Read Online Damaged and the Bulldog by Bijou Hunter - Free Book Online Page B

and I know you
won’t take advantage of Winnie, but I’m sending a chaperone anyway. Not to make
sure you behave, but to make sure Winnie doesn’t do anything just because she
think she has to.”
    “I understand.”
    “I’m sure you do, but I worry you think like your old
man,” he said and I tensed at the mention of my dad. “A man like him gets what
he wants or crushes the person denying him. Like he tried to do with you.”
    “I’m not like him.”
    “I hope not, but it’s my job as Winnie’s dad to make
clear what happens if you hurt her on purpose. Relationships fail and I don’t
expect you to kiss her ass to make me happy. However, if you treat her like
shit, you’ll only live long enough to finish Cooper’s office.”
    “Our relationship won’t fail.”
    “Everyone thinks that.”
    “Everyone doesn’t mean shit to me. Winnie makes me
happy like no one else ever has. I think I make her happy too. We’re not going
to fail.”
    Tad narrowed his eyes and I realized I sounded like
the stalking fucker I was. Winnie was mine and I wasn’t giving her up. Saying
this out loud made me sound crazy though.
    Whatever he was thinking, Tad kept it to himself
before leaving me at the worksite. I imagined him telling Winnie that she
couldn’t see me anymore. In fact, I was prepared for the cold shoulder when I
arrived that evening.
    Instead, Winnie answered the door wearing a big smile.
She took my hand and we sat on the back porch for an hour, talking and
cuddling. Even relieved, I worried it was only a matter of time before my
months of watching Winnie each evening would come back to haunt me.

Chapter Eleven ~ Winnie
    Lark’s feet were swollen, so I helped her walk to the
back porch and put them up. The dogs ran around the yard, enjoying the slightly
warmer weather. After bringing Lark a glass of diet soda, I joined her on the
loveseat.
    “Did you have problems with your pregnancy?” Lark
asked.
    “I don’t remember.”
    “Do you plan to have children in the future?”
    “I don’t know,” I said then added, “I never thought
I’d like a guy until I got to know Dylan.”
    Lark smiled. “He’s a tricky fucker. I used to dread
seeing him since he was his dad’s attack dog. Once he blew off Larry, he’s
really become a sweetie. He’s even nice to Raven and those two are like water
and vinegar.”
    Sharing her smile, I decided to pump her for
information. “Did Dylan date a lot?”
    “I guess. He went on dates, but I never met anyone. I
never heard him talk about a girl. Since I met him, he’s never had a girlfriend
until you.”
    My smile widened. “We’ve gone on a few dates away from
the house and spent a lot of time together on the back porch. Now, I want to
spend the night with him, but I’m really scared. I’ve never, you know, been
with a guy in a real way. I want to with Dylan though.”
    “What are you most scared of?”
    “Being touched. I’m afraid when he touches me that
it’ll feel like when…”
    I didn’t finish, but Lark understood. “You two have
kissed. Did that make you feel bad?”
    “At first, yes.”
    “Then go slow. Basically, do the opposite of me and
Raven. We slutted out the first chance we got with our guys.”
    I smiled. “Well, Aaron and Vaughn are hot.”
    “So is Dylan. You know, for a step brother.”
    “I have fantasies,” I said, embarrassed to admit as
much, but something about Lark made sharing easy. “I never really see me in the
fantasies though. If I put me in them, I want to puke.”
    “You need to take it slow and lead up to the good
stuff. Kissing leads to cuddling leads to under the shirt action leads to…well
you get the picture.”
    “Ooh, what am I walking into?” Aaron said, peeking out
from the house.
    Lark’s face lit up. “My sexy cobra is home along with
the hot guy attached to him.”
    Aaron faked offense at her comment as he settled in
next to her on the couch. While his lips caressed hers, his hands were doing
the same