“But the blog. I remember getting an email from you almost straight away. You mean you knew all along?”
“Julia told me,” he said. “She told me I couldn’t say anything so I emailed you under a false name.”
The waiter approached. “Can I get you a drink? Are you ready to order?”
“I’ll have a Steinlager beer and the lady will have a glass of Shingle Peak Sauvignon Blanc,” Connor said without consulting her. “We’re not ready to order yet.”
“Very good, sir.” The waiter bustled off.
“But I don’t understand,” Maggie said. “Why did you take so long to spank me?”
“I worried I’d muck everything up between us. You know about my father. Hell, your own background isn’t dissimilar. Surely you understand?”
Maggie glanced at him and blushed. “You’ve never hurt me.”
“I know I’ve told you before, but the intensity of the spanking is incredible. I feel close to you.” Connor reached across the table to grasp her hand. “I love you. I don’t want to lose you.”
“But you always go out with blondes,” Maggie said.
“That was until a particular brunette seized my heart. Maggie, there’s no one but you. I haven’t looked at another woman, let alone had sex with one, since our first time together at the beach. You’re the color in my life, babe. Everyone else is black and white.”
“Really?”
“Really. I want to marry you. Will you marry me?”
She closed her eyes before opening them to stare at him. “Yes,” she blurted.
He laughed and leaned over the table to cup her face with her hands. Maggie leaned even closer and kissed him, trying to put everything she felt into that one kiss. It went on and on because she had a lot to say.
She was vaguely aware of applause, and when she and Connor pulled apart, she found everyone staring at them. Most were grinning.
“Way to go, Maggie,” Julia shouted.
“Oh, heck,” Maggie muttered. “I can’t believe I did that in front of everyone.”
“Yeah, you’ve been a naughty girl. You know what happens to naughty girls, don’t you?”
Maggie’s throat went dry. She opened and closed her mouth, licked her lips.
“Maggie?”
“They get spanked?”
“That’s right,” Connor said. “It will be a long spanking, because I have a lot of time to make up.”
“I don’t know. You’re good at cybersex.”
“But it’s not the same, babe. I couldn’t touch you. I couldn’t kiss your beautiful breasts or spank your bottom.” Under the table, she felt the glide of his hands over her knees and up her thigh.
“Here in the restaurant?” she asked with a cheeky grin. “Haven’t we given them enough of a show already?”
Connor opened his wallet and tossed money on the table. He stood and walked around to her side of the table, stretching out a hand. When Maggie took his hand, he tugged her to her feet.
“No, not here, Maggie. I have a room in the hotel next door.”
“Oh,” she said.
He grinned, his beautiful eyes glowing with love. “Yeah, oh,” he said, and without another word he swept her up into his arms and carried her through the crowded room to the exit.
