Free Her Big Bad Mistake by Hazel Gower

him a chance.
    “Chet, Stevens, you’re getting out.” The officer opened the cell door and avoided Damon’s gaze. “Congrats on your wife being pregnant.”
    They walked out and Damon started to have a sinking feeling as the man continued to talk. “She said you were taking her baby shopping today. Good luck with that. I remember taking my wife on her first baby shopping trip and that was a while ago. Um… my son is a fan of yours. Would you mind signing something for him?”
    Damon stopped and looked at the officer. “Did you say my wife was here? Out those doors?”
    The officer seemed to figure out he’s said the wrong thing. “Yes, she came with your teammate, Caleb Blackbe.”
    Clenching and unclenching his fist, he nodded. “Sure, I’ll sign something for your kid.”
    The officer opened the door, stepped out, and walked him to where his lawyer, Caleb, and his wife stood chatting and laughing with police officers. When Becky saw him her eyes widened and he watched her paste a smile on her face. Her eyes were what had him pausing—they flashed bright with anger.
    “Honey, I was just telling them that you were supposed to pick me up from the hospital and take me baby shopping.”
    What the hell? Becky had never called him honey. Dickhead, asshole, but never honey. What game was she playing?
    Her Australian accent was thick as she hugged him and leaned up to whisper, “You’re an arse. This gives me real faith in you…not.” She pulled from his ear and held his hand with a bright smile on her face.
    One of the policemen cleared his throat. “Mr. Chet, we have some paperwork for you to sign and then you’re free to go. The charges have been dropped. No more fighting off the ice.”
    He tried not to roll his eyes. Of course it was all right for him to beat the shit out of someone as long as it was part of a hockey match. Damon tried to let go of Becky’s hand but she wasn’t giving it up. Giving in to her, he walked to the table and signed the papers. She let go of his hand only to let him sign the documents and autographs before she grabbed it again and held it tight.
    Once they were out of the precinct and in Caleb’s car, Caleb waiting behind to finish up with Jacob, Damon waited for the yelling, but Becky did something worse. She broke down crying. Damon felt like a douche as gut-wrenching sobs left Becky.
    “You are black and blue. I don’t know if I can do this if this is how you’ll be. I don’t want my child to come with me as we go to the precinct to bail daddy out of jail after another punch up. I saw the footage and I don’t understand how you could do that. Jacob is your friend. Why?” Damon didn’t say anything and she shoved at his chest. “Why?”
    “I only found out yesterday that my wife that ran off the day after I married her is pregnant with my child, and I have to beg her to move in with me. Then my friend starts at me so of course I’m going to fight back.” Damon was getting angry all over again.
    “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left like I did. I shouldn’t have left at all.” She sat up and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t contact you. I was going to a million times, but then I would see you in a magazine or on TV doing something stupid or with another woman and then I thought, stuff you. So I waited.”
    Damon had come home from Vegas and stayed to himself, but anytime he left his house his anger would surface and he would end up doing something stupid. Then his agent had shoved women at him, going on and on about his image and keeping up appearances. He didn’t give a fuck about appearances. Maybe he should have gone after Becky, but he knew she wasn’t really for him. Becky was the settling down type and Damon wasn’t; at least, that what he told himself. He was thirty-three and hadn’t found anyone willing to settle down with. Damon fallen for Becky but she was too good for him—she saw the best in everyone. Maybe that was why he was willing to