Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lucky opened the door to her so-called best friend with a smile she hoped looked genuine and a heart that broke at the sight of the little girl she thought of as a niece.
“Aunty Lucky!” Krystal barreled into her legs and wrapped her little arms around Lucky’s thighs.
Lucky choked back tears and hugged the little girl to her, kissing her on the head. “I’ve missed you so much, munchkin.”
“Did you make bow-nies?” So cute.
Desiree walked in and looked around the room. “Where’s your hunky man?”
“Getting ready to leave for work at search and rescue.”
“He’s leaving you home alone on a Saturday?”
“He loves his job.”
Hawk needed it. It gave him a sense of satisfaction and purpose. She wouldn’t take that away from him.
“I’d think you two lovebirds would want to stay cuddled up in bed on a Saturday morning.”
They’d made love practically all night into the early morning.
She was concerned Hawk hadn’t gotten enough sleep to fly his helicopter.
He woke up assuring her he was fine and last night had invigorated him.
He’d kissed her before his shower with the same passion he’d shown all night.
The man was insatiable and she loved it.
“By the look on your face, I’d say you two are getting along well.”
Lucky turned Krystal toward the dining room table where crayons and a coloring book awaited her.
Krystal ran for them, giving her and Desiree a chance to talk more privately.
“We are. He asked me to move in permanently.” She didn’t much feel like confiding anything in Desiree, knowing what she knew now, but that was something she’d share with a best friend.
“Of course you’re going to do it. You can’t pass up an offer like that! It’s the best one you’ll ever get.”
She took offense, tired of Desiree always putting her down. “What does that mean?”
Desiree gave her a look that rang with stupid. “The man loves you. What better offer could you get?” Nice save. “Mind if I use the restroom before I go? It’s a long drive.”
“Where are you going? You never said. Hot date?” She waggled her eyebrows.
“I wish. You never did get me that date with the other hot Gunn brother, even though you have the inside track.”
“He meant it when he said he wasn’t dating right now.
He’s stuck on someone else. And you don’t want someone who loves someone else.
” Like Neil had loved her while Desiree had manipulated and coerced him into doing things she was sure he’d never get over.
“It would be heartbreaking to be someone’s second choice.
” Okay, maybe she was being a little mean. And obvious. But she’d earned it.
Desiree couldn’t hide the moment of hatred that flashed in her eyes before she banked it. “I always get what I want eventually. And when I don’t…” She shrugged. “You know me. I don’t wait around for something to happen. I make it happen.”
She made others miserable. She used people, blackmailed them, coerced, and corrupted. Everything was about her and what she wanted. It made Lucky enraged and sick. She wouldn’t stand for it ever again.
“And what are you making happen today?”
“Nothing really. Just a few overtime hours at the office. It’s hard being a single parent. Krystal is growing like a weed and needs new clothes, plus her daycare went up. Again.”
“Has the father stepped up to help you at all? Maybe it’s time to reach out to him and make him pay his fair share.”
Desire stepped closer. “That will never happen. She’s mine. No one is taking her from me.”
Lucky put on her most sympathetic face and played devil’s advocate. “Maybe Krystal would benefit from having her father in her life. You’re so close to your dad. Maybe she’d like being with her dad, too, having that sense of security that he’s looking out for her. And you.”
Poor Krystal. She deserved a chance to know the man who really wanted to be a part of her life. And probably would be soon. Especially if Lucky could get the evidence and confession she needed from Desiree.
“There’s nothing between us anymore. I don’t want anything to do with him.” Desiree wrinkled her nose.
Because he doesn’t want anything to do with you either?
“Anyway, the restroom is the second door on the left down that hall.” Lucky pointed to the hallway between the kitchen and dining area.
She waited until Desiree closed the door, then dug through the purse she’d left on the console table behind the couch, keeping an eye on the hallway and Krystal at the table.
Desiree’s phone was locked and Lucky didn’t know the passcode.
