Cash Page 7

  Katy flipped over and felt Cash’s arms around her.

  “Guess we should get to sleep because I know you’re going to work me hard in your store.”

  She smiled. She could already hear Cash snoring.

  ****

  Someone help me. Jim, Todd, where are you guys?

  Cash saw the carnage. His ears were still ringing from the explosion. There was smoke and he could smell something putrid. Something he’d never experienced in his entire life. He wanted to be sick but all he got were dry heaves. His leg, something was wrong with his leg. Cash looked down. His uniform was covered in blood and debris and half his leg was missing. He looked around to see body parts. One of them had to be his leg. Something bad had happened. Something really bad.

  He screamed and screamed and hoped someone would hear him and come to his rescue.

  “Cash, it’s okay, you’re safe.”

  Someone was touching his arm and kissing his forehead. He opened his eyes to see Katy leaning over him. He thought he was back in Afghanistan but remembered he’d met her long after his return.

  “Everything all right in there?” someone knocked on the door and it was a woman’s voice. Katy’s mom.

  Shit, shit, shit. Now he remembered he was staying at her folks’ house and he’d obviously had one of his nightmares. The one that ended in the screams. He’d already had to move out of one place because his neighbors had complained about him waking them and scaring their kids. That was back in the days when he had them three or four times a week.

  “It’s fine Mom. Cash had a bad dream,” said Katy.

  “Maybe he should have some warm milk,” she called back through the door.

  Katy smiled.

  “You know you and Connor always enjoyed that when you thought monsters were under your beds?” she added.

  “Sure Mom, why don’t you make some and we’ll be right there.”

  “We’ll have to go drink it or she’ll get upset. You feel up to it or should I bring it in here?” asked Katy.

  “No, walking around might be just what I need. I’m not a big fan of warm milk though.”

  He was hot and clammy like he always was after those types of dreams. He slid to the side of the bed, reached over for his limb and attached. He stood, pulled on his pants and the t-shirt that Katy had borrowed from her dad for him.

  “Everything okay?” he heard Katy’s dad asking out in the hallway.

  “Fine, Cash had a bad dream so I’m making some hot milk.”

  “I could do with one of those now that I’m awake.”

  “Geez, I’ve woken everyone,” said Cash.

  “Don’t worry because we’re light sleepers. Even birds singing in the morning wakes us.”

  She was being nice. She was always so nice. He walked out to the kitchen with Katy to see her dad sitting at the table and her mom stirring milk in a pan.

  “My apologies for waking you at…” he looked at the clock. “One in the morning.”

  “Don’t even think about it. I had some nightmares when I had my surgery and chemo treatment. Now sit yourself down and relax,” said her dad.

  The four of them sat in silence for a while until Katy’s mom brought over the four mugs of milk and sat them down. “I have the first batch of holiday cookies in the fridge if anyone’s interested?”

  “Not for me mom,” said Katy.

  “Me neither,” said Cash.

  She looked at Katy’s father. “No, not after all the food I ate today. I have to keep my youthful figure.”

  Cash smiled. If only his dad had such a sense of humor as Mr. Nolan-Delaney. No wonder Katy and Connor were such happy people. He ran his finger around the rim of his mug. He hated this stuff but he didn’t want to offend Katy’s mother in any way.

  “I know what that needs, nice splash of whisky,” said Katy’s dad getting up from the chair and heading over to one of the cabinets. He pulled out a bottle and tipped a good amount into Cash’s mug before helping himself to the same amount in his milk.

  “That should make you drift off to a peaceful sleep,” said Katy.

  Peaceful. He hadn’t had that sort of slumber in a very long time.

  Chapter Eight

  Katy could tell that the bad dream the night before had upset Cash more than the one in Vegas had. Maybe he’d been worried about waking her folks or them knowing that he had night terrors. She assured him that they were open-minded people who didn’t judge a person by their weaknesses and failings but on whether they were a good person or not. That was the only criteria that a Nolan-Delaney used to decide whether or not they wanted to befriend you.

