Page 8 of Tied to Trouble

“Would you like another drink?” Sam asked smoothly, his eyes gleaming at her flushed face.

“Yes, I’d like another drink,” she replied, feeling a bit lightheaded. Maybe she should have eaten that cheeseburger after all.

“She doesn’t need any more to drink. I think it’s time for you to go home, Mandy.”

Mandy rolled her eyes. Now he shows up? She glared up at his tall figure, even taller because she was sitting down. “Wouldn’t you know it, you always manage to arrive just in time to spoil the fun,” she snarked. How could he possibly know how much she’d drunk? He was just being as bossy as ever. Didn’t the man know when to quit? She opened her mouth to tell him off, but Sam interfered.

“I’ll take her home when she’s ready,” Sam replied from across the table. “She’s here with me, so get lost, cowboy.”

“She may be here with you, but she won’t be going home with you,” Az replied firmly, his vivid eyes flashing.

Sam stood up. “Just who the hell are you?”

“He’s my protector,” Mandy mocked, her nose scrunching up. “My Aztec warrior to defend my honor.” Her words were slightly slurred, which surprised her. Had she actually drunk that much? She’d sort of lost track. “Aren’t you, Az?” she cooed as she stood up between the two men, feeling the room spin a little bit.

“Knock it off, Mandy,” Az growled. “You’re not going home with this man in the condition you’re in.”

“I’m not in any condition—and don’t tell me what to do. You’ve been doing that since we were kids and I’m damn...hic...sick of it.” The small hiccup just came out, and Mandy was mortified. How many drinks had she had? She frowned, trying to remember, but the information escaped her.

Sam eyed the big man and turned to Mandy. “Do you want to come home with me or not, Mandy. If you do, tell this cowboy to get lost and let’s go.”

Mandy hesitated, staring at Sam with huge blue eyes, slightly out of focus. She didn’t want to go home with Sam, but she didn’t want to give in to Az either. What a dilemma.

When she didn’t answer, Sam slapped a couple of bills on the table, his anger palpable. He turned back and spoke to Az, his voice bitter with resignation. “If this woman belongs to you, you better put a collar on her. She’s lucky she picked me to play with. I wouldn’t force her to do anything against her will, but not every man would be so generous. If she were my woman, I’d haul her over my knee and give her a damn good spanking.” He turned and stalked indignantly out of the bar.

Mandy blinked at his words. “Well! That was rude.” She laughed weakly and sat back down. “He sure has a lot of nerve, talking like that.” What had gotten into Sam?

“He also had some excellent advice,” Az growled, taking her wrist and pulling her out of the booth. He began tugging her along behind him, heedless of her protests.

“What are you doing? Az, you’re embarrassing me,” she hissed. It felt like every eye in the place was watching them as he pulled her toward the exit.

“Having a little trouble there, Az?”

“It’s about time you took that filly in hand, Az.”

The catcalls and comments directed their way had Mandy blushing bright red.

“I will never forgive you for this humiliation,” she cried, trying unsuccessfully to pull out of his strong grip. “Let go of me.”

“If you don’t want to be embarrassed, then don’t get drunk in public,” he stated bluntly. “You’re out of control, little girl. You need someone to rein you in before you get into trouble you can’t get out of.”

The cool night air helped clear her head when Az pulled her outside the bar. Eying him from the corner of her eye, she realized that he had that same look he always wore when he was determined to follow through with a goal. Only this time, she wasn’t sure what that goal was. Was he really going to spank her? The idea was ludicrous, she wasn’t a bratty fourteen-year-old anymore. “Don’t even think about spanking me, Az Newcomb,” she fussed.

“Someone needs to.” When he began to shove her into his pickup, she protested again. “I drove my truck; I have to drive it home.”

“You’re not driving anywhere.”

“Yes, I am, bossy butt. I don’t want to leave it.”

His eyebrows rose. “Bossy butt? You’re asking for it, brat.”

“I’ve already relieved you of brother duty, I can drive myself,” she announced with another wayward hiccup. What the heck was up with the hiccups?

She planted her booted foot against the seat; her knee bent to keep him from pushing her inside the cab. She grabbed the edges of the open door. “Stop pushing me around, Az, I’m not getting into your truck.”

“Oh yes, you are.” The words were emphasized with two hefty spanks, one to each side of her buttocks. The black denim material was stretched tightly across her rounded cheeks, making the spanks feel tight and hard. “Ow, you butthole,” Mandy squealed in surprise. The shock of it made her let go of the door, and Az shoved her up into the truck seat.

“Now stay there, or there’s more where those came from.” He slammed the door shut and stalked around the front of the truck.

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