Southern Drawl Read online

She looked startled. “Your place? But… We can’t impose like that. It wouldn’t be right. Besides, you don’t even know us.”

  “I know all I need to.”

  Chapter Two

  Carson pulled into his driveway about fifteen minutes later. His house wasn’t much, but it was bigger than the one she’d been staying in. There was plenty of room for all of them. Bringing them here felt right. He couldn’t explain it, but something told him this is where Peaches and Daisy were supposed to be. Even if he received a reprimand, it would be worth it. If he lived in a bigger city, he might even lose his job over bringing them home with him. But Bryson Corners was small, and everyone helped everyone else. It was just the way things were.

  It took about fifteen minutes to get everything in the house and get them settled into a room, another ten to get the playpen put back together and make a note of everything he needed to baby-proof his house. He hated to leave them alone, especially after everything they’d been through, but he didn’t know what else to do. It was too late to ask Drew to go out and get the stuff for him, and he wasn’t ready for anyone on the force to know about this just yet. He wanted to delay his ass-chewing as long as possible.

  “This house is completely secure. I can show you how to set the alarm,” he said.

  “But you’re here. Why do I need to set it?”

  “There are things we’re gonna need, for Daisy. I need outlet covers, cabinet locks, and I’m sure there are other things that would make my house safer for her. I don’t see a diaper bag, so I’m guessing you’re gonna need some diapers and wipes too.”

  “We ran out,” she admitted, a blush staining her cheeks. “I was going to go get some when the fight started.”

  “Wal-Mart is open twenty-four hours, so I can head over there and grab what we need. I won’t be gone longer than an hour, or maybe less if I hurry. Promise me you’ll stay here and won’t leave.”

  “We have nowhere else to go, Officer Benson.”

  “Carson. Call me Carson.”

  She smiled a little. “That’s a nice name. Bet you’re wondering where I got the name Peaches. It isn’t exactly conventional.”

  “No, it ain’t, but it seems to suit you.” He grinned.

  “My momma died giving birth to me. My daddy always called her his Georgia Peach, so when I was born, he called me Peaches. We stayed in Georgia until the day he died, and he visited momma’s grave nearly every day.”

  “What brought you to Oklahoma?”

  She shrugged a shoulder. “Adventure, I guess. I wanted to see more of the world. All I could afford was a bus ticket to Oklahoma. I met Robert in Tulsa and we moved here a few months ago. He convinced me that moving in with him would be the best thing for me and Daisy, and said I wouldn’t have to work so I could be home with her full-time.”

  He glanced at Daisy, wanting to ask about the child’s father. Peaches seemed to read his mind though.

  “Her daddy was a soldier. He was vacationing near our home and we had a summer romance. He stayed in touch when he was deployed, and about two months later, right around the time I found out about Daisy, I got a letter from one of the men in his unit. He’d been killed in action. I didn’t know him well enough to know where his family was, so they don’t even know they have a granddaughter. I imagine it would make the pain of their loss hurt a little less, but I really know nothing about him, other than his name.”

  He nodded. “Did you ever think of going through the military to track his family? Maybe someone he served with would know how to reach them.”

  “It’s been so long now. I’m sure it would just hurt them more to re-open those old wounds.”

  “Well, you can tell Daisy her daddy died a hero, when she’s old enough to ask.”

  She smiled wistfully. “I had hoped Robert would be her daddy, and that she could have a man to look up to, to hold her and love her. That didn’t work out so well. All he wanted was a woman in his bed every night and in his kitchen every morning. He couldn’t have cared less about Daisy, once he had us where he wanted us. Completely dependent on him.”

  “Not all men are like Robert,” Carson said. “There are plenty of guys out there who would be honored to be a daddy to Daisy, and a husband to you.”

  “What am I going to do, Carson?” she asked softly. “I have no money, no job, and no home to call my own. I don’t even have a car. How am I supposed to support my baby girl, and myself?”

  He moved closer, pulling her into his arms. Her arms wrapped around his waist as her head came to rest against his chest. She was so damn tiny, and she felt so damn perfect.

