“Come on, let’s go. I’m freezin’,” he said, standing.
“No,” she replied. Drawing her legs up, she stood on the bench and perched on the back. “I’m not leavin’ ‘til you answer my questions.”
“I could make you quite easily, you know.”
He scowled down at her.
“So.”
“Lass, if you’re so curious I can spank you right here and now. You definitely have one comin’ for the other night.”
“Why would you want to? Do you think I haven’t been punished enough by my own stupidity?”
“’Tis not that at all. ’Tis what could have happened that bothers me. If spankin’ you means you’ll think twice before doin’ somethin’ so foolhardy again, ’tis worth the effort.”
“Worth it to whom?” she asked, tipping her head and peering up at him. In the shadow of the streetlamp, he was once again the huge dark shape who carried her away from danger.
“Worth it to both of us,” he snapped. “I’ll not be spending every wakin ’ moment worried about what you’re gettin’ up to. If you know there are consequences, you’ll be more mindful.”
“How do you know that? Maybe I’ll be so angry and upset with you I won’t be careful at all. Maybe I’ll be a heartbroken young woman whose husband has beaten all the spark right out of her. I’ll be a pitiful version of my former self, forced to wander the earth lookin’ for my one true love, as I’ve married the wrong man,” she suggested pathetically.
Sean laughed, snagged her wrist and pulled her over his shoulder.
“No, you’ll be a well-loved and possibly well-spanked young wife mindin’ what her husband says and tendin’ to hearth and home,” he countered, smacking her bottom as he carried her to his car.
Maeve squealed and, reaching down, pinched his arse, hard.
“That’s goin’ to cost you, lass,” he promised, setting her down and opening her door.
With a huge hand on top of her head, he plunked her down on the seat.
Maeve grinned when she saw him rub his butt as he went around the car. Hers didn’t even hurt. She had on heavy jeans and a car coat. She’d hardly felt his smacks at all.
* * *
Sean took her to a diner and watched her consume an enormous burger, chips and a chocolate shake. Lord, where did she put it, he thought, shaking his head when she ordered a hot fudge sundae. The waiter brought two spoons and he ended up helping her finish it.
“I’m not sure I can afford a wife,” he teased as he paid the bill.
“Grand, you’re off the hook,” she replied. “This may have been the shortest engagement in history.”
“You’re cute, but ’tis goin’ to take more than an empty pocket to get rid of me,” he said as he settled her in the car.
“Pity,” was her reply.
“What made me think you liked me?” he asked as he started it and waited for it to warm up.
“I did like you; I mean I do like you,” she stammered. “Actually, I may be a little in love with you,” she admitted, blushing.
“Then why are you givin’ me such a hard time?”
“I don’t want to be hit,” she said with stark honesty.
“Whatever gave you the idea I would hit you?” he demanded after he managed to find his voice.
“You did. You once said that, quote, after my Da got done skelpin’ me, you’d give me the spankin’ of my young life, unquote.”
“Aye, I did say that, didn’t I?” he asked, smiling as he remembered that day.