  The shop had been bustling all day and she couldn’t have coped without Cash manning the cash register. She’d seen him blush a few times when he’d rung up things like vibrators, whips and dildos. But that’s what she loved about him so much. Despite what he’d been through there was still an innocence to him. A vulnerability that made her almost want to kiss and cuddle him. And speaking of babying someone, Jennifer and Connor strolled into the store about an hour before closing, loaded with all things baby.

  “Look isn’t this so cute?” asked Jennifer, showing Katy a blue toweling bath towel with ducks and rabbits on it. “Look it even has a hood to go over the baby’s head when you dry him.”

  “I told her that was way too small for me,” said Connor.

  “Isn’t he a laugh a minute,” said Katy.

  “We got a great deal on a crib and changing table and I’ve picked out the wallpaper for Jon’s nursery.”

  Katy bit her lip. It sounded so wonderful, so dreamlike. Hopefully Aunt Betty was right about men getting in the mood to propose over the holidays. She was ready for marriage. Ready for babies and each time she looked at Cash she was sure her ovaries and their eggs were doing flips thinking she’d finally found someone to put them to good use.

  “And what happened to your Santa outfit?” Katy asked her brother.

  “It’s in the car but I thought Cash might like to be Santa,” said Connor.

  “Me. I haven’t been Santa ever.”

  “Then here’s your chance to show Katy your big candy cane,” said Connor.

  “Connor, where are your manners?” asked Jennifer. “Geez, I’m not sure what I’m going to do with him.”

  Connor grabbed her and rubbed her belly. “Come along mama let’s get these things back home and let Cash and Katy finish up here for the day. Oh, and I’ll bring the suit in for you and I want to hear that you’ve given it some use.” Connor winked at Katy.

  For once she loved Connor’s meddling.

  ****

  Katy sat on the bed eating the rest of the pumpkin pie from the day before as Cash went into her bathroom to try on the Santa suit.

  “This thing itches like hell,” she heard him say.

  She smiled and decided to take her bathrobe off, and lay in the nude while she waited.

  “Ho, ho, ho,” he said walking out of the bathroom.

  The suit was almost a perfect fit.

  “Wow, it’s not too often Santa arrives in the home of a naked woman.”

  “I’ve been very naughty this year, Santa,” said Katy.

  “Have you now?”

  Cash sat on the side of the bed. He placed his white gloved hand on her belly.

  “Would you like to see what Santa’s brought for you?” he asked.

  “I hoping it’s a candy cane. Not just any old candy cane but Santa’s candy cane.”

  “First of all he has some panties for you.”

  Katy laughed when he pulled out the chocolate flavored edible ones.

  “Put them on.”

  She took them from him and slipped them over her thighs, the smell of chocolate rising and making her hungry.

  Cash leaned over and began to lick them before beginning to pull them off with his teeth.

  “Surely this is a treat for you Santa and not for me,” said Katy.

  “Just wait your turn.”

  S
he opened her legs and let Cash nibble away at the part of the panties around her pussy, his tongue catching her folds and clit in the process.

  “You want to see my candy cane?” he asked. “It’s a magic one.”

  “Really.”

  She laughed when he pulled out the vibrator he’d bought on their Vegas trip.

  Cash slid it over her belly, down her curls and then into her folds and very slowly pushed it inside her. This was one of the bestselling models at the store. A few women had told her it produced the best climax of their lives. She wasn’t quite ready when Cash turned it on.

  “Geez,” she said holding the headboard. They weren’t kidding. She’d already had what she guessed was a mini orgasm.

  She sank down onto the bed and let Cash push it in and out of her while it hummed away.

  “I can tell you like my candy cane,” said Cash.

  Katy took the pillow from the bed and hugged it to her chest as she cried out when the vibrator took her way over the edge.

  “Hey, now I’m jealous of this thing,” said Cash, turning it off and throwing it onto the bed.

