by KB Winters
Vivi grinned wide and wiggled her short black nails, which somehow only made the diamond sparkle even more. “Nah, Jag felt like the old ring wasn’t sending enough of a message so he upgraded.”
I let out a low whistle and looked at my friend carefully. Her smooth pale skin damn near glowed, making me wonder if it was more than love that had her looking so fantastic. “That’ll do it.” I stood up to give her a proper greeting and wrapped Vivi in my arms tight, hanging on a little longer than I should have because I didn’t know when I’d ever get to see her again. “Love looks good on you, chica.”
“Thanks, but you didn’t ask me to meet in a private room in the middle of the day for a state of the union check-in.”
That was the problem with having a friend who knew me so well, it was impossible to bullshit her. “No, I didn’t. I’m in some deep shit, the kind where bullets fly at me constantly and without warning. The kind I can’t talk about in too much detail.”
I hoped I wouldn’t give her any of the details, but it wouldn’t take long before suits or thugs rolled into Mayhem or Vegas in search of me. “A CAD mission gone wrong. A Paris suburb to target a possible American citizen for assassination. Somehow the footage ended up in a batch of data sent to me and the others on the team. They’re all dead now.”
“Dead? Seriously?”
I nodded, my expression unchanged. “One died in a single car accident on a residential street. Matrix had a heart attack. She was only twenty-two fucking years old, Vivi. A goddamn heart attack. And the CIA liaison has disappeared but it’s probably safe to assume he’s dead as well.”
She let out a low whistle, which just about summed up how I felt about all of this.
“Damn girl when you do trouble, you don’t take it easy do ya?”
I shrugged. “There’s a hit on me, Vivi. Whatever happened to that liaison, there is a hit out on me, too. Even if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes on the dark web, I found two trackers on my car in the city, one of my aliases was burnt in the process, oh and some stupid asshole shot at me.”
Thinking about that again made me sick to my stomach and instinctively I shoved a spoonful of soup in my mouth and moaned, “So good.”
Vivi knew what I was doing and arched a brow at me, effectively calling bullshit on me. “You burn your place?”
“The night two different people tried to kill me. It’s sitting there, untouched for now, but it’s monitored.” There was no distance to put between me and what happened, which meant I couldn’t stay on the run. “I need a place to go. Somewhere I can stay where people won’t ask questions and leave me alone.”
“Fuck, Peaches. You’re scared.” It wasn’t a statement so I didn’t bother answering. “Holy shit. Even when that FBI agent threatened to put you in supermax you weren’t scared. What the fuck is CAD?”
I forgot Vivi had opted out of government work after her paid servitude was up.
“Covert Affairs Division. It’s one of the intelligence agencies, but it’s under the DoD.” That was because everyone knew the military got away with a lot more than any other agency. If there was a side to be on when shady shit went down, it was theirs.
“Damn. Defense Department shit is no joke. Have you been able to reach your contact?”
“Bob?” I snorted because that was a fucking joke. “Nope, and if I see her on the streets, I swear to God I will fuck her up so bad they’ll put me on the top of every goddamn watch list in the world. Fucking Bob Slauson is the one who accidentally sent me the fucking video file! I know that bitch did it to get me killed. Fucking bitch.” I meant every damn word and I was ready to see it through. But only if I had to.
“Told you to stay with us in Mayhem. But no, always about those dollars.”
“Viv, I can’t live my life like you do.” I scoffed at her. “You know that.”
The servers brought out more sushi and sake than two people needed. Vivi told me all about how happy she was with Jag.
“I know, and I know it sounds cheesy and stupid, but remember when we would mock happy endings because we knew it wasn’t in the cards for us? Well. Jag and I are a happy ending. That’s how it feels.”
A smile crossed my face at her words. “I’m happy for you Vivi, really and truly. Jag seems like a good guy.”
But if he ever made her regret loving him, I’d fuck him up, I said to myself.
We took a few minutes to dig into all the sushi options laid out before us, inhaling California roll bites, dragon rolls and more raw fish than anyone needed. “There is one place. No one but the Bastards knows about it, and you’d definitely be safe.”
