he liked her. Between admiring her gumption in packing up and leaving the only place she’d ever lived to take a short-term job and enjoying the contrast between her submissive sexual nature and those sparks of annoyed defiance he’d caught in her eyes, he found it difficult to keep his distance.
She intrigued him, and given he had experienced that same tug of protectiveness he’d felt all those years ago more than once since they’d reunited, he wasn’t about to walk away yet. There must be a reason she had chosen to come here knowing the three of them lived in Mountain Bend. And a reason she’d left Arizona in the first place. Those unanswered questions, coupled with his dominant physical attraction, made her impossible to resist.
Starting the engine, Shawn decided he’d given her enough time to gather her thoughts and to recoup from their scene and discussion last weekend. Since it was after five, he swung through Charlie’s Chicken and picked up dinner then drove to the bungalow she rented from the Zimmermans, hoping to catch her at home. Turning the corner onto Maple, he spotted her yellow VW first then saw her pushing a lawn mower along the side of the duplex.
With her head down and a fierce expression of determination on her face, Lisa didn’t notice as he parked behind her car, got out, and leaned against his cruiser with his arms crossed. Her slim arms strained as she struggled to get through the overgrown grass, and, from the odd pattern and missed areas in the mowed front, it appeared she was new to yard work. She looked up at the same time as she pulled back with the mower then quickly jumped to avoid running over her foot. The scowl she sent him as she cut the engine off indicated she blamed him.
“What are you doing here?” Lisa huffed, looking none too pleased as she 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