Second Chance Sweetheart (Brighton Creek Brats #1)

Prologue

Eight years earlier.

Mikayla

I turned on the lamp on my desk, and it cast a soft-white circle of light around me. Pulling out a notebook, I flipped to a clean page. Selecting a black ballpoint pen, nothing fancy, I thought about where to start.

Dear Sam.

I penned a confession, my hand trembling slightly as I wrote a plea.

It was a desperate reach for something more than what Sam had been giving me the past few years, all wrapped up in a stream of consciousness.

I wrote more and more, needing to get all of the words out before I lost my nerve.

Maybe I would never give it to him. Maybe it was just for me.

But putting the words down felt like finally breathing again.

I’m tired of being the girl who always needs correcting. But maybe I need you to consider the possibility of something more. I love you. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. I’m supposed to leave this weekend, but you’d be reason enough to make me stay.

It was cheesy, like a carefully crafted romantic movie, but it was all true.

Ending the letter without anything cute or flirty, I added my full name.

As if he wouldn’t recognize my handwriting.

Folding the paper carefully, my fingers lingering on the edge as if I could hold onto the feelings wrapped inside.

The hurt deep inside my heart seemed lighter, if nothing else.

Purging my true feelings from my soul onto the paper had done it a world of good.

I sprayed the paper once with my favorite perfume and tucked it into an envelope.

Carefully writing his name across the front, I stared at it as if it could deliver itself to his house.

I wasn’t entirely sure what romantic love felt like in the way of a relationship.

I’d been so caught up with the idea of Sam that I hadn’t bothered dating other than casually in college.

Maybe I should have, but it hardly mattered when I was on the cusp of leaving town.

Graduation day was tomorrow and my leaving was already planned a few days later.

I had a tiny studio apartment in the city waiting for me.

A new job lined up. Endless possibilities and opportunities around every corner.

But I’d be alone.

The quiet of my room settled around me like a soft blanket. For the first time, the full weight of what I was leaving behind and what was waiting ahead pressed gently against my chest. I felt light as air but tangled up in a knot of fear and hope.

If Sam felt the same way, he’d come find me. Profess his feelings. We could start something real.

But there was a dead seated fear inside my belly.

A pit that held my insecurities inside of it.

I was scared of being so far away from everything important to me.

Yet excitement about the upcoming plans were thrilling all the same.

It wasn’t just a diploma I’d be receiving tomorrow.

It was a permission slip to step into adulthood, transitioning from the small-town comforts I’d grown up with and embracing something bigger.

At least that’s what I told myself as I grabbed the envelope, stuffed it into my purse and headed downstairs. I told my Gran I’d be back soon, and rushed out into the balmy summer evening. The chirping of the cicadas sounded frantic rather than soothing, but I pushed away my anxiety.

The ride to Sam’s house was the longest fifteen minutes of my life. His car wasn’t in the driveway, which meant he was likely on his way home. Pausing on the walkway to his front door, I shook out my nerves still debating on where to leave my confession.

After a steadying breath, I pierced the corner of the envelope and threaded a ribbon through it. I tied a small bow around his doorknob, then stepped back, hoping the letter conveyed everything I couldn’t say in person.

“All right, Sam. This is how I really feel.”

Empowered by my bravery, or what felt like it, I ran back to my car and headed to Vern’s Tavern. A bunch of us were celebrating tonight, but my mind was on Sam.

Sam

I’d been heading home when I got a text from Judd—Bonnie’s boyfriend and the group’s unofficial watchdog.

Bonnie was Mickie’s best friend, the one always dragging her into trouble.

Not that Mickie needed much help with that.

Judd kept an eye on things and made sure I knew what was really going on.

Instead of finishing up what I needed to do and relaxing, I frowned.

Mickie was at the bar, stealing sips of beer from anyone and everyone.

Naughty brat.

She was graduating tomorrow and I wanted her to be able to remember her ceremony rather than be hungover. I wasn’t naive in thinking that she never drank alcohol, but at twenty she didn’t belong in a bar.

