[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

It was Marty all right and he sounded way too
cheerful for her grumpy mood.  Just a minute, she
hissed. Glancing over at Bess s curious look, she
took the remote receiver and walked into her
bedroom, shutting the door behind her.  Bess is
staying with us, we have to be careful, she said in
a definite grouchy tone.
She rubbed her tender posterior irritably. She
had waked up this morning and felt the tenderness
in her bottom cheeks immediately when she sat up
on the bed. Walking to the bathroom, she had
pulled her panties down and held up her nightie to
check her out backside in the mirror. She hadn t
seen anything, but it felt sore just the same and it
aggravated her that Ryan had spanked her like that.
 What s wrong? asked Marty curiously. He
could tell from the tone of her voice that she was
out of sorts.
 Nothing, she snapped back. It wasn t nothing,
but she wasn t going to tell him what it was! She
also had a sinking feeling Ryan was going to be
making things his business in the future too and she
didn t like the feeling of being hemmed even more.
 Something must be wrong, you sound
grouchy, he returned reasonably.
 I said nothing, so drop it will you? Cassie tried
to sound nicer, but failed miserably.
 Oh ho, sounds like somebody s little bottom
needs warming, growled Marty in mock fierceness.
 Don t touch my butt again& ever, remonstrated
Cassie. Ryan s hard hand had left quite the
impression and she was not willing to play games or
joke about spanking at that point.
 Good grief, Cassie, I m just playing with you,
complained Marty, backtracking. He thought she d
liked it a few days ago! He really didn t like having
to placate her. He was more used to girls who
made no bones about what they wanted from him
and he from them. And when he was done with
90
them, there were always more fish in the sea to
choose from. But he needed Cassie& for now
anyway.
 Oh& I m sorry, Marty, you re right, Cassie felt
bad at his reproach.  Its not your fault I m crabby
this morning. She sighed and tucked her hair
behind her ear.  It s all Ryan s fault!
 You mean that American that s here to help
your sister? asked Marty suspiciously.
 How did you know?
 I met him at the club last night. Arrogant
pommy. Marty flushed as he remembered the
disdain Ryan had treated him to under Dan s
amused eye.
 Yes, well, he s actually here to talk Sydney into
selling Camaroo and moving into the city. It was
what Dad wanted but Sydney has this hare brained
idea of building the business back up and maybe
clearing Dad s name over the diamonds.
Marty s complete attention was instantly focused
on Cassie s petulant words.
 Is that so? I thought Sydney didn t want to
sell? This could complicate things if the station
were suddenly up for sale. All kinds of things
happen when new people take over a business. He
had to find a way inside, and soon! He knew Red
was already suspicious of him. And after last night,
he was considering cutting his losses altogether and
just getting out of town. The only problem was,
he d have to leave Australia altogether to get away
from Red. No, his best bet was to help Red recover
the diamonds and make himself indispensable to
the man. If he ever found out for a minute that he
had known Steve was going to double-cross him,
he d disappear or have an untimely accident. He
had do doubts on that score.
 She doesn t want to sell, replied Cassie,  but if
she did, I would be in the city all the time. She
waited for him to comment on that.
 Ummmm, that would be more to my liking,
responded Marty throatily, right on cue.
91
They continued to chat, Cassie flirting and Marty
responding delightfully until he finally steered the
conversation around to the purpose of his call.  So,
love, has Sydney said anymore about the Duke s
engine getting pulled this week?
 No, she hasn t, replied Cassie peevishly.
Sometimes it seemed like Marty had a one-track
mind. And after his blatant admiration of her sister,
Cassie wasn t sure she wanted him working at
Camaroo after all. What if Sydney decided to steal
Marty away from her?
 Well, how about if I drive out there today and
talk to her myself, he suggested.  Is she going to
be home today? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]