Valentine's Cowboy (12 page)

“Shelby will be okay. It just took me a while to accept this whole business of her not needing me anymore. Of her getting married and moving far away.”

“The little chick grew up. Time for her to make her own nest,” Jake teased, and then sobered again. “I talked to her the other day. She said you’ve been running around the island with that therapist woman she and Dale went to. She’s crazy fond of the lady.”

Sam’s heart wrenched at the mention of Valentine. His sister wasn’t the only one “crazy fond” of Dr. Hart. Actually he was much more than “fond” of her. And he knew he was “crazy” because they’d only just met. It was like that whole love at first sight thing he’d always scoffed at people about. Damn if it hadn’t happened to him. He’d had growing feelings for her ever since she’d launched herself into his arms the first night at the party.

“Shelby also told me you’ve been arguing with this lady. About the ranch. About her and Dale.” He blew out a breath of frustration. “You can be a damn stubborn man sometimes, Sam Thompson. Things don’t always have to go one certain way, you know. You gotta learn that whole thinking outside the box thing people talk about.”

“What the hell are you trying to say?” He wasn’t in the mood for skirting around a subject.

“I’m saying I understand your feelings about keeping the Thompson Ranch in the family. I respect history like that. But I also understand Shelby’s need to make a life of her own. With Dale. There in Maui.”

He rubbed his tired eyes, wanting to end this conversation on a matter he was too tired to hassle with right now. “I spent most of yesterday wrangling with this situation. A day where the ranch and my feelings about it have managed to ruin what might have been the best thing in my life.” Because of his inability to let go of the damn ranch, he’d lost Valentine.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but I’ve got a compromise proposal for you. Something I’m pretty sure you can live with.”

He started to interrupt, and then just gave in to listening to Jake.

“Let me buy Shelby out. I’m pretty sure she’d go for the idea. You and I can be partners in the ranch,” Jake continued. “I don’t care about changing the name. I don’t want to mess up the family history. I just want to take over full management. And you can go back to vet school.”

It felt like a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He sunk onto a barstool. His mind started going in all directions, possibilities he’d believed gone forever now dancing before him again. Yet, even as good as he felt about the ranch problem, depression still had hold of him.

“If that doesn’t appeal to you, I’m sure we can come up with another idea,” Jake prodded.

“No! I’m all for it. You’re a lifesaver, pal.” He decided to trust in his oldest and closest friend. “It’s just that I’ve been such an idiot. I said things… I didn’t listen… I—”

Jake chuckled. “You wouldn’t be the Sam I know if you didn’t say something pigheaded stupid every now and then. Or if you didn’t listen to something you didn’t want to hear.”

Although his situation was still bleak, his mood lightened. Jake always did that for him. “Valentine’s pretty damn pissed with me.”

“Ahhhh, so you’ve finally gone and done it. Let a woman get past your defenses and really latch onto you. Dr. Hart’s won your heart!” Jake laughed. “I’ll be using that line for a while, maybe for the next thirty or forty years. If you find a way to swallow your enormous pride and make things right again.”

“Pretty big
if
, buddy. Guess I’ll have to try, though. Because I can’t see enjoying these new facets of my life without her by my side.”

He stood, needing to go clean up, needing to do some serious thinking. Needing to do some serious praying that he could start winning his lady love back.

* * *

Valentine had just finished all but drowning in the shower when someone knocked on her door. Then she heard Jonathan through the open bathroom door as he called out loudly, “Valentine? I need to talk to you.”

She quickly toweled off a bit and then wrapped another towel around her. It didn’t bother her that he’d see her with almost nothing on; they’d been married. Yet she didn’t feel up to talking to anyone right now. The shower had helped her regain some sanity, but she still hadn’t had more than a couple of hours sleep since coming back here at dawn.

Opening the door she found a solemn, take-her-breath-away, Sam Thompson standing there ready to shove a boot in the doorway. Jonathan gave her a wave and walked away; saying over his shoulder, “Talk to him.”

She absolutely did not want to talk to Sam. She wanted to yank him inside her bedroom, rip off his clothes, and have her way with him. She also wanted to seek counseling for these insane thoughts. But she stepped back and silently motioned him by her.

