Protector: Doms of Mountain Bend Book 1 by BJ Wane (good books to read for 12 year olds .txt) 📕

walked toward him, brushing her hair off her perspiring face with the back of her hand.

Considering the late afternoon cooler temperature, he figured her strain with getting the job done accounted for her overheated appearance. Reaching into the open window, he held up the food bag. “I took a chance you haven’t eaten yet and got you a chicken platter, along with me. Take this.” She grabbed the bag, and he retrieved two drinks from the cupholder. “Coke for you, right?” His timing was perfect. She eyed the Coke with thirst.

“Yes, and not that I’m ungrateful, but you could have checked with me first.” She snatched the Coke, handing him back the dinner, and took a long drink through the straw. “Ahhh, that tasted good.” She blinked, as if coming out of a sugar-induced trance, and her eyes turned wary. “What do you really want, Shawn?”

“A simple dinner and conversation. Come on, let’s eat while it’s hot, and then I’ll show you what you’re doing wrong out here.”

Lisa glanced around the small yard, her face falling as she took in the clumps of tall grass where she’d missed running the mower. “I guess I didn’t do such a good job, huh? I’ve only lived in apartments, but I was hoping to repay the Zimmermans for the short lease agreement by saving them some time on this chore.”

“It’s not that bad. Lead the way inside. It’ll still be light enough to finish up out here after we eat.”

She let out a sigh, shoulders slumping as she pivoted. “Okay, but only because that smells too good to turn down.”

“Of course.”

Shawn eyed the enticing fit of her jeans over her ass as he followed her into the kitchen, remembering the softness of her pliable cheeks and the way her pale skin reddened so nicely. He’d stopped at three punishing swats since it was her first time over a Dom’s knee, but he’d made sure they were hard enough for the discomfort to linger for a while. Playing with her delectable butt had been as much fun as spanking the heart-shaped globes.

“Have you picked up Charlie’s since coming here?” he asked, handing her the covered platter before taking the seat across from her at the small table.

“No. I’ve only gone to the B&B’s buffet and to the restaurant with you.” She scooped up a forkful of creamy mashed potatoes and hummed in appreciation, the low murmur going straight to Shawn’s cock. “These are good,” she said, taking another heaping bite.

“Try the chicken. It’s even better. Will you join me at Spurs tomorrow night?”

Her hand paused on the way to her mouth, a closed expression replacing the pleasure she’d shown in the food. Maybe giving her time to settle her thoughts this week was the wrong thing to do as it gave her time to erect the shields he’d noticed right off.

“I don’t think so. Given my temporary stay, it’s probably not a good idea to get involved any deeper.”

“We’re already involved, so that’s a moot point. If that’s your way of saying sex is off the table, I can respect that.” He might not like it, but it wasn’t the first time a woman passed on taking things that far. Instead of pushing her, he went in a different direction. “But, that’s fine. If you haven’t visited a working ranch before, that’s something you don’t want to miss out on before returning to Phoenix. Spend Saturday with me at our place. I’ll take you riding, and we can fish for trout to grill.”

Shawn smiled, seeing the quick flare of longing and excitement on her face before she masked it and shifted her focus out the window. He wasn’t above playing dirty to persuade her. Reaching across the table, he gripped her chin, and her gaze swung back to him. “You want to, so admit it and say yes. I’d like to hear about the family Father Joe found for you to live with after I carried you away from Atkins, and what made you go into teaching and prompted you to take the short-term job here.” Dropping his hand, he buttered a biscuit, adding, “I asked Father about you several times during those first months, but he refused to say anything other than you were adjusting. You’ve kept in touch with him, so you know how close-mouthed he can get.”

“You asked about me? I thought…never mind.”

The surprise in her voice cut him to the quick. All these years, he’d thought she wouldn’t remember much about that night, including him, not enough to feel hurt believing he’d forgotten all about her. “I wouldn’t risk a kidnapping rap just to walk away without making sure you were better off. That just goes to show how little we know about each other. This time around, I would like to rectify that, wouldn’t you?”

Lisa busied herself cutting a piece of chicken breast, spearing it with her fork and waiting until she swallowed to answer, the wheels of serious contemplation going on in her head reflected on her face. He ran through his options if she refused then she finally replied, and he was able to put away the drastic measures he was considering.

“Thanks for the offer. I’d like to see your ranch. I’ve never ridden, and it sounds like fun.”

Shawn noticed she didn’t shy away from getting on a horse, and she didn’t admit she wanted to get to know more about him, but he suspected she was as curious as he. It was a start, something to build on before he could delve into what had brought her here and what caused the block she mentioned overcoming at the club.

****

Phoenix

“Gotcha,” Bruce crowed as he hung up from the sleazeball investigator he’d finally broken down and taken the risk of hiring to unearth Lisa Halldor’s whereabouts.

It had taken some doing, first finding someone disreputable