Seeing Is Believing Page 5

  "They ended up getting back together, which was one of the more satisfying cases I'd worked." As he talked, Leslie glanced at Nancy, then realization dawned. Nancy knew exactly who Reed was, and she knew why he was in Dante's Peak. This whole story of coming to dinner and putting on a show for Nancy to help Reed keep his cover was bogus.

  She wanted to jump up and scream at them, but she wasn't exactly sure what she would scream about. She was pretending that she and Reed were together for the benefit of Nancy, who was pretending she didn't know exactly why Reed was in their fair city. The whole thing was pretty ridiculous, actually. But she wasn't quite sure how to broach the situation, how to ease into the conversation without upsetting her friends.

  She didn't care if she upset Reed. After all, he was a jerk. Still, the whole situation rankled her and she wanted to say something. Instead she went through the entire dinner, laughing at the appropriate times and putting in little comments that made it seem as if she was enjoying herself, and wasn't mad about their deception.

  After dinner, she helped to clean up, then sat on the couch while Nancy and Chester worked in the kitchen to pack a thermos of hot chocolate and some treats for eating during the game.

  "I know you hate me, but you could at least pay attention to the conversation." There was amusement in Reed's voice and she turned to him.

  "I don't hate you. I despise you. There's a difference."

  His smile grew and when he leaned over and put his lips right next to hers she refused to move. There was no way she'd back down from him. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction, she told herself.

  "Keep telling yourself that. You might actually begin to believe it." His breath was hot on her lips and sent chills up her spine. "You like me because I spanked you."

  "Humph, you're full of yourself, you know it?" The fact he hadn't moved, that his face was still right next to hers, made her madder. At least she hoped that was the emotion that was running through her body.

  "You needed spanking. It put some oomph in your life, something to remind you there's more to the world than your cafe. Something to help you interact with other people, males specifically."

  She snorted out a laugh and narrowed her eyes. "Really? That's why you spanked me? I thought it was because I was a bad girl." She pouted and put great emphasis on the last words in the sentence. "You know, if you're looking to woo a woman, there are ways to do it other than spanking."

  "You mean like this?" He pressed forward, his lips touching hers gently, she didn't push him away, and she fought back the response that grew inside her. His lips were soft and warm and he kept the kiss light, with just enough pressure to send a spark of desire straight into her core. She balled her hands into fists, trying to concentrate only on them, sending all her tension and feeling into her fingers, fighting to keep from moaning and leaning into him.

  He eased back just a little, their gazes locking. She could read the longing in his eyes, the desire to reach out and touch her. She sat ramrod still, staring at her. When he kissed her again her stomach plummeted to her toes, making it even more difficult not to respond. This time his lips were more demanding, the kiss more intense. His tongue snaked out to taste her but she denied him entry, keeping her lips closed.

  When he pulled back he looked down at her as if she were an ice cream sundae, and he were starving. She swallowed the desire to beg for another kiss, harder than the last one, then she snarled at him. "Don't ever do that again."

  His deep, sensuous laugh made her want to slap him. "You liked it. And you needed it. In fact, you need more of it, both kissing and spanking. It'll be good for you."

  He strolled into the kitchen and Leslie wanted to follow him, to smack his face and tell him she'd changed her mind and would no longer cooperate with his little sting. Let him work from outside the cafe, see how he liked that, and how much he could get done without access to her backroom.

  Then she traced her fingers over her lips. She could still feel the warmth of his kiss, the soft touch of lips. The craving intensified and she swallowed hard then shook her head to clear the sensations. She wouldn't play his game, she wouldn't. He was a jerk who thought he had the right to discipline her, and she'd didn't need him worming his way into her life.

  Besides, he would be leaving to go home to Dallas after next week. Just let him try and kiss her again. He might get a few swats of his own.

  *****

  On Saturday morning, Leslie went into work at five a.m., wanting to get the jump on the baking before Tambi showed up for the day. It also helped take her mind off Reed, something she'd been unable to do at home.