He didn’t even hesitate. He walked straight into her kitchen and started rummaging around in the drawers. She followed him, stunned and puzzled. “What do you think you’re doing?” she questioned warily, still wondering why she didn’t order him to leave.

When he found what he’d been looking for, he faced her, holding up a sturdy-looking wooden spoon. “I’m about to do something that you’re not going to like very much.” He snagged her arm and pulled her out into the living/dining room and stopped next to the round glass table. “Bend over, hands flat on the table.”

“But the towel…” she protested, staring at the spoon. He planned to use that on her?  Spank her with it?
Run
! But her heart wouldn’t let her move.

In a quick movement, he took care of the towel problem and jerked it away, leaving her to stand there naked before him. His pupils immediately dilated and he sucked in a breath. The action pulled the western cut blue chambray shirt tight across his chest. In spite of what he was about to do to her, she had to admire his fine physique.
Really fine
. She wanted to touch it. Have him go skin-to-skin with her, but that wasn’t going to happen.

His bodily reactions didn’t deter him from his plan. In typical stubborn Sam form, he repeated his directions, expecting obedience. “Bend over. Hands on the table. Bottom out.”

Heart hammering in her chest, she did as he said. Nobody she’d ever known in her life would believe she submitted to these occasional spankings. She was a strong, independent, professional woman. She was also, evidently, a woman who would allow this kind of treatment from a man she respected and cared for. Sure, she was plenty put out with him about what had happened yesterday. And she was still confused about taking a real chance on getting involved with another man. But no matter how much he annoyed her sometimes or how confused she felt, she still struggled against completely giving up on him.

Hands on the cold glass table, she glanced back at him, not wanting to stand here all day waiting for this to happen. Okay, it would be all right with her if it didn’t happen at all. He might be staring at her in obvious lust, but she could also see the grim determination etched on his face.

She decided to prod him along,  “Is this for my benefit or yours?”

That took him by surprise for a second and he popped out of his momentary daze. He put one of his large hands on her back to keep her in place and raised that nasty spoon. After this she knew she’d never use a wooden spoon in the kitchen again. Especially not after the first evil Swack! landed in a manner meant to capture her full attention.

She arched upward, yelping, “Owwww!”

He pushed her back down and fired off a couple more sharply stinging swacks. She danced up on her toes. “Ow! Stop! Stop!” She’d much rather be taken over his knee and spanked.

Finally he chose to answer her earlier question as yet another Swack bit into her bare bottom, across both cheeks. “This is for my benefit.” He carefully placed another Swack on her lower cheeks. “You just get the bonus of sharing in it.”

The spoon lit lines of fire with each swat, and they weren’t easy swats. He was definitely upset with her. “Why?” she managed to squeak out between deep, pain-filled breaths.

“Because you scared the hell out of me last night.” Six more brisk Swacks! “Because you worried my sister.” Two more Swacks! had her jerking around to avoid them. “On the night before her wedding. When she should have been nothing but happy.”

She bowed her back again, standing stiff, hurting. “I didn’t…mean to worry her.” When he raised the spoon once more, she pleaded, “No, please!”

Suddenly he threw the spoon across the room and moved away. He didn’t say a word, and she could barely think beyond the lines of fire on her bottom. It took her several minutes to absorb the pain and to control her breathing. Finally she eased upright and faced him, her hands covered the stinging area. She was too miserable to even care that he was seeing her naked, vulnerable.

“I suppose you won’t be able to forgive me for this either,” he muttered, sadness replacing the determination on his face. His powerful shoulders slumped. He didn’t wait for her response, just hurriedly walked out of her condo.

“Ow,” she said to no one and gently rubbed her bottom. The man certainly intrigued her with his many facets. He could be gentle and protective, especially with his sister. He could be stubborn, very, very stubborn…also especially with his sister. With her, too. He had also proven to be incredibly passionate and wonderfully skilled in bed. But another side of him that she found oddly appealing was the dominant, aggressive side. When that slightly darker part of him was revealed, the alpha male took full charge. It led him to be a strong brother, a fierce protector.

