Damaged and the Outlaw (9 page)

Professor woke
me up just after dawn by barking at Deputy Dickhead Darling who was walking up
and down the street. I peeked out to find the idiot picking up trash from the
street and throwing it into the yards of the litterbugs. When he took a big gulp
cup and tossed it into our front yard, I considered raising hell since I knew
the trash wasn’t ours. Instead, I decided to let the world sleep a bit longer
before I started screaming.

By the time I
washed up and sat on the porch, Dickhead had gone to work. I saw a few people
preparing to do the same. Professor saw them too, but was only interested in
the trash in his yard. He growled at the cup, pushing it around with his nose.

“Dogs are
idiots,” I muttered as Pollack stared at me. “Bark at me and I’m barking back,
bitch.”

The dog gave her
equivalent of a hair toss then walked away. After I dug around in my purse for
Nicorette, I grabbed a cigarette too. Chewing my gum while puffing on the unlit
smoke, I tried to trick my brain into thinking I was getting my fix. It only
worked because I was still half asleep.

“Lark will
likely end up on bed rest in a month or two,” Aaron said at the doorway.

Startled, I
nearly dropped my cigarette. “You’re like a cat,” I muttered. “I might need to
get you a collar with a bell.”

He smiled and
joined me on the swing. “Thanks for talking to her about asking for help. She
needs to know not to take it all on herself.”

“Lark’s always
taken care of herself. I tried, but I’m too selfish and disorganized. Our
mother never cared. Lark isn’t used to relying on people.”

“She has me
now.”

I snorted. “You
sounded like a guy from a soap opera.”

“Shut up,” he muttered,
giving me a grin. “Vaughn’s a good guy.”

“He’s a jackass.
Hot and funny, but a jerk.”

“When I say good
guy, I don’t mean nice. I just mean he takes care of those he’s loyal to.”

“Jackass.”

“He can’t commit
because of the crap from his past. Not because he doesn’t have it in him. He
wants a woman and a family. He’d toss his balls in your purse if he could, but
he can’t so he acts like his balls need to run free in the world. Don’t let him
fool you. It’s a con.”

“I’ve got his
number.”

“Do you like to
bowl?”

“Sure.”

“If you ever
want to test him, ask Vaughn to go bowling. If he thinks you’re just some
chick, he’ll say no. Bowling is this special thing to him. Not like pool or
other stuff. If he doesn’t want to bowl with you, he doesn’t think you’re
special. Sounds stupid, but the guy won’t bowl with anyone from our club except
Judd and the Johanssons. He doesn’t trust the other guys and the bowling alley
is like his church. He won’t share it with just anyone.”

Studying Aaron,
I nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“If this thing
with his old club gets handled, he’d have choices he doesn’t have now.”

“Choices?”

“Some guys want
to bang chicks every night. Then one day, they get smacked upside the head by
the perfect girl. Some guys want to wake up next to the perfect woman every
morning. Vaughn isn’t the first type of guy, no matter how many chicks he fucks
or how much he mouths off. He’s an outlaw, so he acts like one. I know he really
wants a home.”

“I’m not looking
for a man. Not one in my bed every night.”

Aaron’s smile
widened. “Lark and I were laughing at you last night for saying that shit.”

“Fuck you.”

Laughing now,
Aaron walked inside the house. “Fuck you too, Raven.”

The dogs
followed their man and I decided I best get my day started. Inside, Lark was in
the kitchen, holding onto the counter like she might fall without its help. I
cuddled up behind her and nuzzled her wild hair.

“How is the baby
oven feeling today?” I asked, rubbing her little bump.

“Like fresh corn
filled shit.”

“Yummy. Thanks
for the visual. I think you ought to let Aaron pamper you. He really likes to.
It’s a man thing. Do it for his precious balls and their giant egos.”

Lark turned
around and hugged me. “He loves me so much. I want that for you.”