I leaned in and held my breath, waiting for her to tell me about this place that sounded too good to be true. “Can it be traced back to me?”
“Nope.” Her smile was the first clue that I wouldn’t like her answer but I was in a bind and we both knew it. Beggars couldn’t be choosers and all that. “Gunnar has a new place down in a small Texas town.”
“Fuck me sideways. My only hope is a guy who hates my fucking guts?”
“He doesn’t hate you. He just doesn’t trust you. His whole life is about his little sister and you…”
“Don’t remind me. Fuck me if the guy can’t take a joke.”
Okay, so it wasn’t a joke. I just didn’t think it was that big of a deal to take Maisie out on a play date, but whatever. Gunnar wasn’t the first man to dislike me, and he wouldn’t be the last, but it had been a long time since I’d found myself at the mercy of a man with hate in his eyes.
“I’ll figure something out. Don’t worry, girl. I gotta get going.”
“Seriously?” Vivi leaned in, fire spitting in her gray eyes. “You just told me you’ve got a legit hit on your life from the goddamn United States covert government shit, and then you say don’t worry about it? Pull your fuckin’ head out of your ass, Peaches. Gunnar may be grumpy but he won’t turn you away. And no one will find you there.”
I had my doubts about him but kept them to myself. There was a damn good chance that I’d get down to Texas, and he’d tell me to get the fuck out, but right now he was a shot. If only for a little while. “Well, if he doesn’t let me stay, I keep moving. Simple as that. I’ll let you know.”
“You sure you can’t stay any longer? I’m gonna miss you. Again.”
I shook my head. “I wish I could but the fuckers with guns will be right behind me. And they know I was here last year. Get home and be safe. Tell the guys what’s going on so they’re on alert.”
“Of course,” she said with tears swimming in her eyes. “As soon as this is all over, we’re doing a girls weekend.”
I nodded but my heart wasn’t in it. As much as I’d love to pretend things were going to be all right, I wasn’t so sure. “Sure, Vivi. See you around, chica.” I gave her a massive hug, nearly squishing her small frame to death as I inhaled her scent. She was my best friend, and we’d been through so much together, friends since we were teenagers. Now we were grown women with grown up problems. I would miss the hell out of her. “Take care of yourself.”
“That’s my line. Call every few days so I know you’re alive. Otherwise, I’ll see you in Texas”
I knew she meant it so I gave her a salute, paid the bill and went outside to suck in one last gulp of dry Nevada desert air. Then I got into my crappy rental, cranked up some Janis Joplin and aimed my car toward Texas.
Land of sexy grumpy men.
Chapter Five
Gunnar
“Why’s Gunny cookin’?” Maisie sat in one of the oversized chairs looking adorable and ridiculous at the brand new kitchen table. Made from real pine, it was large enough to sit twenty if I added the two inserts and pushed the matching benches underneath.
“Because,” I said. “Miss Martha has Saturdays off so she can rest her bones and take care of her own family. You don’t like my cooking?” I gave her a fake pout that made her giggle.
“Whatcha making?”
I looked down at the st
ove, the spaghetti sauce bubbling in the pot. I hadn’t done much to it, just added some salt and pepper but suddenly it didn’t seem like enough. “Spaghetti.”
“With hot dogs?”
I groaned. That shit was disgusting. “No, with spaghetti and sauce.” Maybe there should be a salad? From my years taking care of Maisie, I already knew she needed fresh fruits and vegetables, but I didn’t have the energy tonight. The first week at Hardtail had been long. And busy. The books were a mess, but I couldn’t exactly get mad at Holden since the man wasn’t an accountant or bookkeeper, but dammit, I wanted to be mad at someone.
A new contractor had finally started and promised there would be more progress soon. If not, I’d bury him somewhere on the property and hire someone else.
“But Gunny, that’s gross.”
“No Squirt, hot dogs and spaghetti is nasty.” She huffed her disapproval but otherwise kept her mouth shut.