She groaned as she bent to pick up the wicked spoon. That part of him also firmly believed in spanking when he believed it necessary. But because of all the other things about him that she so liked, she knew she could live with the darker side taking charge at times.

Her room phone rang. Still pondering what she really wanted to do about Sam, she picked up the receiver and said distractedly, “Dr. Hart.”

“I’ll come by for you at four o’clock to leave for the church,” he stated bluntly and hung up.

She smiled. “Still feeling a bit dominant, I see.”

She punched in his room number. When he briskly answered, she said with a teasing tone, “4:15” and she hung up.

* * *

Valentine paced around the condo as she waited for Sam to come tell her that he was ready to leave for the church. Ever since he’d basically stormed into her rooms earlier and then had the audacity to punish her, she’d been on an emotional roller coaster. On the climb up, she’d felt a renewed hope that maybe they could find a way beyond the differences of opinions keeping them apart. At the top of the swing, she’d remembered how his eyes had mirrored a need for her after he’d pulled off the towel. She’d felt the same way. But on the downslide of that roller coaster ride, she wondered if she were so desperate for love that she was getting involved with a man who was really wrong for her. This had all happened so fast.

Speaking of fast, she made a final dash into the bathroom to check her appearance in the mirror. Was the neckline of the square neck dress too low? Did it show too much cleavage? Was the form hugging fit-and-flare shape of the rhubarb dress too much? Was it too short, ending at mid-thigh? While she wasn’t in the wedding party and in no way wanted to take away from the bride’s special moment, she hoped that she looked… well, good enough to capture Sam’s attention again. What was she thinking? Hadn’t she just wondered if he were the wrong man? In contrast, she was probably the wrong woman for him? For a therapist, she was one mixed up lady.

When his knock came, her pulse raced. She didn’t know what to expect between them right now. Would there be a moment of awkwardness because of him spanking her only hours ago? Was he really only coming to give her a ride because his sister had asked him to do so?

He knocked again and she tried to calm the tingling nerves in her stomach. She hooked the small shoulder bag over her shoulder and went to open the door, with an uncertain smile. “I’m ready,” she said. But she wasn’t ready for the sight of him in a suit.

Her mouth watered.
Yummmm!
“You look…very nice.” Understatement, big understatement. The black western-cut suit was clearly tailor-made for him. His tailor deserved a huge tip!

Even as she admired him, she watched his gaze slide up and down her as well. His chest rose and fell on a deep, slightly shaky breath. With Sam that was a sign of pure male appreciation. He stared at the whisper-thin gold chain with a tiny gold heart that was nestled just above her cleavage. “Not so bad yourself, Dr. Hart.” His voice was thick with desire.

That made her smile and she nudged him back so she could walk by him and close the door. “You’ve such a way with words, cowboy.”

Taking her elbow, he guided her down the stairs. “I’m better with my hands.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear, sending shivers all through her. “With something else too.”

“I’ve only had limited experience with the ‘something else,’ so I’d have to reserve judgment on that.” Still, he’d already made her thong grow moist. And she had a feeling that he knew it.

* * *

Valentine sat quietly near the front of the church absorbing the atmosphere. She always enjoyed weddings, and attended many after being invited by clients she’d successfully counseled. This one appeared to be nothing like what she’d expected. The small church was nearly bursting at the seams with friends and family of the soon-to-be-married young couple. No expense had been spared on big white satin bows and enormous displays of white roses, orchids, and baby’s breath. A harpist and a pianist played soft, gentle melodies as the gathering waited for the ceremony to begin. It was beautiful, but nothing like she’d expected of an island wedding.

“Your cowboy is pure Grade A handsome,” Jonathan said on a sigh, as he eased onto the pew next to her.

While she’d been enjoying her surroundings, she’d still been thinking mainly about Sam, who waited in the outer room to escort his sister down the aisle. There wasn’t a better-looking man in the building. “He’s not
my
cowboy,” she protested weakly. “But I’ll admit he does fill out a suit nicely.”