She looked up at him, her eyes widening. Geez. “You’re mad?” Disbelief and then wounded pride slammed through her. “Seriously? If I did hit on you, you should be shockingly grateful.” She had no clue what her mouth was doing, but all of a sudden, she just couldn’t take any more.
He waved the card in front of her face. “You didn’t send this?”
She sighed and tried to count down from five. “Of course not. I’m sure Mrs. H. did, because she wants Hawk to make a move.” Jealously, huh? Yeah. That could work.
The atmosphere changed. Adam’s brown eyes warmed.
Dawn took a step back. He’d never looked at her like that. Even though her heart was elsewhere, Adam had some potency. “I didn’t send that.”
He nodded. “But you did use me the other night to make Hawk jealous. Right?”
She shifted uncomfortably. “Not really. I mean, you’d already offered to take me home, and I had no clue Hawk would be at the bar.” But yeah, it had worked out nicely.
Adam stepped toward her. “Listen up, Freeze. You wanna play? I’m up for playing.” He ran a knuckle down the side of her face. “But I play for keeps.”
She swallowed.
“If you wanna make Rain jealous, we could give it a shot, but I gotta tell you. If you’re in my bed, you’re not getting out.” Adam released her and headed for the door. “Think about it. And if it’s not where you want to be, take care of this problem. And no more notes.” A second later he was gone.
She shook her head. Wow. Seconds ticked by, and the door opened again. She stiffened, and then sighed as Quinn Lodge poked his head inside. “Hi,” she said.
He pushed a brown Stetson back on his broad forehead. “What’s wrong?”
Everything. “Nothing. Are you here to help decorate?”
“No. Let’s grab lunch.” He waited for her to approach and follow him, which she did with a resigned groan.
They were finished decorating, and Luann had already taken off, apparently. Adam still fiddled with the keg behind the bar, and Dawn figured they’d had enough alone time for a while. Sure, he’d just been messing with her, but even so, Adam wasn’t a guy you pushed. Much.
Dawn climbed up into the cab of Quinn’s sheriff truck and waited until he’d driven out to the quiet road before speaking. Pine trees bowed under their heavy, snowy burden on either side of the road. “Did you let Hawk know the guys on duty could take off?”
“Yep.” Quinn tossed his hat into the backseat.
Dawn studied her older brother. Long and lean, Quinn Lodge was all intelligence and muscle. Yeah, he was her brother, but she figured he was quite the looker. “Are you going to lecture me?”
He cut his eyes toward her before focusing back on the icy road. “Do you need a lecture?”
“Don’t use that tone with me.” For goodness sake. Yeah, Quinn had caught her more than once sneaking out of the house as a teen, and he’d always used that tone with her, but he’d never ratted her out. Of course, his punishment was blackmail, in that she’d always ended up mucking out stalls for him so he wouldn’t tell. “I’m all grown up.”
He cracked a smile. “You’ll never be all grown up to me, Dawnie. But I get your point.”
She shifted in her seat. If he wanted to get personal, she could totally play. “Isn’t it your turn to give mom and dad a grandkid?”
He chuckled. “According to our mother…yeah.”
Dawn swiveled toward him. “Are you, ah, trying?”
Quinn shook his head. “You want to talk about sex, Dawn Eleanor?”
No, no, no. “Nope. Good point.” She sat back and readjusted her seat belt. “Not at all. Never, really.”
“Works for me,” Quinn muttered. “I just wanted to see if you’re doing all right, and make sure you’re not being pushed into doing the books for the family businesses.”
Dawn narrowed her gaze. “Did Luann talk to you?”
“Yes.” That was Quinn. He didn’t evade or even try to be smooth. “While I’d worry about you, and I’d hate to see you go, traveling Europe at your age sounds like fun.”
She blinked. “Is this about Hawk?”
“No. This is about you.”
She reached for the button on the dash and turned up the heat on her seat. “Is there something wrong with me?” she mused.
