Chef Ruthie couldn’t resist putting pepper all over Luke Callahan’s take-out order. She considered it payback for the rude way he’d treated her at her best friend Molly’s wedding to his brother Mark Callahan. When Luke came banging on her door, demanding to talk to her, she was dismayed to learn that if he’d eaten the pepper-laden food, she could have gone to prison for manslaughter. Luke was highly allergic to pepper… and not only had she risked his life, she’d put the restaurant and her professional career in jeopardy. Luke felt the best punishment for her crime was a good spanking, and Ruthie shamefully agreed.

To their surprise, that spanking seemed to bring them together, and it wasn’t long before they were a couple… Ruthie’s tendency to be late for everything put a damper on their relationship, and Luke decided it was time to help her modify her behavior. Ruthie wasn’t sure she wanted Luke to spank her, but she’d known all along that the Callahan men believed in spanking, and she has to ask herself if she had what takes to be a Callahan wife?

Chapter One

I heard the pounding on the door and smiled in satisfaction. I knew precisely who it was, and I had no intention of answering. So what if Luke Callahan was upset? He’d earned the nasty little trick I’d pulled on him. The man was uncouth, and I’d been waiting ever since Molly and Mark’s wedding for an opportunity to get even with the aggravating man! When the opportunity came earlier in the evening, I took advantage of it, and hoped he was as embarrassed as I was at Molly and Mark’s wedding!

“Ruthie Denison, you’d best open this door unless you want all your neighbors to hear what I have to say??? And, I swear by all I hold sacred, I’ll camp right here in the hallway until you come out, and then I’ll have you, and the longer I wait, the harder I’m going to spank your butt!”

I was outraged by his comments! How dare he threaten me like that, and at the top of his lungs! This apartment building was quiet, and all of the neighbors wanted it to remain that way! I would be tossed out on my rear with no place to go if any of them complained to management. I could be held in violation of my lease, and it would be all Luke Callahan’s fault! I threw open the door and hissed, “Be quiet! We have a noise clause in this building, and I don’t want to be asked to move!”

“I don’t give a darn about your lease, little girl,” Luke shoved on the door, forcing me to back up into the living room. He shut the door quietly, and put his hands on his hips and glared at me. Once again I was surprised at how little he resembled Mark. While Mark and his older brother, Matthew, were both tall and had dark complexions, with dark hair and eyes, Luke’s hair was a much lighter shade of brown, and he was shorter and had blue eyes. Molly told me that Luke was the only one of the brothers who took after their Mother. The other three resembled their Dad. “In fact, I hope you get fired for this stunt!”

“Fired?” I repeated, and felt my face drain of color. “You told my boss?” I was barely able to force the words past my lips. I hadn’t stopped to consider that possibility, and suddenly, I was wishing I’d talked myself out of pulling the prank. Of course Luke would call the restaurant and complain! He was that type of person!!!

“Yes, I did call your boss to complain,” Luke replied, his blue eyes flashing with temper and indignation. Although Luke was shorter than his brothers, he still towered over me, and since I’d taken off my restaurant clogs and my chef coat when I got home, I felt even more vulnerable. “What did you think I would do when my dinner was delivered, and completely inedible?”

“It was edible!” I argued, even though I knew that someone who didn’t like pepper wouldn’t enjoy it at all. And, since Luke ordered the meals without pepper, I knew he didn’t like the substance.

“Not to me,” he said firmly. “I have an allergy to pepper. One whiff of that stuff, and my air passages close off. If I eat it, I’ll die. I specifically asked for no pepper…. The food was covered with it! And, I certainly couldn’t serve it to my guest unless I wanted to end up in the hospital!”

“I didn’t realize you have an allergy,” I stammered, feeling guilty. “I’m very sorry,” I felt my lower lip start to tremble, and I warned myself not to cry. If he’d eaten the food he could have died, and I would have been guilty of manslaughter! It was unthinkable, and I was ashamed of myself.

“After I took my guest out for a burger, I called your restaurant to complain. It was after hours, and the owner answered; I explained what happened, but when he said that he was positive his Chef Ruthie made a mistake, I knew then and there it had to be you… only you…! I asked for verification… and he confirmed it…”

I closed my eyes, fighting the urge to cry, even as I knew my face was turning red. As a redhead, I didn’t stand a prayer of hiding my emotions from anyone!!! It wasn’t fair, just as it wasn’t fair that I didn’t even reach five feet tall! I was going to lose my job!!! A Chef tampering with a guest’s food… it was a horrible crime to do such a thing! Dimitri would let me go, and not give me a good reference. I was in serious professional trouble, and I wasn’t even close to saving up enough capital to open my own place!

When I opened my eyes again, struggling not to cry, Luke continued in his scolding voice, “I told your boss that this was in the nature of a personal prank, and that I wished to deal with the matter myself… in a very personal way. He seemed to think that was a very good idea indeed, but I am of the opinion that he is very disappointed in you, young lady.”

