Page 102 of Dare You to Run
“Vivian. Stop assaulting those boys with your eyes and dirty thoughts. Go!” Camille orders, pushing at her back.
“Fiiine. I’ll go. But when the shirts start flying off, I’m going to need a bowl of popcorn and a glass of wine for the show.”
Dagen shakes her head and pops up on her toes to kiss me. “Please tell Mal and Danté I apologize in advance for any inappropriate groping from my Aunt Viv. But remind them that she’s married to that very large man over there.” She points to Phoenix who picks up a heavy box like it’s a box of cereal and not piles of shoes and books.
She hustles into the house with her mom and aunts, and I join the guys who are staring at the open end of the truck.
“You didn’t really bring a whole lot with you,” Vaughan points out. “Are you planning to let my little girl sleep on the floor?”
“No, sir. She won’t be on the floor. I let her pick out whatever she wanted a couple weeks ago, and it should be delivered in the next few days. This is just the stuff I needed from my house and then we’ll make a run to get Dagen’s stuff from the other house that we already packed up. We’ll stay at a hotel until it arrives.”
“He’s a goner,” Phoenix tells Vaughan, jabbing at his side and pointing to me. “The man let her decorate the house. That’s equivalent to an engagement ring.”
“That is true,” Luca adds.
I stare at him and wonder if the man is just on supervising duties today as he wears crisp jeans, a pressed white shirt and loafers. I don’t know how they do it in Italy, but we wear ratty old clothes when moving.
“Alright. C’mon y’all. Let’s get this unpacked so we can go grab the rest of Day’s things. I need a beer and burger, but my wife said that’s not happening until her daughter is unpacked and happy.”
We all line up and take turns stepping into the back of the truck, grabbing a box and walking it to the house, where we drop it and let the ladies handle the rest.
At one point, my brothers pull me aside and ask, “Is this how her family is all the time?”
“Yup. Pretty much.”
Danté shakes his head and laughs. “Lucky bastard. Did you see the ass on that little redhead?”
I smack his chest and figure I might as well give one to Mal. “Did you see the temper and muscles on that little redhead’s husband? Or the fucking python arms of his best friend? You’d be wise to keep your eyes diverted from all of these ladies. From what I understand, none of them are above murder if you so much as smile at their women.”
“Looks like you’re in good company, Hen.” Mal cackles then runs off to pester Phoenix.
The man is right. I would choke a man with a smile on my face if he looked at my girl too long. Luckily, it seems that I will always have an alibi and a willing hand and shovel if I need it.
It was a long day of moving and unpacking and chaos, but the extra hands were much appreciated since it made the task go by faster. The massive Mag Creek crew –the name which Dagen said they go by– left right after Vaughan treated everyone to dinner. The kids were all back home with the grandparents, and Bishop was practically in a panic without Anais. I swear that man called her at least fifty times while he was here. Dagen told me that she spoke to Anais and that she begged us to keep him an entire night. I guess she was feeling a bit smothered.
Malik and Danté got a room at the same hotel Dagen and I are at, so we decided it was a nice night to sit by the pool. We grabbed a six pack, got some snacks for Dagen, and now we sit in the hot tub relaxing the overused muscles.
Well, technically only Dagen’s feet are in the hot tub because she shouldn’t be in the hot water. She pouted a bit but stopped when I told her I’d rub her feet while they soaked.
I sit between her legs rubbing her feet as she massages my scalp with her talented fingers.
“Dagen, I don’t know what is in the water down in Magnolia Creek, but your aunts are the hottest group of women I’ve ever seen. I’d include your mom in that but I don’t want to bedisrespectful.” Malik rests with his arms propped on the tile surrounding us.
“Hendrix already told me and trust me, I’ve heard it all.”
“Okay good. Because your mama is a fucking MILF. Damn Day. Your dad is a lucky sonuvabitch.” Malik wipes his head when I splash water at his face.
“That man speaks the truth,” Danté adds, looking a little more relaxed and happier than I’ve seen him in some time.
“Yeah, it’s nothing I haven’t heard before. At least you guys aren’t as crude as my friends when they talk about my Uncles and Dad.”
“I heard Vivian talking about Mal and D earlier and I about died.”
“Oh god. She’s the filthiest of them all. She puts the men to shame.” Dagen scoots closer to me, her legs hanging over as if she sits on my shoulders.
“Just my type.” Danté smirks devilishly and I can only imagine the thoughts that play in his head.
I lean my head back and look up at Dagen. Her eyes shine in the moonlight and I think about how dull and lonely my life would be without her.
