the cold, bubbly liquid. It was sweet, just like his toast, and it made me smile.
Nerves danced in my stomach as I shyly eyed Hayes. He was seated beside me, the candlelight dancing on his face. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Leaning in, his hand tangled in my hair, wrapping around the back of my neck. His lips pressed against mine. The taste of champagne lingered on his lips.
“I don’t want to rush you. You tell me when you’re ready,” he said.
His eyes locked on mine, his fingertips trailing down my cheek. His thumb brushed over my bottom lip, causing shivers to run down my spine. He tucked my hair behind my ear, his fingertips stroking my cheek. When he spoke, his voice was thick with emotion. “I’ve wanted you for so long.”
My eyes lowered. A blush burned in my cheeks. Nerves filled my stomach and migrated into my chest. My heart skipped three beats as I wound my hands together in my lap. I was too shy to speak.
The tip of his finger was beneath my chin, tilting my gaze up to meet his. His eyes were warm as he questioned me, “Do you want me, Luna?”
Biting my lower lip, I gave a tiny nod. As much and as long as I had wanted this, fear took hold of me. Knots formed in my stomach. My knees were shaking. I pressed them together, hard, trying to steady them. His hand cupped my chin, bringing my face toward his. I closed my eyes as his lips met mine. My body stilled, my muscles relaxing. The kiss melted me from within. My nerves dissolved, leaving me. I felt as if I was floating. His lips pressed harder against me. His hands tangled into my hair. My arms found their way around his neck.
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