Page 188 of Damaged Protector

“She’s engaged to Shark’s cousin, Monty Bouvier, and she’s a real ballbuster in the courtroom.”

“Ohh, he’s Auburn Bouvier’s brother?” Hawk nodded. “How did you know there were other women?”

“We didn’t,” Cam spoke up, walking over and taking my hand, “but men like Moreau are predators, so we figured it was likely you weren’t the only one. Kassie said she would handle everything as far as research. We had no expectation of you joining the lawsuit. The choice was totally up to you, and we would have supported you either way.”

Hawk bobbed his head in agreement. “We thought there might be other women out there like you whose stories were swept under the rug, and we wanted to give them a chance to have their voices heard. Even if they chose not to sign on, at least they would know they weren’t alone.”

I grabbed them both in a fierce group hug, fighting the tears that were threatening to spill over the rims of my eyelids. “I love you guys. Thank you.”

“We love you too, Mal,” Cam said, kissing the top of my head before stepping back and taking a long swig of his water. His customary mischievous grin tore across his face. “I wonder how Karen is going to handle this.”

I burst into giggles at the thought. Before her divorce from my dad was even final, the bitch started dating none other than Bernard Moreau. I was completely disgusted, and any thought of salvaging our fractured relationship was obliterated by her selfish decision. I hadn’t spoken to her since.

“Should be fun to watch,” I commented. “We probably need to fill my dad in on all this. I want to tell him personally.”

“We can have him over for dinner tomorrow,” Hawk said. “Cam, you guys want to come?”

“Probably. I’ll check with Shiloh.”

“How’s she feeling?” I asked.

“Pregnant as hell,” he replied with a proud grin. “She’s just hit her third trimester, and my son is getting really active. Bella loves feeling him moving around in Shy’s tummy.”

“All right. Let me know. I’ll grill something while Mal studies. Now, if you could kindly leave, I’m taking my girl out for dinner tonight.”

Hawk was fidgety all throughout dinner. Maybe his tie was too tight or something, but he was the one who’d insisted that we go fancy. He was in a perfectly cut suit that had every female eye in the steakhouse turning his way when we entered. I was wearing a black satin sheath dress and heels I was trying not to wobble in.

When we returned home, he still seemed nervous, so I grabbed his tie and pulled him to me for a long kiss. “Get your ass in the bedroom, Gentry,” I said, nibbling on his bottom lip. “I have plans for you.”

He seemed to relax marginally and swatted me on the ass. “Maybe I have plans for you, Little Bee.”

“We’ll see who wins,” I said, following him to our room and heading to the bathroom where I removed my dress and earrings. When I strode back into the room, I was wearing only my black lace lingerie and the heels of death. I managed to put an extra swing in my step without falling down, and his eyes followed me across the room.

Hawk Gentry—my sexy, beautiful man—was lying on the bed almost naked. I could see the appreciation in his eyes—and also growing beneath his black-and-white boxer briefs—as he watched me.

“Come here, Bee.” He held my hand as I climbed onto the bed and straddled his hips. “Do you know how much I love you?”

“I’m aware. Do you know how much I love you?”

“A lot, I hope.”

He took both my hands and placed them on his chest. Something felt off beneath my right hand, and I lifted it. “Did you get some new jewelry?” I asked, peering down at the pink satin ribbon that was looped through his ring.

My breathing halted in my chest. Attached to the ribbon was…

Oh my fucking god!

The most beautiful princess-cut diamond was mounted on a platinum band and glinted at me in the light from the bedside lamp.

“Tate?”

He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it before inhaling and exhaling a long breath. “Bee, since you’ve come into my life, you’ve changed me, but you’ve also let me stay the same, and I think that’s what I love most about you. You made me believe in love.”

“Yes,” I blurted out, and he frowned.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, I’ll marry you.”

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