Cash

by Vanessa Devereaux

  Evernight Publishing ®

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2015 Vanessa Devereaux

  ISBN: 978-1-77233-438-8

  Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

  Editor: JS Cook

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEDICATION

  To others like Cash who serve their country.

  CASH

  Big Sky County, 7

  Vanessa Devereaux

  Copyright © 2015

  Chapter One

  What happens in Vegas; stays in Vegas.

  Well, I hope something does happen in Vegas.

  Katy closed her carry-on bag and glanced out of the window. Cash had just driven into the parking spot outside her condo. She checked everything was switched off, the electric kettle and the iron she’d used to take the wrinkles out of her dress. Her mom had promised to stop by and feed the cat and empty his litterbox. She took a deep breath. She didn’t usually get herself into a panic like this when she went out of town, but this was the first time she was going someplace with Cash. It mattered to her that everything was damn near perfect.

  She checked her appearance before opening the door.

  Cash was midway up the pathway that led to the condo. “You all set?” he asked.

  Katy was certain he was getting more attractive each time she saw him. Hopefully this would be the weekend they’d finally go beyond just going out to dinner and move the relationship up a notch. Even a proper kiss and not a peck on the cheek would be nudging it in the right direction. She wasn’t going to worry and obsess anymore about his insistence that they have separate rooms in Vegas. She’d pondered the meaning of it enough. She’d kept herself awake at night, finely deciding if he didn’t like her, didn’t think they should be together, then he would have turned down the invitation to accompany her to the sex toy convention.

  Since the first time she’d met him when he’d bid on her at the bachelorette auction, he’d been a man of mystery. Nothing was straightforward with him but that only added to his allure.

  “I’m packed and ready to head to the airport,” she said.

  “Here let me take that bag for you,” said Cash.

  She handed it to him and then followed behind as he made his way to the car. He popped open the trunk, placed her bag beside his before opening the passenger door for her. She got in and Cash slid in beside her and started the ignition.

  “I checked our flight about thirty minutes ago and it’s on time,” said Katy.

  “That’s great. Nothing worse than being stuck at an airport for hours on end.”

  “The weather’s supposed to be perfect in Vegas this weekend. If we have some spare time we can sit around the pool or go swimming. It will be a long time before we can do that again in Montana.”

  “Is your brother getting excited about Tuesday?” asked Cash. He turned onto the main road that would take them all the way to Missoula. He’d quickly changed the subject but Katy had grown to accept that was typical of Cash.

  “I think he’s more nervous than anything.” Katy relaxed back in the seat. Her brother had worked long and hard on his campaign to become the next sheriff of Big Sky County. He definitely deserved to win. “I said I’d drive some folks to the polling stations,” said Katy.

  “I can do the same if you need more helpers.”

  As well as being a tad mysterious, he was also sweet too.

  “I think he’s going to win no doubt about it, but the more people we get to the polling stations the better,” said Cash.

  None of the family had anticipated that Connor would end the race as a married man. That had come as a total surprise, and so had his impending fatherhood.

  “Did I tell you that Jennifer and Connor went for her first ultrasound yesterday?” asked Katy.

  “No, they get on okay?”

  “Oh yeah, baby’s perfect. They said they weren’t going to find out what sex it was but they caved in and asked.”

  “Are you going to have a niece or a nephew?” asked Cash.

  “Much to my father’s delight it’s a boy. The Nolan-Delaney name will continue and he’ll have someone to take over the ranch after Connor’s gone.”

  Katy had honestly thought she’d be the first one to get married because Connor had dragged his feet for so long. She thought she’d have the honor of presenting her parents with their first grandchild but Connor had beaten her to that privilege as well.

  In all honesty she too had been dragging her feet somewhat. Always being independent, and just plain picky about the type of guy she went out with. Almost giving up on the whole notion of love and marriage. Instead deciding to open Grantsville’s first, and probably only ever, sex shop.

  She glanced at Cash. He must have sensed that she was looking at him because he turned her way. He smiled; she smiled too. Maybe Connor’s getting married had some effect on her but Katy sensed that she too was ready to finally settle down.

  Now all she had to do was get Cash into her bed and kick the relationship into high gear.

  ****

  Cash had almost backed out of going along on this trip with Katy. Almost. Not that he wanted to turn her down. Quite the opposite in fact. He loved being with her. Looked forward to each time they got together. But it was going to test things for him. For her. For them. He knew she was puzzled as to why they’d gone out on six dinner dates, two movie dates, and not once had he tried to get into her panties. He found her to be drop dead gorgeous. He’d felt his heart go boom-boom the first time he’d set eyes on her at the auction. It was the reason he’d bid on her. His mind and body had drawn him to her. It was as if he knew this would be the woman who would mend him. And he needed lots of fixing. If he was to describe himself in one word, broken would be it.

