Justice for Boone: Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes, Book 6 (19 page)

He nodded at her and told the other deputy, “Yes, and they’re definitely working this time. The entire property around the house is covered, as is the inside of the barn, and randomly around the perimeter of the property.”

“Good. That’ll make things easier. Good job, Yates. Ambulance is on the way for the vic,” Juan commented, turning to Dana, who was still crying and carrying on.

Hayden turned back to Boone and said again, “I can’t believe you hit her. You don’t hit women.”

“I don’t. But when one is pointing a gun at the woman I love, you better believe I hit women.”

She heard his words; they warmed her insides as though she’d just drank a cup of hot chocolate, the impact spreading from her heart out into her extremities until her fingers tingled. “You weren’t supposed to come outside.” It wasn’t really what she wanted to say after his declaration of love, but she was dizzy and felt weird.

“I know, but there was no way I was going to let that bitch kill the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Okay, well. Wow. Um…Boone?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“You need to get your arm looked at.” Hayden nodded at the blood oozing from the small cut on his arm. “With our luck, that knife had poison on it or something.”

She could tell Boone was trying really hard not to laugh. “I don’t think it was poisoned, Hay, but I’ll have the EMTs look at it after they take care of Dana.”

“Okay, good, and one more thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You might have them look at me too. I think she got in a lucky shot…”

Hayden’s words fell off and she passed out before she could finish her thought. Luckily, Boone caught her before she hit the ground.

H
ayden rolled
over and opened her eyes, not surprised to see Boone awake and looking down at her, concern and love in his gaze.

“Hey, what time is it?” she asked sleepily.

“Don’t know.”

“Boone…”

“Let me rephrase. Don’t know and don’t care.”

“Boone, you have to see to the cows.”

“I have staff that’s working their asses off to make sure the farm runs with no problems while I’m here with you. You’ve rid their boss of the wicked witch of the south. The farm is fine,” Boone said easily. “Sleep, Hay, you don’t have to get up yet.”

Hayden yawned and turned over to her back, only wincing a bit when the movement pulled at the stitches in her still healing wound. “I’m not tired anymore. I’ve done nothing
but
sleep for the last two days. I want to get up. I
need
to get up.”

When Boone didn’t say anything, she looked over at him. He’d propped himself up on an elbow and was staring at her arm.

“Boone.” He still didn’t look away from the bandage covering her upper arm where Dana’s bullet had grazed her. Okay, it was more than a graze, more like a shallow furrow, but she’d be damned if she’d draw any more attention to it than necessary. Hayden said his name again, louder and more forcefully this time. “Boone!”

He finally looked up at her. “Yeah?”

“I’m okay. Really.”

He sighed. “I know. But you scared the shit out of me, Hay.”

Hayden knew it. Passing out in his arms wasn’t her finest moment, and she knew she’d take a lot of ribbing from the guys at work when she went back, but she had to deal with Boone at the moment. “I’m sorry I scared you, but honestly, I’m fine. I think it was just everything. I had an adrenaline drop and that, along with the pain, made me lose it for a moment.”

When the tortured look on his face didn’t ease, Hayden sat up and forced Boone to his back and she straddled him. His arms came up to balance her at her hips so she didn’t have to put any pressure on her arm. “You need to get over this, Boone. I’m not quitting my job. Dana’s not dead—yeah, she’ll hopefully be locked up for a good long time and get the mental help she needs, but there’s a possibility she’ll come back to haunt us. Luckily you’d installed those cameras. Everything was caught on tape. She’s going down.”

“Jesus, Hay, are you trying to comfort me or make me lose my mind?”

Hayden smiled down at the man she loved. “Comfort. Now listen.” She paused. “You listening?”

“Yeah, I’m listening,” he said grumpily, flexing his fingers at her waist.

“Are you okay with everything that happened? I get you did it for me, and I love you, but it went against everything that makes you
you
.”

“If I had to do it again, I’d do it the same way every time.”