  She'd fully expected him to try and worm his way into her home after the football game on Friday, but he hadn't. In fact, he'd suggested to Chester that they drop her off at home before taking Reed back to their house to pick up his truck. The suggestion had surprised her, and when she'd gotten home she'd checked the street every few minutes for half an hour, fully expecting him to drive up.

  The thought of kicking him to the curb had filled her with glee, but he hadn't shown up, and she'd finally gone to bed, thinking he'd gotten the message she wanted him to get. Because that's what she wanted, right?

  Leslie sighed heavily, then threw more flour onto the counter. If that's what she wanted, why couldn't she stop thinking about him? She found out, though, that even though she was baking, something she truly loved to do, her idea to get her early and work him out of her system wasn't going according to plan. Reed was still on her mind, the memory of his kiss still fresh in her mind.

  She tried as hard as she could do push it away but it just wouldn't work. She was going to have to get rid of him, for good. Now she just had to figure out the best way to do it. She'd already put together three batches of cinnamon rolls, using dough she'd made up on Friday, several pies and cakes, and a few batches of cookies when Tambi arrived, with Reed following right behind her.

  "You're not needed," she said, then gasped when the pained look on Tambi's face let her know that Tambi thought she'd been talking to her. "Not you, sweetie, him. We can handle today alone, Reed. Go home."

  Tambi hurried to the far side of the kitchen, and Leslie heard the words, "lover's spat," as her friend passed her.

  "There's no reason for you to be here today, truly." She turned back to the counter, rolling out the dough for an apple pie. She didn't want him here today, didn't want the feelings he was arousing in her.

  When he put his hands on either side of her hips she inhaled sharply, then pressed harder on the rolling pin in her hands. "Stop that."

  "Are you mad because I didn't come calling last night? If I thought you would have let me in, I would have come. But you said you didn't want me to kiss you again, remember?"

  Oh, she remembered. And she didn't want him to kiss her. She didn't want him to touch her.

  "I mean it. Leave."

  "No." He moved to the other counter, where already baked goods were cooling, and sniffed heavily, sighing in appreciation. "Smells delicious."

  Leslie turned to him, her anger growing with each second. She was tired of his little game, tired of him being here. He was a complication she didn't need in her life. She hefted the rolling pin in her hand, then decided it would be too much, so she reached for a wooden spoon. While he continued to study the pastries and goodies she'd made that morning, she crept up behind him and swatted his ass with the spoon, savoring the sound of it hitting his jeans and the loud cry of surprise that escaped his lips.

  She knew his shock was only reason she got off two more swats in quick succession before he jumped back and grabbed the spoon. They struggled for control of it, both of them pulling until he jerked it from her hand.

  Leslie backed up, then picked up a second spoon and waved it at him. "Get out of my kitchen. Get out of my cafe. There's not another shipment due until Monday and you have absolutely no reason to be here."

  "Keep your voice down. We don't need Tambi learning our secrets, do we?" He advanced on
her. She expected to see anger boiling under his skin, but instead there was amusement in his gaze. "Give me that spoon."

  "No. I mean it, get out." She waved it at him like a fencing sword and he brought up his own spoon, waving it in the same fashion. The spoons met, the sound of them slapping together filling the kitchen. They danced around each other, Leslie's anger building as Reed laughed and struck out with exaggerated moves.

  She lunged for him, hoping to slap the spoon against his ass once more. Instead he grabbed it, throwing it on the counter before grabbing her around the waist and propelling her to another nearby counter. He put a foot on the rung, then hoisted her up onto his thigh, holding her with one arm.

  The first crack of the spoon against her thin slacks made her scream out in anger. By the fourth one she was yelling at him to stop, but the spoon continue to land.

  "What is going on?" Tambi's voice sounded from the doorway, and when she gasped, Leslie thought she would die of embarrassment.

  "Just a little spanking," Reed said, bringing the spoon down repeatedly on her backside, the sound of it slapping her ass filling the kitchen. "Someone needs an attitude adjustment this morning."