  Katy always seemed kind and patient but Cash knew even the most tolerant of females wouldn’t wait forever for a guy to make a move. He glanced at her as she sat next to him in the taxi that was taking them to their hotel. She hadn’t even questioned him as to why he’d insisted on separate rooms. He thought she might and he was ready with an answer. A lie. However, she’d just accepted that’s the way he wanted it. Cash glanced out of the window. This was the first time he’d been to Vegas. The whole place was bustling. He looked at the casinos and fountains. So this was what Sin City had to offer.

  He rested his head back, hoping that the weekend wouldn’t end with Katy deciding he wasn’t worth wasting her time on. Then she’d move on to a guy that wasn’t so fractured and beaten by life. Cash would be heartbroken if that was the case.

  The taxi turned the corner causing Katy’s body to slide onto his. Whenever they’d been out on a date he’d made sure she sat on the right side of him but he’d somehow forgotten all about that when they’d gotten into the taxi. He hoped she’d been too busy looking outside at the scenery to feel anything strange pressing against her leg.

  The one that still rested against his and gave him that warm fuzzy feeling. He looked at her thighs in the tight jeans she’d chosen to travel in. Today as always when they were together he imagined her legs bare. Him pushing them apart and diving into her pussy. He glanced down at his crotch. He was hard. Hardest he’d been in a long time. He’d had long bouts of impotence since the accident. The therapist had told him it was psychological and to be expected. Getting aroused and its physical manif
estations would slowly come back when the time was right. It had been right when he’d gone out with Katy for the third time. He’d so wanted to fuck her but he was scared. Scared of being with a woman for the first time since his old life had ended.

  “Let’s take in one of the shows while we’re here,” said Katy.

  “I think that’s a great idea. How about the Cirque du Soleil? I’ve always wanted to see one of their performances.”

  “That’s the perfect choice. My parents have one of the DVDs” said Katy, getting out her Smartphone. “We’re in luck because they have tickets available for some of tonight’s shows. You want to go to an early one and then we can find someplace to eat?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “Okay, let me just order our tickets and we’re all set.”

  Katy’s fingers slid across the screen. He imagined them grazing his chest, belly and cock. He was hard again.

  “All done. This is going to be such a fun night.”

  And after we’ve been to the show I’ll pick you up in my arms, throw you roughly down on the bed and fuck you all night.

  Yeah, Cash Doyle, only in your dreams.

  Chapter Two

  How she’d lucked out with finding a guy like Cash, and at the auction of all things, she still didn’t know. Tonight she almost wanted to lick him. Hell, she wanted to tell him to forget about the show and dinner. She’d take him into her room and rip off the crisp white shirt he was wearing, seductively pull down the fly on the dark navy blue pants that adorned his thighs, and slip her hand inside.

  “Katy.”

  She jumped. She wasn’t aware she’d been so into that dream until she’d heard Cash’s voice talking to her.

  “What, I…”

  “Were miles away,” said Cash.

  “Sorry, must be the jet lag.”

  “You do realize we’re only lost one hour flying here?”

  Shit, she hadn’t thought of that.

  “Only joking,” she said.

  “If you’re tired we can skip dinner after the show,” he said.

  “No, I’m starving.”

  “Okay, let’s take our seats. I’m really looking forward to this.”

  She followed him through to the theater and they found their seats in the middle of the row.

  “You mind if I sit on this side of you?” asked Cash.

  They’d been out enough by now that she knew he always like her to sit on the right of him. His little quirk, he’d told her.

  She’d even thought it was cute. Even she had her little superstitions. Like always touching the window before she entered the store each morning. It brought her customers. She knew it.

  The place slowly filled up before the lights grew dim and the show began. She loved the way Cash laughed at the opening act and then the way he mumbled, that’s incredible and how the hell do they find the courage to do that, at the aerial act high above them.

  She snuggled into his thigh, deciding to take the initiative. She reached out and slipped her hand into his as they watched some guys on a trampoline.

  He gripped her hand. She looked at him. He looked at her. Had they just made a break through? Maybe they should skip dinner. But they’d only eaten a couple of energy bars on the plane and one thing she hated when she was having sex was a stomach that rumbled. Something very unromantic about it. Not quite as bad as farting, but pretty damn close in her books.

  Katy squeezed Cash’s hand again and this time she set her head on his shoulder while they watched another aerial act high above them. The show was great so she shouldn’t have closed her eyes but Cash made her feel all dreamy and sleepy almost. His aftershave hung in the air. It was spicy, alluring and she took a deep breath to take in more of it.

  “You okay?” asked Cash.

  Katy opened her eyes, hoping he hadn’t seen her and thought that she’d fallen asleep on him.

  “Yes, why?”

  “I thought you were dozing off. You had your eyes shut and it sounded like you were snoring.” He gave her a playful nudge and winked. He loved to tease her. She’d hated when her big brother had done it to her when they were growing up, but Cash made it seem perfect.

