Hot Rush Read online

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  Hot Rush

  ISBN 9781419921391

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Hot Rush Copyright © 2009 Barbara Huffert

  Edited by Helen Woodall

  Cover art by Syneca

  Electronic book Publication June 2009

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  HOT RUSH

  Barbara Huffert

  Dedication

  Thanks to Regina Carlysle for talking me through the anger and helping me to see the story within it and to Amarinda Jones for the gentle shoves to get this finished. You ladies are the best!

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  The Lone Ranger: Classic Media, Inc. Hot Rush

  Chapter One

  “All right. Where’s my fucking canoe? I want it and I want it now!”

  A second before the screaming started, the door banged open to reveal the most furious redhead Rick Jensen had ever seen. And the most weirdly gorgeous in a he-couldn’t-put-his-finger-on-it-and-now-wasn’t-the-time-or-place-to-analyze-it way, too. Who the hell was she and what the hell was she doing, barging in on a full contingent of armed drug dealers in their lair as they were preparing for one of the biggest distributions they’d put together in months?

  “Come on, I said now, damn it!” the woman screeched.

  And more importantly, how the hell was Rick going to keep her alive long enough to get her out of there without blowing his cover or the operation, which was the culmination of many months of hard work by multiple organizations all coming to a head hopefully that night?

  All eyes and most guns turned to the woman. Rick heard the clicks, signifying that they were ready to fire even if she didn’t. He had to draw their attention away from her.

  “Hey, darlin’. I thought I told you not to interrupt me when I’m working.” He put himself between her and the array of weaponry, turning to face the room. “It’s cool, boys. She’s mine.”

  The spitfire wasn’t having any of it and tried to shove him out of her way. “Yours? Ha! You wish. Look, all I want is what I came for and then I’m outta here.”

  “I dunno, homes. It don’t look like it to me,” one of the armed men said, not lowering his gun.

  “She’s just pissed. Come on, Lucy. Don’t do me like that. You’re gonna make me look bad in front of my boys.” He grabbed her hair, forced her head back and planted a wet kiss on her startled mouth.

  The slap that followed earned a round of boisterous laughter and lewd comments but it also managed to get the men to stow their weapons. “Don’t you ‘Lucy’ me!”

  “Feisty bitch,” Rick declared before kissing her harder. “Look lady, I’m trying to keep your sweet ass alive here so work with me, would ya?” he whispered so only she heard.

  “Huh?”

  “She always gets this way when she’s gone without for too long, don’t ya, darlin’?”

  Before the woman could respond, the obvious leader asked, “What’d she say about wanting a canoe?”

  Rick forced a chuckle, all the while racking his brain for something plausible. “Oh that’s just what she calls my cock.” Not the best answer but hopefully the men would buy it and she’d play along.

  “Fuck, like you got something like that,” another joined in.

  “Tell ’em, Lucy.”

  “What? Are you out of your mind?”

  “Only when it comes to you.” He winked at her. “Come on, darlin’. You can’t still be mad because I didn’t make it last night. Not after I told you I wouldn’t be there when I had to be here. The boys can all vouch for me if you don’t believe me.” She was starting to look confused. He had to cut off her questions before she started. “You can ride my canoe later.”

  She sputtered at his inference. “Yeah, right. Like that’ll happen.”

  Perfect. Keep her mad and off balance until he could get her safely out of there.

  “Ooh, got some mouth. You gonna put up with that, Ricky?”

  “Look at her, Carlos. Girl’s got a rack like that you take a little lip from her, even in front of your boys.”

  “Yeah, true dat.”

  “Hey! Quit staring at my boobs,” she snapped, crossing her arms which did nothing to hide anything.

  “Aw stop, darlin’. You got ’em. You can’t hide ’em so don’t bother trying.” He reached out and ran the back of his hand over the side of her breast. He had to get her out of there. “Now why don’t you be a good girl and go on home and wait like you should have in the first place?”

  “I think she should stay,” Carlos announced.

  “Me too,” Joey, the other man who had commented moved closer.

  “Fine, she stays. But don’t blame me when you get sick of her mouth.” Rick cringed internally. This was not good. Bad enough he was walking a fine line himself. Adding an innocent civilian who needed his protection was not making the whole situation any easier.

  “Stay? Oh no. No, no, no, no, no. Un-uh. I don’t think so,” she protested, trying to back away like she’d decided they were all crazy.

  Rick caught her before she could escape. He pulled her against his chest, tightly gripping her ass through her jeans pocket. “Settle down, darlin’. It’s been a long few days. The boys just want a little something to break things up.”

  She squirmed until he was afraid she’d bruise herself. “Are you all brain damaged? You must be if you think I’m staying here. Just give me what I want and then I’m gone.”

