Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
With one hand on the wheel and the other resting on his thigh, Tanner drove toward Wilder, doing his damnedest not to laugh out loud at the mental images that kept flashing through his head. It was pretty damn hard, because to hear Sam describe it, it was pretty fucking hilarious.
His sweet, soft-hearted little Cupcake—the same girl who once blushed when he called her “babygirl” in public—had apparently gone full-blown commando at the bakery. Nothing would surprise him anymore.
What astounded him the most was her writing a suggestive message on an ad for a bunch of cream pies before turning the whole thing into a food fight that would have done the frat boys in Animal House proud.
He could picture Junie with frosting in her hair and fire in her eyes, standing her ground against Cherry for once.
All in all, he was proud of her for standing up for herself. But pride didn’t mean there wouldn’t be consequences.
His phone rang through the truck’s Bluetooth. Boone’s name flashed on the screen, plus Chance and Trace.
“You headed to the sheriff’s office, too?” Boone asked, voice dry.
“Yep, on my way now. You going after Tildi?”
“Yep. We’re all bringing our own trucks. Figured we’d want private conversations with our girls on the way back home. The guys are right behind me. But I wanted to have this conference call so that we could get a few things out of our system.”
“I can see that,” Trace chuckled. “That’s a good call. We don’t want to have the wrong reaction when we get there. Nothing screams “Daddy” like laughing your ass off at your little girl’s antics when she misbehaves.”
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” Tanner answered. “Gotta have our Daddy hats on when we get to the sheriff’s office. But just between us, this is the most comically epic thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Hey, Tanner,” Trace’s voice came over the speaker. “Did you hear that Junie hit Sam with a berry tart. Man, I wish I could’ve been there just to see his face. He said the whole front of the bakery looked like a giant cake had exploded.”
“I was at Wild River Security when he called me. I saw the pastry devastation on the cameras we installed. The man didn’t do it justice,” Boone said. “I think one of our cameras was a casualty of the battle.”
“Okay, after this is dealt with, we’re all gonna meet at Wilder Security and watch those videos. I’ll bring the beer,” Tanner said.
“This isn’t funny,” Chance said, “They destroyed half of her bakery’s inventory at least. Which means Junie’s going to have to bake everything again. That’s a lot of wasted time and a hell of a mess to clean up.”
Trace chuckled. “Come on, Chance. Cherry’s been poking at Junie for years. Our girls finally pushed back. Surely you’re not mad about that part.”
“Yeah, lighten up, brother. I guarantee you she thinks it was worth it,” Tanner said. “But I get it. You don’t start a food fight and attack the sheriff with a pastry without consequences.”
“I’m not mad they stood up for themselves either,” Boone said.
“I’m mad they did it in a way that cost Junie money and turned her bakery into a war zone.
I don’t know about you guys, but Tildi’s getting her bottom blistered tonight.
She needs to understand there are better ways to handle bullies than throwing pies. ”
Tanner nodded even though they couldn’t see him. “You have a point. But I’m damn proud of my girl for finally doing something to stand up for herself. That’s what makes this hard. At least for Junie, I’ve got to deliver consequences without taking away her victory.”
They spent the rest of the drive working out the plan. The girls would clean and restock the bakery, and each Daddy would handle his own Little’s punishment in whatever way each of them saw fit.
When Tanner pulled up to the Wilder Sheriff’s Office, the other trucks were already there. His brothers were standing outside waiting for him. He killed the engine and took a slow breath, letting the laughter fade. Time to be Daddy now.
Inside, Sam gave them a more detailed explanation of what had happened before leading them to a large holding cell filled with ten sugar-coated women.
Junie watched him approach, wide-eyed with worry.
This was going to be harder than he thought.
She was so adorable, Tanner had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling.
Sam stepped forward and addressed the women. “You are all free to go. Since no one was hurt and the damage was confined to the bakery, I’m letting you off with a verbal warning.”
Cherry stood up with a dramatic huff. “Come on, girls, let’s get out of here.” She and her little pack of friends breezed past Sam without so much as a glance back, noses in the air like they hadn’t started the whole damn mess.
Tanner’s jaw tightened. Junie sat on the bench, looking guilty as sin, cheeks flushed, while the other girls shifted nervously in their seats, avoiding eye contact with Boone.
