His by Valentine's Day by Starla Kaye Read Free Book Online

the stack of pillows. "You deserved a spanking and you got it. End of discussion."
    She blinked away her tears and grumbled, "Well, I'm not happy about it."
    Cade found himself smiling. After she straightened the quilt over her lap, he set the tray down. "You need to eat every bite."
    She looked rebellious for a second and then forked up some of the scrambled eggs. They were no doubt cold, but she gave a satisfied moan of pleasure. "These are amazing."
    "I thank you, ma'am." It pleased him to know she appreciated his cooking. Few people knew that he actually liked to cook and was really good with certain dishes, breakfasts being his specialties.
    Her gaze shifted up. "You? You made this? Not the cook for the ranch hands?"
    His cell phone chirped in his pocket and interrupted the awkward moment. After glancing at the caller ID, he turned toward the door. "Sorry, I've got to take this call. Business."
    "Right. Business. Like taking away someone's home," Shawna grouched.
    He hesitated, feeling like he'd lost more ground with her. And it would be even more if he admitted the call was from his friend Pete and probably the conference call he'd been expecting with the potential buyer for the ranch.
    "I'll come back for the tray." He flashed her a look that he hoped warned she'd better still be in bed when he came back.
    She ground her teeth and gave a curt nod.

    * * *

    Cade hurried down the stairs toward the kitchen, which was the farthest point in the small house from Shawna's bedroom. He didn't want her catching even a snippet of what was said. He basically chit-chatted as he walked until he stopped and leaned against a counter.
    "Okay, talk to me now."
    "Is something wrong? Is your lady worse now?" Pete asked in concern. "I thought you told me yesterday that she was on the mend."
    His lady? Wouldn't Shawna hate hearing herself referred to that way? The notion made him smile as Cade answered, "No, she's much better. Thank God. So much better she's back to giving me hell." His smile grew even bigger. She was so much better that she challenged him on each and every thing. She'd pushed him so much that he'd finally spanked her.
    Pete chuckled and pulled him from those thoughts. "That sounds like the little cowgirl I know."
    This wasn't the first time Cade had noted a special warmth in Pete's tone when he talked about Shawna. Oddly, this time it bothered him. Jealousy laced his words as he briskly asked, "Are we moving forward with everything?"
    Instead of Pete responding, Sam Arnold stepped into the conversation. "I'm prepared to sign the papers tomorrow. The sooner I get control of the Rolling Hills Ranch, the sooner my men can move in and take control."
    "Move in? Take control?" Cade asked uneasily. He'd never before questioned what a buyer had planned for a business he sold. The ranch was just another business. Right? Right.
    Arnold confidently explained, "My corporate partners have decided to turn a large chunk of the ranch into a guest ranch. If done right, there's potentially big profit in that of business." He took a breath before adding, "We'd like to have most of the work done by spring. So we need to get this deal closed ASAP."
    Cade had to ask. "The men currently working here?"
    "I'll give them all a nice severance package," Arnold said, annoyance tingeing his words.
    Cade's gut tightened. Shawna had been right: he'd been naive about how it would all turn out. "And Ms. Donley?"
    "We have heard that she's a real looker. She even has something of a reputation as a barrel racer. Our PR people tell us she could be a good draw for the new business." Arnold took a second before saying, "We thought we'd see if she wanted to stay on as a trail guide or something."
    Cade clenched his free hand in disgust at his side. No way in hell she would ever lower herself to do that. Trail guide! Nor should she have to. She might not have shown him lately because she'd been so sick, but he knew--from what the men said and from what he'd