For Love's Sake Only by Lena Matthews Page A

and lick her self-inflicted wounds. Although, knowing Ty, he wouldn’t let her stay hidden for long.
    Troubled, Charlotte headed inside the barn where she and Ty had made love not so long ago. It was one of her favorite places to visit on the ranch, so she wasn’t too surprised it was where her aimless wandering had led her.
    They’d come here many times over the last few weeks. Sometimes just to talk, others to visit whatever animal Ty was babying at the moment, but whenever they came, he would always tease her about taking her into the tack room. Sometimes he did. This was their place.
    A musty room filled with hay. It wasn’t romantic, but it was theirs.
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    Charlotte walked to the stall and leaned on the wooden gate. Chiana was no longer standing in the stall. Instead a pretty ebony mare was in her place. Calling softly to the horse, Charlotte stuck her hand over the gate, running her hand down the horse’s forehead softly.
    Looking into the mare’s deep, dark eyes, Charlotte made a decision. Well, not really a decision, since she’d known from the moment she stepped outside that she had made a mistake. More like a choice. A choice to grow up and to stop running away.
    Ty was right. From the start, she’d run from him, using her fear as a shield. It was like Charlotte was waiting for him to make a mistake so she could say, “Ah-hah, I knew you weren’t perfect.” But he wasn’t perfect, and Lord knew she wasn’t. This morning was proof of that if nothing else was.
    Perfect or not, she was his, just as much as he was hers. And Charlotte loved the stubborn fool too much to take one step off this land. Ty was stuck with her, whether it was good for him or not.
    “You planning on stealing my horse and making a run for it?” Ty drawled coming up from behind her.
    Not daring to breathe for fear of ruining the moment, Charlotte simply turned around to look at him, needing to reassure herself that it wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t. Ty was there.
    Letting out a deep breath, Charlotte smiled. Relief filled her soul and tears of joy filled her eyes. He was there. He’d come for her.
    “You know what we do to horse thieves around these parts, don’t you?” Ty cocked a brow, waiting for her to reply.
    “Your horses are safe, cowboy.” Charlotte matched his teasing tone with one of her own. She felt lighter, finally able to breathe. Everything was going to be okay. They were going to make it. They had love on their side, how could they not? “We never did get around to the riding lesson.”
    “There’s time.”
    Spurs & Mistletoe: For Love’s Sake Only
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    Smiling, Charlotte agreed, there was time.
    She was still here. The residual anger that had been tearing at Ty’s soul slowly began to fade away. Charlotte was there, and whatever demons she’d been fighting were conquered.
    He was still going to tan her hide, though, for putting them through that little drama, but afterwards they were going to make love. Slow, sweet, deep love.
    “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to overlook my little outburst and blame it on ... I don’t know ... that time of the month?” Charlotte took a step toward Ty, heart in her eyes, as Ty took a step toward her.
    “We can if you’re willing to overlook my choice in business partners and submit to a punishment worthy of your bratty behavior.”
    “Punishment, huh?” They were standing toe to toe, and as close to eye to eye as their height difference would permit. “Do you think I need to be punished more than I’ve already been?”
    Ty wanted to burst out laughing. Did she need a punishment, was she kidding?
    Charlotte had almost killed him when he she said they were over. A spanking was the least she deserved. Of course, it wouldn’t just be a spanking. It would lead to other things. Other nice things like toys, rope, and orgasms. She’d pay, all right, over and over until they both passed out from pleasure.
    Just thinking of taking her over his lap