Beautifying Bernadette: A BBW Romantic Comedy (The Jackson Tribe Book 1) by Delia Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

Bernie was very excited at the idea of food, but also hated eating in front of other people. She meticulously cut up all of her food.
    Levi was familiar with those type of stall tactics, and tried to set her at ease. Taking a large bite of his own food he asked in a nonchalant tone, “So, I know you said that you’re an only child, was it hard? Lonely? Did you wish you had some more activity? I cannot imagine the quiet.”
    Bernie was grateful for the distraction and took a bite without thinking. “Yum! I love spinach. I guess it was good most of the time. My parents are kind of older, so they doted on me and gave me a lot of attention. Honestly, they pretty much gave me whatever I wanted. My mom was always around to read with me or go places or bake cookies. My Dad was retired by the time I was in junior high, so he was around a lot as well. We did a lot of family trips and dates to the movies or ice cream or stuff. They always welcomed my friends into the house, so, no, it wasn’t generally lonely. I grew up in Iowa and then we moved to Pennsylvania when I was in high school ‘cause Daddy’s parents were there. They died a couple years ago, but he wanted to be near them with the time they had left. I went to college down here near DC and then just stayed when I got my first job.”
    Levi looked interested. “What school?”
    “George Mason University?”
    Laughing, he said, “That’s my alma mater as well. But I did two years at the community college in high school, so I graduated from GMU at twenty and went to the academy from there. We just missed each other. But it’s my turn again and I have a doozy for you…”
    Bernie’s tummy turned, “doozy” sounded exciting, she glanced down at her plate and realized she’d been so into talking and listening she had eaten her entire omelet. Grabbing a piece of turkey bacon to gnaw on, she said, “Hit me!”
    Levi’s eyes twinkled. “Funny you would put it that way…”
    Bernie’s stomach fell and she set down the bacon. She had an inkling where this was heading, and it wasn’t a place she was sure she wanted to go.
    Levi stared at her intently for a long moment before continuing in a conversational tone. “Why did you tell me you were married and pregnant when you obviously are neither? And, where on earth did you get the crazy idea to say you would get spanked for a ticket? I’ll be honest, Miss Douglas, that is not an excuse I have ever heard as a reason for me to forego ticketing someone.”
    Bernie started playing with her napkin, ripping it into little, teeny, tiny, pieces.
    Levi waited patiently and, when he could tell she was not going to speak, he gently leaned over and tapped her chin with his finger and said in a gentle tone, “I asked you a question, Miss Douglas. I am not mad, but I genuinely need to know your answer.”
    Bernie swallowed and looked deeply into his eyes. “I… I don’t know. It just fell out. Probably because I wish it was true. I wish I had someone waiting at home to spank me for stupid choices and to hug away the pain and make me feel better and help me stop being such an idiot… and great! Now you’re going to know I am a freak. Freaky Bernie who wants her ass paddled.” Hot, angry embarrassed tears rolled down her cheeks and she couldn’t look at his face, but he grabbed her hands and squeezed.
    “Bernadette, you are not a freak. Not in any sense of the word. You are an incredibly attractive, interesting funny woman who I have been envisioning tossing over my knee and taking my hand to her bare butt for over three months,” he said seriously.
    Bernie looked up in shock, mouth wide open, so shocked the tears stopped flowing. “Y-y-you what?”
    Levi started laughing at her expression and nodded. “If you’re a freak, then I am even more of one. Try being a cop whose job is to serve and protect and having to explain to people that your proclivities in protecting women also lead you to want to paddle their behinds