Damaged and the Knight (Damaged #2)

“I wasn’t asking.”


Judd adjusted himself in his jeans. “Fucking Cooper with all his sweatpants shit. I thought he was such an idiot, but now I’m worried I might cause permanent damage to my cock having it so hard in these damn jeans.”

“A poet,” I said, batting my eyes at him as I walked towards the door. “Those jeans might not be comfy, but they sure caress your ass in the best way.”

Judd glared at me and adjusted himself again as I opened the door. We walked out to find Zaria on the balcony. She turned when the door opened and studied us.

“Is everything alright?”

Wrapping an arm around my shoulders, Judd nodded. “Tawny is right about us being serious. She’s not twenty four though. She’s eighteen and we met when she had some fuckers messing with her and Cooper sent me to fix the problem.”

Zaria showed no reaction. “Why would she lie about her age?” A few moments passed as Judd and his mother held each others’ gazes then she exhaled hard. “You told her?”

“Like I said, it’s not a fling.”

Finally, Zaria gave me a smile that was only partly forced. “I’m glad you’ve found someone special, Judd.”

With his expression relaxing and a hint of a smile on his face, Judd nodded. “Me too.”

Zaria pulled her son down for a kiss on the cheek then she smiled at me. “Well, I insist we have dinner soon, so I can get to know you.” Zaria gave me a tentative hug. Like me, I sensed she wasn’t great at physical contact. Still, she gave it a shot and I embraced her back. When she pulled away, Zaria smiled again. “No more lies. You are what my son wants and Judd’s been alone for too long.”

“I’m sorry I lied. I just didn’t want you judging him.”

Zaria gave me her first totally genuine smile. “You’re loyal and protective. Just what Judd needs,” she said then leaned closer. “He’s a sensitive soul, you know?”

Grinning, I winked at him. “Oh, I know.”

Judd just rolled his eyes, having spent half of the day teased about being an emotional girly man.

Zaria insisted we have dinner the next night and Judd insisted he would think about it. Ending the stalemate, I insisted we would join her. Mostly, I wanted her to be happy enough to leave, so I could get naked with Judd who again looked as if he needed looser jeans.

The minute the door closed behind Zaria, he locked it and glared at me. “I can’t even have a conversation with my mom without sporting a damn boner. Stop being so fucking hot.”

“Never!” I cried, running to the bedroom while yanking off my clothes.





Chapter Twenty Five


Dinner with Zaria went better than I could have dreamed. She talked about her life easily and never asked any awkward questions. We mostly talked about work and family. She told me a few cute stories about Judd who apparently was a sweet shy boy. I probably shouldn’t have giggled when I heard that, but his expression killed me. Embarrassed was a hilarious look on him.

The only awkwardness at all was when Zaria talked about her friends’ grandbabies. While she never said she wanted any herself, the implication was clear. With Judd’s brother Waylon in prison for the next few decades, her only chance at grandbabies would come from the son who claimed no interest in settling down. Now, he had a girlfriend and Mom was oh so subtly hinting.

Driving to Whiskey Kirk to meet up with Farah and Cooper, I glanced at Judd who wore a dressier shirt and crisp jeans. It was cute how he dressed up for dinner. Well, he was dressed up for him anyway.

“I’m not sure I want kids,” I said as we neared the bar. “I don’t think I’d be a good mother and I worry about having babies coming out of me down there. Like they’d be tainted or something.”

Judd never even glanced at me. “You can get a c-section and you’d be a great mom.”

Something about his tone told me that he didn’t want to talk about kids. Dinner freaked him out enough. From no commitment to baby talk was too much for the loner. I didn’t blame him. Kids freaked me out too.

“You have your mom’s eyes.”

Judd gave me a little smile. “She likes you. I mean, I knew she would, but she really warmed up to you fast. Sometimes, she can’t do that with people. The woman needs her space, but she liked you a lot. Made dinner easier.”

“I like her too. She’s nothing like my mom.”

Judd shifted in his seat and nodded. Based on his body language, he needed his space. Quiet worked for me too. Honestly, I thought people talked too damn much most days.