  "Get your hands off me you big creep!" Leslie cried out in frustration, which grew by leaps and bounds when Tambi laughed softly.

  "I suppose you two are having a lover's quarrel, so I'm just gonna...um...go...um...up front."

  Leslie refused to scream at her to stay, refused to show any sort of weakness. Reed gave her two more swats, then stopped but didn't let her go.

  "Are you going to behave?"

  "Are you kidding me?" She kicked at him, screaming when the spoon hit her ass cheek. "You deserved it and I'd do it again!"

  "I guess that means I need to hide all the wooden spoons in here, huh?" He released her so suddenly that she almost fell. She wheeled on him, ready to lash out but he'd already walked across the room, scooping up the spoon she'd used to swat him and then strolling from the kitchen as if nothing had happened.

  She stared after him, shock filling her system. He'd spanked her in front of Tambi. What was next? Or did she want to know? First her friends had set them up as dinner dates, pushing them together, and now Tambi had seen him disciplining her like he had the right to. The situation was getting way out of hand.

  After washing her hands, Leslie hurried to the door separating the kitchen from the main part of the cafe. Tambi was there, waiting on a full house, mostly people who were stopping by for a quick bite to eat before heading to Amarillo for the day. That was the usually weekend situation. The tourists showed up to travel to Blade, and the locals went to the big city to do some shopping.

  She saw Reed boxing up rolls and pulling small cartons of milk from the refrigerator to sell to those who'd placed an order. She had to admit he cut a very fine figure of a man, standing there laughing and chatting with everyone as if nothing had just happened, as if she hadn't swatted his behind, and he'd spanked her in return.

  He teased the children, handing them an extra cookie, with their mother's approval, and then flirted with the mothers and talked to the fathers about the ball game last night. The longer Leslie watched him, the more her stomach churned. He fit in perfectly here, as if he were a permanent part of the community.

  Leslie didn't know how long she'd been staring at him when she realized someone was staring at her. She turned her gaze to Tambi, who winked and Leslie gave her a small smile. Leslie returned it, trying to make it seem like everything was perfect, like nothing was wrong. But deep down inside, Leslie knew something was wrong, terribly wrong. Despite her trying to convince herself otherwise she was falling for Reed Jacobs, spankings and all, and that was a very, very bad thing.

  *****

  At five minutes to five the door to the cafe opened and Chester stuck his head inside. Leslie waved at him and he winked, then motioned to Reed. The two of them walked out the front door and stood just outside, their heads together as if they were planning something huge.

  Leslie watched them with interest until Tambi tapped her on the shoulder.

  "I'm leaving. I'm glad to see you two aren't fighting anymore." Leslie turned to her friend, whose face glowed with approval.

  "There is no couple, no us."

  "Right. A man doesn't spank his boss unless they're part of a couple. It's interesting, really, you're in charge at work and he lets you know he's in charge in other parts of the relationship. I think it's perfect."

  "You think spanking is perfect?"

  "Yeah, I've been spanked, and I loved it."

  "I didn't love what happened to me today."

  Tambi took a step forward and gave Leslie a knowing grin. "Maybe not today, but I bet you enjoy the other spankings, a lot."

  Before Leslie could ask what the "other" spankings were, Tambi had picked up her purse and run out the front door, at the same time Reed came back in.

  "What are you still doing here? Go on, get out."

  "Testy, aren't we?" He pushed in a chair, then glanced at the watch. "Lock up. We can stop by your house to let your change into warmer clothing. That's one thing I love about this area, did I tell you that, fairly nice days and cool nights in the fall. It's a great mixture."

  "Why do I need to change? I'm not going anywhere with you."

  "Sure you are. Nancy packed us a nice dinner, and the two of us are going to Blade, to explore and have a little picnic." He held up his hand when she opened her mouth to object. "Before you say anything, remember Nancy went to a lot of work to make this food. It's fried chicken."

