Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged #4)

While my preggers friend smiled at Cooper then found a seat and vegged, Sawyer skated into the rink. The seven year old made it a few feet before her ass and the hard ground became acquainted.

Skating over with Bailey, I helped Sawyer back up. The girl fought tears and I knew she’d hit her tailbone hard. Hugging her to me, I moved us slowly into the rink. Bailey held onto my arm as we worked our way in a circle.

“I didn’t cry,” Sawyer said finally.

“No, you didn’t, but crying doesn’t mean anything,” I said, playing with the curls in her hair. “I cry when I get really pissed off. Tears usually mean I’m about to punch someone.”

Sawyer and Bailey clutched onto me while I skated them around and around until the place filled up. The Storm Babes arrived with their lovers and kids in tow. Around the time the opposing team showed up with their entourage, Lark walked in with Aaron. They were both wearing tie-dyed shirts and I nearly barfed at their coordinated outfits. Sensing my horror, Lark started laughing and nearly chocked on the lime slice in her mouth.

“What’s the deal?” I asked noticing how she and Farah wore lime slices like teeth guards.

“It settles our nausea,” Farah explained before popping the slice back in her mouth.

Lark hugged me. “Pico de Gallo also helps.”

Even with the two chicks looking ready to hurl, I felt a hint of jealousy. I wanted a baby. I also wanted that baby to have a dad and a home like I never did. Glancing at Vaughn, I found him watching me like I was crazy. I grinned then realized his expression was related something one of the guys was saying. My grin widened and he wiggled his eyebrows. This drew Judd’s attention and the men’s conversation stopped midsentence. Vaughn shrugged and walked away.

“What a bunch of whiners,” he told me as I left Lark to suck on her lime slice.

“Is something wrong?”

“No,” he lied.

Allowing him his secrets, I asked, “Will you cheer for me?”

Vaughn smiled as I strapped on my shin guards. “I’ll caw for you. Just you wait.”

Laughing, I bumped his hip. “I dare you to do it in front of your boyfriends over there.”

Vaughn looked like he might realize cawing for me wasn’t worth the ribbing he would receive.

“What do I get if I embarrass myself?”

“What do you want?” I asked, stroking his sweaty arms with my nails.

“An hour of Tour of Duty.”

“A videogame?” I balked. “I could do dirty things to you, but you’d rather play videogames?”

“Gingersnap, our things aren’t dirty. They’re wholesome fun especially when I spank you and you love it.”

Even glaring at him, he had a point.

“Besides,” he continued, “we’re going to do those fun things after the videogames. Maybe before too. Possibly during. I just want to play Tour of Duty and Judd is whipped. I’ve lucked out to have a hot chick who likes shooting games. I’m milking that.”

Grinning, I nuzzled his crotch with my knee. “I’m going to milk you later.”

“You had me at ‘milk you later,’ honeysuckle.”

“Idiot,” I muttered, but he was making me wish we were alone.

“Be careful out there.”

My fake irritation faded at the seriousness of his tone. “It’s a game I’ve been playing for years.”

“I know, but you get smacked around at the Thunderdome. I don’t need you getting bruised up here too.”

“You’re cute when you start with the feelings, blondie.”

“Thanks for that compliment, baby corn.”

“Really? Baby corn?”

Vaughn leaned down and kissed my still tender nose then whispered, “Caw, caw.”

Laughing, I left him so I could join my team. We warmed up while Sarah told us her big plans to ditch us and go to the Bahamas for a week.

“Try not to lose every game while I’m gone,” she said.

Chantal snorted. “We’ll barely notice your absence.”

“Speak for yourself,” I muttered. “I’ll miss Sarah because I need someone to distract from my awesome moves.”

“We’ll see,” Sarah said, giving me a wink.

Maybe she knew something I didn’t. After all, I managed to collide with the wall four times over the game. I also fell on my ass twice and was “accidentally” hit in the face once. By the end of the game, we’d won and I was limping.

Game over, Bailey and Sawyer took off while I cuddled with my lime sucking sister. Aaron asked if I was planning to go to the upcoming fair. Lark and I just laughed at him. No one loved shitty fair food like I did.

Packing up, I realized Vaughn was gone. I tried not to take it personally. My body hurt enough without getting my feelings hurt too.

When I got outside, I found Tawny waiting at my dusty jeep. Her expression was hard, angry even. I sensed it was a defense mechanism related to the guys checking her out.

“They won’t mess with you,” I said, arriving at the jeep. “They want to keep their eyes and I heard Judd likes to rip those out if a man messes with his woman.”

Tawny smiled tightly. “I need a ride home. Vaughn and Judd had to handle something.”