Preacher (Montana Bounty Hunters: Dead Horse, MT Book 2) Read online

With his head angled away, he watched as Laura signaled with her hand beside her cheek, pointing at the restroom. Then she held up two fingers and wiggled them.

  Frank grinned and pushed up from his seat. He headed straight toward the restrooms.

  To Cage he typed, Frank coming

  A moment later, they heard a muffled shout and some scuffling. Then Hardman appeared, pushing a restrained Frank in front of him.

  Anger flashed in Frank’s eyes, but when he saw Laura, he blew her a kiss as he passed.

  Cage and Marti trailed behind them, Marti peeling off to speak with Nadine, no doubt offering to settle Frank’s bill before they took him to jail.

  Cage winked at Laura and saluted Preacher as they passed their table, but he didn’t stop.

  Laura let out a laugh when they all filed outside. “That was so much fun! You do that every day?” She pressed a hand against her chest. “My heart’s pounding so hard.”

  Preacher’s cock stirred. Her flushed cheeks and the excitement sparkling in her eyes made him want to be the one responsible for putting that look on her face. He grabbed her hand and stood.

  “What are you doing?”

  He signaled to Nadine. “We’ll be right back.” Then he pulled Laura behind him, making his way down the corridor and out the exit. He walked her to his Suburban and opened the back door. Sliding in first, he pulled her over his lap.

  “Dylan Priestley, did you bring me out here to have sex?”

  Her white teeth flashed in the darkness. He pushed a hand under her skirt then smoothed it up her thigh. When he reached the elastic band of her underwear, he tugged it aside and slipped his fingers between her folds. “Damn, wish I had your tits in my mouth,” he whispered.

  She giggled. “I’m not taking off my dress. Anyone walking by would see.”

  “No one’s out here.”

  “Doesn’t mean someone won’t step out to smoke.” She gripped his shoulders and moved, bending over him as she settled her thighs on either side of him. “If you get your pants open, I can cover you with my skirt.”

  Preacher chuckled. This thrill-seeking side of her was a surprise. He withdrew his fingers and quickly opened his belt and his pants, and then lifted his ass off the seat to push them down far enough to free his cock.

  She reached beneath her dress and directed him inside her. Then she settled her hands on his shoulders and slid down slowly, her pussy consuming his shaft.

  As Laura began to bounce, he palmed her breasts. “Jesus,” he bit out. “Now that I know you get this turned on watching a takedown, I’ll have to bring you on a ride-along.”

  “I can do that?”

  “So long as you do exactly what I say.”

  “Hmm,” she said, rocking forward and back. “I’d like a stakeout. I could give you blowjobs while you keep watch.”

  Her slick heat felt like heaven, and he was having a hard time concentrating on the conversation she was determined to have. “Sounds like a mighty fine idea.”

  “Or…while you keep your eyes on the perps, I could climb over your lap, just like now, and do you.”

  “Do me?” he said, shaking with laughter at her coarse language.

  “Well, I’m the one doing all the work now.”

  Hearing her not so veiled complaint, he gripped her ass and helped her move up and down. Heat was building inside her, and his balls felt ready to burst. He cleared his throat. “So, we have a couple of things we can do to occupy us while we work a very boring stakeout. But what are we going to do if it’s during the daytime?”

  Her movements slowed, and her hips melted forward and back. Her breaths were slowing, deepening. She was definitely getting close. “You can bring a newspaper along,” she said in a sultry voice, “to hide my head while I have my fun.”

  “You’re getting to be a very bold girl,” he whispered then slid his mouth along her arching neck. “But what will I do for you?”

  “Maybe, I could wear…really loose pants. You could put your hands down the front…” She gasped and bounced harder against him.

  His own orgasm was swiftly consuming him. He reached under her dress and fingered her clit.

  She gave a little shout and held still, swaying as her walls convulsed all around him.

  When she grew limp, he lifted her and slammed her down, and then repeated the motions one more time. He came hard, muffling his shout against her shoulder.

  When they could both breathe again, he kissed her. Palming her face, he held her still. No better time… “You know I love you, right?”

  Her lips parted. “Yes.”

