Twice Shy (The Restraint Series) Read Online Free PDF

Stacy looked at her, using a calm voice. “It’s simple. I want my birth certificate. That’s all.”
    Mary stilled. Her eyes looked left and then right, and then left again. Finally, her eyes rolled up and to the left. The sign of a lie in the making. Watching submissives had taught Stacy the signs of dishonesty: she had to make sure they were not over-exerting themselves, confirm they were being honest, not only focusing on pleasing their Domme.
    “I lost it. You’ll have to order a new one.”
    A lame lie. “We tried that, Mary. Turns out no one of my name was born on that date in this state.”
    Up and left again, then Mary put a reassuring look on her face. “Oh, hun, that’s because you were born in Idaho.”
    “Looked there, too.”
    Before Mary could come up with another lie, Sarge cut in. “Cut the shit, Mare. Just try the truth for once.”
    Her mother looked like a scared rabbit. It was strange to see her frightened. Even if she ended up getting a shiny cowboy who liked to punch, Mary didn’t ever act frightened.
    She shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t tell you.”
    “Well, Mom, I need my birth certificate to work legally in this country. So you’re going to have to. Please.” Saying the please was difficult. But if saying got dear old Ma talking, Stacy would kiss her bum. She needed it. If she was going to travel or go to college, legal identification was a must. As much as Stace loved working for West and Tim, she needed to spread her wings before it was too late.
    Mary looked over her shoulder. She’d been doing it a couple of times and Stacy wondered if she caught a glimpse of West or felt his presence somehow.
    They were in a holding pattern, waiting for Mary to give up the goods. Sarge and Stacy were staying silent. Her mom was mumbling a protest every once in a while, but Stacy could tell she was going to spill the goods soon.
    Mary looked over Stacy’s shoulder once more. Posture slumping, Mary said, “Well, I guess I should start with the fact I’m not your mother and Stacy Jones ain’t your real name.”
    Before the words fully registered in her brain, the door to the Saloon slammed open. Her body felt like it was thick and weighed down. She didn’t even startle or look around. Seeing Mary’s relief as she looked over her shoulder, Stacy wondered if she called for her off-again boyfriend as a reinforcement while she was in the bathroom.
    Until she heard a voice say, “Cee!”
    Mary had called for reinforcements, all right. There was only one person who’d ever called her Cee. Brendan.

Chapter Five
    A fter Stacy was hit with that one-two punch, it took her a few moments to regain her equilibrium. Sarge stood, pulled Stacy in and closed the door as soon as he heard Brendan’s muffled voice mixing with West’s plummy one.
    Dazed, she let Sarge put her into his chair. She heard him say some words to Mary, and they both left the office alone. She sat there for a length of time.
    Her head wasn’t processing quickly at the moment. She was still hearing Mary’s words. She believed what Mary said though, because it made sense. Mary always felt put-upon for having to care for Stacy.
    Sarge’s and Mary’s voices were added to the fold, ascending in volume, and then quieting into almost nothing after a few minutes.
    And Brendan being here. As much as she kept hearing “Cee!” in her head like an underlying satanic track below Mary’s words, he was not the priority at the moment. He was a problem to be dealt with, or not later. She could be mistaken anyway. For all she knew it was some drunk trying to get in before opening.
    Telling herself she didn’t have to deal with Brendan right now relieved some of her brain garbage. She surfaced. Having accepted what Mary said, Stacy noticed there were noises outside. Not arguments, just the everyday noises of the early drunks coming in for the day shift.
    Standing, she walked on still-wobbly legs, each step getting surer as she moved to