Page 182 of Protecting Peyton

“None,” I confirmed. As was my habit, I’d glanced to both sides of the bed, and confirmed that the lamps and nightstands hadn’t been demolished. I also hadn’t been sweaty or torn the sheets off the bed.

This morning, the alarm on my phone had woken me to an empty room and cold sheets beside me. Oh, how I wished I could wake up someday like a normal boyfriend with my hand cradling Peyton’s warm soft breast and my morning wood poking her backside. That was the goal.

For today, I’d have to settle for running my hand up her side and palming her breast between us where Mom couldn’t see. It wasn’t an adequate substitute for the hour and a half of make-up sex that we’d been robbed of yesterday when the entire Hawk crew had shown up to check on Peyton. But I’d get her alone sometime today.

I finally released my woman. “What’s for breakfast?”

“Beef stroganoff,” Mom replied. “I started it last night, and I’m not letting it go to waste.”

Peyton shrugged. “Sounds good to me. Now sit your ass down and let us take care of everything.”

I did, and pulled the brown package on the table closer to inspect it.

“That came for you yesterday,” Mom explained. “It must be valuable. They almost didn’t let me sign for it.”

Recognizing the sender’s address, I ripped at the paper. “It is.”

I turned away from Peyton and opened the cardboard. “Peyton. Close your eyes.”

“Why?”

“Don’t be a brat,” Mom warned.

With a sigh, Peyton gave in and pinched her eyes closed.

I took her arm and placed the box with the familiar gold crown in her hand. “Okay.”

Peyton’s eyes widened at the sight. “What is this?”

“I had your watch repaired.”

She put the box down and recoiled. “I don’t know if I want that. It’s brought me nothing but bad luck. I mean, Cassie gave it to me, but it came from Lucifer. It’s the reason he was after me.”

I took her hand. “That’s over now, and you said it reminded you of your friend.”

She softened and opened the box. “It does.”

“Angel, it’s a real Rolex, and worth a lot. You can trade it for another if you don’t want to keep this one.”

“What?” Her expression was pure surprise. “Cassie told me it was a fake.”

I shook my head. “Not according to the dealer.”

Mom walked over. “Sure looks nice. I’ll take it if you don’t want it.”

Hesitantly, Peyton stroked the watch, then got up on her toes to kiss me. “You’re so sweet.”

“You hear that, Ruppie? You’re sweet.”

“That’s enough, Mom,” I growled.

Peyton beamed as she strapped the watch on her wrist. “I’ll keep it. It’s what Cassie would have wanted.”

Mom and Peyton got back to cooking, and I sat quietly watching the two important women in my life.

When the crew arrived yesterday, Mom complained, but put aside making the stroganoff for dinner, as pizza and beer became the menu for the large crowd. We celebrated the end of the Boyfriend Strangler’s reign of terror. According to Lucas, he was still in critical condition in the hospital, but he might live. Since neither Massachusetts nor California exercised capital punishment any longer, he’d be behind bars for the rest of his life if he did.

After dinner last night, Lucas had taken me aside to talk about my nightmare issue. He’d promised to get me a good referral today for somebody to talk to.