  “Do you love me?”

  She swallowed. “Yes.”

  “Be my wife,” he said, his voice raw.

  “Yes.”

  He hugged her against him. “If I can get my pants back up, I have a ring for you.”

  She drew in a breath and moved off him. Clothing rustled. He pulled up his pants and reached into his pocket for the box.

  The overhead light blinked on, and she was sitting on the edge of the seat, holding out her hand.

  Smiling, he flipped open the box to show her the pear-shaped diamond that Lacey had said was simple and perfect for Laura.

  She squealed and shook her hand, and he placed the ring on her finger.

  Again, she climbed over him, this time pressing kisses on his cheeks and nose, and finally, his mouth. “I love it,” she whispered.

  “I love you.” Now that he’d said it, he didn’t think he could stop.

  Laura rested her head against his shoulder and gazed at her hand, which she held up to the light.

  A knock sounded on the window beside them. He rolled it down.

  Nadine stood beside the car. “Your meal’s gettin’ cold.” She winked. “I waited as long as I could.”

  Laughing, Preacher hugged Laura again. “Thanks, Nadine. We’ll be right there.”

  As Nadine walked away, she said, “Nice ring.”

  Laura groaned and hid her face against his neck.

  Preacher slid a hand up and down her back. “I don’t want to wait long to marry you.”

  She pulled back, and her cornflower blue gaze locked on him. “I’d like to get married when I reopen Deadly Delights.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “You want to get married in your store?”

  Eyes wide, she nodded. “It’s where we started, and the new shop’s going to be just the right amount of pink. I’ll want a pink dress, a pink cake, pink bridesmaid’s dresses—”

  “Good thing I love all things pink,” he said, and kissed her again. Yeah, if anyone ever asked, pink was his favorite color.

  Reaper

  A Montana Bounty Hunters Story

  New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

  Delilah Devlin

  Chapter 1

  As a general rule, Reaper Stenberg didn’t like working with a partner, especially female partners. When chasing a target, he preferred to keep his head down and follow the leads. He didn’t like the “chatter” that usually accompanied being paired with a woman.

  However, partnering with Jamie Burke had taught him a few things. Women existed who could focus on the job at hand without letting silly distractions get in the way of his concentration. Jamie was one of those rare creatures who didn’t gossip, didn’t mess in his business, and could actually be useful when shit went sideways and they had to get physical. Her methods for subduing a target weren’t ones he’d ever employ, but she knew how to compensate for her smaller frame and lesser strength. Over the months since their boss, Fetch Winter, had put them together, Reaper came to admire the woman’s grit and ingenuity.

  Case in point was their present predicament.

  No, this time she hadn’t tripped bail jumper, Mark Rebos, with a Jackie Chan move, and no, she hadn’t gripped his balls and twisted so hard he begged for mercy. This time—while she’d run all out—she locked a cuff on her right wrist, jumped onto his back, and snagged his right with the other cuff. Now, they face
d each other, squinting in the rain and ankle-deep in mud, and Rebos couldn’t swing without dragging her closer.

  The big man looked ready to explode. His pockmarked face was red, and his eyes bugged. Although Rebos was six inches taller than Jamie, and outweighed her by about eighty pounds, Reaper’s money was in Jamie.

  Rebos tried to draw back his arm, but Jamie flopped like a ragdoll, making him pull her weight around. He was tiring. “What the hell did you do that for?” he asked, his voice thick with frustration.

  Still breathing hard, Jamie shrugged. “Your wrist was the only thing I could reach. And you’re fast. I had to jump on your back before you pulled too far ahead. I was not running the length of Main Street again.”

  They were both drenched. Rain fell in sheets around them. When Reaper and Jamie had spotted Rebos leaving the tobacco store at the other end of Main, Reaper had no other option than to halt in the middle of the street while Jamie leapt out the passenger door. Thursday night in Bear Lodge, Montana was Bingo night, and the old folks had filled every parking spot along the street. He’d driven around the corner to park before following Jamie, who chased Rebos and yelled at the top of her lungs, “Fugitive Recovery Agent, dipshit!” Luckily, Reaper had time to draw a rain poncho over his head before speeding after them.