“Actually, I’d prefer if you didn’t. I don’t mean hitting her. That was awesome.” Hayden wrinkled her nose, but her lips were tipped up in a small grin. “I mean, she was one hundred percent sure you wouldn’t touch her, and the way her head went back when you clocked her was priceless. That was my favorite part of the video. But seriously, you shouldn’t have been there at all. She was pissed, but she completely lost it when you showed up. You should’ve stayed inside.”

“No.”

“Boone, I had it under control. I disarmed her. There was no reason for you to—”

“If her bullet had landed four inches to the left, you would’ve been dead.”

“Boone…”

He put a finger on her lips, effectively silencing her. “I can’t lose you, Hay. I can’t. Not now that I’ve found you. I hit her at the same time she pulled the trigger. I’ll believe to my dying day that if I hadn’t punched her, her bullet would’ve hit true and you would’ve bled out on the ground at my feet, and there wouldn’t have been anything I could’ve done to save you. You weren’t wearing your vest. You’d just crawled out of our bed after a hell of a fight. A bullet in the heart can’t be fixed, Hay. So yeah, it went against everything I believe in, but if I’m being honest, it felt good. I’d let her bully me for so long that I let my beliefs interfere in what was right. I’m not saying I’m gonna go join an all women’s MMA fight club, but Dana taught me a lesson.”

“That’s good to know,” Hayden said softly, torn between wanting to cry and laugh. At the moment crying was winning.

Boone watched as tears sprang into Hayden’s eyes. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Dana might’ve abused me, and that was on me, but there’s not a chance in hell I’d let her kill you. No fucking way. I’m hoping that was my one and only time that I have to strike a female, but I’d do it again if it meant keeping you safe.”

Hayden sagged further into his hold. “I love you.”

“And I love you.”

“I think I want to go back to sleep,” she mumbled.

Boone chuckled and helped Hayden lay down on top of him. “Great. Go for it.” He stroked a hand up and down her back while the other stayed locked around her waist, holding her against him.

“When are you going to invite me to move in with you? I’m already practically living here,” Hayden mumbled into his neck.

“What?” Boone tensed under her.

Hayden didn’t even flinch. “I mean, we love each other, right? My parents want to adopt you, and while my dad really couldn’t give a shit about me, he loves
you
…so I guess we should make this semi-official.”

“Did you just propose to me?” Boone laughed and nuzzled the hair at her neck.

“Uh…I don’t think so…but maybe.”

“The answer’s yes.”

“Are you pissed?” Hayden asked, not moving from her comfortable position plastered over Boone’s body.

“Pissed you asked before I could? Hell no.”

“But in the books I read, the men are always pissed off when their women beat them to the punch.”

“Hayden, I don’t give a fuck. As long as you end up in my bed with a ring on your finger, I don’t care who does the asking.” He relaxed as he felt her muscles go even more lax and she melted into him.

“Good, ‘cause I’ve already researched the justice of the peace’s website.”

Boone snorted when he laughed. “God, I love you.”

“Maybe if we’re married, Dana will finally leave you alone.”

“Go to sleep, Hay. Forget about her. From here on out, it’s you and me. Dream of what kind of ring you want and let me know when you wake up.”

“Oh, I already know,” Hayden sleepily murmured into his throat.

Boone smiled and enjoyed simply holding Hayden as she drifted off to sleep again. He turned his head and looked over at Ellie the Elephant sitting on the table next to the bed. He reached over and grabbed it, eased Hayden to his side and tucked it into her chest between them. She murmured and tucked her head down until her chin rested on the pathetic stuffed toy’s body.

Boone didn’t know what it was about the old, familiar stuffed animal that gave Hayden comfort, but he didn’t give a shit. He had no problem sleeping with her
and
Ellie for the rest of their lives if she wanted it that way. She was a bad-ass sheriff’s deputy, and cute as fuck. He loved her with every fiber of his being.

Boone closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of the extraordinary woman curled in his arms. He knew they had a lot to work through; it really was too early to get married, they could have a long engagement. But moving in together? That was definitely happening sooner rather than later. He loved Hayden and she loved him. Nothing was worth losing that.

“
Y
ou know the rule
, Yates. If you get shot, you have to buy the beers for an entire night.”

