“What do you want me to do?” Colton laughed. “Work behind some desk like you? No thanks. I like to get my hands dirty,” he winked. “Now, if it bothers you so much, you can go on back home. I won’t take it personally.”

  “Don’t break anything, you idiot,” he muttered.

  “I’ll do my best,” he grinned, clapping Jason on the back. “Enjoy the show.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Once Colton walked off to get ready, Jason found his seat. They both knew that he wasn’t going anywhere. As much as he hated to see his brother take these kind of risks, he couldn’t deny that the danger was the very reason that it was so thrilling to watch. He could well remember what it felt like to ride a bucking bronco, how it felt to hear the crowds cheering, not to mention how it felt to win. But he had a family now—a wife and a one-year-old daughter. He couldn’t afford the risks anymore. Some days, he thought that his brother longed for the same, though he’d laugh and shrug it off if ever Jason dared to broach the subject.

  * * *

  Colton was doing just that as he prepared for the competition. Before he went out, he always cleared his head, plucking out thoughts one by one until his sole focus was what he was about to do. As much as he hated to admit it—and never would, to his brother—what Jason said did get him thinking. He’d turned thirty last month and the truth was, he wasn’t sure how much longer he’d be able to keep up doing the rodeo before he took a fall or sustained some injury. Of course he wanted to meet someone and calm down, but it had to be the right someone. He refused to settle and girls like the one he was looking for didn’t seem to exist. He’d been accused more than once of being too picky, but that usually came from the girls he spurned, or from his mother, who wanted more grandchildren, so he didn’t take it much to heart.

  One day, he told himself, as he always did when the thought inevitably came. One day soon.

  “You ready to win, fella?” he murmured to his horse Wayne as he stroked his flank. “Bet none of the horses accuse you of getting too old.” Of course, maybe he was, Colton reflected as he took a good, long look at his horse. They’d been doing this same dance for the last decade or so—maybe it was getting time to call it quits while they were both still in good shape.

  Just then, Wayne neighed loudly and reared up, kicking his brown leg in the air before he landed again.

  “You’re right,” he laughed, patting the horse affectionately. “You and me, we’re still plenty young. What was I thinkin’?”

  * * *

  “Cash me out,” Colton said as he pushed his winning slip across the counter to the cashier.

  “Second place,” the man whistled, looking suitably impressed. “Not bad, man.”

  “Gotta good horse,” he laughed, gratefully accepting the bills that the cashier pushed toward him. “Thank you very much.”

  “You’re welcome. Will I be seeing you in Luverne next week?”

  “Shoot, no. I promised Wayne we’d take the week off if we won tonight.”

  “You still believe that animal can understand you?” he hooted.

  “Better than most people, I ‘spect. Thank you kindly.” Colton quickly split the bills into three piles and stuffed his pockets. Unlike most of the men he knew, he wouldn’t be blowing his or putting it under his mattress when he got home. He was going to deposit it in the morning—having a bank account seemed to be almost unheard of among these folk.

  “Nicely done, bro!”

  He grimaced as Jason clapped him heartily on the back and practically shouted in his ear. “Damn, you don’t have to make me go deaf.”

  “Shoot, if you’re not deaf by now, I guess nothin’ will do it,” Jason said, smiling broadly. “Sure am glad I bet on you tonight, bro. Excuse me jus’ a moment.”

  Colton took a step back, sporting a little grin of his own. It was easy to remember why he did this with his ears still ringing from the shouts of the crowd, his adrenaline still pumping. He always felt so much more alive, particularly after a big win with cash lining his pockets. In those moments, he doubted that he’d ever give up the rodeo. He just wouldn’t be himself without it. As his face nearly split with the size of his smile, he thought that the only two things that could make his day even better would be an ice-cold beer or two and a soft, pliable woman in his bed.

  “What do you say I treat you to a brewsky?”

