Daisy and Boss: 14 - The Mare with the Mouth (Part one)
#15 of Daisy and Boss
Daisy and Boss: 14 - The Mare with the Mouth (Part one)
So sorry guys! I hope some of you are willing to pick this up again, after me being absent for so long. I promise, some really action packed chapters await the loyal few who are willing to bear with my writing dry spells!
"Oh, my god! It's like the Beverly Hillbillies! How far out of town does this girl live!?" Danielle Hardy peered over her sunglasses as Boss made another turn off the main grid onto the gravel road that led them to the bridge by Daisy's sub division. The big dog shot a dirty look at the sleek mare as she lounged in the passenger seat, playing Angry Birds on her phone and chewing gum loudly. The game on her phone chirped and squeaked obnoxiously and Boss gritted his teeth before speaking on a low measured tone, verging on an irritated growl.
"Hardy... Remind me again why I let you come with me?"
"Cuz you refuse to admit it's a date." Dani snarked, not looking up from her phone. Boss could feel the leather of the steering wheel creak under the pads of his fingers as he gripped it tighter and tried to think of something smart to say. Dani just chuckled. "Got nothing, eh, Mr. Denial? Well, then your stuck with me." The mustang looked up from her game finally with a mischievous smile. She had waylaid Boss in the parking garage, already out of her work clothes and dressed casually in artfully distressed jeans and a designer black sweater. She had managed to get them both off work at noon, and had craftily anticipated that he would try and leave her behind.
"I'm just trying to keep her safe." Boss gruffed, stubbornly staring ahead as they went over the bridge with a rumble. Dani sighed and shook her head, pushing her sunglasses up on her forehead and rolling her big fawn colored eyes.
"Well, whatever, but you're crazy if you think I'm gonna let you trot off with some country chica I've never even met, Bossy boy. We are partners. Where you go, I go!" She poked him in the shoulder playfully on the 'you' and 'I' at the end of her statement, and Boss cringed.
"Yippee..." Boss mumbled, but the white law-dog couldn't help perking his ears cheerfully when they turned into the Fields driveway and saw the sprawling ranch house with the wide front porch. A young buck with a strong family resemblance to Kale was leaning against the railing watching Velvet and Lilac who were bundled so that they were almost unrecognizable from one another. The little kids were running around in crazy circles and chasing each other with bright orange nerf guns, but when Boss pulled into the driveway, they turned their weapons on the Tahoe as it slowly pulled into a parking spot. Suction cup darts pinged and stuck or bounced off in a frenzy as the kids enthusiastically attacked the new arrival to their fire fight. Boss put the vehicle in park and grinned as the two hooligans raced around shrieking excitedly. Dani made a small sound of amusement as the rusty red colored buck called out to the twins with a frown, halting their attack.
"Cute." Dani grinned as she and Boss stepped out of the car. The unfamiliar buck waved amicably as he grabbed hold of the twins before they could launch themselves at Boss.
"Sorry about these two!" He chuckled, "They're feeling their oats today." He stuck out a hand and shook Boss's paw and then Dani's manicured hand as he introduced himself.
"I'm Wheaton, Daisy's older brother. You must be Detective Boss?" He eyed Boss appraisingly and Boss nodded.
"Yep. Nice to meet you Wheaton, you have a great couple of kids here." He looked down at the twins who were hopping up and down and grinning from ear to ear. Staying silent only through extreme effort, and a dirty look from their father. Dani flicked her ears in amusement.
"I'm his partner, Danielle Hardy." She offered, seeing as Boss wasn't about to introduce her. He was staring at the front porch. Dani looked up and immediately spotted her, and couldn't help be surprised. Standing just outside of the door, dressed in a purple wool coat and a long lavender skirt with a lace edge, was a female goat in her twenties with luminous golden eyes that Dani recognized instantly. It was Daisy. She looked nothing like the photos Dani had seen of her. The Daisy that was standing on the porch smiling at Boss was radiant. Slim with long legs and a petite frame that reminded Dani of a ballet dancer. Her face was at once shy and sweet with gracefully curved horns. Dani suppressed a nicker of approval. Daisy was simply adorable, and oozed a vulnerability that even Dani felt and responded too.
Boss caught his breath when he noticed her standing there. He walked over to the porch and stopped at the steps, looking up at her with a smile. Daisy didn't say anything at first, just smiled back, studying him. He wasn't wearing a suit today. Black jeans and a button up shirt under his duster. Tongue tied, she ducked her head and studied her fingers.
"Ready to go, Daisy?" Boss asked softly, holding out a paw. Daisy looked back up and met Boss' gaze merrily.