  “See? I told you. One-track mind when she’s feeling deprived,” Rick teased, keeping the fingers of his other hand clamped firmly around her wrist. “Don’t worry, Lucy. They weren’t suggesting I share. They just want you to decorate the place a little while we work, right boys? Carlos? Joey? Victor?”

  “Right,” they all agreed in unison.

  “Well that’s all fine and dandy but I want my canoe and I don’t want to stay.”

  Rick forced himself to remain calm. “Sorry, darlin’. The guys want you to stay, you stay.” He squeezed her wrist for emphasis. “And this really isn’t the time or place for what you keep asking for. Besides, I wasn’t expecting to see you so I don’t even have any condoms on me.” He shrugged. “If that’s not reason for her to not be jealous I don’t know what is,” he said to the men around them.

  “Not a problem.” Carlos laughed. “Use the office.” He and several of the others pulled out their wallets and tossed condoms onto a pile next to the bags of white powder and scale
s on the table.

  Just the opening he was looking for although convincing the woman to cooperate was not going to be easy.

  “Oh hell no!”

  “Lucy.” Rick grabbed the condoms. “For once in your life just quit running your mouth and come with me.”

  He tossed her over his shoulder and carried her, kicking, screaming and swearing, up the steps to the office overlooking the old warehouse, ignoring the catcalls and guffaws that echoed from below.

  Chapter Two

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” she shrieked, on the verge of hysteria. All she’d wanted was her dad’s canoe back because of all the happy moments they’d shared in it and now she’d gotten herself into this mess. And what a hell of a mess it was! Yes, she’d definitely done it this time. Would she never learn to think before she rushed headfirst into things? Next time she would stop and consider her actions like a rational person would. If there was a next time.

  Rick planted himself against the closed door. “Lady, do you have some sort of death wish or are you just stupid?”

  “How dare you?” She was still too panicked to think clearly. And the fact that this stranger who’d whisked her up here where she was thoroughly trapped was the most incredible man she’d ever seen wasn’t helping matters.

  “I dare because right now I am the only thing keeping your ass alive so why don’t you just shut the fuck up and listen?”

  “What do you mean, keeping me alive? Why would anyone want to kill me? All I want is my canoe and then I’ll get out of here and leave you all to whatever it is you’re doing.”

  He shook his head in disbelief. “Do you have any idea what you barged in on? Do you know who those guys are?”

  “Sure I do. You called them Carlos, Joey and Victor.” Her face went pale. “Carlos. Joey. And Victor. Oh my God. Oh. My. God. Ohmygodohmygodohmygod.” She started to shake as the remaining color drained from her face. Yes, she did know who they were, an extended family of drug dealers. He was right. Her impulsiveness was going to get her killed this time.

  “Damn.” He shoved her into a chair and forced her head between her knees. All he needed was her to pass out on him. “Stay with me, darlin’. Take some slow deep breaths. I got you. You’re okay.”

  She struggled against him. “What are you nuts? I’m not okay. Those guys have guns. They’re going kill me.” He crouched in front of her and gripped her shoulders just a little harder than necessary. It was either that or give her a good shake.

  “No, they won’t. Not if you do exactly as I say.”

  She finally looked at him. “Oh and who are you? The fucking Lone Ranger?”

  He couldn’t help it. He had to chuckle. “Someone you can trust. Tell me how you know these guys.”

  “Trust you? After you grabbed me like that and said all those things? And made them look at my boobs. Oh yeah, let’s not forget that one. You’re nuts if you think I’m going to trust you.” She knew she was the one sounding insane but couldn’t manage to stop herself.

  “I apologize for that, ma’am, but it was for your own protection. I had to make it seem as if we know each other.”

  She hesitated, wondering if he were setting some sort of trap for her even though he looked sincere. Boy, she’d really done it this time. When she snapped she snapped but good. Barging in on a whole building full of armed drug dealers was bad, even for her. Everyone always said her rash behavior would be the end of her one day. How correct they were! Maybe all the bad karma she’d earned for leaping into things without thinking first had finally caught up with her. Maybe she deserved whatever happened.

  Searching his face, Casey decided she may as well get it over with and answer his questions. He seemed like the rest of them when they were downstairs but now there was something different about him, something that didn’t quite fit. And he’d just called her ma’am. “My ex. He and Carlos were buddies and he talked about all of them. The Diego brothers. Drug dealers extraordinaire. Is Eddie down there too?”

  “Yes. A few sons and cousins too.”

  A lone tear trickled down her cheek. Her face crumpled. “It’s never going to end.”

  Rick’s heart almost broke at the sight of her. He reacted without thinking and pulled her into his arms. “Sh, darlin’. It’ll be fine. I promise. I’ll get you out of here safe and sound. Don’t cry.”

  “No, you don’t understand. It’s not that. Well, not just that. It’s everything. I thought I was done with all this and then I saw the canoe. Stupid me couldn’t just let it go. Oh no, I had to chase after it. What the hell was I thinking?”