  “You read my mind, bro. Just let me—” Colton stopped talking abruptly when he heard a shrill scream coming from the arena. Without pausing to think, he launched into a run. He was dimly aware of the commotion around him. Every eye seemed trained on the arena, some folks yelling warnings, some standing stock-still as if too afraid to move. As he neared the ring, out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of a young girl. All he could make out was her pale face and the cloud of soft gold hair. None of that registered with him near as much as the horror in her wide blue eyes when the horse in the arena began to rear on its hind legs.

  He’d been doing this for a long time and Colton could read horses quite well. The one the little girl faced was pissed as hell to have such a little thing interrupting him, and he looked damn-near ready to kill her for daring to intrude. Colton ran as fast and as far as his legs would take him, not daring to hope that he would make it in time—not daring to think of what would happen if he didn’t.

  He leapt and dived toward her, barely knocking the girl out of the way before the horse’s angry hooves landed on his right shoulder. He fell to the ground, grunting with the impact of it, and raised his arms to protect his head as best he could. He shut his eyes tight, trying to drown out the unintelligible roar of noise all around him. All that mattered what that he’d gotten the girl out of the way—if she had any sense, she’d get out of the arena while she still could. And if not, well, he wouldn’t be of much help.

  He braced for the next kick, certain it would come, but instead he felt himself being hauled to his feet.

  “You alright, man?”

  No sooner had he opened his eyes than Jason was barreling toward him and pushing past the man who’d helped him up. “What the hell, Colt? I saw that damn horse get your shoulder! Are you okay, bro?”

  Colton turned his head to see the wild horse had been saddled and was being led off by a group of three men. “Yeah,” he grimaced, feeling pain shoot from his wounded shoulder. “I’m fine.”

  “I’ve never seen you move so fast, bro. You might have saved that girl’s life.”

  “Nah. Someone would have gotten to her.” He turned his head again to try to catch sight of her.

  “Don’t know ‘bout that. No one else seemed to be thinkin’ straight. She’s lucky you were there.”

  “I reckon.”

  “Well, let’s get you to the doc and see about that shoulder.”

  “Hold up a sec. I need to do something first.”

  “Colt—”

  Without a word, Colton walked away, headed straight for the girl who was surrounded by a circle of concerned bystanders. When one turned and saw him coming, he said something to the crowd that begin to disperse at his approach. “Hey there,” he said, looking at the girl. She looked up at him with wide, frightened eyes, her face so pinched that he wondered if the stallion had gotten her after all. “How are you holdin’ up?”

  “I… I’m fine,” she said, in a voice as soft as a whisper. “Thank you so much for what you did.”

  Before he could reply, she launched herself into his unsuspecting arms. He was so surprised by the warmth of the gesture that he found himself hugging her back. She was a tiny little thing and felt so fragile that he was afraid his gentle hug would shatter her bones. “I can’t believe you saved me,” she said as he broke away, tilting her face and looking up at him with something akin to hero worship.

  “Well, I wish I hadn’t had to,” Colton replied, trying for a firm tone despite the fact that the gratitude etched on her gentle, elfin features was making him feel funny. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”

  “I… I thought the horse was pretty,” she muttered, blushing as though she knew how silly she sounded.

  “Oh, very pretty,” he snorted. “Not to mention mean as all get-out. Where’s your parents?”

  “My p-parents?”

  Colton tried to stuff his temper down, even as he wondered if she ever spoke without stuttering. “Your father here? I’d sure love to hear what he has to say about that fool stunt you just pulled.”

  “Um, no. He’s not.”

  “Your mother then,” he prompted, his impatience leaking into his voice.

  “I’m here by myself, actually.”

  He frowned down at her, wondering if she was lying. Surely no decent parent would let such a little thing like her go to the rodeo on her own? He certainly wouldn’t, if she were his daughter. She looked like a good gust would carry her away—much too fragile to be around rough men and dangerous animals.

  “Are you hurt?”

  “Where do you live?” he asked, ignoring the question. “I’ll give you a ride home and talk to your folks then.”

  “You want to talk to my parents?” she asked, her brow wrinkling. “Why?”