Quinn angled her way even while taking a corner. “No. Why?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure I want to go explore Europe right now. I’ve been away from home studying for so long, and now I want to be here. To play with my niece and nephews, and whatever babies Melanie has. To see mom and dad…and you guys. I want to be home.” As she said the words, she settled right into them.
Quinn’s dark eyes warmed. “I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t because of Hawk.”
“What if it was?” She knew her mind, and she knew what she wanted. “What’s wrong with Hawk?”
“Nothing. I love him like a brother.” Quinn drove through the town entrance. “But he’s got issues, and he’s driven and obsessed right now. Even if he comes back, he has shit to deal with.”
“Like you did?”
“Yeah.”
Dawn bit her lip and waved out the window to some friends outside the yogurt shop. “Juliet handles your issues fine.”
“Juliet is one of a kind.” Quinn waved at Mr. Poppins outside the grocery store.
Dawn stiffened. “I’m not as strong as Juliet?” Sure, Juliet was all graceful and tough. But geez.
Quinn chuckled. “Baby girl, from the second you took your first step at a full run and landed on your face, only to stand right back up, I knew you were one of the strongest and most stubborn women in the entire world. Thank God.”
Warmth glimmered through her. “Well then.”
“I’m just saying, don’t plan your life around Hawk.”
“I’m not.” She leaned back, crossing her arms. “Honest, Quinn.” But again, she wondered. For so long, she’d wanted him, and now she’d had more than a taste of him. He was, well, Hawk. That said it all. But she didn’t know him, not this side of him, and she wasn’t even sure he’d let her love him. If not, she had to let go. Man, that was gonna hurt.
Quinn pulled into the freshly plowed parking area for the pizza shop. “I changed my mind. Lunch is on you.”
She glanced around. “Oops. I left my purse at the lodge.”
Quinn laughed full out. “Now that’s a new one. Not.”
Chapter Twelve
If a man can dance, he knows how to move in bed.
~ The Lady Elks Secret Archives
Dawn finished swiping on lip gloss and tugged down her short skirt. Her very short skirt. But with her cowboy boots, low-cut blouse, and sassy cowboy hat, she looked hot. Yeah, hot.
After she’d helped to decorate the Elks Lodge, she’d puttered around and worked from home, balancing ledgers for the business. Numbers made sense to her, as did music, and the correlation of those things was why she enjoyed the financial aspect of Lodge-Freeze enterprises as well as singing in the bar. But, for the first time, she began to wonder. Should she want to explore more? See the world?
She hustled into the home office to turn off the computer and glanced at the wall. Photographs she’d taken took prominence—black and whites, action shots of her family. Capturing the right moment held the symmetry of numbers for her, too. Now that she was home for good, she could take up photography again as a hobby. School had taken most of her time, and she hadn’t had the chance to play behind a camera for too long.
With a sigh, she glanced out the snow-framed window to the men stationed outside. Hawk’s men. He’d had them on her, watching her cabin, since he’d left early.
Now there was a man who just didn’t add up neatly.
Not that she’d ever wanted him to, actually. Wildness pounded in her blood, and Hawk was her match. Most guys would’ve run for the hills after being poisoned. Not Hawk. He’d rocked her world and then assigned men to guard her house.
She could understand the need for men with guns, but her brow furrowed anyway. Hawk didn’t see her as an equal and hadn’t even asked to station guards. While she appreciated the sense of safety, he needed to work with her and not around her.
A truck rumbled down the drive, and Hawk rolled to a stop, already out of the Ford before the engine died.
Wings batted through her stomach, and she took a deep breath. He rapped on the door.
“It’s open,” she yelled.
He stomped inside. “Why the heck is your door unlocked?”
She grinned. It had been unlocked for about five entire minutes—since she’d noticed his truck churning up snow from the road at the base of the mountain. “You have guards everywhere,” she answered.
He strode into the room, arms already crossed. “You’re not taking me seriously.”
Holy hell. He stood in dark jeans, an even darker T-shirt, with a black Stetson perched low on his head. Broad, badass, and for the moment, all hers. His eyes glittered an untamed green, intense and knowing. Hard cut, his face angled into lines of masculine beauty only found in the wild. He lifted one black eyebrow. “Dawn?”