“Sorry to bother you Gunnar, but you have a visitor.” Holden’s deep voice sounded over the low hum of music and Maisie’s humming when he came through the back door.
“A visitor? Impossible.” None of the guys would make the trip down without calling ahead and there was no one else.
And then a new voice added, “Not impossible, exactly.”
I knew that voice. Goddammit, that voice still sometimes haunted my dreams along with the killer curves that had my hands itching to wrap around any part of her. I didn’t want to turn around because I didn’t want it to be true. It couldn’t be true. But it had to be true. That voice belonged to no one else on this earth.
Slowly I turned, steeling myself for what I would see. “Peaches.” Her name came out as a groan, which I hadn’t intended, but dammit the woman was a menace. “What are you doing here?”
She froze, big brown eyes wary and tired but not just tired. No, she looked scared too. “I was hoping you had a spare bed for a while?” She looked back and forth between me and Holden, clearly hesitant to say anymore in front of someone she didn’t know.
“No, I don’t.” Yeah I was an asshole, and I knew it, but everything about Peaches screamed trouble, and I had no use for trouble in my life these days. Especially someone who could put Maisie’s life in danger.
She looked at me, her face free of makeup for once, which made her look young, almost innocent. She’d hidden her wild curls under a baseball cap and even her curves were disguised behind a khaki skirt and pink tank top. “Not even for a night or two? Please, Gunnar?”
The tension in her voice should have softened me, but it only made me harden more. “Why?”
She glanced at Holden again and then back to me, before she realized Maisie was sitting there.. “Hey Maze, lookin’ good kiddo.”
“Peaches, it’s you!” Maisie scrambled off the chair and took a running start at the curvy vixen, flying into her waiting arms. “I missed you, Peaches!”
“I missed you too kid. So much,” my nemesis said and closed her eyes as she hugged my sister tight. “In fact,” she looked up at me again, her expression blank, “I was just passing through, and figured I should come say hello to my favorite little girl.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Glad to see you’re taking to the cowgirl life, kiddo.”
Maisie giggled and put both of her little hands on Peaches’ cheeks. “It’s so pretty here, Peaches.”
“Pretty place for a pretty little girl. Anyway,” she said and set my sister on her feet before taking a step back. “I just stopped in to say hey to you but now I need to get going.” Her voice wobbled, and it damn near got me when she swallowed again, trying to hide the emotion in her voice.
“You can’t stay for dinner?” How she was able to resist Maisie’s face, I’d never know.
“Sorry, but I’ve got a drive ahead of me, Maze. Maybe next time, okay?”
“No! Peaches. Stay!”
“I can’t honey. Bye sweet girl.” She gave me one last, emotionless look and walked right back through the open front door.
Holden questioned me with his eyes, but I just shook my head. “Thanks.”
“You sure? If you need to talk to her, I’ll look after the little one.”
I appreciated the offer, but I wanted no part of whatever trouble she’d gotten herself into. “No thanks. Want to stay for dinner, Holden?”
“Got a date. Ran into your friend on the road. She had missed the turn, so I brought her here.”
A date? I hadn’t been on a date in too damn long and worse, I didn’t even miss it. Barely thought of it except for those few weeks Peaches spent at the clubhouse. Helping us out.
“Dammit.” I said to Holden. “Give me a sec?”
Holden didn’t even try to hide his smile as he winked down at Maisie. “Don’t you think Peaches is pretty, Holden?”
I sped up because I didn’t want to hear the answer to that. If I was lucky, Peaches would already be gone leaving nothing but a dust trail in her wake, but I’d never had much luck. Or much sense either because I kept moving toward the driver’s side door, determined to tell her she couldn’t stay here. As I got closer I realized her shoulders were hunched over the steering wheel and she’d buried her face in her arms. Crying. Fuck. No man could stand to see a woman cry, and I was no exception. Tapping on the window, I expected a scream of surprise or something.
Not a blank look when she spotted me. In true smartass Peaches style, she rolled her window down about three inches. “Yes?”
“What kind of trouble are you in?”
