Damaged and the Dragon Read online

  “Winnie is the girl you bring to class, so she can take notes for you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “She seems shy.”

  Eyes narrowing, Bailey remained wary even after the waitress arrived and took our dinner order.

  “You want her,” Bailey said as soon as the waitress left.

  “I like blondes.”

  Bailey’s anger faded. “Does it piss you off that I’m a possessive bitch?”

  “No. If I thought you liked another guy, I’d want to bash his face in. I don’t think I would because I’d end up in jail with a record and never become a teacher. I’d want to hurt the guy though and I might give it a try, if I could get away with it.”

  “Good. I want you to want me.”

  “I do.”

  Learning forward in the booth, Bailey smiled. “You saved me that night at the party. That was so hot, but I thought you were showing off to make Farah want you. I know that makes no sense. I also thought you might like Tawny because she looks like Farah.”

  “You’re kinda obsessed with Farah, aren’t you?”

  “Only because I thought you were. She had you and my brother wrapped around her finger and I wanted to kick her ass for that. Turns out, she’s not so bad. She’s really good with Sawyer and Coop is really happy being married. I never thought he’d like being tied down, but with her, he’s happy. Weird shit. Anyway, I wanted to beat her ass, but now I’m glad I only smacked her around a little. She’s a good sister-in-law. Hell, she even bakes.”

  “I thought she was too good for Cooper. No offense, but your brother seems like an asshole who would use her up and toss her aside like trash.”

  “He is an asshole. Normally I don’t let people talk shit about my family, but he did put you in the hospital.”

  “He also paid for the rest of my freshman year. Sure made my life a lot easier after that.”

  “Do you hate him? Like does it upset you to look at me and know I’m related to the guy who fucked with you?”

  “No. Like I said, it worked out. Cooper and Farah seem happy and I was working too much to keep up with school. Once he paid the tuition, I had more time to study and get caught up.”

  Sighing, Bailey whispered, “He put you in the hospital.”

  “It wasn’t my first head injury. Won’t be my last,” I said, tapping on my head. “My skull is hella hard.”

  Bailey smiled, but it never reached her pretty blue eyes.

  “I’m fine really.”

  “I worried about you back then,” she said, messing with her straw. “I felt weird caring about a guy I didn’t really know. I mean I thought you liked Farah and my brother attacked you. I normally hate people who mess with my family, but I still worried about you.”

  Wanting to change the subject, I thought about the shit storm a few months earlier.

  “I heard about that guy driving you off the road and trying to grab you. I hated not knowing what happened. Most days, you felt pretty close because I’d see you in class. Last summer killed me. I hadn’t seen you then that happened. That’s when it really hit me how we’re strangers.” Realizing I sounded like a weirdo, I hated myself for blurting it all out. “I didn’t stalk you or anything.”

  “Why not? I only went to the Thunderdome to see you even though I didn’t like watching the fights. I just wanted to know you were still real. Does that sound crazy?”

  “Yes,” I said, smiling. “But you look really sexy when you’re crazy.”

  Bailey smiled again like I was magic. We sat there quietly for a moment, just thinking about how many stalker-like qualities we shared. It was both weird, yet exciting.

  “You pay for school yourself?” she asked when our appetizers arrived.

  “Yeah, I worked several jobs in high school and saved up as much as I could. After I moved to Ellsberg, I got a warehouse job, but I was struggling to keep up with costs until Cooper lost his shit. Once I started fighting, I had cash to spare.”

  Bailey grinned at me as we enjoyed the cheesy fries.

  “I admit I splurged when I first got paid for fighting. First the tat by Aaron. A back piece isn’t cheap. Over the summer, I bought the Harley and moved into a new place. I probably should have just saved the money, but life is unpredictable. What if I slipped in the shower and died? Those savings wouldn’t mean shit, so I enjoyed some of it. Since school started again, I’ve behaved though.”

  “Why do you want to be a teacher? Seems like you could do a lot of things. Anything really. Why work with little kids? No offense, but they gross me out with the boogers and screaming.”

  Grinning, I loved the disgusted expression on her face.