Hayden looked around. Not only were Jimmy, Troy, Brandon, Juan
and
the sheriff himself there at the bar, but so were Dax and Mack, Quint and Corrie, Cruz and Mickie, Dax’s friend Westin King, and his girlfriend Laine, TJ, Calder, and even Conor had joined them as well.

“Yeah, but not for a thousand people, you morons.”

They all laughed at her. “Shut up and pay up, Yates,” TJ joked, leaning back in his chair, enjoying Hayden’s discomfort.

“I don’t know why I put up with you guys,” Hayden grumbled as she handed her credit card over to the waitress to start a tab.

“Because you love us,” Conor stated calmly.

Hayden looked up as Boone arrived back at the table with a tray of neon-green drinks. She grinned at him.

“What the fuck kind of drinks are
those
?” TJ asked disbelievingly. “It looks like alien piss or something.”

“Midori sours for the ladies,” Boone answered easily, handing the drinks out to Mack, Mickie, Laine, and Hayden, and handing Corrie’s to Quint to give to her. Since Corrie couldn’t see where he’d put the drink down, he didn’t want her to accidentally knock it over. He knew Quint would make sure it was secure.

“Oooooh, so now Hayden’s a
laaady
,” TJ mocked teasingly.

“Stuff it, Rockwell. If I want to drink a frou-frou drink, I fucking well will,” Hayden told him, holding up her drink to the group, ignoring TJ’s surprised sputtering at her comeback. “A toast…” She paused, waiting for everyone to raise their bottle or glass. “To friendship, love, and our continued safety. May those of you with partners revel in your love, and those of you without,” Hayden looked mischievously at TJ before continuing, “find it when and where you least expect it.”

Everyone said, “Cheers!” and took long pulls on their respective drinks.

Boone pulled Hayden close and nuzzled her neck, and smiled when she giggled. She’d come a long way from that first night out with her coworkers. She was much more relaxed, and she’d even bought a few skirts to wear. Boone had had to educate her friends and coworkers a few times when they’d treated her inappropriately, and they’d slowly realized just how much they’d treated her like one of the guys when she was, in fact, a beautiful, sensual woman.

Boone knew Hayden’s parents would always see her as the tomboy they’d raised, but he hoped, with a little help, they’d start appreciating Hayden as a woman sooner rather than later. Her dad would be a hard sell, but hopefully someday he’d see how successful and wonderful his daughter was—no thanks to him.

The group sat around sipping the occasional beer or drink and chatting for another couple of hours before they started to head home.

“Thanks for the beers, Yates. See you in a couple of days,” Juan told Hayden as he headed out.

“We on the same shift?”

“Yup.”

“Cool, see you then,” Hayden told Juan as he left.

“We need to get together with just us girls,” Mack told Corrie, Mickie, Laine, and Hayden. “We see each other here at the bar when we get together with our men, but we need to have a ladies’ night out too.”

Hayden smiled big, loving that she’d been included in Mack’s statement.

“I’ll call you all and we’ll set it up, okay?” Mack continued, “And Hayden, don’t forget, next Saturday I’m calling in our bet. Me and Laine will pick you up at nine, and we’ll be spending all day at the mall.”

They all agreed to Mack setting up their ladies’ night out and Hayden groaned thinking about the marathon shopping trip she was in for with Mackenzie and her best friend. She watched as her new friends left with their men.

Finally, all that was left at the table was TJ, Hayden, and Boone.

“You did good, kid,” TJ told Hayden with a smirk.

Hayden rolled her eyes. “I’m older than you, asshole. You can’t call me a kid.”

They smiled at each other. He’d made his point. He was proud of her actions and glad she was still around. It was enough.

“If you ever get tired of patrolling the streets, give me a call. I’ll put in a good word with the sheriff for you,” Hayden told him.

“As if I’d get tired of pulling people over. It’s interesting as all get out. You never know who you’re pulling over. It could be a little old granny driving erratically because she can’t see over the dash and is senile, or it could be an escaped convict. I love the adrenaline rush it gives me. It’s almost as good as being in the Army.”

“You’re crazy.” Hayden rolled her eyes at TJ. She hated traffic stops.

