Page 26 of Damaged Protector
“Yeah, I used to watch it with Carrie when she was little. The muffin man lines were her favorite, but she always made me do the one with the high voice. It made her laugh like a tiny maniac.”
My heart melted a little. This big, hard man had a softness inside him when it came to kids. I noticed it when he spoke of Bella too.
“Who is Carrie?” I’d heard the name but there were so many kids in this extended family.
“That’s Blaire and Axel’s oldest daughter.”
My mind whirled through my internal database of people Cam had talked about. Of course I knew of Axel Broxton. The man was a football god who played for the Fort Worth Wranglers. And Blaire was his wife, an orthopedic surgeon, if I was remembering correctly.
“Blaire is Bode’s sister?”
Hawk whipped eggs in a bowl before pouring them into a hot skillet. “No, she’s Shark’s, but we all adopted her as our sister when we first met her.”
“Just one big, happy family,” I commented, and the big man nodded as he scrambled the eggs.
“A bunch of pains in my ass.” That came out as a grunt, but I could hear the affection behind his words.
He finished the eggs about the time the biscuits were done, and we carried the food to the attached dining room.
“I don’t know where the hell Cam and Shy are. They should be here by now.”
“Maybe Bella set their house on fire, and they’re waiting for the firefighters to get there.”
Hawk snorted. “Wouldn’t put it past the little toot.” His face shifted toward the front of the house, eyes narrowing in concentration. “I think they’re here.”
I had no idea what he was talking about. I didn’t hear any—
DING DONG.
“How did you do that?” I asked, and he chuckled.
“Sweetheart, I could hear a mouse fart in a jet engine.”
A squeal erupted from my lips as I sprinted to the front door. Slinging it open, I was immediately engulfed by my cousin’s strong arms. As I wrapped my legs around him, he spun us in circles.
“So good to see you, Marshmallori!”
I pressed my cheek against his and hugged him tightly. “Good to see you too, Camel Toe!”
Hawk snorted from behind me. “Camel Toe. That’s a good one. Gonna have to use that.”
“Great,” Cam drawled sarcastically as he lowered me to my feet.
Shiloh passed their daughter to him and tugged me into her warm, welcoming arms. “We’re so happy you’re here. Your cousin has been dying to see you. Bella too.”
She released me, and I turned to the little one who was clapping happily at all the excitement. She looked exactly like Cam, bright blue eyes set in a perfect face. Her hair was dark and curly like his, though he wore his short, and hers was fashioned into two space buns on the sides of her head.
The kid was absolutely adorable.
“Hi, Bella,” I said in a gentle voice, holding out my hands. “Would it be okay if I hold—” I was halted when the kid launched herself at me, and I caught her with a laugh. I should’ve known she wouldn’t be shy.
As we hugged, I swayed us back and forth, taking in her sweet, cotton candy scent. “Youse so pretty, Mallori,” she said, taking my face between her chubby palms and studying me.
“You are too, Bella.”
She turned wide eyes to her father and batted her inch-long lashes. “Daddy, can I have blondie hair too? Like Mallori?”
Cam brushed the backs of his fingers down her plump, rosy cheek. “I don’t think so, Little Angel. You’re perfect just the way you are.”