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“D arn you, Az Newcomb ,” Mandy muttered to herself as she sent the little red Ford Subaru pickup barreling along the dusty lane towards Genetico. She hadn’t been able to put their interrupted kiss out of her mind since he left, and it aggravated her to the utmost. It also confused her.

Az was just an older brother wannabe, nothing more. He had always been there for her. He’d helped her through high school, watched over her after graduation, threatened her dates, and generally made himself a nuisance while pursuing his degree in criminal justice. Then he’d finally gone off to Kansas City for an extended school for crime scene investigations and other special classes in law enforcement. He’d always wanted to be a police detective, just not a private detective. That was two years ago, and he’d rarely been back. Which was fine with her; she’d been in college herself. Eventually, she intended to take over the store from her grandmother.

Not that Az had needed to do much to protect her from the hot-blooded high school boys back in the day. Mandy had simply never been interested enough in any boy long enough for it to be worth the hassle. Besides, she knew every boy in town and all their parents, too. They were boringly familiar.

Now that summer break had brought Az home once again, Mandy had been happy to see him. That is, until the first thing out of his mouth was questions about who she was dating. Geez, talk about a broken record.

Leave it to Az to start hammering her right off the bat, so she snapped at him and brought up the virginity threat, which led to the rest of the argument. It wasn’t any of his business if she wanted to give up her virginity after all this time, but he tried to make it his business anyway. It was her reaction to his kisses threat that had her confused.

Her thoughts wandered to Sam Pickering, whose kiss had already slotted into the possible candidates-for-exploration department, and then grimaced in wry disgust. Sam’s kisses now seemed insipid compared to Az’s burning exploration, forcing her to admit that she didn’t feel much desire for Sam after all.

“Az Newcomb always has to ruin everything,” she complained to the silky-haired golden retriever on the seat beside her.

Mags just woofed in doggy agreement, her pink tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth. Her big brown eyes stared adoringly at her.

Mandy laughed and patted her head. Mags was getting older and accompanied her on most of her deliveries. She kept her at the market when she was working as well. The kids loved to pet her as she lay on her big pillow by the wooden sales counter. Gentle Mags loved the attention, even from the overly eager toddlers who sometimes fell onto the pillow with her and wallowed all over her.

Mandy patted the dog on the head and scratched around her ears. “We girls have to stick together, don’t we, Mags?”

Mags licked her hand in complete agreement.

A few minutes later, Mandy pulled up to the sentry box at the gates of Genetico and paused to wave at the dour-faced guard who barely acknowledged her with a nod.

He waved her through, so she downshifted into first gear and sent the truck barreling on. Around the corner, she came to a screeching halt in front of the warehouse doors at the back of the building she’d delivered to the first time she’d been to Genetico.

“Here’s your order, Sam,” she yelled as Sam Pickering opened the metal doors connected to the concrete dock three feet high. It was a delivery dock for big trucks, and she looked up at the man standing in the open doorway.

“Thanks, Mandy. I’ll help you with that,” he replied as he leaped nimbly off the dock and followed her to the back of the pickup.

“What do you guys do with all this stuff?” she asked, staring at the fit, dark-haired man with the mustache lining his upper lip. He wasn’t as tall as Az or as powerfully built, but he had a suave, sensual air that attracted her. He was dressed in his usual white lab coat, although on Friday nights at the Lazy Saddle, he normally dressed in a plaid shirt, jeans, and cowboy boots like everyone else.

“I can’t tell you that,” he replied good-naturedly, grinning lazily at her. “I’d have to keep you prisoner here if I did.”

Mandy knew that Sam worked in the lab at Genetico Industries and lived on site with the other scientists. It provided the residents of Mockingbird Hollow with plenty of speculation.

It also provided Mockingbird Hollow residents with jobs. Many of the townspeople worked in the kitchen and living areas of the employee quarters and human resources departments. The lab itself, however, was security clearance only, and there wasn’t anyone in Mockingbird Hollow qualified to work in it.