  “Yeah, what’s up with that whole canoe thing anyway? And what’s your name?”

  “Casey. Casey Carmichael. Although Lucy’s probably more appropriate with all the dumb things I’ve done.”

  “Casey’s a nice name. Suits you but while you’re here we’re going to have to stick with Lucy.” He smiled, squeezing her hands reassuringly.

  Casey looked down at his hands covering hers before meeting his eyes. She nodded her understanding. “Who are you?”

  “I’m sorry. Detective Rick Jensen at your service. But the boys know me as Ricky Hernandez, which is my mother’s family name.”

  He was a cop. That explained a lot. And made Casey feel somewhat better. Maybe she would live through the day after all. Without conscious thought, her eyes dropped to his groin. With how he was crouched in front of her it was easy to see the bulge at his crotch. She couldn’t help it. It was so wrong but the thought that he might actually be canoe shaped stuck in her mind and a giggle escaped.

  “What?” Rick asked in complete confusion.

  “I’m sorry.” Another giggle. “Are you really built like a canoe? Why’d you say that anyway?”

  Rick laughed with her. “Oh, that? Maybe, maybe not. First thing I came up with that might cover what you were doing here.”

  “Kind of lame, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah but it worked, didn’t it? Besides, you’re curious now.”

  “As if.” Casey rolled her eyes. “Just like a guy, thinking all women are interested in your cock.”

  “Well you are, aren’t you? You keep looking at it.” Rick was pleased to see the blush spread across her cheeks. But as much as he liked teasing her it was time to get things back on track. “You know, I really wasn’t expecting you to barge in here, screaming about your canoe like that. What’s going on, Casey?”

  “Oh. Right. I was driving home from the bank. I took out the last of my 401k to pay down some of the debt my ex got me into.” She let out the most pathetic sound he’d ever heard. “Yep, I’m honestly penniless now. Probably homeless soon too. Maybe I deserve this for being so damn stupid. Maybe they should just shoot me and save the rest of the world from having to put up with me. I was always a little impulsive but ever since my dad died a few years ago I’ve been getting worse. It’s like there’s no one left who can calm me down like he used to.”

  “Shut up, Casey. I can already tell it wasn’t you.” Rick didn’t need to hear the details to know she’d been taken advantage of by some lowlife scum. Though he wanted to hear all of it, this wasn’t the time or place. “Get back to the canoe.”

  “Yeah, you don’t want to hear that anyway.”

  “Yes, I do. There’s just something about you that makes me want to know you better. Only we can’t get into it right now,” he said seriously.

  “Wow, you mean that.” She seemed stunned. “Anyway I was stopped at a light and looked up and realized I was behind this car that had my dad’s canoe on top of it. I just started following it without thinking. I don’t know. It was like the last straw. I don’t even know when my ex took it. I guess he must have traded it for some drugs. Stupid me thought it was still tucked away in the back of the basement where we put it after my dad died. It wasn’t until after I finally tossed the creep out a few months ago that I finally noticed it wasn’t there. Along with a lot of other stuff. But like I said I saw it and I got really,
really pissed and I decided I didn’t care. I was getting it back no matter what. I may not have my dad anymore but I wanted the canoe anyway. It reminds me of him because we had a lot of good talks in it as I was growing up.

  “What were they doing, driving around with it?” Casey sniffled as a lone tear slipped down her cheek.

  Rick caught it with his thumb. “Some of the kids were restless so Joey sent them fishing before Carlos shot them. I think he was hoping they’d tip the canoe and that would cool them off.”

  “Fishing. I’m going to die because they went fishing.” She was crying.

  “Casey,” Rick soothed unsuccessfully. “Casey.” She wasn’t listening. “Casey.”

  Finally, he did the only thing he could think of to get her attention. He kissed her. His reaction was so completely inappropriate. The timing couldn’t have been worse. Her life, hell both their lives, were at risk and yet all he could think of was how good she tasted, tears and all. His brain knew he should stop but his body wasn’t being exactly rational at the moment. His cock was on full alert. There was a warm, soft woman in his arms, kissing him back, making the sexiest little sounds and he wanted her naked, right here, right now, the hell with the heavily armed drug dealers less than twenty yards away at the bottom of the stairs.

  It was Casey who eventually drew back first. “Wow,” she whispered. “Why do you keep doing that?”

  “What? Kissing you?” Rick stalled for time so some blood could return to his brain.

  “Yeah.”

  “Well down there it was to get close enough to you to get your attention so you’d play along before you got shot.”

  “I was still too mad for that.”

  “Yeah, I kinda noticed.” He rubbed his cheek as if her slap still stung.

  “Oh God, I’m sorry,” she gasped in horror.

  “It’s okay, Casey. I’m teasing you.”