Damaged and the Outlaw (Damaged #4)

Vaughn sighed dramatically and I noticed Sawyer running around with her friends. Wearing face paint and barely there shorts, the teenager was stuck between childhood and womanhood.

“Our girls will never wear those shorts,” Vaughn said then laughed. “The best way to make that happen is to order them to wear the shorts. Like mother, like daughters.”

Sawyer’s smile faded when Cooper spotted her shorts. Brother and sister had a face-off which Cooper clearly won because Sawyer ran in the opposite direction. After Farah high-fived Cooper, he received a few cheers from his girls. Little Colton was more interested in the blue cotton candy he was holding. Based on his expression, he just didn’t get it.

Though Scarlet explained to her baby cousin the marvels of cotton candy, Colton wasn’t impressed and pawned off the atrocity to his mom. Taking his sisters’ hands, he ran after Scarlet who darted towards Judd and Tawny. Nearby goofing off at a game, Tucker and Maddy took turns rubbing her baby bump.

By the time we sat down for dinner at the picnic tables, I was on a sugar high from the crappy sodas. Next to me, Vaughn and River were fake arm wrestling. On the other side of the table, Maverick stared fascinated at Sawyer’s face paint and eventually tried eating it. Soon, Lark and Aaron arrived with face painted Phoebe and Leo, along with their new baby Oliver. Maverick took advantage of the new people to lick. My boy would eat anything.

My sister leaned her head against my shoulder and smiled at our family. Earlier, we’d seen Mom with Larry, but ignored them. Only once had Margo tried to meet her grandkids. Without giving it a second thought, I blew her off. I was well aware of what she thought of my husband and our life. She knew what I thought of her husband and her life too. With no reason to pretend, I walked away with my family and never looked back.

As the kids played and ate deep-fried foods, Vaughn leaned over and sucked at my neck. He also gave me a naughty smile before returning to being silly with his kids.

Growing up, Vaughn had no one except his mom. All those years, he only wanted to belong and find his place. He tried first with the Devils then the Reapers, yet he was always the outsider. These days, he was no longer an outlaw. This incredible man finally belonged.

People had called him Outlaw, but for me he was the cure. His love ended the sickness plaguing me since I was old enough to dream of romance. No more chasing bad men with the hope that I might change them. With Vaughn, I loved everything he offered and never wanted it to end.