She smiled. “I am. Stop worrying.”
His shoulders went down, and he studied his boots, obviously trying to gain some control. Finally, with an exhale, he glanced at the walls of the office, stepping closer to examine one black-and white photo from years ago. He and Colton raced horses across a spring meadow, their hair flying back, their faces intent, every muscled line of their bodies rippling with those of the animals. “I remember that day,” he said.
“Me, too. It’s my favorite picture, and when I get down, I look at you two. It cheers me.”
“I have one, too,” he murmured.
Dawn stepped around the desk. “One what?”
He turned to her, and he paused. That gaze raked her, head to toe. Once and again.
She shivered, head to toe. Twice. Then she swallowed, her heart pounding somewhere in her abdomen. “One what?” she repeated.
Holding her focus, he reached for his wallet and pulled out a worn and dog-eared picture. “Come closer.”
Her skin heated. She stepped closer, not surprised when he snaked an arm around her waist and tugged her into his side. He held a small photograph in his hand, one that had been sized down to fit in his wallet.
She had been maybe twenty, riding Titan full bore over a snowy landscape, her hat flying off, her face pink, and sheer delight across her features. Her hands were bunched in the mane, her butt off the saddle, her body free. She’d seen the bigger picture at her parent’s house, knowing her mother had snapped it years ago. “Hawk,” she whispered.
He glanced down at the photo. “That day, that expression, all you, Dawnie. I’ve wanted to ride that wildness, to hold it true, since that shot was taken.”
She blinked, surprised at the tickle behind her eyes, and at the ways his thoughts echoed her earlier one. “Most guys don’t like that much wildness.”
He tucked the picture back into his wallet. “I do. Don’t want to tame it. Don’t even want to mellow it. I just want to possess it and keep it close, wrap myself in it and keep it safe.”
Seriously.
How was she supposed to protect herself from something like that? From a declaration like that? Possess it? Possess her? Sometimes the man spoke in a language she barely understood yet felt down deep, beyond her bones. Only Hawk. “You see the world your own way, Hawk.” She went to move away, and he held her tight.
He ducked his head, catching her gaze, holding it for a moment before he spoke. “Right now, you’re with me, you’re in my world. This means I keep you safe, and I’m hoping you trust me to do it right.”
She pushed away, exasperation heating her throat. “Usually I can follow Hawk-speak, but you just lost me. Try it in English, say, from this century, Hawk.”
He smiled. Slow and dangerous. Knowing. “The fact that you want modern day English tells me you read me right, blue eyes.”
She couldn’t quite quantify how much the statement pissed her off, or even more importantly, how to express what was wrong with it. “You’re a freakin’ throwback.”
He chuckled. “I wish. Truth is, I’m as modern as possible. I’ve seen death, I’ve dealt death, and I’ve fought death. Created my own world, one I control, in order to deal. You’ve been on the fringe for years, as family, and I would’ve given my right arm for you. Now you’re the center. You made it so, and you can’t back out now.” He turned her toward the door. “Let me at least try to keep you safe.”
“I should’ve used more strawberries,” she muttered, reaching for her jacket.
His laugh, full and deep, stopped her short. Masculine and beautiful…a laugh she hadn’t heard nearly enough. The sound vibrated through her body in a delicious quiver.
Strong hands helped her into her coat. Her phone dinged from the pocket, and she drew it out. “Hello?”
“Dawn? It’s Adam. You messing with me?” Adam asked.
Dawn blinked. “Um, no. What are you talking about?”
Adam sighed, the sound obviously aggravated. “Babe. Yes or no. This one looks like it’s in your handwriting. Did you send me an invitation to be your date at the Elks dance tonight?”
Dawn’s head jerked. “My date?”
Behind her, Hawk stiffened. “What the hell?” he muttered.
Dawn turned, sorry to see the smile that had been on his face now gone. “Um, Adam? I didn’t send you an invite. Sorry.”
“Didn’t think so. I’ve given you the only warning you’re going to get, Freeze. Get this shit under control. See you at the dance.” Adam clicked off without a good-bye, in true Adam style.