Luke’s expression was grim, and I immediately realized that he actually meant to spank me! Too late I recalled what Molly told me about the Callahan men being old-fashioned. I’d been shocked when Molly admitted that Mark spanked her at times, and I’d also found myself curious about what it was like. But, I sure as heck wasn’t going to permit this man to put a hand to me! Not in this lifetime! No, I would not!

“Okay… I was wrong, Luke. But, you have to admit that this was all your own fault!”

“My fault?” his right eyebrow shot up in surprise. “Oh, this is going to be good… How is it my fault that you put enough pepper on my meal to season a hundred dinners?”

“You were rude to me at Molly and Mark’s wedding!” I accused, doing my very best to make him feel guilty for dragging me outside at the rehearsal and scolding me as if I were causing trouble!!!

“I wasn’t rude to you. I told you to shut up and let Molly and Mark tell us what they wanted us to do… You were trying to boss everyone around.”

“I was not! Molly asked me for help!”

“She didn’t need your help. She needed to have it her way, and you kept butting in and telling her why your way would work better. Since you didn’t have a husband, brother, or boyfriend there, I took it upon myself to take you aside and tell you to knock it off. You were out of line.”

“I was not!” I declared, feeling very embarrassed.

“You take charge whenever you are around Molly. Did you know that Mark paddled her last week when she got home from her shopping trip with you? She had a budget, and she went over what she was free to spend. I was right there when she got home, and Mark called her on it. I heard Molly tell Mark that you talked her into buying that dress because it was such a good buy, and because she looks fabulous in it. It’s too bad you didn’t hear the scold she got, and it’s too bad you didn’t get to share the spanking she got after I left. Molly tries too hard to please you, Ruthie.” The damning look in his eyes made me feel about two inches tall, and I felt awful!

“I didn’t know,” I whispered, shocked, and filled with guilt. “I feel simply awful…” I looked at him, and to my horror, the tears I’d been fighting burst out of me, and I was crying as if he’d slapped me hard. I don’t cry prettily. And, it is extremely embarrassing to have anyone witness my lack of self control.

I was shocked when Luke put his arms around me and gave me a hug. I couldn’t believe he was being nice to me! That made me cry all the harder, and although I was embarrassed, I couldn’t seem to stop crying, and when he actually picked me up, carried me to the sofa, sat down, and cradled me on his lap like a small child, I cried as if my heart was broken. It hurt so much to know that other people thought I was too bossy for words. Molly was my best friend, and I loved her like a sister. I had no one else… No one at all.

I met Molly in business school. Even though I was already a Chef, and had a good job in a very fancy restaurant, I wanted to own my own place someday… and I knew that many Chefs failed when they tried to open their own business because they knew next to nothing about managing a business. I wanted to be prepared. Molly was also a student, and we clicked right off. We were both single, and since her Mom was always on the road with her band, we felt pretty much alone. When Molly started dating, and eventually, married Mark, I was as happy as could be for her… but I also felt lonely a good bit of the time. I’d just die if Mark didn’t want Molly to spend time with me. That thought brought on even more tears.

“Ruthie, all these tears aren’t helping,” Luke said gently, patting my back. “Calm down and tell me what’s hurting so much.”

“I can’t bear to lose Molly!” I sobbed, heartbroken.

“You aren’t going to lose Molly,” he said in exasperation. “I never said that, Ruthie!”

“I will if Mark gets mad at me!” I bawled.

“He was disappointed with Molly,” Luke stated. “She knows how to say ‘no’. You just need to encourage her not to overspend, Ruthie,” he said in a softer tone of voice.

“I won’t do that again,” I promised, and then added, “I didn’t know I was being so bossy at the wedding, either. I feel so awful about that… I was truly trying to help.”

“It didn’t come across that way to me,” Luke told me with a frown, but I could see the sympathy in his blue eyes. “I sure as heck didn’t mean to make you so angry you’d hold a grudge for six months!”

“I was embarrassed,” I admitted. “And then it was obvious that everyone was trying to keep the two of us apart… I didn’t like being the cause of upset for Molly.”

“Mark wasn’t too pleased with me, either,” Luke told her. “John was like my shadow that day.”

“I got Franny,” I admitted. When he smiled in understanding, I said quietly, “I’m truly sorry about the pepper, Luke. It was a childish stunt… I don’t know why I let myself get so carried away, but I do regret my actions, and I swear, I did not know about your allergy. I wouldn’t have used pepper if I’d known…”

“I believe you, Ruthie,” Luke nodded. I smiled, thinking he was being a very good sport, under the circumstances, but he continued speaking… “If you’d known about the pepper, you would have found some other way to ruin the food, am I right?” he asked, his blue eyes daring me to be honest.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I had no choice but tell the truth. “I wouldn’t have used pepper, but maybe sugar… or extra salt… something…”

“That’s what I thought…” Luke nodded. “And, Miss Ruthie, I’m going to teach you why that isn’t a good idea…” Before I had time to protest, Luke’s strong arms lifted me into the air, and flipped me over so that I landed face-down across his thighs. The first spank caught the lower part of my bottom and it hurt!