  When she’d leapt onto Rebos’s back, she’d taken him to the ground in the middle of a deep, muddy pit dug out by the torrent of water falling from the culvert above.

  “You need any help, partner?” Reaper drawled, standing under an awning on the sidewalk above them.

  Jamie bent and placed her hands on her knees, which forced Mark to double over. Their heads bumped.

  She angled hers to frown at Rebos. “You gonna give me any more trouble?”

  Rebos shook his head. “Just unlock these,” he said, lifting their hands. He squinted at her in the deluge. “Hey, you’re that female bounty hunter, ain’t you?” he said, a slow grin stretching his mouth.

  “I’m a fugitive recovery agent,” she said, and then she strained to reach her left hand across her body to root inside her right front pocket.

  When her shoulders dipped, Reaper grinned. “Lose your key?”

  “I think they’re in yesterday’s pants,” she said, her voice rough with disgust.

  Reaper couldn’t help chuckling, which earned him a mean scowl from Jamie. He held up his hands. “All right. I have a key.” He reached into his left pocket, dug around, and then frowned. “Wrong pocket.”

  “Reaper…” she said, her lips tightening.

  Yeah, he was just kidding. He reached into his right and pulled out a key. “Children, hold up your hands.”

  Rebos snorted.

  Jamie gave him the evil eye.

  Reaper was feeling pretty good about this capture. He hadn’t had to bust a nut. And Jamie had provided him with a nice tale to share around the office. He unlocked the cuffs then pulled Rebos onto the sidewalk.

  Jamie waved away his hand and climbed up on her hands and knees, before straightening her backbone and marching away.

  Reaper wrapped his arm around Rebos’s shoulder and gave him a little shove forward. They had a ways to walk. “So, buddy, did I read your arrest warrant right—you stole the sheriff’s car?”

  The big man shook his head. “How was I supposed to know that piece of shit Hyundai was his?”

  Reaper patted his shoulder again. “Bad break, man. Hey, I’m gonna have to cuff you before I put you in the car.”

  “Yeah, I figured.” He held still while Reaper moved behind him and snapped the cuffs around his wrists. “So, tell me. The chick, your partner…she single?”

  Reaper was beginning to feel like it was Christmas. “She is.” Not a lie. Jamie’s wedding was in two months.

  Rebos straightened his shoulders and thrust out his chest. “Think she’d wait for me?”

  Although he wanted to, Reaper didn’t dare laugh.

  * * *

  Back at the office, they dropped their copy of the jail’s paperwork on Brian’s desk.

  Brian was still bent over in his wheelchair laughing, his brown eyes tearing. Every time he glanced up at Jamie, he burst out laughing again—and he still hadn’t heard about lovesick Rebos.

  As he stared at the muddy mess she’d made of the floor, Reaper shook his head. From the top of her blonde head to the heels of her cowboy boots, his partner was coated in sludgy muck. “Think your boyfriend Sky’s gonna let you in the house, looking like that?”

  Her lips curved. “I imagine he’ll make me strip on the front porch.”

  Reaper glared. Damn, sex on the porch sounded nasty. And fun. He didn’t need a reminder of the fact his latest place to crash had reclaimed her spare key. Something he’d mentioned to Jamie that morning in the spirit of “sharing.” Women seemed to like that shit, but Jamie hadn’t commiserated. No, she’d raised her fist to Girl Power and told him he needed to find himself a real girlfriend. One he’d actually have to talk to. Reaper had shuddered at the thought.

  He patted his pocket for keys, then began to turn, ready to head to the door. He had places to go—well, the nearest bar. Maybe there he’d find his next bed to crash in.

  “Not so quick,” Brian called out.

  Reaper pivoted back and raised an eyebrow.

  “Fetch has something special planned for you.”

  Reaper glanced at Jamie who was busy wiping mud off the side of her neck with a tissue.

  “Not her. She’s off for the next few days. Wedding stuff. You,” Brian said, and then smiled.

  Sometimes, he really couldn’t stand Brian. Their office manager was part of Team Jamie. That smile was too wide and held more than an ounce of snark. “What’s he want me to do?”