  “You can stay here as long as you need to,” he assured her.

  “Won’t your girlfriend mind?” she asked.

  He smiled. “Don’t have one. No one’s gonna get their feathers ruffled over you being here, except maybe my chief, but I’ll talk to him when the time is right.”

  “I don’t want you to get in trouble over me being here.”

  He clenched his fist at his side to keep from caressing her cheek. Would it be as soft as it looked?

  “Don’t worry about me none…everything will be fine. Now, lock up behind me. I’ll be back here just as quick as I can.”

  She nodded and followed him to the door. He paused on the porch, having the insane urge to kiss her on the cheek. Instead, he smiled and hurried down the porch steps to his truck. Carson slid behind the wheel and cranked the engine. He didn’t pull out until she’d closed the door and he felt certain she’d locked it.

  Wal-Mart was on the other side of town, and even given the late hour, the parking lot was still packed. Hell it looked like half the town had decided to do their shopping tonight. He pulled into a spot near the buggy return, grabbed his list, and got out. As he walked away, he set the alarm on his truck. He’d never shopped in the baby department before, but he’d passed it often enough to know where it was.

  Carson entered the store and grabbed a buggy before heading to the back. He nodded and smiled at people he knew as he passed, praying none of the nosy fuckers would see him buying baby stuff and stop to ask questions. He didn’t need this getting back to the chief before he had a chance to talk to the man.

  Consulting his list, he grabbed outlet covers, the foam corners for his coffee table, cabinet locks, wipes, and pull-ups. Finished with the baby area, he crossed a few aisles to the grocery area and picked some juice and crackers, and a few other things he thought a toddler might eat, like Cheerios. Realizing his cupboard was probably on the bare side, Carson threw a few more things in the buggy for Peaches. Thinking ahead to morning, he grabbed bacon, eggs and biscuits as well.

  He started to head to the front when he stopped. The only stuff he had in his shower at home was Axe body wash and some sort of generic shampoo that smelled like coconut. He went back to the baby department and grabbed baby wash and tears-free shampoo, along with some soft washing cloths. Then he skedaddled over to the Beauty department and picked up some body wash, shampoo and conditioner he thought Peaches might like. His buggy was filling up fast, but he figured he’d gotten all of the essentials. If he’d forgotten anything, they could always go out after he got off work tomorrow.

  As he stood in line at the checkout, he noticed more than one person perusing the contents of his buggy. Fuck! He so didn’t need this right now. All he wanted to do was pay for his items and get home to Peaches and Daisy. Was it really asking too much for the kind citizens of Bryson Corners to mind their own damn business?

  Double fuck! Sasha and Cicely Buchanon were heading his way. They’d both asked him out, repeatedly, both separate and together, and he always turned them down. He was polite about it, but he really didn’t want to deal with them right now.

  Sasha eyed him up and down and smiled her wicked smile.

  “Officer Benson. My daddy know you carry your firearm when you’re shopping?”

  He glanced down. Shit. He’d left his service weapon on his hip, and his badge too for that matter.
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  “I answered a call before I came here. Guess I had too much on my mind to think of leaving them in the truck.”

  Cicely ran her finger down his bicep. He frowned at her, fighting the urge to jerk away from her touch. The girls were Mayor Buchanon’s daughters and it wouldn’t do to piss them off. Turning them down for dates was one thing, but shaking them off like unwanted garbage was another.

  “Have you thought anymore about that date?” Cicely asked, licking her lower lip and giving him a seductive look, one he was certain she practiced in the mirror each morning.

  “I told you girls, it was real kind of you to ask, but I’m not interested.”

  Sasha was frowning at his buggy. “Are you buying baby stuff for your brother? I don’t think he’s going to need all that this soon. Everyone knows he knocked up that Lexie girl, but I doubt they’re ready to baby-proof their house.”

  He inched up further in line as another customer paid for their things and left.

  “It’s not for Drew.”

