Learning to Drive... Him Crazy (19 page)

She thought before she answered. "I think
so. I mean, hearing it makes me want to argue, but you're basically
saying you'll keep doing what you've been doing, right?"

"Exactly."

"Well, I fell in love with you doing what
you're doing, so I guess I can live with the idea that you'll keep
doing it."

He laughed at her words and kissed her
forehead. "Good. We've already talked about the next thing that is
included in my old-fashioned relationship ideas."

"What's that?"

"The fact I will spank you if I feel you
need it."

She stiffened, but didn't say anything.

After waiting several moments he asked, "Are
you still good with that idea?"

She sighed and said, "John, I hate your
spankings. After thinking about it long and hard, I'm okay with the
idea, but they hurt so much. They really don't have to hurt that
much for me to get the message and learn from them. Other aspects
of the spanking, like the embarrassment and knowing how much I've
disappointed you are just as much a deterrent as the pain for me.
Can't you ease up, at least a little, on how hard you spank?"

"No."

She turned her head so she could look up at
him. "No? That's it, just no?"

He pulled her head onto his shoulder again
as he explained, "Alana, the idea of a spanking is not only to make
you realize I'm disappointed in you. I'm glad you do realize that
and it apparently means that much to you, but a spanking is also
meant to deter you from ever doing it again. If you remember the
spanking because it really, really hurts and you associate that
pain with what you did to earn that spanking that really, really
hurt, you're not as likely to do it again."

She sighed, but again didn't say
anything.

"Honey, if you did something dangerous,
something that could get you hurt and I just gave you a few smacks
on your cute little bottom while I told you not to do it again, it
would probably stop you for a little while. But you would soon
forget that spanking and wouldn't think about it before you did it
again. Then imagine how I'd feel if you did it again and were hurt.
I'd feel awful. I wouldn't have fulfilled what I see as my
obligation to protect you. That's an obligation I willingly take on
because I love you and want to keep you safe."

"I hadn't thought of it that way."

"Trust me, honey, if a spanking really,
really hurts, you'll think about that spanking the next time you
think about doing the same thing again, and you'll think twice
about whether you want to do it."

"How do you know?" she asked curiously.

"Because my dad's hand, and occasionally his
belt or a paddle, had me stopping to reconsider my actions on
several occasions."

"Your dad spanked you?"

"He spanked Cal and me whenever we needed
it. And by doing so, he kept us safe and happy." He paused before
adding, "My mom was about the happiest lady I've ever known and he
kept her safe and happy the same way."

Alana turned around to look at him again.
"Your dad spanked your mother?"

"Yes, he did, and she was very happy. They
had a very close, loving relationship, just like I want for us. But
when she did something Dad considered dangerous, Cal and I would
spend the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house. The next day Mom
and Dad seemed to spend all their free time together. They were
kissing, or she was sitting on his knee and his arms were around
her. Cal and I laughed about it, saying they must have settled
their argument, but it wasn't until we were much older that we
learned how they settled their arguments."

After digesting his words she said, "You
said when she had done something your dad considered
dangerous."

"Yes."

"Like what?"

"Oh, like when she'd try to do too much and
not get enough sleep. Or when she went and yelled at Cal's teacher
one time. Or when she'd get a speeding ticket. That happened
twice."

Alana nodded and thought again. "But did
your dad spank her as hard as you spank me?"

"I feel sure he did. After I learned how
they settled their arguments I thought back on it. She never sat
much the next couple days afterward."

"He spanked her that hard?"

"When I started dating, Dad told me it's
important to start a relationship the way you intend for it to go.
Don't lead a lady on and then try to change the dynamic once the
relationship has been established. I knew he was the head of his
household and I knew I wanted to be, too, so we talked about that.
He told me you're really not doing the lady you love any favor if
you go light on her spanking because it won't have a lasting effect
and you'll just have to do it over and over and over. But in the
meantime you're risking her getting hurt each time she does
it."

"But you said your mom got a speeding ticket
twice."

"She did. Dad said he went easier on her the
first time, thinking she understood how dangerous he thought
speeding was. But when she did it again, he said he had to make
sure she got the message that time."

"And she didn't get another speeding
ticket?"

"Not that I know of. Although she was like
you in a lot of ways. She would have really liked you."

"Why do you say that?"

"She had a stubborn streak in her very
similar to yours. She occasionally did something requiring a second
spanking because of that stubborn streak. But Dad always said if
you make the spanking an occasion to remember, she's not as likely
to risk a similar experience again."

"So you're saying a second spanking for the
same thing will be even harder?"

"Of course. If the first spanking wasn't
enough to make a lasting impression, shouldn't the second one be
more memorable?"

"Not necessarily," she said very quietly.
She was stiff and avoiding eye contact. He looked over at her and
realized why. "Why not?" he asked, also quietly.

"Because I didn't know that before."

"But you knew the first time I spanked you
for spending your down payment on shoes you didn't need that it was
important that you save that money instead of spend it, didn't
you?"

"I guess, but—"

"You guess?"

"Okay, yes, I knew, but—"

"But what, honey?"

"But I don't want another spanking. It
hurts."

"It hurts because I love you, honey. I want
to see you become a very good, very happy event planner."

"Knowing you love me helps a little," she
admitted, "but it'll still hurt."

"Yes, it will. I'm not going to lie to you.
But can you honestly tell me you haven't earned a spanking?"

"No," she admitted once again. "Is that why
you brought me in here to talk, to spank me?"

"No. Actually, honey, it isn't. I figured
we'd wait for that until we're back home again, at your place or
mine, where we have more privacy."

"Thank you."

"Honey, I do plan on spanking you when you
need it. But that's a private, intimate thing between us. I will
not embarrass you by spanking you in front of other people or when
others are around to hear it."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. One other thing. While
we're talking about spankings, I feel I need to explain one thing.
While I won't lighten up on my spankings, I do believe the
punishment should fit the crime. Meaning, some spankings may not be
as severe as others because the crime wasn't as severe."

"So if I do something that's just kind of
dumb—"

He chuckled as he said, "If you do something
we haven't talked about before and you may not have thought about
it being dangerous before, your sweet little butt may not be as
sore afterwards."

She nodded. "So like when I do something the
second time, but didn't know beforehand that the second spanking
would be worse, you'll go easier on me?"

"Nice try, my little brat, but no." He
sighed. "Honey, I told you before that I won't lie to you, and I
mean that. Unfortunately, this spanking you've earned is not going
to be fun for either of us. But I love you and I can't just sit
back and ignore it. That's not being the man I want to be for you
and protecting you."

"That's not fair," she said.

"What's not fair?"

"When you say it like that it's hard for me
to be upset about it. What you just said is really sweet."

"I don't mean it to be sweet, it's just the
way I feel."

"I know. And the way you feel makes me feel
good." She thought a moment, and with a mischievous grin said, "It
makes my heart feel good. It makes my butt hurt."

He leaned down and kissed the top of her
head. "I love you, you little brat." He got serious then as he
asked, "Now before we change the subject I have to ask, are you
okay with my old-fashioned ideas about relationships?"

"Your old-fashioned ideas may be hard on my
butt, but they also have old-fashioned benefits. Knowing someone
cares about me enough to watch out for me makes me feel safe and
secure, and you do special little things for me that make me feel
cherished, just like I feel when you hold me after a spanking, so
yes, I think I can live with your old-fashioned ideas."

"Good. Now let's talk about something more
pleasant than spankings."

"Okay. But it's hard not to think about
that."

"Why?"

"I've been worried about it, knowing it's
coming. It's hard to not think about it."

"Honey, just try to put it out of your mind
until we have more privacy. Let's just enjoy being together."

"I'll try," she said as she cuddled into his
shoulder.

John tried to get her mind off of that
subject, but Alana seemed to have trouble forgetting it. Finally he
tried another topic and that seemed to get her attention. "You
know, honey, after this is all over and we can go back home again,
I think you're ready to take your driving test again."

She perked up immediately. "You do,
really?"

"I do. Alana, I just told you not very long
ago how important I think it is that we're honest with each other.
I meant that. I will not lie to you. And I especially wouldn't say
I think you're ready to get your driver's license if I didn't feel
that way. Having a driver's license is a serious responsibility,
but I think you're ready now. That whole ordeal with you driving
when Kelli drank too much wine I know shook you up when you almost
pulled out in front of a car, but it also seemed to have taught you
a lesson. You've been doing much, much better at stop signs ever
since then."

She turned around and wrapped her arms
around his neck, giving him a big hug. "Thank you for helping me
get ready to take my test again."

"Honey, you're welcome. You weren't ready to
be driving by yourself yet, and I would have worried myself sick
every time you were out alone. You've become a good driver now,
though, and I feel much better about you being behind the wheel of
a car."

She leaned against him again, thinking about
how lucky she was. This wonderful man loved her!

* * * * *

That afternoon Lieutenant Berry came to the
house to talk to John. They went to the office and the lieutenant
closed the door. "First off," he said, "thank you for telling us
about Nate Cooper's ex-wife. We went to talk to her and Officer
Cooper was there."

"Oh, really?" John asked.

"Along with his attorney. It seems they were
making arrangements for him to turn himself in. He claims he was
dragged into this whole scheme against his will."

"Do you believe him?"

"I haven't decided for sure yet, but I think
there's at least some truth in it. We're looking into his claims
now. He claims he wanted no part of you being shot, so as soon as
everyone was to run in and converge, he ran the other direction. He
went straight to his ex-wife, where he called his attorney. The
attorney does confirm that, and says he took a written statement
from Cooper, which he has, and they were in the process of finding
out what happened at the stakeout. The attorney says he wasn't sure
whom he should call for him to turn himself in, that it would
depend on what happened."

"That makes sense," Jack agreed. "At least
that part's believable."

"It is. I wanted to talk to you about what's
in his written statement, John, because it might answer your
question as to why go through the whole charade of a stakeout."

"Go ahead."

"Well, according to him, this would solve
several problems."

"I know it would get rid of me, but what
else?"

"They thought after your funeral the other
three would be together on at least a few occasions, and an
unfortunate accident could take care of them." Seeing John pale, he
quickly went on. "But it seems there were a couple other reasons,
as well. Apparently your partner was pretty adamant that you're a
good man and deserved to look like a hero. You would be heralded a
hero by all your fellow officers, who were going to say you were
killed by the thieves, doing your job. Then the thieves got away
when their attention and concern was on you, their fallen comrade.
That would make the police department look good, too, caring about
their fellow officer."

"What a comfort," John said
sarcastically.

"They would also look good when it came out
that they had traced the thieves here and uncovered their plot. By
having this all go public they cold then announce that the thieves
were using the store to bring the jewels into this area, where
Jason Wilson, the store employee, retrieved them and turned them
over to the gemologist."

"So they were planning on throwing the
employee to the wolves and let him take the fall as being part of
the ring of jewel thefts, but the police would come out smelling
like a rose?"

"That's what Cooper claims. We're going to
use that information to talk to Jason Wilson. If he knows they
planned on abandoning him, he may start talking, tell us anything
he knows."