  "Then you can go eat it yourself."

  "Fine, I will. I'm doing some scouting anyway, and you'd probably just get in the way."

  Leslie could tell a line when she heard one, and she was shocked when she heard herself say, "Scouting for what?"

  "We're pretty sure our drug smugglers are selling their goods, in bulk, to a dealer on Tuesday night in Blade. I want to scope things out, and you'll just get in the way."

  Leslie was pretty sure he wasn't bluffing, and she wanted to tell him to go to the devil, that she didn't want to go on his scouting trip. But her curiosity was piqued. She was interested in the case, and she could control herself in his company for one evening.

  "No kissing."

  The smile he gave her for an answer made her toes curl.

  "I mean it, Reed."

  "I know you do." He winked at her. "But, like someone else we know, I'm not very good at following orders."

  Chapter Five

  The night was cool, but not cold. Still, they'd stopped by Leslie's apartment so she could change into heavy jeans and a sweater. It said something about her mixed emotions about Reed that she'd changed sweaters four times, each time looking in the mirror and wondering how he would look at that particular article of clothing.

  Would he think she was trying to be sexy by wearing the fairly low cut V-neck sweater? Or would he think she was trying to hide her looks by wearing the turtleneck? The second V-neck she tried on wasn't that low-cut, but it was pretty tight, and it hugged her curves, probably just a bit too much. She wasn't sure that was the signal she wanted to give off.

  She finally settled on a square-necked sweater that didn't show too much cleavage. Then she'd selected her heaviest pair of jeans, in case Reed went into spanking mode again.

  Of course she figured that really didn't matter, either. She knew he'd find some way to get her jeans off her if he wanted to spank her tonight.

  Thinking about that brought Tambi's comment about "the other spankings" back to her mind. Leslie knew exactly what her friend was talking about. She was pretty sure erotic spankings were nothing new, having been around probably since the dawn of time. After all, they featured heavily in Victorian erotica.

  And since Tambi thought Reed and Leslie were lovers, it was no small wonder she would make the leap from the spanking she'd seen that morning to the idea it was something Reed and Leslie practiced in their sex life, when in actuality there was no sex
life.

  "Are you just itching to be at the ghost town with me after dark?"

  Leslie whirled toward Reed, who stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb. He had his arms crossed over his chest and the look on his face was smoldering as he let his gaze roam over her.

  "What are you talking about?"

  "I thought that's why you were taking so long, because you wanted to get there after dark. That way you can tell me you're scared and rush into my arms for me to save you."

  "In your dreams. I've been out there lots of times, and I'm telling you there's no ghosts out at Blade. Just a bunch of old buildings. I'm ready to go." She stared to push past him but he put out his arm, blocking her exit.

  "We could just stay here, and eat the dinner Nancy prepared. Or not." His voice had dropped to a low level, and from his tone she knew exactly what he would like to do rather than eat dinner. And she had no doubt it would involve erotic spankings.

  "No, you haven't been out there yet, and you want to scope it out, remember? You need to see what's what before your sting goes down on Tuesday."

  An emotion she couldn't read passed over his face and she frowned. "Is there something you're not telling me."

  "No." The seductive smile was back. "We can always go out to Blade tomorrow. Why don't we stay here tonight? I notice you have a fireplace. I'm good at building fires."

  As tempting as the offer was, Leslie knew it would get her into nothing but trouble. She shook her head and pointed toward the street. "Do you want to drive, or should I?"

  They ended up with Reed driving his truck. As the sun began to set, the night turned decidedly chilly. There were a few picnic tables in a rest area near Blade, and Leslie mentioned those as places they could sit and eat.

  Reed had nixed the idea, however, saying he wanted to experience the atmosphere in the ghost town, even if it meant eating in the truck, since there were no picnic tables or businesses in the town.

  There was very little light left when they rolled into Blade. Since she'd been here many times before, Leslie sat back and tried to gauge Reed's reaction. There were no lights, and in the wane of the day the town looked very eerie.