Peaches 'n' Cream (2 page)

“You’re an asshole,” Damien stated in response to his friend’s comment. “We almost got killed.”

“Can you wear your gun while we fuck you?”

“Shut the fuck up,” Damien growled, looking as though he wanted to smack his friend up the side of his head.

Peaches laughed, needing a moment of lightness after the shock and terror. The shattered front door was yanked open, and uniformed officers came inside with weapons drawn. “You okay, Peaches?” The oldest of the three asked the question in a rough, tense voice.

“I’m okay, Dad. Just a little shaken up is all. One got away, though.”

“Were they the same ones as before?”

“Yes, same ones. Different car, though. It’s a dark-green sedan with a missing hubcap on the right front. There’s a large dent in the rear door. He’s probably dumped it by now.” 13

Her father holstered his weapon then reached for hers. He took charge of it, dropping the clip and checking the chamber. “These bastards aren’t going to let you get away with their boss likely going to prison.”

“I know. We’ll talk after these losers get hauled off.” Sighing, she straightened. Her limbs trembled as she looked down at the two wounded men. Would she feel bad if they died?

“Don’t, honey,” her father, said, seeing the expression on her pale face. “It was you or them. I’m just glad your boss agreed to let you carry.”

“Me, too.”

“Who are these guys?”

“Customers. That’s their rig out there.”

“You mean the one with water pouring out of it?”

The men cursed. She looked up at them apologetically. “Sorry about that. I must have lost track of one. I’ll pay for the damage.”

“No need,” Damien said gruffly, before pulling her hard against him.

Finding her face pressed against the wall of warm, nicely scented male flesh, Peaches didn’t protest. He hugged her tight with the same arm that had held him fast to the back of a bull, while stroking her short blonde hair with the other hand. It could only be better, she thought, if he was naked. That would make her feel much, much better.

After soaking up his special brand of comfort, Peaches pulled back, grinning like an idiot at her thoughts. The grin fell away as she saw the frown on her father’s face. They both ignored the men being looked over by paramedics.

“Awfully friendly for customers,” he commented dryly, his mouth quirking as she blushed. “I hope you got a name before that hug.”

“He’s Damien Nicholson, a bull rider I saw at the rodeo tonight when I went with Darla.” She looked at the other man. “I was about to get
his
name when those assholes came in.”

“Ryan James, sir, another bull rider. She must have missed my extraordinary perform-ance tonight. I scored a point higher than pretty boy here.”

“It was about time you got a full ride in. Now, shut up so Peaches can take care of business.”

They were divided up among the officers to give their statements. After going through all the formalities with his own boss, John Malloy pulled his daughter aside. “You’re going to have to get away from here for a while. You could go stay with your Aunt Peggy in Denver.” Peaches shook her head. “And lead these guys there? I’d never forgive myself. She has enough on her plate taking care of three teenagers. She doesn’t need to worry about some gang members showing up on her doorstep. No, I’ll take an extended vacation while you guys hunt down creep number three.”

His expression was grim, his blue eyes glittering with fury. “That gang is forty strong. It won’t just be the one who got away. When one goes down, another will take his place.” It was what she was afraid of happening. It was never just one. They were a pack. They hunted together. When one fell, another
would
take his place. With their leader likely heading to prison for a very long time, revenge was high on their list of things to do. He and they would see to it.

14

The store’s owner showed up finally, a grim expression on his aging face. He didn’t fire her but instead offered her a raise. She politely refused, telling the man she would have to quit without giving a notice. She apologized for that, but he waved it away as he surveyed the damage to his store.

“Don’t worry about it, dear,” he told her in a fatherly kind of way. “You didn’t do it.” After collecting her purse, she headed outside. Her father left his cruiser where he was finishing filing his report. The look on his face told her he still hadn’t relaxed. The Malloys were a protective bunch, which was probably why the majority of them were in law enforce-ment. She had four brothers and three sisters and every one of them was a cop.

“What are you going to do?”

“First, I’m going to my apartment to pack up Roxie, Juno, and some clothes.” Damien spoke up. His voice was firm, telling her father he wouldn’t be arguing about it.