I swung the truck into a U-turn and headed for Vern’s.

I’d kept her to my rules for years, consequences and all.

Whatever it was between us, she’d always been mine to look after, and I made sure she never forgot it.

Sure, she had a crush on me, but the age gap kept things from moving forward, at least on my end.

Pulling into the bar a few minutes later, I got out and headed inside.

Mikayla was fluttering around from group to group. From the text message I’d received it didn’t sound like she was drunk, though that wouldn’t stop her making bad choices. Ones that I thought I’d been helping her avoid.

Shaking my head, I reached out and grabbed her shoulder, spinning her to face me. “Mickie.”

A brilliant smile broke across her mouth. She had on short-shorts. Too short if I had any say about her clothing choices, though I didn’t. Paired with a low cut top, I fought to keep my eyes on hers.

“Sam!” She threw her arms around my neck and pressed a sloppy kiss to my cheek.

Not the reception I’d been expecting. “What are you up to, sweetheart?”

“Celebrating! I don’t usually see you here…” Mickie blinked her huge honey-brown eyes at me and they sparkled even in the dim light of the bar.

“You shouldn’t be here at all, honey.” I pointed out. “Don’t you want to remember your ceremony? Besides, I heard you’ve been stealing sips of beer.”

“Judd.” She glared at his back as if her irritation could make him turn. “Damn tattleteller. So, then we should get out of here. Talk. Maybe take a walk to the creek,” she suggested hopefully.

“Not tonight, honey. You can either walk out to my truck with me or I’ll toss you over my shoulder and carry you out.” If I gave her an inch, she’d take a mile. That wasn’t happening.

“Not happening,” she said, rolling her eyes as if she’d heard my thoughts.

“I’ll bring you home so you can get a good night’s sleep. You don’t want to worry your Gran.”

“Is that the only reason you’re here? To lecture me?” Mikayla crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m not doing anything wrong, Sam.”

“Come on, Mickie. You’re underage. Let’s go.” I motioned for her to take my hand so we could leave.

She stomped her foot once.

“Mikayla,” I growled. “I gave you two choices. Last chance to walk out of your own accord.”

She glared at me and made no attempt to move.

“Okay, we’ll do this the hard way.” Lifting her over my shoulder, I grabbed her purse, which Bonnie was conveniently holding out, and shifted Mikayla into a more comfortable position.

“Sam Brighton! You put me down!”

Well, at least she was reacting again. “I’ll do no such thing.”

“People will see me, they’ll talk,” she screeched.

“Let them talk, honey.”

Heads turned. Conversations paused. Someone whistled.

I strode smoothly across the room, paying them no mind.

Opening the exit door, I walked out into the parking lot while Mickie pounded her fists into my back.

She wasn’t doing any damage, not that I believed she was trying to.

I cracked my palm off her upper thighs several times hard enough that my hand stung.

Since her shorts offered little protection, I was sure she felt it. She yelped and dropped her fists.

“I’m not a little kid sneaking out. Hey! My car is here!”

“Someone will drive your car home,” I said, wrestling to open the door as she struggled against my shoulder. I landed a few more smacks this time targeting her bottom. “Quit it.”

She stilled and I took the pause to deposit her inside the bucket seat and buckle her seatbelt. Mikayla stuck her tongue out.

“Unless you’d like me to make a pit stop and wash that naughty mouth out with soap, put your tongue back where it belongs.”

“You’re impossible! Don’t you care what this looks like? Someone will say they saw you carrying me off like a caveman.”

“I’m not concerned, Mickie.”

Shutting the door, I went around the front of my truck and sidled into the driver’s seat.

She was glaring across the cab at me. It felt bigger than her just being annoyed that I stopped her fun.

Starting the truck, I pulled out of the parking lot.

There was a private spot near the creek in Bearcreek Park with a long bench where I had room to get her over my lap.

I’d adjust her attitude and then bring her home.

She said nothing, just sitting there huffing and puffing while she crossed her arms over her chest.

“No, of course you’re not concerned, Sam. What is this then? And where are we going?”

