Page 129 of Damaged Protector

“I like that,” she said, staring out the window with a smile on her face. “I loved going to the zoo as a kid, but I always felt bad for the animals. But here they have room to run and play.”

I nodded as I let go of Mallori’s hand and reached out the window to punch the code in at the gate. “Yeah, they have hundreds of acres. This is what Landree calls the human area.” I pointed out the homes. “The big farmhouse is hers and Bode’s, that one belongs to her parents, and the other one is where Troy and India live.”

“Troy’s son was married to Landree, but they got divorced, right?”

“Yes, but Troy moved out here with Landree to help with the safari and to be near his grandchildren. Then he and India got together when she came to visit Bode.”

Her eyes narrowed. “So, Troy was Landree’s father-in-law. Then she married Bode, and Troy married Bode’s mother, so now he’s her… step-father-in-law?”

Laughing, I pulled up in the driveway. “Never thought of it like that, but I guess you’re right.” I got out of the truck and rounded it to help Mal jump down. I wanted to put my arm around her waist and tuck her beneath my arm, but I couldn’t, so I simply walked beside her up to the house.

Two hound dogs laid on either side of the front door like long-eared sentinels, their heads raising at our approach and then resting once again on their paws when they sensed no danger.

“Excellent guard dogs,” Mallori said with a giggle, scratching the fat one behind her ears.

“Yeah, that’s Pinkie, and this guy is Rosco.” I stroked the white stripe running down his head. “Ziggy and Sami are probably out trolling for intruders. Or chasing squirrels.”

As expected, the house was chaotic when we entered, kids running everywhere and adults milling about. Charli appeared instantly and absconded with Mallori toward the kitchen, and I ambled out to the backyard to find my friends.

“Hey, Hawk,” Bode said, holding out a beer and then pulling it back. “Let me open this for your old ass. You probably have arthritis.”

That was the only mention of my birthday as the rest of the guys chuckled. They knew I didn’t like to make a big deal of it, though I had enjoyed Mallori’s… attention earlier.

She’d let me come in her mouth for the first time, and as I took a seat beside Shark, I had to adjust the chub now forming in my pants at the memory.

An hour later, the adults were seated around the large dinner table eating Landree’s excellent chicken and dumplings. The kids were set up in the living room at card tables.

“I saw the best eye doctor today,” Landree’s dad, Ray, said, tossing a wink at Shiloh, who was the optometrist of the group. “She’s referring me to a surgeon because I’ve got cadillacs in both eyes.”

Shy fought a smile. “Cataracts, Ray,” she corrected gently, and the man tilted his head and thought about it. He kept us constantly entertained with his butchering of the English language.

“Oh. Right,” Ray replied, not looking all that convinced.

After dinner and cake—an excellent almond vanilla one that Bode made—I found myself back outside with the guys, relaxing beneath the setting sun. The snort of an animal sounded in the distance, and I leaned back in my chair, letting my hand drift down to rub the head of one of the hound dogs who had rested beside my chair.

“Mallori and I went to visit Lynn, Journey, and Oscar yesterday,” I commented. The couple had asked for time to bond with their new baby boy but had told us this week it was okay to come by for short visits now.

“We went Wednesday,” Tank said. “Bristol’s obsessed with him.”

“Ah, can we expect a new baby Tank next year?” Cam asked, and Tank shrugged his huge shoulders, a grin playing over his lips.

“Never know. We’re always practicing.” Then he winced. “Next time, I’m having the doctor give Bris some kind of sedative when she hits eight months. She’s vicious while giving birth.”

“What was that she kept calling you?” Bode teased. “Melon head?”

The man glared at him. “I’m a big guy. I’ve got a big head.”

We all laughed, fully aware of the things Bristol had been yelling while giving birth to Amelia. We could hear her all the way from the waiting room.

“What about you, Cam?” I asked. “Bella is almost two. Doesn’t she need a little brother or sister?”

“God help us, I’m not sure I could handle two of her,” he said, shaking his head.

“I’ve heard the second one is easier,” Tank mused. “I vote you have another baby. All in favor?” We all raised our beers in a silent yes vote.

“Since when did my family planning become a democracy?” Cam complained.

“You should take Shiloh somewhere one weekend and knock her up. That’s how we ended up with Harper,” Shark informed us.

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