  Shit. Why did he say that? He should have just let them think it was for his niece or nephew. Now she was going to ask more questions.

  Cicely smiled. “You have a baby we don’t know about? I think daddies are sexy.”

  The phone on his hip went off and he answered.

  “Benson.”

  “Carson, I hate to bother you again, but someone pushed the panic button at your house, and since the word is already out that you’re shopping at Wal-Mart for baby things, I’m guessing it wasn’t you.”

  He closed his eyes. Could anything go right tonight?

  “Peaches probably pushed the alarm, Sandy. I’m waiting in line at the register. Is there a unit nearby that could check things out? I don’t want to leave this stuff and have to come back if it’s nothing.”

  “Peaches, huh?” Sandy laughed. “All right, lover boy. I’ll send Joe Sims by your house. He’s two blocks over right now.”

  “Call me back and let me know if everything is okay. I can head home if I need to.”

  He disconnected the call and turned back to the twins, who looked like they’d been hanging on his every word.

  “I didn’t realize you had a pet, Officer Benson,” Sasha said.

  Pet?

  “I don’t.”

  She frowned. “Then who’s Peaches?”

  He sighed. Chief was going to chew him up and spit him out in the morning, no doubt about it.

  “Peaches is a woman.”

  Cicely’s eyes widened. “You have a woman staying at your house?”

  Sasha eyed the buggy again. “And a baby?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  The line moved up again and he began placing his things on the belt, hoping the pesky girls would go away. They stuck close by, but he ignored them, turning his attention to the cashier. When the older woman began scanning his items, he smiled at her.

  “Long night?” he asked.

  “You can say that again.” She smiled. “My shift doesn’t end for another two hours, though.”

  “Hope it passes quickly for you.”

  She finished ringing him up and told him his total. Carson swiped his card, went through the prompts and signed his name. Gathering his bags, he put them back in the buggy and headed for his truck, thankful to leave the Buchanon sisters behind. He loaded the truck as quickly as possible, wanting to hurry home to Peaches and Daisy. As he slid behind the wheel, his phone rang again.

  “Benson.”

  “It’s Sandy. The little girl climbed the arm of the sofa and pushed the panic button. Everything is fine, though.”

  He breathed a little easier.

  “Thanks, Sandy. I’m on my way home now. Do me a favor. No more calls tonight. Get Sanders or Wilbanks off their asses.”

  She laughed. “You got it.”

  He disconnected the call and pulled out of the parking space. He might have driven a little faster than necessary on the way home, but it wasn’t like someone was going to pull him over. When he got to the house, the living room light was on and he could tell the TV was too. He gathered the sacks, locked the truck and went inside. The sight that greeted him was one he would be happy to see every day for the rest of his life. Peaches had reclined on the sofa with Daisy snuggled against her chest, watching cartoons. He didn’t even know cartoons came on at this time of night.

  Peaches smiled when she saw him. “Do you need any help?”

  He shook his head. “You just lie there with the little princess and I’ll get everything taken care of. Hopefully I bought enough outlet covers for the whole house. I don’t want to take any chances.”

  Peaches turned her attention back to the cartoon, but he’d swear he felt her looking at him more than once. Maybe she was as attracted to him as he was to her? He gave himself a mental slap. She’d just had the crap beaten out of her by her boyfriend. The last thing she wanted was attention from another man.

  Carson baby-proofed the house in record time. When he was finished, he noticed that Daisy and Peaches had both fallen asleep. He carefully lifted the little girl off her momma and carried her down the hall to the bedroom where the playpen had been set up. Gently laying her down, he pulled a blanket over her and smoothed her hair back from her face. She looked like a little angel. Now it was time to get momma to bed.

  The image of a naked Peaches flashed in his mind, her hair spread out over his pillow. He gave himself a shake and tried to steer his thoughts in a different direction. No way would someone who sounded as refined as Peaches want anything to do with someone like him. Yeah, he was an officer of the law, but he’d never really learned how to talk proper. It had never bothered him before, but Carson suddenly wanted to be the man Peaches needed–– the one she deserved.