  He dropped his pants and was hard and ready when he got on the bed. He sheathed himself with the holiday colored condom they’d given away as door busters at the store.

  He slid inside her. The two of them looked each other in the eye.

  “Make a wish and Santa will make it come true,” said Cash.

  Orgasm and you proposing to me on Christmas morning.

  Katy brought her legs up and over Cash’s body, allowing him to slide in deep. His Santa beard tickled her as he leaned over and kissed her. They both breathed in perfect time as their bodies almost became one.

  Katy drew in her breath, feeling her climax on the horizon, while Cash’s became labored. She shuddered, the thrill of his cock inside her traveling through her thighs and pussy until her whole body shook. And then Cash cried out and then went still. They rubbed their noses together and put their forehead against one another as Cash’s cell phone rang.

  Chapter Nine

  At least Katy was finally going to meet someone in Cash’s family. She felt like she knew his ancestors but not the ones who were still living and breathing. His uncle and aunt had asked them to go for drinks at the Old Mill Tavern which seemed fitting, seeing how it was once owned by a Doyle. Cash’s uncle told them to meet him there at 7 p.m. and he had a surprise for him.

  She didn’t have to be told which one was Cash’s uncle because she saw the resemblance with the same jawline and blue eyes. In fact, the one photo she’d seen of sheriff Ryan Doyle did in fact, resemble Cash a lot.

  “This is Katy Nolan-Delaney, Katy my uncle Bill and his wife, Abby.”

  Bill stood and put his hand out to Katy. “Nice to finally meet you. He’s told us so much about you and your family.”

  “It’s great to meet you too,” said Katy.

  Abby put her hand out to Katy. “You’re as pretty as he said,” said Abby.

  She looked at Cash and he winked at her.

  “Now what’s everyone drinking tonight?” asked Bill.

  “I’m going to stick with white wine,” said Abby.

  “White wine for me too,” said Katy taking off her coat.

  “Beer for me,” said Cash. “You want me to help you bring them back to the table?”

  “That would be perfect and we can let the ladies chat,” said Bill.

  Abby pulled out a chair and tapped it, indicting for Katy to sit next to her.

  “I’m told you own the sex shop in town,” said Abby.

  “Yes, it’s been open about a year now.”

  “I think it’s a good thing. Nothing like spicing things up in the bedroom.”

  Katy liked Abby already.

  “And Cash, how has he been acting lately?” asked Abby. “The poor boy’s had such a rough time in his life. His pa is a perfectionist and thinks everyone else should be too. Guess you knew he was in the army too?”

  “No, no I didn’t.”

  She wondered why Cash had never mentioned that besides him telling her he ran his life like the army. She smiled as Bill and Cash returned with the drinks and set them down on the table.

  “I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas,” said Abby. “Time flies when you reach old age.”

  “Hey less of the old age talk,” said Bill. “Cash tells me Katy, you own a business, a store. You have enough insurance coverage?”

  “Uncle Bill, quit the sales talk,” said Cash.

  Bill raised his hand. “Sorry, pure instinct to try and get business everywhere I go.”

  “So what’s the surprise?” asked Cash.

  Bill and Abby looked at one another. “This being the season of forgiveness, good will and families, well I don’t think you and your pa should be on bad terms. He’s getting older. You were almost killed and I don’t think either one of you would want to pass from this life into the next without you making amends.”

  Katy glanced at Cash: his smile had changed to a frown and his knuckles were white where he’d clenched his fists so tight.

  “Uncle Bill, I know you mean well but I do not want to see my father, let alone make amends with him. Come on Katy, I think we should leave before…”

  “That’s it, running away again.”

  Katy looked behind them to see a man taller than Cash and almost looking like Ryan Doyle’s twin brother standing there.

  Cash went to stand but was pushed down firmly by this man who was obviously his father. Even Katy could see the vice-like grip he had on son’s shoulder.

  “You mind letting go of me,” said Cash.