“Oh, come on, Sam,” Mandy wheedled. “It can’t be all that hush-hush. Good grief, you have no idea what people are saying goes on out here, especially with the cattle disappearing lately. Every gossip in town thinks you all are experimenting on them, and that humans will be next.”

Sam’s dark eyes narrowed to slits. “I know, I’ve heard,” he said shortly. “Trust me, we have nothing to do with the disappearing cattle.”

“But you aren’t going to tell me what it is you do experiment on?”

Sam huffed. “Who said we experiment on anything? Let’s change the subject, shall we?” He walked up close to her and looked down into her eyes.

Mandy shrugged her slender shoulders. “Fine, we’ll change the subject. I’m in a hurry today, so I need to get going anyway.” She pivoted and strode back around the front of the truck.

Sam followed her to the driver’s door. “You going to be at the Lazy Saddle tonight?” He opened the truck door and stood just inside it while Mandy climbed in.

Mandy figured he was watching her bottom, but since she couldn’t do anything about it, she pretended she didn’t care. “Maybe,” she replied airily, tossing her long curls back as she fastened her seatbelt. “If I’m in the mood for dancing, I might.”

Sam put his hand in and turned her chin to face him. “I hope so. I’ve been looking forward to it all week.” He leaned in as if to kiss her.

Mandy pushed his hand away from her chin and briskly started the truck. She didn’t want his kiss—not with Az’s recent plundering still fresh in her mind. She was startled when he grabbed her chin and turned it towards him, then bent down and firmly claimed her mouth.

“You aren’t getting shy on me, are you?” he asked, when he lifted his head, his dark eyes boldly raking her flushed face. “I thought we were past that and getting ready for step two.”

“What’s step two?” She felt the urge to wipe her mouth, but something in the look of his eyes stopped her.

His fingers trailed lazily down to the top of her molded tank, dipping below the rounded neckline. “I think you know.”

Mandy pushed his hand away. “I’ve never given you any reason to expect me to go to bed with you, Sam,” she replied stiffly, not liking his intimate touch.

“No?”

“No,” she replied firmly, trepidation stirring in her stomach. A few kisses don’t mean I’m ready to take my clothes off. Now, may I leave, please?”

“Of course not, I didn’t mean it that way,” he apologized quickly. “I’m sorry if I took liberties, Mandy.”

“It’s all right, I just need to get back. Grams and Mom will be worried about me if I’m late.” She was relieved when he backed out of the doorway and allowed her to shut the door.

“Tonight,” he mouthed at her through the window as she backed up and spun around.

Mandy felt uneasy as she barreled down the dusty lane once more. Sam had never touched her like that, and it bothered her. Had she given him reason to believe she was that interested in him? Beyond a few kisses, that is? Perhaps she had given off signals she wasn’t aware of just because she was thinking about the whole virginity candidate thing. Could men tune into that?

She huffed and shrugged her shoulders. She did like him; she just didn’t want him pawing her. At least he helped to pass a boring Friday night in Mockingbird Hollow.

Then she flushed with guilt at the thought. Maybe she had been leading him on. Using him to assuage her boredom at the lack of eligible men in these parts.

When she’d blurted out that stuff to Az about being the only virgin in Whippoorwill County, it had been because she had toyed with the idea of finding a lover. After all, everyone else was doing it, so why shouldn’t she? It just hadn’t cemented into a firm idea until Az had annoyed her with his ultimatum that she couldn’t. Her best friend, Beverly, was already living with her fiancé, while she had yet to find a steady boyfriend.

She pulled the visor down and glanced critically into the mirror while still keeping an eye on the road. There was nothing to worry about, except an occasional vehicle or two. The worst thing you had to watch out for was possums and squirrels. And deer, of course. Missouri was thick with them.

Did Az see her as anything other than a friend? She studied herself in the mirror. If not, why had he kissed her like that?

Slapping the visor back up, she sighed in exasperation as she swerved around a recent road kill on the black asphalt. “Men,” she muttered.

She waved at the sheriff’s truck as he went by, and then looked in the rearview mirror when she realized the subject of her musings was in the police truck with Sheriff Dorney.