  “You have a ride-along for the rest of the week, starting in the morning. An author friend of his.”

  For fuck’s sake... Reaper groaned. “Why me?”

  Brian’s smile was angelic. “No clue. But he said you’re to behave.”

  Reaper scrubbed a hand over his face. Fetch shouldn’t have said that. Didn’t he know better than to throw down that kind of challenge? “Author. Huh. He better not be late, or I’ll leave his ass behind with you.”

  “Not a he...” Brian laughed again.

  Reaper flashed a look of disgust at Jamie who chuckled softly. No way in hell. Training Jamie not to get herself killed had taken every bit of his patience. He didn’t have any left for some author-ess who wanted to pick his brain and ask asinine questions, and who wouldn’t know how to keep the hell out of trouble. No way. No how. Reaper fisted his hands on his hips and glared. He’d just have to make sure that a single day spent in his company was long enough.

  With their laughter following him out the door, Reaper slogged toward his SUV through four inches of water accumulated in the parking lot. Once seated behind the wheel, he let out a deep breath and let his head fall back against the headrest. Not a bad day. Still, he felt… He didn’t quite know. Restless, maybe? Dissatisfied? And why? Everything was going great. His success at Montana Bounty Hunters, as well as Jamie’s, had led Fetch into trusting them to open and run this satellite office. Already, the operation was showing a profit. He liked his crew. Sure, he’d given Jamie a hard time when they’d started working together, but she’d more than proven herself over the months they’d partnered. Her friend Brian, even if he did get under Reaper’s skin, was a good man and great support. He made their lives easier in measurable ways, handling much of the computer end of their job—a task Reaper didn’t love.

  Work was great. His crew was great. Soon, they’d add more agents. So, why wasn’t he happy? Maybe Jamie was right. Perhaps, he needed a special someone in his life to give him something to look forward to when he walked out the door at the end of the day.

  Or, maybe, he was simply pissed Sylvia had kicked him to the door the minute he made a face when she asked who he was taking to Jamie’s wedding. Like she expected him to ask her. Fact was, he hated weddings, and the thought o
f taking a woman he “dated” to an event like that made him feel as though a noose tightened around his neck. So yeah, he’d grimaced.

  “Crap. Why am I such a fuckup?”

  His phone lit, and the strains to White Buffalo’s “Come Join the Murder” filled the cab. What did it say about a man when the bartender at his favorite watering hole had his own ringtone? “Yeah, Brady?”

  “Uh, Reap, you need to get on down here. I just cut off your brother.”

  Which meant Sammy was getting ugly. “Hell, I’m five minutes away.” He tapped to end the call, hit the ignition button, and sped out of the parking lot. Sammy, drunk on his ass, usually ended up with a pricey bar bill for broken windows and splintered furniture—if not jail time in the county lockup.

  When Reaper arrived at the bar, he removed his holster and secured it in his glove box. He also stored his badge.

  Inside the bar, a fight was already in progress. Members of Sammy’s motorcycle club stood in a circle around Sammy and another club member, Blacky McNally. Standing a head taller than most of the men crowded tightly around the staggering pugilists, Reaper made note that the fight must have just started because neither man was bleeding.

  Brady waved to catch his attention.

  Reaper circled the edge of the cheering crowd to reach him. “How’d it start this time?” he shouted.

  “Sammy groped Blacky’s old lady.”

  Reaper sighed. Sammy was looking to get his ass kicked. “I’d appreciate you holding off calling the cops.”

  His arms crossed over his burly chest, Brady nodded. “I know you’ll make it right.”

  So much for his cut of tonight’s takedown. Reaper sighed and pushed his way through the crowd.

  “Hey, it’s the bounty hunter,” one of the club members shouted.

  “It’s Fugitive Recovery Agent, dipshit,” he muttered, and then smiled. “Unless a bench warrant carries your name, you got nothing to worry about.” He rolled his shoulders, raised his fists, and then waded in.

  Reaper’s heart rate sped. Not one to ponder the vagaries of fate, he couldn’t help the little uptick of satisfaction that lightened his mood.