Her question confused me. “This is me not allowing you to be nursing a hangover tomorrow. We’re going to the park. Just because you’re graduating doesn’t mean our arrangement is over.”

“It was until graduation, so it’s officially over.”

I didn’t love the finality in her tone. “Then I’ll be sure to make a lasting impression on your ass. I’ll paint it red with my hand before I drop you off.”

Mikayla

“You don’t have to punish me, Sam.”

“Maybe not, but I want you to feel every step across that stage tomorrow and remember what sort of behavior is expected from you, even if I’m not around,” he said plainly.

In the quiet space between the bar and the park, my thoughts had been swinging wildly between giving Sam a piece of my mind and suddenly crying over his blatant disregard of my confession.

I’d poured my heart out on that paper and he was acting like nothing happened.

His promise to spank me wasn’t on my radar.

I hadn’t technically broken a rule. But I had been disrespectful and refused to follow what he told me to do at the bar. Okay, one broken rule. Sort of.

Sam had no clue what was bubbling around inside me since I also refused to bring up the topic on my mind.

The hope that had lifted me all night was quickly becoming sadness.

Following him to a small bench near the creek, I sat down.

It was probably the last time I’d sit comfortably for a few days.

He joined me, wrapping one arm around my waist and setting me across his thighs.

If he didn’t feel the same way about me, why the hell was he so determined to punish me? I didn’t talk much since I was very trapped in my head.

“You’ve got a lot of plans, sweetheart. Don’t mess them up because you’re scared.”

“It’s not that,” I whispered but didn’t elaborate.

My stubborn body betrayed me as I relaxed into his lap.

Sam rubbed my back for a moment before striking my right butt cheek several times in a row.

His palm stung, but the smacks weren’t as harsh as they would have been with his belt.

I shifted, trying to find a better position, but he moved me back against his chest.

Sam held me in place, and it felt like everything he wasn’t going to give me.

“We are not done yet, sweetheart. In fact we’re just getting started. Settle in,” he growled.

That husky growl of his that usually dampened my panties with arousal. Though I was upset, it happened anyway. True to his word he focused his onslaught on my left butt cheek and then the fullest part of my ass. I squirmed but he held me fast.

“You got your point across, Sam.”

“I very much doubt that, Mickie.”

Sam scissored his leg across mine and continued his punishment. My poor thighs ached from his palm dancing across them. Great. I really would feel every step tomorrow. He couldn’t have planned it better if he tried.

I bit into my lip to keep from shouting when Sam spanked my sit-spots. They hurt the most. Knowing he wouldn’t stop until he was done, I let my body go limp. I didn’t cry though, since once I started everything would come pouring out, purging itself from my heart via my eyes.

“I’m sorry for not listening, Sir,” I managed. “I shouldn’t have been drinking. I shouldn’t have disregarded your order. I apologize for arguing with you in public.”

He unhooked his leg from across mine and sat me up. “You’re forgiven, Mickie.”

Sam leaned forward to kiss my temple, but I stood up.

I couldn’t see his features very well in just the moonlight, but it didn’t matter if he was confused.

Usually, I needed lots of cuddles while I cried against his chest. That I was on my feet this quickly after a spanking wasn’t my typical behavior.

“I’m ready to go now,” I announced.

“Is something bothering you? I’m not mad that you were at the bar. I’d really like for you to enjoy the success you’ve worked so hard for. You’re going to shine up on that stage, Mickie.”

“Please bring me home.”

“We can sit for a few minutes.” He stood up and took my hand.

I tugged out of his grasp. “I’m tired.”

“All right, sweetheart.”

Without offering any further explanation, I turned and walked away.

Though he had spent so much time helping me stay out of my head the past few years, and kept me thriving even when I wanted to act out, all that was over.

He should have at least acknowledged my letter in some way.

Even though he clearly didn’t feel the same.

After this weekend, I’d be in a new city away from Brighton Creek.

Away from my friends. Away from Sam.

My heart broke into a million pieces when I reached his truck, but I had a whole future to look forward to.