“Is this your
way of offering a polygamy setup because I’m going to have to say no. I’m too
selfish to share.”

Lark’s smile
faded. “No way am I sharing him. I’d kill you first.”

“With what?” I
said, sharing her fake glare. “Your munchkin hands.”

“Didn’t you ever
see
Chucky
? Little things can be deadly.”

“You do have his
hair.”

Lark flinched.
“It is that bad?”

“Don’t be a
dork. You look great. Glowing even.” As tears filled her eyes, I panicked.
“Seriously, you look awesome. Better than ever. I’m jealous of how hot you
are.”

“You should be,”
she said, giving me a wink. “Little things can also cry on cue.”

“I’ll let that
go because you’re crying for three these days. As soon as you poop them babies out,
it’s on, little girl.”

“Whatever,” she
said, sitting down with her coffee as Aaron returned wearing a shirt for once.
“I’ll just beat you with my Barney slippers.”

“Cat fight,”
Aaron muttered. “I should sell tickets.”

“Speaking of cat
fights, I have one tomorrow night. I’m free tonight though.”

“What about
Vaughn?” Lark asked, sipping her coffee.

“What about
him?”

“He mocked my
slippers and you said you would punish him. Did you lie? Is that your thing
now? Lying to your little sister and getting her hopes up.”

“Oh, yeah, I do
need to punish him for that, don’t I?” I said, sighing while thinking of Vaughn
over my knee. “Will you be angry if I reward him afterwards? I mean, I believe
in both positive and negative reinforcements.”

When a laughing Lark
glanced at Aaron, I suspected his shirt was coming off soon. Apparently, she
wanted to reward him for wandering around the house silently. Marriage was all
about give and take.

After Bailey
picked me up, we spent the morning running errands. A little grocery shopping
later, we stopped by her mom’s bar to pick up my jeep then headed to the house.
Sawyer was still sleeping, having worn herself out the night before. She
finally staggered out of bed around lunch like a wasted teenager. Even knowing
it was wrong to laugh at her, I couldn’t help myself.

Bailey wanted to
hang out together later, but Jodi said friends were coming over.

“You haven’t
seen Skye since school,” Jodi said, lighting a cigarette and making me drool.

“Who?” Bailey muttered.

“Skye
Goldstein.”

“Not ringing any
bells.”

“She didn’t show
the day we were looking for dresses for Farah’s wedding and you chased her down
and made her cry.”

“Ah, yes,”
Bailey said, smiling at me.

“Well, behave
while her parents are here.”

“Why?”

“They think
you’re friends. I would hate to be the one who tells them their daughter
sucks.”

“I can tell them
for you.”

“No. Pop doesn’t
want drama.”

“So I have to be
nice to someone I hate? Isn’t lying wrong?”

Jodi rolled her
eyes and stirred something that smelled good.

“I don’t want to
be nice,” Bailey whined. “Honesty is my new thing.”

“Lying was your
new thing last week,” Jodi said.

Leaning down, I
whispered to Bailey, “Just be nice when people are looking then treat her like
shit when they’re looking away. That way when she cries, you can be the normal
one next to the crybaby.”

Bailey grinned.
“That’ll actually work since I lied when I said honesty was my new thing. It’s
never been my thing. If I ever say it is, I’m lying.”

“Honesty is for
suckers,” I said, grabbing my keys. “Well, I’ll leave you to your guests.”

“No more
hickeys. It makes you look trashy and I’m not lying when I say that.”

Before
disappearing around the corner, I smiled softly. “I promise no more hickeys.”

Bailey snorted.
“Honesty really is for suckers. Enjoy your vacuum kisses.”

This elicited
laughter from Sawyer who remained stretched out on the couch. Clearly, the
seven year old wasn’t ready for all nighters.