“I wonder where they are going? It's probably something to do with the missing cattle. Especially since the only thing out that way is Genetico. Right, Mags?”

Mags just woofed in agreement—she always agreed with everything Mandy had to say.

“Why can’t men be more like dogs?” she asked. “Life would sure be a lot simpler.”

Mags woofed again as if fully understanding what Mandy was saying.

About fifteen minutes later, Mandy pulled into the driveway of her home. After putting the truck in park, she opened the door and slid out, Mags following her. As she walked around the front of the truck, perspiration beaded on her forehead from the contrast between the truck's air conditioning and the humid heat. It was shaping up to be a hot summer this year.

The cheerful, budding heads of the asters and dahlias flocked in great profusion alongside the old brick home. A row of yellow Columbines was blooming beside the detached garage. She and her mother both enjoyed gardening, and the Columbines came back every year with no effort on their part. Not all the flowers were that easy, though. She opened the side door to the house and stepped inside.

“Mandy, is that you?” Sara Merriweather looked up from her book to smile as Mandy rounded the corner of the kitchen and entered the living room.

“Yeah, Mom, it’s me,” she replied as she walked into the sunny, spacious living room and leaned down to kiss her mother’s cheek. “Did you have a good day?” she asked before flopping on the sofa.

Mags leaped up to settle beside her on the brightly colored couch cover. It sported yellow Black-Eyed Susans, one of Mandy’s favorite flowers. They grew wild along the highways and gravel roads of Mockingbird Hollow. She propped her sock feet up on the footstool, covered in the same material.

Sara gazed fondly at her. “I had a lovely day, thank you.”

Mandy watched as her mother skillfully wheeled her chair over to her and away from her beloved computer. The computer was her link to the world, and she kept records of the market accounts on it.

“How about you, honey?” Sara asked curiously, parking her chair beside Mandy.

“It was all right, nothing special.” Mandy fingered Mags’s silky ear, her thoughts on Az once again.

Her mother interrupted her reverie. “Are you going out tonight?”

“Probably.”

“Are you going out with Az?”

Mandy wrinkled her nose. “No. Why would I?”

Her mother tapped her fingers on the arm of the wheelchair. “I do like Az Newcomb. I think you and he would be good together.”

“No matchmaking, Mom, I’ll find my own boyfriends, thank you. Besides, Az is like a brother.” Her thoughts flashed to the kisses they had shared, the mental image mocking her.

Sara smiled dryly. “Is that why you were kissing him in the stockroom? Because he’s so brotherly?”

Mandy blushed slightly, then grinned, unrepentant. “Grams never could keep a secret, could she? I bet she couldn’t wait to get on the telephone and spill the beans.”

“She called me as soon as you left for Genetico,” her mother replied, chuckling.

“It’s no wonder I’m still a virgin,” Mandy complained with an exaggerated sigh. “Between Az and Grams, I never had a chance.”

“Mandy!” Sara laughed outright. “You’re as blunt as your father always was.”

“Speaking of boyfriends, when are you and Randy Berenger going to commit?” Mandy asked. She studied her mother with a broad grin. Sara had never remarried after the accident that had taken Mandy’s father away from them and left her mom in a wheelchair. Although she was just going on forty-five, her mom looked as young as she ever had.

Mandy had just turned fourteen that year, and it was still a painful memory for both of them. But as an adult, she would be happy to see her mom settled with someone who loved her. Of course, being in a wheelchair tended to put a lot of men off.

Before she could reply, Sara’s cellphone rang, its sudden shrill tones sounding loud in the room. She picked it up from the small platform attached to her wheelchair. A frown marred her brow as she listened. She spoke a few noncommittal words and then hung up.

“Who was that?” Mandy asked curiously.

“That was Randy,” Sara replied in a troubled tone. “Two more of his cows have gone missing.”

***

M ANDY WAS LATE GETTING to The Lazy Saddle that night. Sam met her at the door with an impatient glance at his watch.

“Where have you been? I’ve been waiting for an hour for you to show up.”

