Page 22 of Ranch Rules

Lora did pick it up quickly, so much so in fact that she was soon comfortable talking while they worked. “When I first got here I couldn’t believe how primitive the place was.” Her nose scrunched up in distaste at the memory.

“Not exactly a four-star vacation spot,” Natalie put in.

“No, definitely not.” She giggled. “And then when Nate spanked me for the first time—” Lora lowered her voice as though saying the s word would summon him and glanced at the door to double-check. “I was pretty mad.”

“Yeah.” Natalie laughed ruefully. “I can get that.”

“I mean, of all the ridiculous, barbarous places in the world... it felt like the clock had turned back sixty years or something.”

Natalie chuckled her agreement.

“Except the fact that there’s this...” She gestured with a hand toward the wall where so many implements hung. “So, it was pretty clear from the onset that they take their spankings very seriously here. I don’t blame you for wondering how I got past that. Sometimes I’m still not sure myself.” But the laugh that followed those words belied the statement.

“Does he not... now that you’re engaged are you...” Natalie didn’t know quite how to ask.

Luckily, Lora seemed to know exactly what she was trying to say. “Am I exempt from having my butt blistered since he gave me a ring?” She wiggled her ring finger. “No. The spanking thing isn’t just a gimmick for the ranch. Not for Nate, and not for any of them, I don’t think.”

Natalie felt her heart sink at this news. “Oh.”

“I mean, not that I can know for sure,” Lora hurried to add. “I’ve never exactly asked Thomas how he feels. I don’t think Nate would like it very much,” she added with a laugh. “I’m just assuming because Nate takes it seriously.”

“I don’t see how anyone would even like it as a kink,” Natalie admitted. “Sorry if—”

“Don’t be silly.” Lora waved her apology away. “Whatever we say here stays between us girls, okay?”

Natalie smiled. It would seem that she had made a friend in the most unlikely of places. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

“Don’t mention it.” Lora closed the A-D drawer and moved to Natalie’s other side with the stack of I-L folders.

“So, how do you handle it? I mean, you must have found a way to deal, seeing as you accepted your proposal. Unless...”

“Unless he paddled me until I said yes?” Lora threw her head back and laughed at the thought.

Natalie flushed. She didn’t know when her thoughts had become so transparent, but apparently it was something she needed to work on. Or maybe she only had her lawyer superpowers when she was in business attire. Was it possible that putting on jeans robbed her of her ability to hide her facial expressions? If so, it was a mistake she needed to make sure she never repeated.

“I know he seems all stiff and businesslike, but it’s part of the job description for him, you know? He’s not like that when we’re alone. And actually...” This time, it was Lora’s cheeks that colored. “I don’t know... a part of me kind of likes his take-charge side. I know it sounds crazy, and when we first met I never would have thought, not in a million years, but...”

“But?” Natalie prompted, shocked by how much she wanted to know the rest.

“He makes me feel safe. He takes care of me in a way I never imagined possible, like I’m the most important person in the world.”

There was no denying that Lora made it sound pretty good. Still, Natalie didn’t see how it was possible. It wasn’t possible for her, she knew that much. If it worked for Lora and Nate, great, but she would never be able to tolerate a man being such a backwards caveman with her on a regular basis.

The realization didn’t shock her—what she found surprising was how disappointed she felt. Which was silly. She hadn’t known Thomas for any time at all, certainly not long enough to get attached. It had been such a long time since she’d come up from her work to even notice another human being, maybe she was more prone to quick attachments than she’d realized. It’s just lust, she decided. He’s nice eye candy, but that’s it. Nothing more. I’ll drink my fill of him while I’m here, then I’ll go back to the real world.

“Well, that’s all he left us,” Lora announced as she shut the drawer with a satisfied bang. “He must not have thought we’d get through them so quickly. I’ll just find him real quick and see if there’s anything else he wants us to do. Otherwise, we’ll have free time until lunch.” She winked.

“Sounds good.”

“If he doesn’t need anything else, maybe you and I could go for a walk. I can show you around the place, give you a few tips for staying out of trouble.” She giggled, and Natalie found herself returning the smile.

“That would be nice. Yes, I’d like that.”

“Great! I’ll be right back.”

The door had only just closed behind Lora when Natalie felt her gaze being drawn to the desk. This time, she wasn’t looking at the paddles and the canes in the corner. It was his computer that captured her attention. It was just sitting there, humming quietly, and she was alone. Thomas had said Nate’s computer had Wi-Fi.

No. Don’t even think about it.

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