“Yeah, but I’m good at it. So I’ll stick with it a bit longer.”

TJ stood up and punched Hayden lightly in her uninjured shoulder and laughed when Boone glared up at him and pulled Hayden closer.

“Go home, guys. I’ve got an early shift tomorrow, I gotta get home too and get my beauty sleep,” TJ teased.

“Sounds good to me. Boone, let me up. I need to go take care of the tab,” Hayden said.

“No you don’t,” Boone said, tightening his arm around her, keeping her right where she was. “I already took care of it.”

“You asshole,” Hayden said with no heat in her voice, smiling at him. “So me giving the waitress my card when I got here was useless?”

TJ leaned over and kissed the top of Hayden’s head. “Yup. We already had a talk with her. She took your card, but never ran it. Glad you’re all right, Yates. It wouldn’t be the same around here without you.” He patted her shoulder lightly and turned and headed for the door of the bar.

Hayden looked up at Boone. “When did you pay?”

“When you went to the restroom earlier with the girls.”

“Boone!”

“What?”

“I was supposed to pay.”

“Hay, first of all, there’s no way the guys who were here tonight would
ever
let a woman pay for their drinks all night. No way in hell.”

“But I’m not a woman to them.”

“Yes, you are. They might not have seen you that way in the past, but with these legs, how could they miss it now?” Boone stroked Hayden’s bare thigh. Her mini-skirt had risen up as she’d sat in the chair. He smiled at her when she blushed.

“And secondly,” Boone continued, “you’ll never pay when I’m around…remember?”

“You’re such a Neanderthal,” Hayden mock-complained.

“Yeah, but I’m
your
Neanderthal,” Boone countered.

“That you are. I think it’s time
my
Neanderthal took me home and to our bed.”

Hayden screeched when Boone immediately stood and picked her up. “Boone, my skirt.”

“I’ve got it. I’m not gonna let you flash the entire bar, sweetheart. That’s for my eyes only.”

Hayden put her arms around Boone’s neck and leaned in close. She licked the skin under his ear. “Walk faster. I’m in the mood to try out that new strawberry-flavored lube I bought last week.” She laughed as Boone picked up his pace and practically ran out to his truck.

“I love you, Boone.”

He leaned over in his seat before starting the engine. “I love you too, Hayden. Now…shut up and let me get us home safely. The last thing I want is one of your friends pulling me over. I’m so ready for you, I can’t wait the extra ten minutes it’d take to get a ticket.”

Hayden put her head back on the seat of Boone’s truck and gazed at him as he carefully drove them back to his farm. She was the luckiest woman on the planet.

A
fter getting back
to work a couple of weeks later, Hayden was sitting in a booth at the small hole-in-the-wall restaurant across the street from Station 7 with Crash, eating lunch. She hadn’t thought she’d ever be as close to anyone as she was to her fellow law enforcement friends, but as it turned out, the firefighters in Station 7 were great guys, and because their paths kept crossing, they were getting to know each other better.

She’d gone to the station to talk to Moose, and to thank him for helping take care of her at the bar that night when Dana had drugged her, and found herself staying for over an hour, talking with the rest of the firefighters. Crash had taken one look at her and fallen to his knees, begging her to marry him. Ever since that day, they’d been friends.

He’d also been one of the firefighters who had shown up at Boone’s farm after Dana had shot her. He’d been very professional, and not only helped stem the blood oozing out of her arm, but had made sure Boone had been taken care of as well.

Crash was funny. There were times when Hayden thought she saw something in him, something that reminded her of herself before she’d met Boone, but as soon as she saw it, the joking funny guy returned.

“I appreciate you meeting me for lunch.”

Crash took a big bite of his sandwich and winked at her. “No problem. As if I’d turn down a date with a hot cop.”

Hayden ignored his blatant flirting. One thing she’d learned about Crash was that he was one of the station’s two playboys. It seemed women were drawn to him…and he milked it for all he was worth. After spending time with the firefighters, on the job and after-hours when the cops and firefighters got together for drinks, Hayden realized that most of Crash’s behavior was smoke and mirrors. He might flirt with women, but she hadn’t ever seen him go home with one from the bars. It was as if he’d cultivated his man-ho reputation to hide his insecurities about something.