  “Well, I think they have a right to know what kind of stunt you just pulled, don’t you?”

  “Um, well, the thing is… I don’t exactly—”

  “Exactly what?” Colton asked, frustrated to the point of being ready to take her over his knee himself.

  “I don’t have parents. I mean, I do. I did. That is, my mother died two years ago.”

  “Oh.” He was so caught off guard that for a moment, he didn’t speak. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he said at last.

  “Thank you.”

  “And… and your father?”

  “I never knew my father,” she admitted, looking away as though she had something to be ashamed of.

  “Well, I’m sure he’s worse off for it. Who do you live with, then? Family?”

  “No. I don’t live with anyone.”

  “You mean…” He trailed off, feeling more and more uncomfortable with each passing second. “You mean you live on the streets?”

  The spluttering laugh that emitted from her pretty red lips seemed to take her as much by surprise as it did him, if her flushed cheeks were any indication. “No, I, ah, just live by myself. I have a one-bedroom apartment. It’s not much, it’s not in the best neighborhood or anything, but…”

  “An apartment,” he repeated. “How old are you?”

  “Nineteen.”

  He arched a dark brow in surprise. He hadn’t taken her to be any older than fifteen, if that. “You don’t say.”

  “I’m small for my age,” she said, jutting her chin out defensively, as though it wasn’t the first time she’d made that statement.

  “I, uh… I guess so. Well, let me give you a ride anyhow.”

  “I have a car.”

  “Oh. ‘Course you do. Well, let me walk you to your car, at least.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  He gestured that she should lead the way and after a moment, she did so and he followed behind. He couldn’t help but glance at her lithe figure, rounded out with a generous, shapely bottom. He’d made checking out women an art form and his eyes carried out the task with practiced ease, even though he felt guilty for doing it. His guilt was only slightly lessened by the fact that she was old enough to be lusted after, even if she was still too young for him. Hell, she seemed too young to have her own apartment, in his opinion.

  “This is me,” she said, gesturing to a beat-up, baby-blue Oldsmobile.

  “Nice car.”

  She grinned at his wry tone. “She’s not much to look at, I’ll admit, but she’s full of memories.”

  “Of breakdowns on the side of the road?”

  “Wow, you don’t let up, do you?” she laughed. For a moment, she seemed less like a little waif in need of protection and more like a sassy young woman. “No, she’s never let me down, I promise.”

  “Alright, well, while you’re handin’ out promises, make me one more. Promise me you’ll never do anything that stupid again.” Colton punctuated the words with a stern stare that had her squirming in seconds.

  “I wasn’t thinking,” she admitted, staring down at her toes.

  “No kiddin’,” he snorted. “And believe me when I say it could have been much worse. So I want to hear you promise me.”

  “Yes, sir. I promise.” In a show of bravery, she lifted her face to meet his eyes and Colton felt his heart give a backflip when he looked into her baby blues.

  He wasn’t sure if it was her choice of words, the soft, submissive way she spoke them, or simply a pretty pair of eyes, but either way, he was struck speechless for a moment.

  “I don’t normally do things like that.”

  “I should hope not,” he replied, swallowing over the lump that had grown in his throat. “If I was your daddy, I think I’d put you over my knee for pullin’ such a foolhardy stunt.”

  “Well, it’s like I said,” she shrugged, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I never knew my daddy.”

  “Does that mean you’ve never had your tail tanned, either?”

  “I…” She ducked her head once more, not before he noticed the deepening hue of her cheeks.

  When he caught sight of her nibbling her lip, he thought it was the most adorable thing he’d ever seen. “Well?”

  “No,” she whispered.

  “I think it might help you think things through better in the future.” Colton stood there, looking at her and wondering what came next. He wanted nothing more than to pull her to him and bend her over his knee, just as he’d threatened. His palm tingled with the pure wanting-to of it, but at the same time, there was something about this girl that gave him pause. She seemed so delicate, so raw and real, unlike any woman he’d ever met. As much as his revved-up testosterone begged him to tip her over and swat her plump rear, something else told him that he needed to tread carefully where this one was concerned.

