by Paige Warren
Pulling into the drive, Carson killed the siren and left his lights flashing. He checked his equipment, making sure his gun was ready to go, before easing out of the car and approaching the large home. It just showed that domestic violence didn’t discriminate. It didn’t seem to matter if the people were rich or poor…an asshole was an asshole. Carson hoped this particular asshole would come along willingly. Yet again, he was without backup.
Carson knocked on the door and listened to the man yelling on the other side, telling his wife what a lazy bitch she was and that she was lucky he stayed with her. The sad thing was that the asshole probably believed every word he said, not even thinking for a moment that he was the problem.
The door jerked open and a tall, thin man glared at him. “What the fuck do you want?”
“Sir, we’ve had a report of a domestic disturbance at this address.” He tried to look over the man’s shoulder. “May I speak with your wife, please?”
“She’s busy.” The man tried to shut the door, but Carson wedged his foot in the opening.
“I’m afraid I have to insist on speaking with her. Procedure. Y’all understand, of course.” Carson smiled, hoping it didn’t look as forced as it felt. What he really wanted was to deck the guy and haul him off in cuffs, give the woman and child some time to escape, if that’s what they wanted.
“Wait here.” The man slammed the door in Carson’s face.
There was more yelling, a woman’s scream, and a child’s cry, and then one of the tiniest women he’d ever seen opened the door. Her lip was busted and her eye was already swelling. It would be black by morning, for sure.
“Ma’am. What happened to your face?”
Her fingers brushed her busted lip. “I fell.”
Carson looked at the man over her shoulder before dropping his gaze to hers once more. “On his fist?”
She paled. “Please. Just go away. We’ll be fine.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, ma’am. It’s obvious he’s laid his hands on you. I’m going to have to take him in, at least overnight. You need to think long and hard about whether or not you’ll still be here when he comes back.”
“You son of a bitch,” the man growled. He tossed his wife aside and shoved a gun through the open door. “No one’s going anywhere but you.”
Carson lifted his hands, his heart kicking in his chest. Fuck! He hadn’t expected that. Usually men who beat on women didn’t go after someone their own size. He’d found most times they blustered a lot, but were just full of hot air and didn’t have the guts to actually assault an officer. Peaches’ boyfriend had been the exception, and now it seemed this guy would be too.
“Easy there,” Carson said. “You don’t want to shoot an officer. You wouldn’t just go to jail overnight. They’d keep you quite a while.”
“Shut up! You just get back in your car and get the hell out of here. Tell everyone we’re fine.”
“Now, see. I can’t do that. I’m afraid I have to take you in.”
The man’s eyes darkened. “Don’t say you weren’t warned.”
Before Carson could react to the threat, the man pulled the trigger. The bang of the gun sounded far louder than Carson remembered a .40-caliber sounding. He felt the burn of the bullet as it entered his chest and, a moment later, pain speared through him, sending him to his knees. He grabbed the wound and wondered why the hell he hadn’t worn his vest.
He heard screams and more arguing, as a door slammed shut. He didn’t know how long he lay there, staring up at the canopy of the trees, but he eventually heard sirens and someone rushed to his side.
“Hang on,” the man said. “I’m the next door neighbor and I called an ambulance for you.”
Carson tried to thank the man, but no words would form. He continued to stare up at the leaves overhead and then two familiar faces appeared. The EMTs had arrived on scene. Other than the pain in his chest, his body was beginning to feel numb.
“Hang on, Officer Benson,” one of the EMTs said. He couldn’t place the woman’s name at the moment.
“What happened?” the second EMT asked.
Carson tried to speak, but couldn’t. Something told him that wasn’t a good sign. The neighbor who had come to his rescue filled them in with as much information as he knew. The EMTs stabilized Carson, lifted him onto the gurney, and rushed him to the waiting ambulance. The ride to the hospital was bumpy, and in his opinion, was not nearly short enough. They were just clearing the hospital doors when everything went black and he passed out.
***
Someone crying softly nearby woke him. Carson struggled to open his eyes and winced at the bright lights overhead. After he was able to open them a little more, he looked around. Peaches was curled in the chair beside the bed, her face dripping with tears, her eyes red. Her gaze was fastened on the bed, where their hands lay joined. His hand twitched as he tried to squeeze her fingers and she gasped, her gazing jerking up to meet his.
“Hi,” Carson croaked.
“Oh, my God! You’re awake!” She scrambled out of the chair and leaned over him, hastily wiping the tears from her cheeks.
“What…”
“You were shot. The doctor was able to dig the bullet out when they operated on you. He said another inch to the left and it would have hit your heart.” More tears slid down her cheeks. “I wasn’t sure you would wake up again. They told me you were in critical condition.”
“Fine.”
She shook her head. “No, you aren’t fine. You were shot, Carson. Shot! Why weren’t you wearing one of those protective vests?”
He didn’t know how to answer that. He should have been wearing one, and he knew the Chief was going to ream his ass for not following protocol. But he’d been running late for work and had just stashed his gear in his locker when his first call came through. In his rush, he’d left his vest hanging in his locker and had run to his car. It was a rookie mistake, and one that had almost proven fatal.
He squeezed her hand again, as best he could. He felt weak and wasn’t sure how long he’d have to lie in this wretched bed. Carson hated hospitals, but he wouldn’t rush his recovery. He’d follow the doctor’s instructions to the letter, anxious to be able to go home with Peaches. He looked around the room before meeting her gaze again.
“Daisy?”