  “Will when I’m good and ready. And I take it this is the young woman you’ve been seeing.”

  He looked at Katy.

  Katy didn’t know what to do or say so she stuck out her hand to him. “Katy Nolan-Delaney.”

  “Nolan-Delaney. Your pa owns the ranch over on the north side of town.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Well son, you’ve got yourself in with someone with stability for once. That’s if you can keep her.”

  “Hey, Mike, you want to sit down and just relax,” said Bill.

  Cash finally pushed his father’s hand away and Mike sat and took off his cowboy hat and rested it on his lap.

  “So you’re working in the insurance business now?” asked Mike.

  “Yes, I am,” said Cash.

  “That’s yes sir. You’re not too old to address your pa in the proper manner.”

  Katy swallowed. She didn’t like Mike at all. She could see why Cash had stayed clear of him.

  “You stick with it and get your shit together this time around,” said Mike. He took Cash’s beer without even asking and downed half the bottle before slamming it back on the table.

  Abby fidgeted and looked at Bill.

  “So Katy, what has Cash told you about our family?”

  “Not much really,” said Katy. “I’m meeting Abby and Bill for the first time tonight.”

  Mike glared at her.

  “Did he tell you how he lost his leg?” asked Mike.

  “Yes, he did. It’s very heroic of him to serve his country.”

  Mike burst out laughing. “This son of mine’s no hero.” He kicked Cash’s prosthesis and Katy wanted to get up and slap Mike around the face. “He’s a coward. I know the truth. He knows the truth—that’s why he cries like a baby in the middle of the night.”

  “Hey Mike, just tone it down. That’s not why we invited you here tonight,” said Bill.

  Cash stood.

  “That’s it, run away when you hear the truth. Just like you were running that day you got the rest of your guys blown up and killed. The explosion was your fault because you didn’t follow orders. You never could. I tried to teach you but you wouldn’t have any of it.”

  “Fuck you old man, fuck you.”

  Cash grabbed his jacket and hurried out of the bar.

  Bill stood and so did Katy.

  �
��Cash,” shouted Bill. “Jesus Mike, why did you have to do that?”

  “It’s okay, I’ll go catch up with him,” said Katy taking her coat and purse off the back of the chair.

  “Don’t bother with that loser,” Mike shouted after her as she headed out of the bar.

  She found Cash outside. He was smoking a cigarette.

  “I didn’t know you smoked,” she said.

  “I quit a long time ago but whenever I’m around my old man I seem to revert back to my bad habits.”

  “Ignore him, Cash, he’s clearly not a very nice person.”

  “That’s true but he’s right about me being a coward. Those guys would all be alive if it wasn’t for me and my pigheadedness. Thinking I knew best. I’d still have my damn leg and my dignity.”

  “We all make mistakes. It’s what’s being human’s all about.”

  She got hold of his arm but he shook it away.

  “I don’t think I can be around here anymore. I’ve tried coming back home but I can’t do it.”

  “Then we’ll go someplace else.”

  “No Katy, this is your home. You have people who love you and your business is here. Don’t waste your time on me.”

  “If I thought that I wouldn’t have gone out with you a second time.”

  He took one final drag on the cigarette and then threw it on the ground and extinguished it with the tip of his boot.

  “You are too good for me so I can’t let you waste your time. There’s some great man out there for you.”

  “You know who you sound like, Cash?”

  He didn’t respond. “You sound like Ryan Doyle when Gracie told him how she felt about him.”

  “Yeah maybe being a big time loser runs in our family.”

  “A loser, is that what you think you are?”

  Once again he didn’t respond. “Just like Gracie I’m going to make you see sense, make you realize that you are the man for me.”

  “One thing’s going to be different Katy. Ryan stayed in town but I’m leaving and where I’m going no one’s going to find me.”

  He walked away as the first snow of the evening began to fall. She wasn’t going to run after him. She was going to let him cool down and calm down. Even if he did leave town there wasn’t anywhere on earth she wouldn’t find him.