The butterflies in her stomach were having a rodeo of their own. Exactly what had he meant by her being in trouble? She hadn’t been the one giving gifts to people. Really, when you thoughtabout it, she was the victim. Since when did the victim get punished?
Sure, she should have told Tanner that she was getting the gifts. But he was giving Preston way more credit than Preston was due. Probably. Although the chastity belt had taken it one step too far. Not to mention his suggestion to help her put it on. Something she had conveniently not told Tanner.
You would think if he were that upset about it, he would have thrown it away. Now he wanted to use it? What plans Tanner had for it, she shuddered to think.
When he’d spanked her at The Red Barn, she hadn’t sat down without thinking about it for days. But if he was going to spank her, why did he need the chastity belt? No, this felt different. He’d said the punishment should fit the crime. Yet she still had no clue.
Hopefully, whatever he had in store for her, he would wait until they were somewhere private. What if he punished her the second they got to the ranch? Without even waiting to go inside? A confusing mix of dread and heat bloomed low in her belly.
Or would he make her wait? That could be worse. She shifted in her seat. The phantom soreness from the last spanking reminded her of what his palm felt like.
Tanner’s hands flexed on the steering wheel. He still hadn’t said a word. By the time they turned onto the long drive leading to the main ranch house, it all started to truly sink in. He was actually moving her to Wild River Ranch. So now they’d be sharing his home. That made it their space, at least for now.
The thought sent a fluttery mix of nerves and warmth spinning through her stomach, the kind she didn’t quite have a name for yet. She hadn’t even seen the inside of his bedroom yet, but she was there. Tanner had been so steady the whole time. Like bringing her home with him was the most natural thing in the world.
His ability to handle everything was a bit overwhelming, especially when she remembered that “everything” included spanking naughty Little girls. The image of hanging over his lap while heturned her butt scarlet had her nerves stretching tighter than the strings on a ukulele.
The moment the truck rolled to a stop, Ranger, Tanner’s German Shepherd, came bounding around the corner, tail wagging so hard his whole body shook. He jumped up, paws on the door, barking a happy greeting.
His excitement had her smiling despite herself. She reached for the door latch, only to freeze when Tanner asked, “Don’t you think you’re in enough trouble already?”
Grimacing, she put her hands between her knees and waited for Tanner to open the door. Ranger immediately shoved his paws onto her lap, licking her chin like she’d been gone for years instead of days.
Well, at least someone was happy to see her. “Look at you! What a friendly guard dog you are.” She scratched behind Ranger’s ear. Maybe she should try that on Tanner.
Her heart flipped when the latest litter of fluffy Pyrenees puppies ran toward them, tumbling over each other, barking and wiggling. A loud snort drew her attention to the holding pen. Bullwinkle, the most massive bison on the ranch, stood like a gentle giant by the fence. This was like one massive petting zoo.
“Junie!” Kenzie came racing down the porch steps, bare feet flying. She grabbed Junie’s hand and started tugging her. “You got here just in time! The girls are having a very, very important meeting upstairs, and they cannot wait another second.”
“Hold on, Tiger,” Tanner said. “You need to let me get her seatbelt unfastened. You’re going to choke her.”
“Oh,” Kenzie said, looking slightly abashed. “Sorry about that.”
“You need to pay attention, Kenz,” Tanner scolded. “Don’t be so impatient.”
As soon as Tanner had Junie’s seatbelt unlatched, Kenzie grabbed her arm again. “Come on! The girls are all waiting in Kip and Trace’s room. We have snacks and everything!”
Tanner muttered something under his breath that soundedsuspiciously like “God protects fools, drunks, and Littles,” but Junie didn’t have time to process it.
Kenzie dragged her up the stairs, and as soon as they started toward Kip and Tanner’s room, the sound of excited female voices filled the air. Whatever Tanner had planned for her later would have to wait. At least for a little while, she wouldn’t have to face Tanner.
When they walked in, Kip was sitting on the edge of the big bed, looking pale and nervous, clutching a pregnancy test stick in her shaking hands as if it might bite her. Joy perched right beside her, rubbing Kip’s back in slow, soothing circles and whispering encouragement.
“Well, what does it say?” Tildi paced back and forth in front of them, unable to sit still, her hands waving excitedly. “If you are pregnant and it’s a girl, don’t name her Seraphina.”
That sparked an animated discussion about baby names and nursery ideas.
Poppy sat on her knees by the bed, practically bouncing with anticipation. All in all, the air buzzed with overlapping voices, nervous giggles, and the kind of hopeful energy that only a group of close-knit women could create.
Junie’s heart squeezed at the sight. This was what she had always wanted. A real family of women who showed up for each other.
Kip looked up, eyes wide. “I can’t look. Someone else do it.”
Tildi snatched the test from her. A moment later, she let out a happy squeal. “It’s positive! Kip, you’re pregnant!”
The room exploded. Kenzie and Poppy hugged Kip tight while Joy wiped happy tears from her eyes. Junie’s eyes stung, but this time they were tears of happiness. Kip was going to have a baby.
“Somebody better go tell Ruby,” Kip said. “I don’t want her to feel left out.”