  “In high school, I did a work study program. I tried working in a few different places. Volunteered at a hospital then a bank. Worked on cars and helped an electrician. As a senior, I worked with a fourth grade teacher. It was my favorite. The other jobs weren’t awful and would pay my bills. With teaching though, I looked forward to going in every day. I loved seeing the kids grow over the year. The whole experience was like a light bulb moment. I knew what I wanted.”

  Bailey nodded, but I didn’t think she understood. Despite her insecurities, she fit in a lot of places. She had a family and friends where she belonged. I had only my dream of replicating the happiness from my senior year.

  “What made you want to go into business?” I asked when she seemed unsure what to say.

  Bailey shrugged. “I didn’t have a dream to do it. No light bulb moment. It’s just…” She smiled. “Well, you fight at the Thunderdome, so you know Tucker is an idiot.”

  When I smiled, she continued, “Cooper has to run certain aspects of our family business. Tucker can’t help with the other businesses because of his stupidity. Sawyer is too young and evil to help. Mom and Pop want to retire, but they don’t want to give up power to an outsider.”

  “So do you want to do it or do you have to do it?”

  “I don’t have to do anything. Coop expects nothing from me because he thinks I’m dumb like Tucker. He once said he hoped I married someone smart who could help with the business. He doesn’t believe in me, but my mom does. She says I can be a great boss. So even though I don’t love the idea of managing all the businesses, I do want to help the family. I also want to prove I can do stuff. If I had a dream job like you, I probably wouldn’t care about leaving it all to Coop. He’s a douche who doesn’t believe in me. I shouldn’t care, but I still want to help even if he doesn’t think I can. Prove him wrong and help at the same time. I’m petty and nice that way.”

  “Multitalented,” I said and Bailey’s face lit up. “Every job has its good and bad. Even if this job isn’t something you always dreamed of having, it can still make you happy.”

  “Do you think I’ll be a good boss?”

  “I never see Winnie crying or running away from you, so I’d say yes.”

  Bailey laughed. “So far anyway.”

  As we ate our appetizers, I steered the conversation towards easy topics like which professors we liked and which ones sucked. By the time dinner arrived, talk of my shitty family was forgotten.

  “Do you have any siblings?” Bailey asked as we let our dinner settle and waited for a dessert to share.

  My gut tensing, I realized there was no avoiding the ugly stuff. Not with someone I wanted to know everything about. Clearly, she wanted to know everything about me too.

  “My mom has kids. I don’t know them. I only know their names and ages.”

  “Do you want to know more?”

  “Not really.”

  “So you’re all alone?”

  “No, I’m here with you.”

  Bailey smiled softly. “Do you have any good friends?”

  I scratched my jaw. “I haven’t had a solid friend since middle school. After Tate moved away, I just hung out with different people. I do the same thing in Ellsberg. I have trouble connecting with people, I guess.”

  Bailey looked ready to ask another question. Proba
bly one that would leave me sharing too much and feeling awkward. Instead, she smiled and reached for my hand.

  “I’m glad I freaked out in the library.”

  “Best tantrum ever.”

  While we enjoyed our molten cake, I saw a chance to touch Bailey when she smudged chocolate fudge on her chin. Maybe my fingers lingered because her breath caught. Her gaze was warm and stayed that way as we left the restaurant.

  “Wanna come hang out at my place?” she asked, tugging at my tee. “Or I could come to your place. Either one works for me.”

  “I need to get to bed soon.”

  Bailey blinked a few times. “Is that a yes or a no?”

  “It’s a not tonight.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m tired, Bailey. I get up early every morning to train,” I said, running my fingers along her long neck. “We can hang out this weekend if you want?”

  “Hang out? If I want? Are you blowing me off?”

  Stepping back, I frowned at her. “What the hell am I going to do with you? I tell you I want you. We have a great time, but it’s not enough. Why?”

  Bailey’s face twisted into a frown. “Why don’t you want to spend the night with me?”

  “I’m tired.”

  “When guys say they’re tired, it’s a lie.”