“Your brother Drew was here. He’s stopped by every few hours, he and his fiancée Lexie. They took Daisy with them when they went out for dinner earlier. Lexie offered to babysit tonight so Daisy didn’t have to sleep up here.”
“Home.”
She shook her head. “I’m not going home without you. Drew brought some things to me so I’m good for a few days. I’m not leaving your side until you’re walking out of this hospital beside me. I know it’s soon to say this, but I love you, Carson.”
Carson smiled. Her words warmed his heart and gave him hope. He’d felt closer to Peaches with each passing day, but he’d wondered if she felt the same way. He hated that she was so worried about him, but it was nice having someone stay beside him while he recovered. Unable to stay awake a moment longer, his eyes drifted shut.
Chapter Five
A week later, Carson breathed a sigh of relief as he entered his home. He was still on orders to stay home and rest, but at least he could do it from the comfort of his own bed and not in that damn hospital. Daisy had been warned to be extra careful with Carson while he recovered and she gently wrapped her little arms around his legs.
“Glad you’re home, Daddy.”
His throat tightened. Daddy? He looked over at Peaches and she looked embarrassed. When had Daisy started calling him Daddy? Sure, he’d been part of the kid’s life, every day, for a month. But…Daddy?
Carson knelt before her and hugged her. “I’m glad to be home, sweetheart.”
Daisy kissed his cheek and scampered off.
He stood and looked at Peaches again.
“I didn’t tell her to say that,” she said, her hand lifted. “Sh
e started calling you that a few days ago. I didn’t know how to tell her you weren’t her daddy without upsetting her. She’s grown rather attached to you.”
Carson held out his hand and pulled Peaches close. “I don’t mind that she called me Daddy.” He smiled. “I kinda liked it.”
Peaches looked relieved. “I wasn’t sure how you would react.”
“Honey, I think of you and Daisy as my family. I’ve been giving you the time you need, whatever space you need, to be okay with us as a couple. I know all of this is still new, and I don’t want you to feel like I’m rushing you.”
Peaches’ brow furrowed. “I don’t understand. We share the same house, the same bed.”
“Yes, but our relationship has been temporary so far. I wanted you to feel like you could walk away at any time, if that’s what you wanted. I wanted you to feel safe with me, to want to be here as much as I want you here.” He sighed. “I’ve wanted more from you, Peaches, but I won’t push for it. I know you’ll let me know when the time is right.”
She moistened her lips. “Right for what?”
“Right to make you mine, you and Daisy, permanently. I don’t believe in standing around and letting the grass grow under my feet. I’d have already asked you to marry me, if I’d thought you’d say yes.”
Her eyes widened. “You want to marry me?”
Carson’s jaw tensed. “Yeah, I do, one day…but I know you aren’t ready. It’s okay. I can wait.”
His chest started aching again, the pain medication having worn off, and he sank into a nearby chair. Christ! He wanted her in his life as more than just a live-in girlfriend, but she still seemed hesitant around him sometimes, like she didn’t know how he would react to certain situations, and he’d figured that would improve with time. But being shot, nearly losing his life, made him realize they may not have all the time in the world. If something happened to him, he wanted to know at least one day of her being his wife and Daisy being his daughter.
Peaches knelt at his feet. “Why do you think I’m not ready?”
“You still flinch at loud noises. If I move too quickly, you shy away.”
She placed her hand on his knee. “It isn’t you. I trust you with my life, with Daisy’s life. It’s just that I was in that abusive relationship for so long, some things are hard to unlearn. Never, not once, did I think you would hurt me––or my daughter. You’re the kindest, gentlest man I know, Carson.” She moved closer. “And if you were serious, I would be honored to be your wife.”
He stared at her a moment. “Did you just say yes?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “I said yes.”
Carson urged her up and onto his lap. He looped his arms around her, ignoring the pull of the sutures in his chest. Wrapping a hand around the back of her neck, he pulled her down for a kiss. Their lips brushed once. Twice. And then he slipped inside for a taste. A small hand on his leg pulled him back to reality. He looked down at Daisy and smiled.
“Mommy gonna marry Daddy?” Daisy asked.
“Yeah, Mommy is gonna marry Daddy. If that’s okay with you?” Carson asked.
Daisy smiled and nodded her head.
With both of his girls in his arms, everything was right in the world. Peaches was going to marry him one day and Daisy would be his daughter in everyone’s eyes. Now he just had to get well so they could plan the wedding. Hell, he just might beat Drew to the altar. Carson smiled.
“I love you. You know that, right?” he asked Peaches.
She caressed his cheek. “I know. Sometimes you just know…I hope you know how much I love you, too. Daisy and me both. You’re everything to us, Carson. Promise me you’ll never leave me.”
He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. “With my job, I can’t promise that. But I can promise to be more careful. Know that I would never willingly leave you and Daisy.”
She nodded. “I suppose that will do for now.”
Carson kissed her again. “Why don’t you call Drew and share the good news? Let him know you’re going to make an honest man out of me someday soon.”
She laughed and got up, letting Daisy crawl into his lap.
Carson watched her with affection as she called his brother. He might have gone to that house all those weeks ago, in an attempt to save her. But really, she had saved him.
The End
www.paigewarrenauthor.com
Other Books by Paige Warren:
www.evernightpublishing.com/paige-warren
If you enjoyed this book, you may also like:
Finally Forever by April Zyon
Metamorphosis by Lace Daltyn
Love in the Afternoon by Daisy Philips
Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Table of Contents
WARNING:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Other Books by Paige Warren:
