“Emelie. Look at me.”
His voice wasn’t angry, but was forceful. It was hard to ignore his instruction, even though she was afraid of what she’d see in his expression.
When she’d complied he prodded her, “Are you afraid of me?”
The truth surprised even her. “No. Not really.”
“I’m glad. Even knowing that I’m going to discipline you?”
“I’m only afraid of the beating. Not you.”

Anger flared in his eyes. “Let’s straighten one thing out right now, young lady. No one does any beating in this house. Ever. Not Nettie, not the customers, not even Gabe and certainly not me. Got it?”
Genuine confusion consumed her. She was already on edge, but she couldn’t stop to worry about the small nuances between words like beat and discipline. To her clenching bottom it all felt like the same thing.
“Emelie? I asked you a question.”
She was beginning to see the side of Charlie that Jewel had warned her was there. “Yes, sir.”
“You don’t look like you believe me,” he prodded.
“It’s just… well, I’m confused is all.”
Charlie crossed to sit on the edge of her bed. “Then let me help you. I’m going to give you a spanking. It’s meant to be a punishment that will help you learn a lesson and will keep you safe. While I may roast your bottom, in the end you will be forgiven and the slate wiped clean.”
****
Blurb:
Emelie Svennson’s dream is to sing on stage. When a musical troupe passes through her home in Wisconsin, she believes her dream will be fulfilled when the leader invites her to be the star of his show. By the time she realizes he is nothing more than an abusive bully and her dream is now her nightmare, she finds herself stranded in San Francisco with no money and on the run from the law.  As she tries to make her way home to her family, she stops in Culpepper Cove and is drawn to the amazing melodies coming from the Red Petticoat Saloon.  The handsome piano player is almost as remarkable as his music.

Charlie Walker adores all of the gems he works with, but from the minute he meets Emelie, he knows there is something special about her. As much as he wants her to stay in Culpepper Cove, the thought of her putting on red petticoats and entertaining men upstairs as Silver cuts him to the core.
As their pasts clash, Charlie will have to work hard to convince his new gem that he will not only love and honor her, but that he won’t hesitate to drag her across his knee for a bare-bottomed spanking that promises to warm more than just her backside.  Can he convince the woman with the voice of an angel that dreams can come true?
Available on Wednesday, August 24th!