  “I’m not a guy. I’m me and I’ve wanted you for a year. Fuck, I’ve been waiting for you since before Christmas. You act like your feelings are so much better, but how long have you been waiting for me?”

  “I thought you wanted Farah.”

  “You thought wrong,” I said, walking to my Harley.

  “I’ve been waiting too,” she cried, following me. “Not as long, but I haven’t been with anyone for months. I wanted you.”

  I turned her and sighed. “You want everything this very fucking second. If I don’t hump you in public, I don’t want you. If I don’t want to fuck on the first date, I don’t want you. If I don’t treat you like a bang and hang girl, I don’t want you. Have you ever had a real relationship?”

  Bailey shook her head.

  “Neither have I, but I’ve fucked random girls. Is that how I’m supposed to treat you? Like you’re just anyone because I assumed you wanted this to be more.”

  Bailey frowned at me and I waited for her to yell or storm off. Instead, she burst into tears.

  A part of me panicked and wanted to run away from her emotions. I didn’t know how to handle this shit. All my life, I did the superficial nice guy stuff. The deeper personal connection thing wasn’t me. I had no experience and was lost as she sobbed in front of me.

  Even wanting an escape, I didn’t run because she was mine. Wrapping her into my arms, I caressed her hair.

  “Don’t cry,” I whispered. “I didn’t mean to get so pissed off. I just don’t understand how you can think I don’t want you.”

  Bailey looked up at me and wiped her eyes. “Guys always bail on me and I’m scared you will too.”

  “I’m not other guys,” I said slowly. “I’m not looking to fuck you and walk away. I want something special because you’re special to me.”

  Bailey smiled. “I have been waiting for you and thinking about how it would be. Maybe I planned it out too much in my head. Whenever it doesn’t work like I expect, I feel rejected.”

  Wiping her wet cheeks, I leaned down and kissed her softly.

  “I really do need to crash early, but wanna go for a quick ride first? Just to enjoy the cool evening.”

  “Yes, please.”

  Studying Bailey’s damp face, I realized how young she was. We were the same age, but she grew up protected from the world by her powerful and loving family.

  I kissed her gently again. The affection lacked the heat of earlier, yet somehow felt more intense. With our walls lowered, Bailey was real to me in a way she hadn’t been before.

  We drove around town for a half hour. The direction we went didn’t matter. It was about being close and together. Though I had dreamed of Bailey for a year, I realized I wasn’t really ready for her. She needed intimacy I wasn’t capable of yet. When we said our goodbyes at her SUV, I ached for space while Bailey wanted to glue us together for the night.

  Driving home, I wished life was as easy as putting on a show for people. Smiling and saying the right things were easy for superficial relationships. With Bailey, I needed to let her in, but I wasn’t there yet.

  Chapter Seven ~ Bailey

  Growing up, I adored Tucker’s stupidity. He was always jumping off things or shoving his head into small spaces and getting stuck. More than entertaining, my big brother was also protective. When I was ten and stung by a wasp, he declared vengeance and chased after it. How could I not love such dedication?

  Sometimes I couldn’t believe Tucker was responsible for his child’s wellbeing. Despite his new found maturity, he was still my stupid bro and I found him dancing with Maddy in front of the bakery. After parking my SUV, I joined my brother who was dipping his woman backwards.

  “I’m fucking suave,” he announced me.

  Rolling my eyes, I smiled. “Sure, fuckwad.”

  Tucker lifted a giggling Maddy into his arms where she remained.

  “Are you joining us for all of the wedding appointments,” I asked him, “because I don’t think I’m coming then?”

  Looking horrified, Tucker shook his head. “I’m not doing the flowers and dresses and stuff like that. Hell no,” he said then his eyes lit up. “This is a cake testing appointment though. Cake, Bailey.”

  Grinning, I glanced down the street at the approaching Harleys. Judd and Tawny pulled to the curb when they reached us. She parked her new black Harley, looking badass climbing off. Judd remained on his idling bike until she gave him a long sloppy goodbye kiss.

  “Later, babe,” he said in that low rough voice of his.