  “Just really relaxed and looking forward to dinner,” she said.

  ****

  Cash couldn’t help looking at Katy as she sat across the table to him. Sure they’d eaten out together many times before but tonight the twinkling lights of Vegas outside the restaurant window seemed to play up her beauty. They’d chosen to eat in one of the eateries at the hotel where they were staying. They’d picked it because it was on the top floor that overlooked a large portion of the town.

  “So many lights,” said Katy as they waited for their dinner to arrive.

  “Not exactly eco-friendly,” said Cash before taking a sip of his beer.

  “I wonder what the total bill for all the electricity is or even the water bill?” asked Katy, twirling her finger around the rim of her wine glass.

  “Yeah I wouldn’t like to pick up the tab for that one.”

  The waiter arrived with their meals. Cash had opted for the roast chicken while Katy had chosen the lobster linguine.

  “Anything else I can get you folks?” asked the waiter.

  “Nope, this seems about it for now,” said Cash.

  The waiter left and Katy took a bite of her meal. “Wow, you have to try some of this.”

  She stabbed a piece of lobster and twirled some pieces of pasta around her fork and offered it to him. He leaned over and took it in his mouth.

  “That is incredible,” said Cash.

  “You think they’ll let me take some home with me?”

  “My cousin lives in Maine and he used to send my folks a live lobster every year for their anniversary,” said Cash.

  “These things are delicious but I hate the thought that they put them in boiling water while they’re still alive.”

  “I know…seems a bit heartless.”

  “You haven’t told me much about your family. Do your folks still live in Grantsville?”

  Cash shook his head. Family wasn’t something he really liked to talk about. “They never lived in Grantsville. I grew up in Columbia Falls. Mom was a teacher. Dad, well I guess you’d call him an entrepreneur. They divorced when I was eight. Mom passed away shortly after and my dad remarried when I was fourteen and I did not get on with my stepmom, still don’t. And in fact, I haven’t spoken to my father for a long time.”

  It was best to get the background on the Doyles out of the way in one shot.

  “I’m so sorry to hear that. Do you have siblings?”

  “Yeah, a brother who lives in Miami and a sister who lives in Boise. My uncle Bill Doyle’s the one who lives in Grantsville.”

  “And do they all know your secret?”

  Cash stopped eating and went still. Secret. Did Katy know what he’d been hiding from her?

  “I mean that your great, great, great, great grandmother ran the best little whorehouse in Grantsville?”

  Cash expelled the breath he’d been holding in. Shit, that had sent his blood pressure soaring.

  “Yeah, just about everyone in the family knows.”

  “I got so emotional when I read her diary. She really, really loved Ryan Doyle. I’m so glad she stuck to her guns and finally got her man.”

  Was that an indication how Katy would be too? Had she set her sights on Cash? Fuck, he was going to be one sorry disappointment to her. At least Ryan was a complete man. Yeah, he’d had a skeleton in his closet that Gracie didn’t know about at first. When she found out what had happened to him, would she leave? He didn’t think Katy was the sort of woman who’d do that but if she did, it would be yet another setback for him.

  He had a tear in the corner of his eye. He knew it and he didn’t want Katy to see it. She’d ask what was wrong. He’d look weak just like his father had always reminded him. Cash slyly dabbed his mouth with his napkin and brought it very subtly up to his eye hoping Katy hadn
’t seen him.

  The waiter headed over to them again and took their plates.

  “That was great,” Katy told him.

  “It’s always a favorite with the returning customers. Would you like to see the dessert tray?” asked the waiter.

  “I’m pretty full,” said Cash.

  “And I can never say no to dessert so how about we share one?” asked Katy.

  “I guess we’d like to see that tray,” said Cash.

  He liked the fact that Katy wasn’t a calorie counter. She was fit but not rake thin and didn’t pick at her food. Even his father would approve of that sort of woman.

  The waiter returned with the tray and balanced it on the edge of their table.

  “Oh boy, decisions, decisions, decisions,” said Katy.

  “You like chocolate?” the waiter asked her.

  “Love it,” she said.

  “Then I’d go with this flourless torte with the raspberries,” said the waiter.

  “That sound good to you, Cash?” she asked him.

  “Sounds perfect…so one of those and two forks,” he said.

  “I’ll bring that right out and any coffee for either of you?”

  Cash shook his head.

  “None for me either,” said Katy.

  The waiter left and Katy drank the last of her wine.

  “So what time do we have to check in at the convention?” asked Cash.

  “Doors open at 9 a.m. but you if want to hang out at the pool all day I can go on my own.”

  “No, the convention might be fun.”

  The waiter arrived and placed a generous slice of cake down between them and then handed them each a fork.

  “Enjoy,” he said before he walked away.

  Cash was just about to dive in when Katy stopped him.

  “Wait, you have to make a wish first. It’s a tradition in the Nolan-Delaney family that you always wish for something before you take the first bite of pie or cake.”