  “What’s your name, honey?”

  “Scarlett,” she replied, her voice still barely over a whisper.

  “It suits you,” he decided, looking her up and down. She truly was pretty as a picture, with her soft, china doll-like features and her golden hair that flowed to her shoulders. “I’m Colton.”

  “Nice to meet you, Colton.”

  “The pleasure’s mine. Now, would you like me to spank you, Scarlett?”

  Her head shot up and her mouth was in an O of surprise. “Oh, I… I don’t know…”

  “Don’t know what?” he prompted. “Don’t know if you deserve it? Don’t know if you can?”

  “I… I don’t think I could.”

  “Sure you can, honey. You know how?”

  Mutely, she shook her head.

  “You just have to trust me. Do you?”

  “I… I just met you.” Something in her tone suggested that she wasn’t finished yet, so he waited to hear her out. “You… you risked a lot to save me, even though you didn’t know me. So yes, I guess I trust you. And I guess I deserve a spanking too, for putting you in danger.”

  “More important, you put yourself in danger,” he reminded her. “Do I have your permission then?”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip for another moment before giving him a nod.

  “I’m sorry, I need to hear you say it, Scarlett.”

  “Yes. You can spank me.”

  Colton noted that she didn’t stutter that time, which was good enough for him. Without waiting another moment, he reached for her.

  * * *

  Scarlett reached up and touched his shoulder, pulling back when she saw him flinch. “Oh, no, you are hurt. I’m so sorry!”

  “Don’t worry your pretty little head about that right now. The only thing you need to worry about is how red your bottom is about to get.”

  “We should get you to a hospital—”

  “Nice try, missy. Don’t think you’re gettin’ off that easy. You were promised a spankin’ and I don’t make a habit of breakin’ my promises.”

  Scarlett looked at him, her features creased with concern. She thought about protesting, but the determination in his eyes changed her mind. “Okay. How do I…”

  “It’s simple, darlin’.” Colton propped his foot on the trunk of the truck and offered her a hand.

  Her eyes moved back and forth between his foot and his hand before she hesitantly put her hand in his. Without any further warning, he yanked her over his knee in one fluid motion. Scarlett let out a muted yelp of protest and looked back over her shoulder at him, anxiously nibbling her lower lip.

  “Don’t you worry none,” he said, gently patting the back of her jeans. “It’ll be over before you know it and you won’t be any worse for the wear.”

  “I don’t know about this. Maybe—”

  “I tell you what you have to decide right now, Miss Scarlett: are you the kind of woman who honors her word, or not?”

  “I don’t think that has very much to do with it.”

  “Sure it does, sweetie. It has everything to do with it. You told me that you knew you deserved a spanking and you told me that I could see to it that you got it. You can change your mind, if you want, but you better decide now. Because once I start, I’m not goin’ to stop until I’m good and ready. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, sir,” she murmured, evading his gaze once more.

  “Alright then, what’s it gonna be?”

  Without a word, Scarlett turned around and lay flat over his knee, her head pointed toward the ground. Her heart was beating so fast she thought for sure that it would come bursting out of her chest any minute. She couldn’t even begin to imagine how she’d gotten herself here—over the knee of a stranger, about to get her very first spanking! It was all too much to contemplate. If she’d known this was where she’d end up, she would have done herself a favor and stayed home!

  And yet… there was something undeniably alluring about this Colton fellow. He’d hurt himself to come to her rescue, which was without a doubt the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for her. And he didn’t even know her! It also didn’t hurt that he was hot with a capital H. In fact, Scarlett couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen a man who had made her go weak in the knees with just a look. Those hazel brown eyes of his were downright swoon-worthy, coupled with his tall, well-built frame and dark blond hair. He had an all-American face, as warm and familiar as apple pie. Yet, he could make his expression stern and commanding in a way that made her insides tremble in a strange mixture of excitement and fear. The fact that she felt so strongly about someone she’d known less than an hour told her that she should run, and fast.