Ace-High Flush by Patricia Green Read Free Book Online Page B

temper problem, and then I'm headin' back to the hotel for the night."
    She rose, a small frown of confusion on her face. "I don't know what you mean about the 'temper problem.'"
    "Is there a basement in this buildin'?"
    Gabby nodded. "Sure. It's where the laundry gets done."
    "Take me there."
    "You're kidding, right?"
    "Do you have a woodshed out back?"
    "Of course not!"
    "I guess it'll have to be a laundry room."
    She took a step back and whispered. "You can't spank me in the laundry room!"
    "Sure can." He grabbed her elbow and propelled her to the door. "Get your keys."
    She did, frowning at him mightily. "Look, I'm sorry. I've been stressed out all day."
    "I know a dandy stress reliever."
    "Ace!"
    He gestured toward the door and the stairs beyond. "Get movin'."
    The laundry room was a dingy white, the paint peeling up near the ceiling. It smelled of dryer sheets and spilled bleach. Someone upstairs was playing music and the bass thump carried through the walls. Two rickety aluminum chairs with bright blue plastic seats sat in one corner, next to a large trash can.
    It was an inauspicious place in which to make a point, but Ace had to use the resources at hand. He sat in one of the chairs, and found it too wobbly to hold both him and a squirming woman. He pointed toward a pair of dryers.
    "Put your hands on the dryers and bend over."
    "I can't believe you're doing this, Ace. Haven't we gotten past this? Didn't last night mean anything to you?"
    "Last night was the highlight of my rodeo, li'l girl, but that doesn't mean you get away with bratty behavior."
    She stamped a small foot. "I'm not a brat!"
    Ace couldn't help but chuckle. "Hands on the dryer."
    Gabby groaned, but complied. Her sweatpants and bikini panties were easy for him to pull down. "What if someone comes in?"
    "I reckon they get a real eyeful."
    She squawked when his hand hit her rump, and continued to squawk as it fell upon her a dozen more times. "Don't go talkin' back to me, Gabby," he told her. "Don't cuss and don’t act like you're a man." She groaned and sniffled as tears began to drip on the dryer. "You're not stronger than me, and you’re sure not more stubborn than me, and for the sake of your bottom, you'd best remember that."
    Several more slaps and she was sobbing.
    He paused. "You gonna behave?"
    She nodded. "Yes, sir."
    His last swat was more playful than forceful. "Good enough. Now pull up your pants."
    When she'd retied her drawstring, he took her chin in his hand and gave her a sweet kiss. Not a demanding one, but something tender to soothe her ruffled tail feathers.
    "I'm sorry, Ace." There was a quaver in her voice, though she seemed more in control of herself. Ace pulled her into his arms and held her there as she breathed against his shoulder. Crying seemed to have calmed her down some.
    He pulled back and gazed at her face. Her tears had dried, and if her nose was a little red, it wasn't unbecoming. "Better?"
    "Yeah."
    "Let's go back upstairs so I can collect my hat and get goin'."
    They climbed the stairs in silence.
    Gabby's mother awakened as they came in. Her narrowed gaze went between them several times, and, surprisingly, she smiled. The expression was so like Gabby's that Ace's breath stopped for a moment. Anita focused her eyes on him. "You grow on a person, Mr. Texan. Hell if you don't."
    Ace put on his hat and grinned. "Thank you, ma'am." He made his way to the door. "Make those reservations, Gabby. We are goin' out tomorrow night. I'll have someone call you about helpin' your mama out while we're away."
    "Ace! You can't—"
    "I am. Unless you’re hankerin’ to go back to the laundry room..."
    She gasped and shot a glance at her mother, who had relaxed back in the chair with a little smile. "Fine. I'll make the reservations." She put her nose in the air. "Goodnight!"
    "Sleep well, sweetheart. Night, ma'am."
    "G'night, Mr. Texan," came the sleepy reply.

Chapter 4
    Ace was shaving when his younger sister, Queenie, called. It