The parking lot was packed and the musical strains of Garth Brooks drifted out the door. The flashing neon saddle with a rodeo cowboy outlined in blue stars flashed in and out in various rhythms to imitate a bucking bronc and its rider in motion.

“I’m here now, aren’t I?” Mandy brushed aside her irritation with his possessiveness and entered the saloon, headed for the booth she usually liked. Her eyes searched the bar and dance floor looking for Az. Normally, she would have been flattered at Sam’s words, but her feelings had changed since this afternoon.

“At least you’re here now,” Sam replied. Still looking disgruntled, he trailed along behind her.

Disappointment at not seeing Az’s broad figure made the evening feel flat, but Mandy allowed Sam to seat her in the booth. Lifting her chin, she determined to make the best of it.

Az usually came to the Lazy Saddle on Fridays when he was in town, so she’d dressed with extra care tonight, wanting to impress him and wash away the image of being a little sister. She didn’t feel like his little sister anymore.

Sam took a seat beside her, his arm stealing possessively around the back of her shoulders. “Would you like a drink?” He eyed her appreciatively, his gaze skimming the tanned curves between the gaping buttons of the blue plaid shirt. Mandy had left the shirt unbuttoned three buttons down, with just a matching solid blue spaghetti strap tank that barely came to the top of her breasts. It was provocative, meant to be teasing, and Sam certainly seemed to appreciate it.

“Did you dress just for me tonight?” His lips grazed her ear as he spoke.

“Yes, I’d like a drink—and no—I didn’t dress just for you,” Mandy teased, a wicked grin curving her lips. “For you, I’d need to plan on something easier to get out of.”

She laughed when his eyebrow shot up. It was fun to tease Sam, although she probably shouldn’t, not given the way he’d acted this afternoon. But Mandy was feeling let down at Az’s absence. After the kiss they had shared this afternoon, she’d been sure he would be here tonight.

After three Mojitos and a few dances, Mandy was feeling decidedly bolder. Especially since she hadn’t eaten anything except a few french fries. Her burger was untouched.

“You going to eat that?” Sam asked, gesturing to the cheeseburger on her plate.

“No, you can have it.”

While Sam was eating her cheeseburger, she kept glancing at her watch and checking the bar until she decided Az wasn’t coming. The entire night was officially flat and boring.

To hell with Az.

He’d stayed away so she wouldn’t get any ideas about this afternoon. This was his way of saying she was just his kid sister, nothing more. But even as his kid sister, you would have thought he’d be here to protect her, she thought peevishly.

She wasn’t drunk, but she was feeling just good enough that she might go home with Sam. After all, who wants to be a virgin forever? Sam was looking pretty good about now as he signaled the waiter with a huge grin. Her laughter was a bit brittle as she joked and teased with him, but he didn’t seem to care. At least he was here. And he was attentive—something Az was not.

“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.

Mandy watched him with her mouth open, her buttocks burning and stinging. She rubbed furiously until he got to his door, and then she folded her arms and greeted him with icy silence.

Az didn’t say a word all the way to her house, Mandy didn’t either. Not until they pulled into her driveway. “Okay, mister macho , just how am I supposed to get to work in the morning?” She glared scornfully over at him.

“I’ll come by and pick you up.”

She grimaced in disapproval, but held her ground when he turned the truck off and faced her with a considering gaze. “Don’t bother to see me to the door, I’ll find my own way in.” Mandy pulled on the door handle, but Az held her arm. She didn’t like the look on his face, and she fidgeted, suddenly nervous.

“Don’t get sassy with me, Mandy. You’re just one step away from going over my lap and getting the spanking of your life. I doubt you’ve ever had a real one, and God knows you sure need it.”

“Boring—you’ve already done that once, remember?” she snarked airily.

“If you’re referring to when you were fourteen, that wasn’t a spanking. Those were just love taps to wake you up.”

