Page 2 of Trick or Trouble
When his hand crashed down on her wiggling red and white striped posterior with a force that should be applied only to tight jar lids, she yelled out, “Listen, I’m not...”
He cut her off again.“You are determined to have your own way all the time, but not with me, young lady.That’s part of your problem, too big for your britches these days.”
He delivered the swats like he had a personal grudge against her butt, and Darcy screeched in protest.“You don’t under...st-stand.”
“Oh, I do, brat,” he growled.“Don’t bother with excuses.”
She flailed and cursed.“I’m...not....Holly!”Darcy finally managed to bellow out between painful swats.Temper was overcoming shock, and she fought furiously, almost throwing herself off his lap.He had to grab her with both hands, but at least he’d stopped smacking her poor bottom.
“Good try.You don’t think I’m buying that, do you?”
“Let me up this instant,” she demanded hotly, shoving the hanging skirt away from her eyes and glaring back at him.Her bottom was aching and throbbing from the pounding he had already given it.He frowned at her again, and she was heartened to note his sudden confusion.
“I don’t know who Holly is, but you’ve got the wrong witch,” she shouted furiously.
He yanked her upright then, his probing dark eyes searching her face as he held her on his knee by her upper arms.
Darcy stared warily back, her chest heaving and her butt stinging like she was sitting on a hornet’s nest.Not to mention it felt like a fist had slammed into her stomach.How could one man be so darned attractive?Her arms tingled where his hands held her, and her gasping for breath wasn’t all from yelling.
“I think I might have made a mistake,” he admitted after his perusal.You’re not Holly after all.”
“Duh!I’m a private investigator, and you just assaulted me in a public alley.Where’s a cop when you need one?”
A sudden giggle from the sidewalk drew their attention, and Darcy’s head whipped around to see who had witnessed her extreme humiliation.
There would be payback.
Of the three girls dressed in Halloween costumes, the one in the middle locked her gaze.She had the same witch costume as Darcy, but with slightly different makeup.
“Wow, Holly.You never told us your uncle was....like...radically hot.”This comment came from the bunny rabbit in thenot-so-bunny-likecostume—more like a Playboy bunny.And her parents let her out of the house in that get-up?
“You wouldn’t think so if he were really your uncle, Denise.”Holly snarked.
“Aww, Holly.I’d take him for a babysitter,” mocked the cat, her painted whiskers wiggling salaciously.
Holly huffed and stared at them disdainfully, her small nose in the air as only a modern teenager can pull off.“What are you doing, Uncle Logan?”
“It appears I’ve made a mistake,” he replied, his gaze narrowing on Darcy.
He certainly had, and Darcy was in no mood to forgive at the moment.“What is your full name?I’d like to know who I’m pressing charges against.”She tried to shrug his hands off her arms, but he held onto her as he stood up.
“I’m sorry for the mix-up,” he said apologetically.
Darcy’s bottom burned, and despite his apparent contrition, there weren’t enough Baby Ruths to cover the humiliation he’d put her through.
“You should be.Spanking women went out with the women’s lib movement, not to mention that it’s illegal.How does your wife stand you?”
“I’m not married,” he replied, suddenly smiling lazily at her.
When the megawatt smile came out, Darcy wasn’t prepared for the full effect.Something funny was happening to her knees.They were beginning to tremble as she tried to maintain her righteous glare.
Forgiveness might be his future.
Perfect white teeth in a tanned face, a square jaw with a noticeable five o’clock shadow, and a burnished black curl hanging down his forehead.Deep gray smoky eyes finished a look that screamed ‘sexy male on board’and she hated her reaction.Just the same, she couldn’t help it either; her entire body was zinging all over, like every nerve had decided it was party time.
Looking around for her camera, she tried to hide her reaction by bending over to retrieve it.“No surprise there,” she snapped, desperately trying to cover her loss of composure.
“Let me help you.” Deftly, he scooped up the camera and returned it to her.“Can I give you a lift somewhere?Do you live around here?”
