Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged #4)

“Let me show you around,” she said, taking my hand. “Then, we’ll go eat.”


While Vaughn and Judd stood at the large windows and played who could be silent longer, I followed Tawny around the condo. The place was pretty empty, but I didn’t mention furniture shopping. She seemed too happy to finally be in their new place. I hadn’t seen Tawny this happy since her wedding in Vegas and I refused to do anything to ruin it.

When we walked into the larger spare room, Tawny looked around the empty space.

“This room might be a nursery one day,” she said, sounding immediately uneasy.

“You’ll want a baby. I can see that you have the urge. You just want to do it on your terms and schedule. No reason to let anyone push you around. Your man and you are on the same page. That’s all that matters. Everyone else is static.”

“I know. It’s just that people think I should do certain things.”

“What people?”

Tawny shrugged and stared out the window. “People.”

“Like Farah?” I asked, pushing her because I sensed she wanted advice, but was afraid of what I might offer.

“No,” Tawny said quickly. “Never Farah.”

“Cooper’s family? Judd’s mom?”

“I know Zaria would like a grandchild, but she doesn’t pressure us. She knows we’re not ready.”

“Then, who?”

Tawny ran her fingers through her hair and tugged at it hard. I wondered if I should to stop pushing. Anyone else would have backed off. I wanted Tawny to be happy and hiding from her feelings was making her miserable.

“Who?” I asked again.

“I have a grandmother who conned some old rich guy and ended up having money. We’ve always kissed her ass because of that money. She’s a bitch though. Always nitpicking us and getting my name wrong on purpose.”

“And she wants you to have a kid?”

“Farah is married and has a baby on the way. It’s like she’s doing all this great stuff. College too. I’m not doing those great things. I’m just trying to get my high school diploma online. I feel like I’m failing and she’s judging me.”

“Do you see her a lot?”

“No.”

“Why do you care then?”

“She’s judgmental and I don’t want her thinking my life isn’t as good as Farah’s.”

Glancing around the empty room, I finally smiled. “So she’s not hounding you, but you think she’s thinking it.”

“I know she is.”

“This grandmother conned an old guy?”

“She was a grifter. It’s how she got his money and now she lives off the interest from what she conned from him.”

“So she’s greedy, right? Like money is what matters to her.”

Looking on the edge of losing control, Tawny nodded. I reached out and took her hand before continuing.

“A woman like that would think this place was awesome. Like Vaughn said, it’s swanky. Everything is new and modern. People are always talking up that granite and hardwood floors on those TV house shows. This place wasn’t cheap, right?”

Tawny shook her head.

“Don’t you think that rich bitch would dig a place like this? Anyone else in your family got money?”

“Just Farah.”

“So you have this swanky place and don’t have to work like a slave for it. You just have to love a really hot guy.” When Tawny’s gaze narrowed, I grinned. “I’m not going to mess with your man. I’ve got a hot one of my own.”

“I’m territorial.”

“Because he’s worth keeping. You’re thinking about your life in this negative way and assuming she’s shitting on you. A woman like that doesn’t care about kids. She doesn’t care about inner happiness. She’s about the bling. You have a hot man with an ugly job that pays well. You have respect because of Judd and your job with Cooper. You have what a woman like her cares about and that’s money and power.”

I saw her considering my words. For whatever reason, she had allowed a nasty bitch get into her head.

“She’s not judging you, Tawny. She’s probably sitting around thinking shit about the rest of your family. Thinking how you and Farah turned out well and deciding she’s the one who gets the credit. She’s thinking why can’t your loser relatives be like you? I know uppity fucks like your grandma and she’s not stressing you being childless. Hell, she’s probably thinking Farah got knocked up so fast to keep Cooper. Bitches like her always think the same crap because they don’t feel anything real. Love is a con for them. What you have with Judd isn’t something she can understand. This condo and your big wedding ring are things she understands.”

Tawny pulled at her fingers. “You think I’m stupid to worry about her.”