My afternoon was
beyond dull. I folded laundry, took a nap while watching TV, and folded more
laundry. My mind was on Vaughn and how to see him without looking for him. I
didn’t want the bastard knowing I craved his hot body. Or how I needed a good
laugh. Or how I was curious about his life. I told myself my curiosity was a
friend thing. The buddies part of the fuck buddies, but I wanted to know him
now.

Sitting at Tequila
Jodi’s, I waited for him to show. Logically, I knew he frequented Kirk’s place
more and might be running the streets with chicks. Or he might be hanging out
at his place. Somehow, I hoped he would know I was waiting for him at Jodi’s.

My mind was on
those possible chicks who kept his bed warm the night before. I hated the jealousy
in my gut. Loathed my stupid easily attached heart. No, I decided it wasn’t my
heart that cared. I was simply concerned about contracting cooties.
Yep,
that was it.

The cootie
monster entered the bar then stood at the doorway. He was considering whether
to play it cool. Maybe sit at a booth and make me come to him. Even without
seeing his face, I knew he was considering his options. In the end, Vaughn
decided he was in a hurry and games could wait.

“Last night was
great, Raven,” he said, kissing the top of my head. “I like the part where you
met me behind the bar and I fucked your brains out. Hell, I fucked mine out too
and can’t even remember the whole thing. Still, I know it was great.”

Grinning, I
looked him up and down. “You look familiar. Derek, is it?”

“Do I look like
a Derek?” he grunted, ordering himself a beer. “James maybe. I could be a
Bill.”

“No way. Bill is
an everyman name. You are not average, stud.”

Vaughn’s
irritation faded. “You look good. Well rested. You sleep well, tulip?”

“Lark’s couch is
pretty comfy, so yeah.”

Vaughn rolled
his eyes. “I can’t believe the pixy tricked me.”

“You didn’t try
very hard. No torture. Not even threats of it. I don’t think you really wanted
to find me.”

“I didn’t sense
you wanted to be found.”

“I didn’t.”

“You’re out in
plain sight tonight.”

“Yes, I am. I
have big plans for tonight.”

Sizing me up, Vaughn
likely realized who the plans were with because his glare shifted into a smile.

“I might crash early
myself.”

Smirking, I
asked the question I was curious about. “Give yourself a happy ending last
night?”

“Had three coeds
to help me with that. I think two of them were named Kaitlin.”

“Good for you,”
I said, trying not to grind my teeth. “After I ditched you and before I crashed
at Lark’s, I hooked up with an old buddy from high school. Chad works at a gym. Buffed with shoulders to die for.”

The muscles in
Vaughn’s jaw clenched and the amusement in his eyes faded.

“Well, I hope
you took one of those bleach bubble baths because I’m planning to fuck you
tonight.”

“I don’t know.
Three coeds?” I leaned forward and sniffed him. “I think I might still be able
to smell them on you.” Giving his bare shoulder a lick, I sat back. “Yeah, I
definitely taste coed. I guess you didn’t use enough Purell.”

Vaughn inhaled
harshly and I saw his jaw clench again. A mental struggle occurred in his big
pretty head and I just hoped he didn’t hurt himself.

“Fine,” he
grunted, leaning over and erasing the space between us. “My happy ending
involved me jacking off thinking of you,”

Nearly spitting
up my beer, I laughed at his expression. I placed my hand on his chest and his
gaze focused on my face as if searching for something.

“I’m not
jealous,” he whispered. “I don’t get possessive of fuck buddies. I’d still like
you to tell me more about this Chad, so I can hunt him down and kick his ass.”

“Why kick his
ass if you’re not clingy,” I said, tugging away from his grip.

“For your
protection only. A guy that muscular is probably on ‘roids. He could get ragey
and I want to make sure you’re safe. Just tell me where to find him and I’ll
break his legs, so he can’t hassle you.”

Staring into his
beautiful blue eyes, I knew he was serious. I slid my hands under his tee.

“I like thinking
about you stroking your cock. It excites me.”

Vaughn’s
breathing stopped and he stared transfixed on my lips.