“Ouch!” I protested.

“I’m going to make sure you regret your impulsive decision to ‘get even’ with me, young lady,” Luke promised. He spanked me even harder, and even on top of my work pants, it hurt! I could feel each and every spank as if it was on my bare skin!

“Owwww! You are hurting me, Luke!” I cried out. “Please stop!”

“I don’t think so. I promised your boss I would do a thorough job of this, and I mean to keep that promise.”

I was so embarrassed as I imagined Dimitri asking me if Luke truly spanked me! How humiliating to have the elderly man know that I’d been punished like a small child. I couldn’t imagine the kind man raising a hand to anyone, and it was a shock to know that he approved of Luke’s plan to teach me a lesson! And, I had to admit, Luke was doing precisely that. I would never serve anyone food I wouldn’t sit down and eat myself!!!! “I’m sorry, Luke! I really am sorry!” I apologized… and I meant the words. Luke must have believed me because he stopped the spanking and righted me on his lap.

“Do you realize how much trouble you would be in right now if I’d tasted that food, Ruthie?” Luke asked quietly. I nodded, unable to speak over the lump in my throat. My bottom was stinging furiously, and I wanted to rub, but didn’t dare with him watching me. My face was a blotchy mess from crying. And, I was ashamed of myself. I felt like a naughty little girl, and I wanted to go to bed and hide under the blankets and never come out again!

“I know you wouldn’t want to actually harm me, Ruthie, but you’d have to convince a Judge and jury of that… especially when it came out that we knew each other. Harmless pranks can turn fatal sometimes… and there are people in prison who will testify to that. Promise me you won’t do anything like this again, please. If there is a ‘next time’, you might not escape with just a stinging bottom.” Luke’s blue eyes were serious.

“I won’t ever do it again, Luke. I regret it this time, and not because of the… what you did…” I stammered, aware of how awful I must look. “I am a professional, and I didn’t act like it tonight. I let myself down. I risked my whole career, and even worse, I endangered your very life! I am not happy with myself,” I told him.

Luke frowned, and studied my face intently. “I stopped too soon,” he said after a few moments. And, just like that, I found myself over his lap once again. “You earned another spanking, didn’t you? I only spanked you for what you nearly did to me… but professionally, you made a really stupid mistake, Ruthie! If you get fired over this, you’ll play hell getting another job if your boss lets it slip why you were let go. I’d say that is a darn good reason to warm your fanny.”

“No!” I pleaded, braced for the spanking to start, but to my absolute shock, Luke grabbed the waist of my pants, and tugged them down to my knees. I was wearing panties, of course, but they were old ones, and since no man had ever seen my panties, I was mortified. However, that soon became the least of my worries. Luke’s hand was even harder this time without the protection of my pants, and I was wiggling around in an effort to get free.

Luke scolded me and spanked, and when I thought he was finished, he scolded me some more, and then spanked my upper thighs until I knew for a certainty I would not want to sit down any time soon. “I think that should just about pay the bill, wouldn’t you say so, Ruthie?” he asked, his deep voice soft and soothing.

“Yes! Please… no more!” I begged. I’m so sorry!”

“I’m sure you are,” he agreed, and he tugged on my pants, pulling them up to cover my oldest pair of panties. “I know that was embarrassing, Red… but you certainly do need someone to take you in hand.”

I didn’t know what to say! I was in some serious pain, and yet, I couldn’t bring myself to be angry with Luke. For a moment or two, it was nice to pretend he actually cared about me.

“As far as I’m concerned, Ruthie, we’re good now. If your boss gets too tough on you, call me, and I’ll put in a good word.” With those final words, Luke actually leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. “Make sure you lock this door,” he warned, and just that quickly he was gone.

I locked the door, turned off the lights, and went to my bedroom. In took me just a few seconds to strip off my clothes and go and stand in front of the full length mirror on the back of my bedroom door. My bottom and upper thighs were a deep, dark red, and when I gingerly ran my hand over the reddened area, it felt very hot to the touch. I now knew what it felt like to get a sound spanking, and I never wanted another one as long as I lived!!!

I took a shower, and shampooed my hair as I always did after I worked; kitchens were hot, and the odors clung to my long hair. The warm water always helped me to relax, but not tonight. Tonight the water felt like needles as it hit my sensitive skin. I hurried to rinse out the shampoo, and toweled off as gently as possible. I applied some aloe to the stinging area, and was relieved when it eased the pain, just as it did when I burned myself. Once my hair was dry, I braided it so it wouldn’t tangle, and crawled into my bed, wearing a t-shirt and a pair of boxers. Sitting to read wasn’t going to be possible, so I turned to my side, but found I couldn’t concentrate on my book. My thoughts were filled with Luke Callahan

Copyright © 2007 by Christian DD Group.