  Tawny watched Judd roar away then shuddered. “I miss him already.”

  “Puke,” I muttered, pulling her away from the horny moment and into the bakery. “Today isn’t about your vagina. It’s about my brother and his vagina.”

  “You’re a poet,” Tawny said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “How did the date with Nick go?” When I didn’t answer immediately, she frowned. “What did you do?”

  “Nothing,” I balked, noticing Maddy and Tucker also judging me. “I was perfect. Fuck you for not assuming the best in me.”

  “So did you two break up?” Tucker asked while Maddy spoke with the bakery owner.

  “No. He is totally into me.”

  “Sure, B. Hey, I think I have a guy for you. He works at the gas station, but has good teeth.”

  Even with me glaring at him, Tucker was too dumb to know I was angry unless I screamed or incited violence. He just smiled at me.

  “Good head of hair too,” he added, thinking I was on the fence with the gas station guy.

  “I’m with Nick.”

  “Still? Isn’t two dates your maximum before a guy runs?”

  “I’m going to hurt you, Tucker,” I hissed and his smile widened. “It’s not funny.”

  “It’s a little funny.”

  Glancing at Tawny, I found her snickering. “It really is. Your hissing always makes me laugh.”

  “Whatever. Nick likes me and I’m his first choice and you guys suck and are jealous.”

  “Yes, the whole world weeps in jealousy over you,” Tawny said, sitting down at a table as the baker carried out samples of red velvet, chocolate, and a white cake that tasted like my ass.

  “That one tastes like my ass,” I pointed out helpfully.

  “How would you know what your ass tastes like?” Tucker asked, genuinely concerned.

  Ignoring him, I focused on Maddy with her bright eyes and bouncing blonde ponytail. “I thought you were going redneck chic. Shouldn’t your cake be Twinkies or something?”

  “Not that redneck. Though I do feel like these are rather hoity-toity.”

  “Totally real words,” Tawny said, wiping her mout
h. “The vanilla does taste a bit like ass. Can’t be sure if it matches Bailey’s ass flavor, but it’s definitely in the ass category.”

  “Thank you,” I said, taking any compliment or agreement I could get.

  The baker ignored our ass comments and brought more samples. Through the tasting, Tucker struggled not to eat every piece. Watching him eyeballing the food, I smiled at how the fucker was always hungry. Just like Nick.

  “Do you like Nick?” I asked Tucker who licked his spoon.

  “He’s a good guy. Saw him giving pointers to one of the new fighters. A young loser who was actually going to fight Nick. I thought your boy was an idiot to help the guy beat him. Of course, the guy didn’t beat him, but he did go out looking less like a loser.”

  “Nick is sweet.”

  “Get a room,” Tawny said, handing me a tiny plate with another tasting. “I like Nick because he took on all those guys at the frat party. I love when men are brave.”

  Knowing what was coming next, I waited for her to finish.

  “Judd is brave like that.”

  “I swear he fucked your brains out,” I said when she got dreamy-eyed next to me. “Not that you were a genius to begin with.”

  Tucker laughed too hard, causing Maddy to laugh. They were nuts together. It was pretty romantic. I wanted to be nuts with Nick.

  “I like the carrot cake,” Maddy announced and Tucker nodded.

  “Fucking hillbillies,” I muttered. “We really do love our carrot cake.”

  Once the flavor was decided, Tucker and Maddy focused on how big the cake should be and any decorative touches. I ignored those parts and daydreamed about Nick.

  “Do you think Nick could be the one?” Tawny asked.

  “Hell yeah. He’s going to be my Free Bird fuck. I just know it.”

  “Is this a real thing or some stupid shit you made up?”

  “Both,” I said and she grinned. “Free Bird is the best song ever. When I was a teenager, I had a really hot horny dream about fucking a guy while Free Bird played. No real guy has ever been worthy of the song, but Nick will be. I just know it.”

  Nodding, Tawny turned my sex dream into an excuse to imagine Judd naked. I recognized the look on her face and also knew Judd had a matching one. One day, I hoped to share a ridiculous love struck/horny expression with Nick that people would mock.