  He lifted her into his arms and she snuggled in close to his chest. She felt so right that he wished things could be different. As he carried her down the hall, she stirred, her eyes fluttering open.

  “Carson?”

  “I’ve got you, sweetheart. Daisy is already in bed and I’m taking you to the same place.”

  “Why did you bring us here?” she asked.

  He stopped.

  “You could have dropped us off at the church, or even taken us to the police station and washed your hands of us. Why did you bring us to your home?”

  “I wanted to protect you.”

  “Can I tell you a secret?”

  “Sure, sweetheart.”

  She ran her fingers around the edge of his collar. “When I saw you standing on the front steps, flashing your badge, I thought my knight in shining armor had arrived. I knew Robert wouldn’t let us go easily, but I knew, somehow I knew, that you wouldn’t leave us behind. I saw these big strong arms of yours and I wanted them to wrap around me and hold me close.”

  “What are you saying, Peaches?”

  She studied him in the dim lighting in the hall. “I want you to kiss me, Carson. I want you to kiss me like you mean it.”

  He groaned. “You don’t know what you’re asking for, sweetheart.”

  “I know I’m not much to look at.”

  He laughed. “Honey, you’re the best damn thing I’ve seen in a long time.”

  “Make me forget, Carson. I’ve never known what it’s like to be with a real man. Daisy’s father was sweet, and kind, but there weren’t really any fireworks. And Robert…he always wanted to cause me pain and degrade me. But when I’m with you, when you touch me, my whole body catches fire.”

  “Sweetheart, I’d love nothing more than to take you to my room and make love to you all night long, but after you’ve had some time to think things through, you may feel differently. I don’t want you to regret anything that happens between us. We just met and you don’t know anything about me.”

  “I could never regret being with you,” she said softly, her hand cupping his cheek. “I know that you’re a decent man. You’re kind, and you put others’ needs before your own.”

  He shook his head.

 
“Yes,” she insisted.

  “If we go through that door,” he said, motioning toward his bedroom with his head, “I don’t know that I’ll be able to stop.”

  “I don’t want you to.”

  Carrying her the rest of the way to his room, he nudged the door open with his foot. The room lay in darkness, but Peaches reached over and flipped the switch. The ceiling light came on, nearly blinding him. He eased her down his body, turned on the nearest lamp and turned the overhead light off. Closing the door, he leaned against it a moment, just taking in her beauty.

  He closed the gap between them, burying his hands in her hair. His mouth closed over hers, stroking, caressing. Carson was mindful of her injuries and tried to be gentle with her. If he weren’t such a selfish bastard, he’d tuck her into bed––hers––and call it a night. But she was so alluring, so bewitching that he had to have a taste. Her lips parted and his tongue slipped inside, teasing and tangling with hers. She tasted so damn sweet, so perfect. He felt his control slipping.

  “I’ve never wanted a woman as much as I want you,” Carson said.

  “I want you, too. So very much.”

  His lips claimed hers once more, coaxing, teasing. His tongue slipped inside for a taste.

  Her hands caressed his chest through the material of his shirt, and then she was bunching the fabric in her hands and pulling it out of his waistband and lifting it. He broke the kiss long enough to ditch the shirt, then claimed her lips once more. The feel of her hands on his flesh nearly did him in. A groan tore from his throat as her palms skimmed his nipples.

  Her hands made quick work of his belt buckle and the fastening on his jeans. As the denim material parted, her hand slipped inside, her palm cupping his hard length. Unable to control himself, he thrust against her hand, wanting more contact. He wished like hell his underwear wasn’t in the way. He’d love to feel her silken fingers wrap around him, stroke him nice and firm, just the way he liked it.

  Needing to feel more of her, he pulled away long enough to strip her clothes from her body, leaving her in her bra and panties. The delicate pink scraps did little to hide her from his hungry gaze, her breasts nearly spilling from the cups of the demi-bra she wore. The word goddess came to mind as he looked at her.