"Yep!" She chirped, her face breaking into a cheerful grin she reached out and snagged his paw as she hopped down the steps, happiness bursting in her chest. Her brother was giving her an odd concerned look, but seemed to shake it off when she and Boss approached where Wheaton was standing next to the tall mare that Daisy assumed was Boss' partner. The twins had broken free of their Father's grip and were collecting their darts from around the car, getting ready for round two of the great battle they had going.
"Hi Daisy, I'm Danielle, but everyone just calls me Dani." Dani waved and smiled. "I tagged along, I hope you don't mind!" She winked at the little doe.
"Nice to meet you." Daisy smiled back hesitantly, feeling a little intimidated by the mare. She was gorgeous, and almost as tall as Boss, dressed expensively in designer clothes, her hair done in an intricate braid down her sleek neck. Daisy gulped and stared. Wheaton came to her rescue, his arms folded across his muscular chest in subtle concern.
"So you... just going to the school to ask about classes?" Wheaton asked. Daisy nodded and then looked to Boss.
"Yeah. And dinner, maybe?" She blushed. Boss nodded, and he would have spoken, except Dani barged in with gusto.
"Why don't I cook?!" She nickered. "I make an awesome barley casserole and salad... we could watch a movie! Or play some games, I just got the Kinect for my Xbox." She blew a bubble with her gum and popped it loudly, looking back and forth from Daisy and Boss with enthusiasm. "Eh? Sound good? I could even make my pumpkin muffins."
"Dani, we talked about this." Boss said pointedly. Dani prodded him with one finger with a snort.
"Oh, come on! You love my pumpkin muffins." She narrowed her eyes behind her sunglasses, and only Boss recognized the edge to her voice as a warning. "Besides, you guys can drop me off at the apartment on the way over to the college and I'll have everything ready by the time you get back, okay?" She was offering him a deal, Boss realized. She could make him miserable all day, or he could do things her way and be rewarded with a little alone time with Daisy. He opted for compliance. It was always the safest rout with the testy mare. He shrugged.
"Uh.... Sure, sounds good, if it's all right with you Daisy? Dani really does make some mean muffins." He hoped he looked enthusiastic, and he hoped Dani actually knew how to make muffins. Daisy nodded slowly, and then shrugged. The doe felt intimidated by the tall mare, but at the same time, this meant she would get the opportunity to see Boss' house. She beamed a little brighter at that though and nodded again with more enthusiasm.
"That sounds good!"
Dani didn't even fight for the front seat, letting Daisy have it without even a dry look for Boss, but almost as soon as everyone had waved goodbye and they had buckled their seatbelts, Boss had more reasons to regret his moment of weakness in the parking garage at work.
"So... You guys live together?" Daisy asked, the though occurring to her suddenly that Dani had said 'the' apartment. Singular. Dani leaned forward in her seat and looped an arm around Boss' headrest.
"Yeah." She nodded, paying no mind to the fact that Boss was grumbling about her being in his space. "I moved into Boss' place about 6 months ago. My apartment burned down so I needed a place to crash until I found a new place." She grinned and poked at one of the fluffy white eartips in front of her, making the big dog flinch and lift his lip.
"It's been longer than that, Hardy, and you know it." He gruffed. "I'll be stuck with her forever... I'll probably have to be the one to move out." He said conspiratorially to Daisy, who giggled.
"Har har har..." Dani rolled her eyes and leaned close to Daisy, quirking her lips mischievously. "Wanna know what he's like in the sack?" She whispered silkily. Daisy flushed, her mouth agape in shock and Boss hit the brakes. He turned his head and just stared at Dani, his eyes wide.
"I might actually make you walk. Seriously."
"Oh, relax, you would not!" Dani scoffed, but her face sobered when Boss slowed to a complete stop and made a move to put the car in park. "Okay! Okay! Jeez! So uptight about every little thing." She raised her hands and ducked her head in surrender.
"Just play some more Angry Pigs... or whatever." Boss let off the brake and continued driving. Dani gave him a withering look through the rear view mirror.
"You really are hopeless, you know?" She pulled out her phone and waved it at him. "It's Angry BIRDS! What year were you born!?"
Boss risked a glance at Daisy and found that she was watching the back and forth with what looked like the beginnings of a grin that went a long way towards calming his nerves. It's all he needed, was for Dani to scare her off. And then he saw something that made him all the more nervous. Dani winked at Daisy and giggled behind a hand right before she reached forward in her seat and scruffed the fur on the back of his head. Daisy giggled back and the two females shared an amused glance at him. They were bonding... While picking on him. Fabulous. Just... Fabulous. But even then, it was nice to see Daisy relax. Boss smiled at her good naturedly and shook his head, and the next thirty minutes passed in amicable conversation and playful banter.