Read Online Damaged and the Saint by Bijou Hunter - Free Book Online Page A

and talking. I spotted Cooper and his wife walking around, chatting up everyone. I hoped they didn’t feel the need to greet us. The wife was clearly friends with Harlow because she hurried in our direction.
    “You came,” Farah said to Harlow then nudged her away from me, likely hoping to get gossip.
    Left alone with me, Cooper revealed his “Don’t mess with my woman’s friend” look. I returned it with my expression asking, “What kind of potato salad are you serving? Please don’t say the German variety.”
    Cooper walked off without answering my potato salad question. Yet I didn’t remain alone long.
    Cowboy joined me and asked, “Is the cutie with the big eyes with you?”
    Along with Dutch and Shadow, he was one of the broken patches Memphis planned to wield like weapons against the failures in Mississippi. I doubted the pretty boy at my side even knew what Arlo and Mikey had planned for him. I might have thrown Cowboy a hint except he was giving Harlow the once over.
    “Big eyes is shacked up with me, so if you touch her then I’ll touch you.”
    Cowboy looked at me then back at Harlow. Flicking his hat, he sighed. “What if I just stare at her longingly? You gonna stare at me with your pretty eyes?”
    I forced a smile. “You’re a funny guy, but I’ll still bury you if you don’t keep your distance.”
    “You’re a scary guy and I got the message. You might want to send out that signal to the twins. One of them is really horny. He’s even wearing a fucking shirt that says how horny he is.”
    “Nice,” I said, giving him a grin. “Distract the predator by focusing him on another threat. I like that move.”
    “I didn’t stay this handsome by taking on people with frontal attacks,” he said. “Oh, and to answer your earlier question, they’re serving German potato salad.”
    The potato salad thing should have disappointed me, but I was too busy looking for anyone focusing on Harlow. The horny twin was Dayton and he was acting as if Harlow and Farah were invisible. I assumed he already got the memo, yet I remained on alert.
    “Baby pictures,” Harlow said when I joined her.
    Farah smiled awkwardly while sliding her phone into her pocket. Harlow removed the phone and showed me the picture.
    “This is Lily Johansson. One day, she’ll rule the world.”
    Something about her tone felt challenging and I was already on edge. The possessive need in my gut pissed me off, so I challenged Harlow.
    I looked at the picture of the baby then focused on Harlow. “I wonder what our kid would look like.”
    The women stared at me as if I was nuts, but I only smiled. Harlow narrowed her eyes and handed Farah the phone.
    “He’s messing with me,” she muttered to her friend.
    Grinning, I reached out and caressed Harlow’s cheek. The feisty arrogance in her eyes disappeared, leaving her looking scared. I leaned forward until my lips were next to her ear.
    “I’m trying to mark my claim to ensure these other chumps will stop eyeballing your ass. You’re welcome, trainee.”
    Harlow’s gaze found mine. She seemed to understand, but I saw more in her expression than simply acknowledgment. My touch affected her in a way she didn’t like. I knew how she felt since I was feeling things I didn’t appreciate either. Need, possessiveness, blinding rage at anyone even glancing in her direction, these were not normal for me. I wasn’t a clingy sort of person. Sure, I didn’t like sharing as a kid, but never like this. Never like I felt with Harlow.
    Harlow’s hand caressed my bare forearm, setting off every nerve in my body. I nearly jumped at her touch then glared at her. A smile curved her pouty lips before she turned away and walked with Farah to the buffet. I stared at her in shock that she would mess with me. Cocky little brat was teasing a man not fully in control. Hell, a part of me thought to sweep her up in my arms and plant a kiss on her. See how she’d handle an escalation of a relationship