Hawk
I open the front door while Miss Hollifield slides her feet back into her heels. I try not to stare at her ass as she bends, but I’m a second too slow.
She catches me. Rather than a scowl or even a slap, she smiles at me.
My blood heats, and I have to bite my lower lip to hold back what I really want to say.
Fuck that. We only live once. I’m saying it.
I hold open the door for her and motion her toward the chairs Shadow and I sat in the other night. I know the cameras are rolling, but fuck it.
There is a beautiful woman in front of me, and she’s been looking at me all night in ways that… Well, in ways that make me forget she’s the wrong kind of woman for me.
If I had anything inside my thick skull, I’d wave her on her way and wish her goodnight.
I must be pretty stupid because as soon as she sits down, I blurt it out. “I want to see you again. Can I take you out?”
Miss Hollifield—fuck, I need to figure out what to call her because calling her that somehow makes me both hot and nervous at the same time—looks at me. She laughs softly and smooths her hair back. She crosses her long legs slowly, rolling one ankle and giving me a full view of her strong calf.
Something inside me heats, and my cock leaps to attention. She’s leaning her head against the back of the chair so casually, so comfortably, but the air between us is alive with something electric.
She is quiet as she contemplates my question, but she doesn’t answer it. Instead, she says, “You know how many times I’ve driven past this house and never knew who lived here?” She takes a nice deep breath and closes her eyes. “I grew up down this road. My father still lives in my childhood home.”
Something about her saying she drives past this house all the time has my instincts kicking in.
I try to sound unaffected when I ask, “Oh yeah? You live with your dad?”
She shakes her head, and the long, silky waves of her hair swish over her shoulders.
“I have a condo close to school.” She is quiet again, thinking maybe.
Deciding how much she should share. “My father isn’t in great health these days, but he won’t give up the house.
Truth is, I don’t want him to.” She chuckles softly and then leans forward and meets my eyes.
“Would you think it was strange if I told you I drive by my father’s house almost every night?
I can’t explain it. I know he could fall or have another stroke at any time.
When I’m at school. Middle of the night.
Over the weekends when I’m just, I don’t know, working out or cleaning.
But somehow, I always feel like if I’ve driven past, and I see him through the window reading or puttering in the kitchen, I can sleep. ”
She stands up and paces back and forth along the porch, giving me a perfect view of her sculpted ass in that pencil skirt. She stops and shakes her head, an embarrassed smile on her face.
“Most nights, I don’t even stop. I don’t go in.
I just drive past, and if the lights are on or if I see him through the windows, I turn around and go home.
If I am having trouble sleeping, sometimes I drive over to him in the mornings before school and have coffee with him.
I probably should just move back in with him, but I don’t know if he’d want that. ”
She turns away from me, staring out into the now-dark night sky.
“I lost my mom when I was the girls’ age. I was fifteen. Dad’s the only parent I’ve had since then. It’s interesting that you invited me here tonight. That you’re here, so close to my dad.”
“Well, I don’t live here,” I remind her. “Just passing through. But I know what it’s like to lose a parent. I’m sorry.” My voice is a low rasp. I didn’t think the woman with a stacked body and mesmerizing hazel eyes would strike such a serious chord.
“I’m sorry for you too,” she says, not pressing me for more. She turns back to face me. “Thank you for dinner, Hawk. It was delicious. I had a great time.”
She moves to step off the patio, but I notice there’s no car in the driveway. “Where’d you park? Did you walk here from your dad’s?”
She shakes her head. “I parked just there on the street. I didn’t know who would be coming or going, and I didn’t want to block the driveway.”
I follow her down the drive and realize that I recognize her car. It’s the same maroon SUV Shadow and I saw last night. “That you?” I ask.
She nods. “That’s me.”
I chuckle. “I thought you were casing the house last night. That was you who drove by? Probably about this time.”
Her eyes widen. “Yes. I stopped by Dad’s last night. You saw me?”
I quirk up one corner of my mouth. “Sure did. I’m here to keep an eye on the girls, and it’s hard not to notice a car that’s idling in front of the house after dark.”
“I’m sorry. I must seem like an absolute weirdo.
” She blows out a full breath from between her lips.
“Last night, I thought Dad caught me. He started texting me just after I drove past, so I stopped the car and read the messages to see if he was either upset or if maybe I needed to turn around and go back.” She chuckles.
“Who would have guessed that the road I’ve driven down tens of thousands of times over the years would be the very same road you were watching last night. ”
I take that as my chance. I follow her down the driveway to her car, a sense of utter relief filling my chest at the fact that it was just a distracted high school principal driving past the house—not an enemy. Not a threat.