Dawn chuckled and shoved her phone back into her pocket.
Hawk zipped up her jacked and drew the lapels toward him to plant a hard kiss on her mouth. “Somebody matchmaking?”
Dawn’s head whirled. “Adam received an invite to be my date, which would make you jealous, theoretically, so yeah. Somebody is probably matchmaking.” And she knew who. Exactly who.
Hawk rocked back on his heels. “Full truth here. Anything between you and Adam?”
“What? You didn’t believe me the first million times you asked?”
He didn’t respond, just waited her out.
Dawn shook her head. “Just friends. He gave me a ride home the other night because I had new snow tires being put on. Never made a move or treated me as anything other than the Lodge-Freeze boys’ little sister.” Like the rest of the town. Except Hawk.
“Good. Been friends with Adam for years and would hate to have to kill him.” Hawk reached around her to open the door. “I’m leaving men on your place for the night, but I’d appreciate it if you came home with me after the dance.”
She shoved into the snowy night. “See? You can take care of that attitude and ask nicely, Rain.”
“I’m doing my best.” He kissed the top of her head. “Though it might kill me.”
…
The Elks dance was in full swing when they arrived. Literally. Two-stepping cowboys tossed their partners in tune with the music. Winter decorations glimmered from the ceiling, while sawdust covered the floor. A guy needed sawdust for a decent swing-dance.
Hawk didn’t miss the appraising looks as he walked in with Dawn, and his gaze immediately sought out her family at the far end of the dance floor. Colton and Melanie sat at a round table decorated with glittery shit, while the rest of the gang seemed to be taking over the dance floor.
His arms itched to draw Dawn near and tuck her close.
Instead, he put a hand to the small of her waist and guided her through the crowd, returning greetings on the way. Nobody seemed too surprised to see him and Dawn together.
Of course, she had poisoned him.
In Maverick County, that was as good as a declaration of love.
He grinned and leaned over to press a kiss to Melanie’s smooth forehead. “How’s the mama-to-be?”
“Huge,” she said, patting her belly, a smile in her chocolate eyes. “You’ve obviously forgiven Dawn for trying to kill you.”
He drew out a chair and waited until Dawn sat before sitting next to her. “The woman never could cook.” A lie. A total lie.
Melanie snorted.
Colton tipped back his dark brown hat. “I have men on all three ranches, and Quinn’s called in favors from other counties. We’re covered.”
Hawk nodded. “Good. I have a call in to Reese but haven’t heard back. Hopefully he’s heading this way.” They were undoubtedly overreacting, but as far as he was concerned, that was just fine. Being safe rather than demolished worked for him.
For now, he was with the prettiest girl in the county, and he was going to dance. “Dawn.” Standing, he grasped her arm and helped her to stand. The band was slowing down, and he wanted her against him.
She lifted an eyebrow but followed without arguing, settling into him with a soft sigh as he pulled her around. “I take it we’re not hiding ‘us’ any longer?”
He flattened his palm over her lower back and drew her in. “You tried to kill me with strawberries, and the entire county knows about it. Hiding us is no longer an option.”
She snuggled in. “What about my brothers?”
The punch to the face had already occurred, and they knew he’d keep her safe. “We’re good.” Hawk swung her around, drinking in the scent of woman and huckleberries. His blood hummed, and his cock hardened. “Are you good with me and now us in public?”
“Yes,” she said against his neck. “So long as you realize that I’m an equal partner in everything, including dealing with psychopath killers.”
The woman wouldn’t know a psychopath if he showed up with flowers and spiked candy. Hawk dropped a kiss to the top of her head, enjoying her body against his. “I’m in a good mood, Dawnie. Have a soft and sweet girl against me, am surrounded by friends and family, am for once out of the crosshairs, even temporarily. Let’s just pretend there aren’t killers out there.”
Her fingers curled into his waist, and her other hand tightened in his. “Sounds good to me. Let’s enjoy the dance.” She rested her face against his upper chest, her body going lax and following his.