Poppy left next, giving each of the girls a hug and wishing them good luck before leaving herself. Although she only glanced at Sam, she muttered a “sorry” as she walked by.
His sweet little baker had gone and gotten herself into real trouble this time, and while part of him was still proud she’d finally stood up for herself, the Daddy in him was already mentally calculating exactly how long and thorough the reminder spanking she had coming was going to be.
“Well,” said Boone, taking charge as always. “What have you all got to say for yourselves?”
After a long, silent pause, Kenzie held up her arm, fist clenched, and gave a shake of her fist. “Go team?” she called out with a smile and hopeful expression.
Tanner barked a laugh. He needed to get his girl and get gone. “Okay, Junie, let’s go.”
“You girls need to thank Sam and Mitch for not pressing charges,” Boone instructed.
The Littles turned, looking properly contrite. One by one, they mumbled their thanks and apologies. Sam waved it off with a grunt. “Just get them out of here before I change my mind. And, Tanner, you owe me a new shirt.”
Junie wouldn’t meet his eyes as she walked past him. Her cheeks were bright pink, her clothes still had faint smears of frosting and pie filling, and she looked every bit like a Little who knew she was in trouble. Good.
He didn’t say a word until they reached his truck. He buckled her in carefully. A tear fought to spill from the corner of her eye. That damn near broke his heart. Unable to stop himself, he took her chin, tilted her face up so that she looked him in the eye, and gave her a long, passionate kiss.
Pulling back, Tanner smiled at her. “Before anything else is said or done, I want you to know I’m very proud of you for standing up for yourself, Cupcake.”
“So, I’m not in trouble?” she asked, confusion, hope, and the hint of a smile on her face.
“Oh, you’re in trouble.” Tanner laughed. “You’re in big trouble.”
Reaching behind the seat, he pulled out a plain, empty manila file folder. He opened it and gently pressed the crease right against her nose.
“Consider this a mobile timeout corner, little girl,” he said quietly. “You’re going to hold this folder against your nose and spend every minute of the drive back home thinking about the right and wrong way to handle things. No talking.”
Junie made a small, nervous sound but didn’t argue. She kept her nose pressed in the crease of the folder the entire drive, quiet and obedient. True to his word, Tanner let the silence stretch, giving her time to sit with her choices.
By the time they reached the ranch and he led her up to his suite, the air between them felt heavy with anticipation. “Our first order of business is getting you cleaned up.” Once she was out of the bathroom and had changed clothes, he opened the door to his play room and flipped on the low lights.
The space was already prepared exactly the way he wanted it—soft lighting, the spanking bench centered, a few carefully chosen implements laid out neatly, and a thick blanket folded on the big chair in the corner for aftercare.
“Stand in the middle of the room,” he said, voice calm but firm.
Junie obeyed, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. Tanner closed the door behind them and locked it with a soft click.
“Strip down to your panties. Fold your clothes neatly and place them on the chair.”
He watched as she slowly removed each piece of clothing, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. When she was down to just her soft pink panties, he sat on the edge of the spanking bench and crooked a finger at her.
“Come here, Cupcake.”
She stepped between his spread thighs, gaze fixed on the floor. Tanner placed his hand under her chin and tilted her face up so she had to look at him.
“You know why we’re in here, don’t you?”
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispered, voice already small.
“Tell me.”
“I… I wrote a mean message on a display sign about Cherry. Then I got into a food fight and ruined a bunch of the pastries and cakes I spent all morning making. It cost me money and made a huge mess in the bakery that now has to be cleaned before we can open again.”
Tanner nodded slowly. “That’s right. Like I said before, I’m proud of you for finally standing up for yourself, Cupcake.
Cherry’s had it coming for a long time. But the way you did it?
That was not okay. You let your temper get the best of you and hurt your own business in the process.
That’s why we’re here. Daddy’s going to make sure you understand that there are better ways to handle people like Cherry. ”
He let that sink in for a moment, watching her shift from foot to foot, her fingers twisting nervously in front of her.
Tanner stood slowly and moved to the padded bench where he had laid out a few carefully chosen items. He picked up the medium-sized stainless steel plug, the one with the flared base and the smooth, heavy weight he knew would make her very aware of every movement.
He coated it generously with lube, then turned back to his girl.