She unlocks the SUV door, and I hold it open for her. “What should I call you?” I ask. “I feel like I’m about to get in trouble every time I say Miss Hollifield.”
“You already have one nickname for me,” she purrs, a teasing smile on her lips. “How about that one?”
I shake my head. “Fuck. Let me start over. Let me take you out. Drinks, dinner. You name it. I’ll call you whatever you want to hear.”
I can’t help laying it on thick for her.
She turns, leans her ass against the side of her SUV, and sucks her lower lip into her mouth.
I’m gonna have wet dreams for weeks over this woman.
Loose wisps of hair skate on the light evening breeze.
Her blouse is buttoned tight, but her soft curves are a perfect complement to her professional vibe.
If the kids weren’t inside, and assuming she gave me any sign she was interested, I’d hike up that skirt and bend her over the hood of this car so fast…
“I don’t think so,” she says.
“Hmm?” I snap my attention back to what she’s saying.
She shocks me then, taking a finger and trailing it along the buttons of my shirt.
“You’re trouble, and I tend to stay out of trouble.
It’s kind of my job to stay out of trouble.
” The way she’s looking at me makes me feel like trouble is actually her favorite pastime.
“But thank you for dinner. Maybe I’ll see you next time you babysit. ”
She slips behind the wheel, her skirt hugging her curves and sliding up to gift me an eyeful of leg.
“Get the girls to school on time tomorrow,” she says, her eyes never leaving mine. She closes the door and rolls down the window. We watch each other, locked in a moment that’s charged with obvious desire.
I have enough experience with women to know she’s into me. But if she’s anything like my ex, maybe I should follow her lead and just let this go.
“I can’t make any promises, Miss H.,” I say, resting my hand in the open car window. “As you can see, I’m not exactly the boss here.”
She licks her lips and turns on the car. “I don’t know that I agree with that,” she says. “You exude control. Dominance…” She sighs like someone’s just told her they ran out of her favorite ice cream. She wants me. She’s tempted, at least.
“Good night, Miss Hollifield.” I tap the door of the SUV. “Get home safe. Let me know if you change your mind about those drinks.”
She gives me a smile that crinkles the corners of her eyes. It’s genuine and real, but as she pulls away, she adds, “If I see you on the patio again someday, I’ll wave.”
When I go back inside, both girls are standing at the front door with their arms crossed.
I grimace and cross my arms right back. “What?” I demand. “Why aren’t you two doing homework?”
“Are you going to date Miss Hollifield?” Daisy demands. “I like her for you.”
I rub my forehead where a hint of a headache is starting. “No,” I stammer, not liking the feeling of two teenagers giving me advice about my personal life. “It’s not like that.”
I uncross my arms and head to the kitchen for a beer. “Isn’t it past your bedtime or something?” I call out.
Holly points an accusing finger at the centerpiece. “Flowers, Uncle Hawk? Who buys flowers unless they are trying to woo a girl?”
“Woo?” I echo. “A girl?” I pop the top off the beer and down half of it in one go. “I’m not ready for this conversation.”
But it hits me that it’s true. I did buy the flowers, intending to send them home with her. I forgot. If I have the chance to go out with her again, I’ll have to make another stop by Miss Regina’s for something special.
Not that that’s happening.
Not that I should want that to happen.
She’s a Sadie, through and through. Professional woman. Great job. More education in her pinkie finger than I have in my entire body.
Maybe she’d fuck me, take me home for a night. But I know how women like that are. She’d get sick of me. Toss me to the curb when my swearing, drinking—or hell, the less-than-legal work I do—brought too much heat.
It’s a fantasy.
A foolish dream.
One I should pack away right fucking now.
Daisy shocks me by wrapping her arms around my waist and giving me a hard hug. “Dad was like you for a long time. Poppy’s been good for him. Maybe Miss Hollifield would be good for you too.” She pokes me in the ribs. “And I don’t think she actually curls her hair. It’s a win-win for you.”
I pretend to reach for her blue curl to tug on, but intentionally miss. “Get yourselves to bed, you heathens. If you’re not on time for school tomorrow, I can guarantee I’ve got no chance with your principal.”
“Oh my God,” Holly says. “Are you serious? We can do that. We can be early if it means Miss H. will give you a chance.”
The kids give me hugs and head upstairs, but true to their word, they pack it in early and things go quiet on the second floor. I take a picture of the flowers I bought for tonight and text it to Miss H. before changing her name in my phone.
Me: These were for you. I forgot to send them home with you. Next time?
I close up the house and head upstairs. By the time I’m ready for bed, I have a response.
Miss H: Beautiful flowers. Give them to your duckie.
I shake my head and swipe my phone screen. It’s not a yes. But some foolish part inside me clings to the fact that what she texted back was also not a no.