He would have to bring up the most humiliating experience of her life. It was when her feelings had turned from lusty admiration to hate. “Oh, I woke up all right. You ripped those crush-colored glasses right off my face and made me realize what a bully you are, Az Newcomb. My opinion hasn’t changed in the last eight years, either.” She shook his arm off. “Besides, if I choose to have a good time and flirt with someone, that’s my business. It’s a free country.”

“You let that man think you were going to bed with him when you didn’t intend to,” Az replied bluntly. “It’s called leading him on...there’s another name for it too, but I won’t repeat it.”

“Maybe I did intend to,” Mandy taunted. “Anyway, what business is it of yours who I sleep with? I already told you that I don’t want to be a virgin forever.” She tossed her head defiantly.

“That’s enough, Mandy, you’re just asking for it.” His eyes narrowed in warning, but she ignored it.

“Mind your own business, bossy butt.” Mandy’s blue eyes flashed scornfully, anger making her imprudent.

“Mandy, you’re drunk.”

She just couldn’t help herself; she was too aggravated with him. “Bossy butt...bossy butt...bossy butt,” she chanted in a childish, singsong voice. When he suddenly reached for her, she squeaked and jumped.

She wasn’t quite sure how it had happened. One minute, Az was sliding into the middle of the bench seat, and the next minute, she was face down in the driver’s seat. Her body was suddenly sprawled awkwardly across his lap, her feet digging into the floorboard as she tried to scramble upward. When a burning slap landed across the seat of her jeans, followed by several more, she screamed in rage. Bucking and kicking didn’t help; all her heels met was the underside of the dashboard, and that didn’t stop the spanks that were raining down on her unprotected backside. “Stop it, Az! I hate you! Stop it!”

“I’ll stop when I think you’ve had enough.”

“You have no right to do this.”

Mandy grabbed the steering wheel with her right hand, trying to pull herself up, or interfere with the painful barrage that was burning into her cheeks. Unfortunately, she couldn’t do either because of the broad arm that was blocking her. Az had a firm grip on her hip and seemed set on showering her with endless spanks that were building to a very painful level.

He paused, his palm resting on her blazing backside. She could feel the heat through her jeans. “I have every right. You shouldn’t lead a man on, brat. It’s a good way to get more than you bargained for.”

“It’s none of your business either way,” she spluttered.

“It’s been my business all along, and it’s still my business. You go looking for trouble, and you’re going to find me right behind you.” He landed several harder spanks.

“Ow, stop it, Az, you’re hurting me.” The last sentence came out on a plaintive wail that she couldn’t help.

“I want it to hurt,” he replied without sympathy. “I want to make sure you feel this through your jeans. And I want you to give up the ridiculous notion of losing your virginity. Just tell me when you’re ready to be sensible.” Then he continued to spank her, apparently determined to send his message home.

Mandy yelled in pain and outrage until she couldn’t take anymore. “All right, I’ll give it up!” She sobbed helplessly, confused, frustrated, and angry. She wanted to stamp her feet and punch him in the face. “I hate you, Az Newcomb,” she cried when he pulled her upright.

“You can hate me all you want, but I’m not going to let you get yourself in trouble, little girl,” he said firmly.

Mandy glared at him in the moonlight. His features were hard, the contours of his tanned face calling for her fingers to explore them. “What do you want from me, Az?” she whispered raggedly.

He was silent for a moment. “You need to get to bed, Mandy. Tomorrow comes early, and you have a hangover to get past.”

“I’m not drunk, Az. Maybe a little too much to drink, but not plastered. Besides, you can’t keep me from making my own mistakes forever. One of these days, there will be another Sam Pickering; you can’t stop them all.”

When his eyes hardened into gleaming, turquoise rocks, she recognized the same fury she’d experienced in the back of Bensons’ Market. She wanted him to kiss her, but not in punishment. Yanking furiously at the door handle, she pulled away from him and almost fell out of the truck in her hurry to get away. At that moment, she really did hate him, but not because he’d spanked her, but because he confused her.

The evening air kissed her wet cheeks and lifted her hair as she ran down the concrete walk to the side door to let herself in. Then she leaned back against the door until she heard his truck start up and leave.