Page 54 of A Flower for Angus

“I-I just wanted to say I’m sorry about being so paranoid last night, Angus. Sometimes it’s hard to trust when you’ve been burned before.”

“Aye, I can understand that. It happens to all of us for different reasons.”

“Yes, but I shouldn’t have had a meltdown and accused you and Darro of plotting against me,” she confessed. “My temper gets away with me when I least expect it, and you didn’t deserve it.”

Angus chuckled. “I believe in women’s rights. A lass has the right to speak her mind, and then apologize fer it over a lap,” he educated her.

“Angus!” she complained, punching him in the shoulder. “Is that what you had in mind for me today? Is that why you wanted to take me into town?”

Angus winced. That last punch might be from a little bit of a lass, but her knuckles did leave an impression. And Vince’s lip had been cut by her punch, although he’d deserved that.

“It was no what I had in mind to begin with, but I’m thinkin’ verra seriously about it now. That’s the third time ye’ve punched me. Three strikes and ye’re out, isn’t that the rule?”

“What rule?” she asked innocently. “I didn’t know we were playing a game.” She peeked up at him, devilment in her chocolate eyes.

Angus whipped over to a small hamlet and put the truck in park. Then he turned to hercat-that-ate-the-creamface with a stern gaze. “Ye are a naughty wee lass, aren’t ye? Thinkin’ ye can get out of consequences by pretendin’ ignorance?”

“What?” she protested uneasily. “You never said anything the first time. Besides, I was just playing.”

Angus reached out and smoothed his long finger down the side of her creamy cheek. She was such a pretty woman. Just touching her made his tadger dance with excitement. Merely sitting beside her was an intimacy he thoroughly enjoyed.

But she was also an onery little mite.

“Ye can consider yerself as havin’ one foul ball left, and then ye are goin’ over my knee for some postgame instructions of how to play,” he replied firmly, chuckling as the tenseness left her body and she practically slumped into his chest. That was a guilty slump if he’d ever seen one.

“S-shouldn’t we get going?” she quavered.

Angus looked around with a grin. “Oh, I don’t know. This private hamlet looks like a good spot fer a guilty conscience to be cleansed. After all, ye said ye felt bad about losin’ yer temper when ye jumped to conclusions.”

“Notthatguilty.” She wiggled in the seat.

Angus threw his head back and laughed. “Then get up here on yer knees fer a good hug and kiss. Ye owe me that much at least.”

Poppy quickly folded her legs beneath her. Then she put a hand on either side of his face and bent down to give him a searing kiss.

Angus held her small waist and kissed her back, but as she lifted her head, he slipped one long arm around her tightly, and with his free hand, landed several spanks on her plump backside before she could twist away.

“What was that for?” she asked indignantly, rubbing her rear and then plopping down on the seat with a ferocious glare.

“Love taps,” he responded with a teasing grin.

“They didn’t feel like love taps.”

“Neither did yer punches, but like ye, I was just playin’,” he mocked, turning her own words back on her.

“You...you...you did that on purpose,” she accused.

“Aye I did, so be forewarned. I love yer bottom and won’t hesitate to spank it, pat it, massage it, pinch it, rub it or otherwise engage with yer delightful wigglin’ cheeks every chance I get. And if the occasion warrants, I’ll give it a good hidin’ if it means keeping ye safe and happy. How do ye feel about that, lass?”

He arched his eyebrow in question as he waited for her answer. Protecting his woman was as bone deep in Angus as was his Scottish heritage. He could give a lot of leeway with a willful lass, but in the end, he would still do what he deemed necessary. Rosie had understood that and he hoped Poppy could as well.

Poppy smoothed a lock of hair behind her ear with one slender finger. “I-I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I love what you did for me yesterday, but I’m not comfortable with being seriously punished. That first spanking you gave me hurt a lot.”

Angus understood what she was saying. No one likes to get their arse tanned. “I guess the bottom line is, ye have to decide whether ye trust me to always have yer best interests at heart or not, Poppy. And for that, ye can take all the time ye need.” He tipped her chin up and dropped a kiss on her soft lips. “Let’s get headed into town, we have shoppin’ to do.”

Poppy didn’t say anything but she placed her small hand on his thigh as he restarted the truck and got back on the road. Then he placed his big palm over hers and gently squeezed. She’d become very precious to him already and he didn’t like the thought of her moving away from Neamh, even if it was just to Inverness.

“Poppy, were ye serious about movin’ out of Neamh? Because ye can always move in with me. Ye would still be close to yer job, if ye plan to keep it.”

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