“I’m not in any kind of trouble, and I’ll be out of here in a minute.” With those words, she rolled the window back up and her head went back down.
I tapped on the window again and this time she glared. “Why did you come here?” I hadn’t made my feelings about her a secret so she must be in bad shape to ask for my help. And I was an ass to her.
“I didn’t.” She turned the key until the engine started and shifted gears. “I’m not here. In fact, I was never here.”
“Peaches, dammit. Can you be serious for one minute?”
“I shouldn’t have come here, that’s obvious. Vivi thought you might be able to help me out, but I knew you wouldn’t, so the rest doesn’t matter. Have a nice life, Gunnar.”
This was the thanks men got when they tried to help out a stubborn ass woman. “You can stay.”
“It’s not nec—”
“—Stay in the goddamn bunkhouse. And you leave when I say go.” I wondered if she would throw the offer back in my face and speed off anyway, but after a few really long minutes, she killed the engine.
“I just need to get a plan in place and then I’m gone.” I didn’t say anything to that because, honestly, I didn’t believe her. “I came to you because there’s no connection to me, Gunnar. No other reason.”
“Good, because Maisie—”
She cut me off. “Is great and I would die before I let anything happen to her. A few days and then I’m gone, I swear.”
If she were any other woman I might not have believed her, but I caught a glimpse of what it cost her to ask for help. So I just nodded and walked to the porch. “If you’re staying, you might as well come for dinner.”
“Only if you’re sure,” she called back.
“I’m not sure of a goddamn thing except that I’m hungry. Now come eat, or don’t.” After dinner tonight, I’d keep my distance. With Peaches in the bunkhouse and me getting the club off the ground, we’d hardly see each other.
Chapter Six
Peaches
The bunkhouse. Gunnar had put me in the bunkhouse. Though I was grateful, I also kind of resented the hell out of him for being so damn gruff and angry, and then putting me in a bare bones square structure that looked more like a prison than a home.
I stepped inside the squat wooden building, letting the screen door smack shut behind me and froze. Okay, so maybe it was more like a dorm room, a boy’s dorm with jeans and boxers tossed over every single bed with no distinction between clea
n and dirty clothes. A few smartphones charged on a table in the corner, the low hum of country music played from another part of the building, but otherwise the place appeared to be empty.
“Home sweet home.” At least for a few days. It was clear Gunnar didn’t want me around and the truth was, I didn’t blame him. The guy was a world-class jerk if I’d ever met one, but his kid sister’s safety was his top priority. I knew my being here screwed with that. So a few days to get a strategy in place, and then I’d be back on the road, headed…somewhere.
Anywhere.
A door opened to my left and a man strolled out. A naked man with smooth tan skin, tattoos and muscles everywhere. Everywhere. His chest was big and wide, pecs large and topped with light brown nipples. He looked to have some Hispanic in him, but those blue eyes and that blondish brown hair gave him a wildly exotic look that was enough to make me stare like a schoolgirl. A horny schoolgirl.
“Well, hello there roomie,” I said. I winked at the delicious specimen and his cheeks turned the cutest shade of pink. “I’m Peaches.”
“Peaches.” He said my name like it was a word he wasn’t used to, testing it on his tongue before he turned to me with a sheepish smile. “Peaches the roomie, eh?” Oh he was more comfortable now, with me and his nudity which was fine with me because well, he was damn fine.
“Gunnar’s letting me crash in here for a few days.” I took a step back to let the man get a towel or some clothes, both of which would be a travesty, but blocking him further would make me a creep.
“And your name is Peaches?” I nodded, waiting for all the jokes men came up with that they all thought were just so fucking hilarious. “I’m Cruz. Nice to meet you.” He held his hand out and gave me a firm shake which I appreciated. Some men gave a weak-wristed version of a handshake that was more than a little insulting.
“You, too, and I’d love to apologize for the ogling, but I meant to do it, so sorry if it made you uncomfortable.”
“Once I realized you weren’t crazy, I was kind of flattered,” he admitted with a flush of pink infusing his cheeks.