“How’s Beth doing?” Hayden had been fascinated by Sledge’s girlfriend ever since she’d helped find her after the robbery at their house. The woman had been through hell, but with Sledge’s help, and appropriate medication, she was beating back her agoraphobia.

“Amazing, really. She loves working for the government. I swear she’s lethal though…she can hack anything. I’m afraid to make her mad. The other day, after Sledge did something stupid, she hacked into our TV and the only station we could get was the Disney channel. It was a long day, let me tell you.”

Hayden laughed. She could just picture Beth doing that too. She liked her. Hayden opened her mouth to tell Crash that he’d better watch himself, that women always win, when a man’s loud voice rang through the restaurant.

“Seriously? You want to leave now? We just ordered!”

Hayden looked over and saw a couple sitting at a booth. There was a black lab wearing a service dog vest under the table, but with its front paws in the woman’s lap. She looked shaken and worried. She and Crash watched as the woman said something to the man, but whatever it was, it obviously wasn’t what the man wanted to hear.

Crash quickly put his napkin next to his plate and stood up. Hayden was about to join him when he waved her down.

“I’ll check it out and let you know if she needs you.” Crash’s words were brusque and hard.

Hayden relaxed. No, Crash wasn’t a cop, but the man the woman had been eating with was already stalking off, so it didn’t look like there was any kind of situation that required her presence.

She relaxed into her chair, keeping her eyes on her friend as he quickly headed to the other table and the distraught-looking woman.

C
rash hated
the look on the woman’s face. He had no idea why he hadn’t let Hayden take care of whatever the situation was, but there was something about the woman and her dog that struck a chord within him.

He didn’t talk about his life growing up with his friends, wasn’t even sure anyone knew that he had a sister who had Down syndrome. But he’d seen her being bullied his entire life, and he recognized the signs a mile away.

Laurie was doing great today. She was in a group home in Phoenix, Arizona. She worked in a grocery store bagging groceries, and loved it. Laurie didn’t seem to remember anything about how hard her life had been growing up, but Crash wouldn’t ever forget.

He turned his attention back to the woman at the table. She was petting her dog and trying to get her things together.

“Are you all right?”

Her head whipped up as if he’d surprised her, which Crash supposed he probably did. “I couldn’t help but notice that you seem upset.”

The woman looked relieved to see him, or at least his uniform. “You’re a firefighter?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“An EMT or paramedic?”

“Yes…” Crash’s voice trailed off, not liking where the conversation was going.

“I’m Adeline. I have about ten minutes or so before I’m going to have an epileptic seizure, as Coco,” she gestured toward the dog currently panting in her face and pawing at her leg, “has warned me. I need to get to a safe place, I can’t drive, and the person who could’ve taken me somewhere,” she paused for a precious moment to glare at the door the man who had been sitting with her had disappeared through, “seems to have ditched me. I’m incredibly embarrassed, but I’d appreciate the help.”

The woman’s voice was husky. He had no idea if it was her normal tone, or if it had to do with the stress she was currently under, but whatever it was, it struck him hard.

He’d never believed in love at first sight, but Lord, this woman made him think of long nights in bed, bubble baths, and holding hands as they walked down the street.

Crash mentally shook himself. He needed to get her and her dog to safety. He knew never to take epileptic seizures lightly. He had a lot of questions about the type of epilepsy she had and what kind of seizure might be coming, but first things first. She was obviously knowledgeable about her condition, since she had an alert dog and knew exactly what she needed to do, but he still felt the urge to protect her from the prying eyes of the other patrons in the restaurant, and to keep her safe.

Remembering the conversation he’d once had with Beth about his name, and understanding somehow that the instant attraction he had for the woman sitting so bravely in front of him was unique, he made a split-second decision.

Crash held out his hand. “My name is Dean. It’s good to meet you. Trust me, I’ll take care of you.”

He looked into Adeline’s eyes as she reached out her hand and put it in his own, and knew his life would never be the same.

L
ook
for the next book in the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series,
Shelter for Adeline
in January 2017.