Damaged and the Knight (Damaged #2)

“You saved me, Judd. Months ago and that night in the rain and the day in the woods and today and every day we’re together, you always save me. You’re my knight.”


Giving me a heartbreakingly beautiful smile, Judd took my hand. “And you’re my angel.”





Chapter Thirty One


On Valentine’s Day, Farah married Cooper in the Ellsberg Baptist Church. Hair in ringlets around her beautiful face, she looked like a princess walking down the aisle on the arm of Kirk. Up at the altar, Cooper gave everyone his cocky smirk until he got a look at Farah. Expression softening, he actually looked stunned as she took his hand.

“Are you okay?” she whispered.

“Hell yeah, I am. My girl’s a goddess.”

Farah laughed and her jitters vanished. The rest of the wedding went off without a hitch. Even our grandmother seemed pleased.

By the time of the reception, everyone was in a great mood. Farah was so relaxed she never once glanced at me for support while sharing her first dance with Cooper as husband and wife. They were magic together. Watching them, I alternated from giggling and crying at the sight of Farah so happy.

After the first dance, others joined them for the next song. Jodi and Kirk looked as hot for each other as I suspected they were when they made Cooper. Tucker danced with one arm wrapped around Maddy and the other hand caressing where their daughter grew. Even Bailey danced with a barefoot Sawyer.

In Judd’s arms, I watched everyone in such a blissful state. While my face hurt from smiling so much, the day had been great and it wasn’t over yet.

“I got you a Valentine’s present,” I said, grinning up at Judd.

“I got you one too.”

“I know. Our sweet kitty Opal, but my gift might be better.”

“Oh, really?” he asked, swaying to the beat with me pressed against him.

Pulling up the sleeve of my dark red dress, I showed him the freshly inked tattoo on my wrist.

“I’ll be wearing this in five years and for the rest of my life.”

Looking at his name tattooed across my wrist, Judd stopped dancing.

“Angel,” he whispered, sounding choked up. “I hope you’ll want that on you forever.”

“Oh, I will.”

Wrapping his arms tighter around me, he swayed to the music again.

“Later, I have another gift for you,” he said and I immediately grinned. “No, not that. I didn’t want to steal Farah’s thunder and all that, but I have something special for my woman. Something in a small box that goes on her finger.”

Swallowing hard, I fought the urge to scream with joy. “Really?”

“The look on your face right now is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” Judd whispered. “Fuck, I hope you always look at me like that.”

“I will,” I murmured, tugging him closer. “You’re mine.”

“If I can get even five years with you, I’ll be a lucky bastard.”

Cupping his face, I caressed his freshly shaven skin. “I’ll love you always,” I whispered, lifting onto my tiptoes to kiss him. “Always.”





Epilogue


Everyone said Gunnar had my eyes. While we shared a deep shade of brown, every time he gave me his sad-eyed expression, our boy was all Judd. As I packed my suitcase for the trip to Vegas, he gave me that look a lot. At two, Gunnar didn’t understand vacations or wedding anniversaries, but he understood this was a trip he wasn’t taking with Mommy and Daddy. Instead, he was spending three days with Aunt Farah.

Standing in front of the mirror, I checked out my new bangs. Tina had suggested I try a new look to get out of my comfort zone. Judd enjoyed my new look and planned to show me how much on our vacation.

Cuddling up behind me as I messed with the bangs, he kissed my neck. “Three days with no noise constraints. I’m making you scream, babe.”

“You better keep that promise,” I whispered, glancing at Gunnar who pushed around a bubble toy. “It’ll be weird leaving him.”

“I know, but a five year anniversary deserves celebrating.”

“Hell yeah, it does.”

After giving me a hungry kiss, Judd picked up Gunnar who was giving us the look again. Daddy and son stood near the large windows, watching the traffic below. I recalled those nine months waiting for Gunnar to be born and how tense Judd had been through it all. A ball of nerves during the delivery, he even refused to hold Gunnar until we were alone in the room. Finally, he took his tiny son in his arms and wept.

Not with pride or joy, but fear at what his son might become.

“We’ll raise him to be honorable,” I said, caressing Judd’s head as he rocked his son and calmed himself. “We’ll raise him to take care of women like you take care of me. He’ll be a good man.”

Judd looked at me and forced a smile. “Promise.”

“I promise he’ll have honor and never be your dad or brother.”