“She can come with us. We’re heading home.”

“My daughter’s not going off with two cowboys she doesn’t know a thing about.”

“It’s okay, Dad. I was planning to go out on a date with them anyway. Besides, I’m sure you’ll run a background check on them before we’re even out of the parking lot.”

“Them? As in, dating the both of them at the same time?” She blushed under his gaze once again. There were times when she was always going to be his little girl. This was one of them. “Yes. And before you start lecturing me, remember Aunt Judith.” It was his turn to blush. As much as he loved his sister, he couldn’t quite understand why she had married three men. “I’ll call later and let you know what I’m doing.” After they hugged, her dad about squeezing the stuffing out of her, Peaches went to her car and climbed in. While Ryan got in the truck, Damien got in the car with her. A police escort would also be going along. Ryan would wait for them at a truck stop outside of town.

The streets were eerily quiet as they drove along. They didn’t talk, but Damien did reach out to put a comforting hand on her thigh. It was a nice touch, one she didn’t mind. In fact, the touch told her something of the man.

Once they were at her very small apartment, another money saver, she quickly found her pair of Siamese cats. They stared suspiciously at Damien, but didn’t cower or run away.

Peaches put them in their traveling crate without incident. She would take a litter box along, but only put it in with them during rest stops. Having a cat use the litter box in the car was not a pleasant thing.

Cat food, a jug of water, and dishes were all placed next to the door. Then she went into the bedroom to pack her suitcases.

“This is a nice apartment,” Damien said, coming to stand in the doorway. “The bed’s too small, but other than that, it’s good.”

“Thanks. It serves the purpose. My lease is about up. I’m thinking of moving. There’s a nice complex just at the edge of town. It’s a little more money, but there’s a nice view of the mountains. All I can see here is the building next door.”

“You like the mountains?”

“I ski, hike, trail ride. It’s a good place for those things.” She frowned as she remembered her other job. “I’ll have to remember to call off from my other job on Monday. They won’t be happy.”

“That’s too bad. Your safety is more important than any job.” 15

Peaches took a quick shower while Damien politely excused himself to the living room.

While she dressed, she heard him talking to the cats. She smiled, relieved. Lucky for her the man didn’t seem to have an aversion to them. With cats, either you loved them or you hated them. She had never met a person who was indifferent to them.

They carried everything out to her car. Though there was an officer sitting in a cruiser beside her car, they both looked around the well-lit parking lot. Peaches didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, no strange vehicles. She relaxed a little while touching the holstered pistol at her side. It was the same model as the one she had used earlier. Shivering, she zipped up her coat before getting into the car.

“Do you always carry a gun?”

“Yes, when I can.”

The ride out of town was brief. They took the long way, making turns, the cruiser close, but not crowding them, ever watchful for following cars. When it looked like they were in the clear, Damien headed for the truck stop.

Ryan was waiting in the truck. He jumped out when he saw them, giving Peaches a tight hug. “Jeez, cowboy, it’s only been an hour.”

“Ready to go?”

“Yes. I’m leaving the car here. My dad will pick it up tomorrow.” He had called her while they made their way to the truck stop. He had just left the hospital. One of the men had died.

They had learned it was the brother of the man they had arrested two weeks before for another robbery. “You guys sure you don’t mind if I hide out with you for a while?” They looked at her as if she had lost her senses. “You’re kidding, right? Unlimited access to your beautiful body? I can handle that.”

“You’re a jerk. Shut the fuck up,” Damien growled. “If you keep talking like that you’re going to make her run away from us, too.”

“I’m not running. I’m simply changing locations to aid in the prevention of my death.” Damien laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He couldn’t help himself.

“You really do have to ignore most of what comes out of his mouth. He can’t help it. Now, let’s get out of here before we freeze to death. We’ll drive for a few hours, stop for breakfast, then get some sleep.”

“Drive, eat, sleep,” Peaches muttered as they put the last of her belongings into the long trailer. “When does the great sex happen?”