minute.” He kissed her again before tugging on his
jeans and padding to the door ready to open a can of
whoopass if it became necessary.
Damien had just stepped outside, pulling the
door closed behind him, when Gretta stomped
furiously down the street. “I’ve had enough of this, you
son of a bitch,” she yelled as she approached the car,
Tom still revving the engine. How in the world
Damien managed to miss the huge Louisville Slugger
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One Night Forever
in her hand, he didn’t know. But one second she
hurried toward the car, the next she was swinging the
thing like Hank Aaron.
The passenger side glass burst inward. Tom
threw up his hands to protect his face, but Gretta
continued to demolish the once pristine vehicle.
Damien thought about trying to contain the little spit-
fire, but given the way she swung that bat, he decided
it would be best to not get in her way.
Standing there with his arms crossed over his
chest, he watched as she systematically demolished
Tom’s car. Instead of driving off, the dumb bastard got
out of his car, yelling for her to stop, which only fueled
Gretta further. The beat-down she gave the car made
Damien wince, but he wasn’t about to interfere. As far
as he was concerned, the dumbass got what he
deserved.
Gretta didn’t run from Tom, either. When he
approached, yelling for her to stop, she turned on him.
That was when Damien decided it might be best to
stop the battle before Tom got his head knocked off.
“Take it easy, Gretta.” He stepped between the
two rather than hauling Gretta away from behind. He
wanted her to see who she was swinging at.
“I will not take it easy!” Gretta spat her words
more in contempt than anger, though Damien was
42
Marteeka Karland
sure there was a healthy dose of both surging through
Ariel’s sister. “He’s disturbed my sleep for the last
fucking time with this goddamned car!”
“You’re kidding, right?” Damien wanted to laugh
out loud and groan in frustration all at the same time.
There was more to it than simply lost sleep on Gretta's
part. Gretta was probably worried Tom would try to
intimidate Ariel, or worse, sabotage Ariel’s chance at
happiness with Damien. He’d known Gretta a long
time. No, this was not about lost sleep.”
“Look what the fucking bitch did to my car!”
Tom shrieked as if this were all Gretta’s fault.
Damien’s eyes wanted to cross. Had there not
been a crazy woman in his front yard wielding an
enormous bat in a very destructive arch, he’d have
laughed at the whole scene.
“That’s nothing compared to what I’m about to
do to your balls!” Gretta lunged at Tom, who skirted
out of her way. Damien caught her around the waist
and practically tossed her in the direction of the house.
It was a good thing too, because the cry of a police
siren sounded in the distance. They were about to have
the kind of company who might not like what Gretta
was about to do to Tom’s tenders.
Ariel opened the door and snagged her sister’s
hand as she hurried down the steps toward Damien.
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One Night Forever
He waved her off, not missing the fact that she’d
chosen to dress herself in one of his T-shirts. It
covered her easily, reaching to mid thigh despite the
girth of her abdomen. Damien couldn’t help but smile.
This was as good her announcing she was his. No way
Tom could deny she was over him now.
“Ariel!” Tom snapped. “Get back in that house
and put your clothes on! This nonsense is over right
now! I’m taking you home.”
That was all Damien could take. In one swift
motion, he whirled, grabbed Tom by the shirt collar,
and slammed him against what was left of his car.
“You made a deal I intend to enforce,” Damien
said. “Even if you hadn’t, do you honestly think I’d
give her up without a fight? You had your chance and
you blew it.” He looked straight into the other man’s
eyes. “Come near her again, and I’ll