Page 2 of Damaged Protector

Both our eyes moved to the dance floor where her husband was dancing with the bride. Troy’s son was Landree’s asshole ex who had abandoned her and the kids, but Lan liked to joke that she got her father-in-law in the divorce. Troy was a good guy and had chosen to stay on Landree’s property and help with the drive-through safari and his grandkids after the divorce. The man was like a second father to her.

“I can’t believe Bode was the last one in our group to get married. He’s such a family guy,” I commented, lifting my drink to my mouth.

India’s gray-eyed gaze turned to me. “He’s not the last one. You are.”

I paused with the rim of the glass against my bottom lip and chuckled. “Yeah, I’m opting out.”

She was silent for a beat. “Oh, I don’t think so.”

My eyes rolled as I drank deeply. “I do.”

Her hand waved in circles in front of my face. “I’m sensing something. I’m very in tune with the universe.”

“Poor universe,” I muttered, unsure why her nonsense talk was bothering me.

“Next year.”

“Next year, what?” I asked, shifting my dark eyes toward her solemn face.

“You’re going to fall in love next year.”

“No. I’m not.”

“Yes. You are.”

Trying to maintain some semblance of good manners, I said, “Look, I know you mean well, but it would be impossible for me to fall in love with anyone. I rarely see the same woman twice.” Still holding onto my glass, I lifted my index finger and swirled it toward the dance floor. “I’m not like those guys. I don’t date. I fuck.”

India patted my bicep and then left her hand there, a sly smile on her magenta lips. “Well, Hawk, next year you’re going to fuck the love of your life.” Her fingers bit into my muscle as her eyes closed for a brief moment. “I can literally feel it thrumming through your veins.”

“Probably gas,” I retorted, my anger rising at her unwelcome remarks. “Let me just make one thing clear. I’m not cut out for any kind of normal relationship, so I will never allow that to happen.”

She laughed—fucking laughed!—and I felt the tips of my ears heat with redness. “As if you could stop the universe once it makes up its mind about something. You can deny it all you want. I’m just telling you what I’m sensing.”

For some reason, this conversation was really getting under my skin, and I growled, “Don’t want to hear it.”

“Something I can help with?”

We both turned to find Troy and Landree standing beside us with concern on their faces.

Waving my hand toward India, I mumbled, “She’s talking nonsense.”

She smiled softly and patted my arm before retreating to dance with her husband.

“You haven’t danced with the bride yet,” Landree said, and my lips twitched before I led her to the dance floor.

Giving her a little twirl, I pulled her into me. She was tall but still a few inches shorter than me in her heels.

“Sorry about that. I love India, but she’s being a kook.”

She laughed, fully aware that her new mother-in-law marched to the beat of her own drum. “What did she say to upset you?”

“I’m not upset. She just said some weird shit.”

“Like what?” she pressed, tilting her head so her riot of red curls draped over one shoulder.

“She said she senses that love is on the horizon for me. In the new year.”

“Is that all? There’s nothing wrong with that.”

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