She rifled through receipts, two candy bars, a makeup bag that didn’t have anything damning in it, and a small black notebook with a strap holding it closed.
She opened the book, but didn’t understand the letters and numbers and dates. It didn’t matter right now. She held up her phone and started taking pictures as fast as she could. Page after page.
Hawk caught her in the act. “What are you doing?” he whispered.
She tried not to get distracted by the dark gray t-shirt stretched across his chest and around his biceps, or the way his thighs pressed against his pants. Not to mention that package behind his fly. No. She clicked away.
“She’s coming,” he whispered.
One last click, then she closed the book, secured the strap around it, stuffed it in the purse, then went up on tiptoe to kiss Hawk, saying against his lips, “Push the purse off the table.”
Hawk didn’t waste time and hooked one hand around her waist, palming her ass.
The other moved to do the same, but he “accidentally” hooked his hand through the strap and made it fall, spilling all its contents at their feet.
Hawk didn’t stop kissing her for a second, just pressed his hand to her lower back and pulled her in closer.
She got lost in the kiss, until Desiree squatted behind her and slapped the back of her thigh. “Do you mind?”
It wasn’t hard to fake her surprise or the sting she inflicted when Desiree pushed her aside. “Hey. Oh. Sorry. I didn’t realize that happened. Let me help you.” She sank to her knees and grabbed the book off the floor.
Desiree snatched it out of her hands. “I’ve got it.” She shoved the book, her wallet, and phone into her bag. “I need to get going. Be back in a couple of hours.” Desiree headed to the door without even saying goodbye to Krystal. She opened the front door and gasped.
Standing on the threshold, Neil’s hand was raised as if he’d been about to knock.
Right on time. “Neil.” His name came out with a made up hint of anger and surprise. She had to play this just right. Like they hadn’t seen each other since the night before he’d been arrested. “What are you doing here? How did you know I live here?”
His gaze shifted from her back to Desiree. “I followed you here. I didn’t know whose house it was. I want to see my daughter.”
Desiree froze, then slowly looked at Lucky.
“What is he talking about?” she asked her so-called friend. “Why would he say that to you?”
Desiree rolled her eyes. “You were always so oblivious.”
Lucky narrowed her gaze, cool calculation filling her heart. “You slept with my boyfriend?”
Desiree seethed. “I don’t have time for this.
Yes. We fucked. A lot. He’s going to tell you some bullshit that he didn’t want it, but the truth is he did, otherwise he wouldn’t have done it over and over and over again.
” She glared at Neil, then turned back to her.
“I did you a favor. He could have been your forever, instead he cheated and ended up in jail, nothing but a drug dealer and murderer.”
Neil defended himself. “That guy came at me. It was self-defense. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I had no choice. I wasn’t even charged.”
Desiree rolled her eyes. “Always an excuse for his bad behavior. You don’t need that in your life.
You’ve got Captain America now. Helicopter pilot, hero, successful business owner.
He’s not just gorgeous, he’s rich. You hit the jackpot.
Be happy. Stirring up shit in the past will only make things worse. Let it go.”
“Forget that you stabbed me in the back, that you got pregnant with Neil, and I’m just supposed to drop it, just like that?”
“I’m telling you not to go down this road. It won’t end well for you.”
“Did you just threaten her?” Hawk moved in front of Lucky, blocking her from Desiree.
“See. That right there. Everyone’s always trying to protect you, while I’m scrambling to hold on to what little I have.”
This was Lucky’s opening. “You want help? Then ask your baby-daddy to step up and do his share. Let him take some of the responsibility.”
“Krystal is mine.”
“She’s mine, too,” Neil snapped. “I deserve a chance to prove I can be a good father.”
Desiree cocked her hip and planted her hand on it. “You couldn’t even be faithful to your girlfriend. How do I know you won’t run out on your daughter?”
“I would never abandon my child.”
“No. Just her mother. For another woman.”
Neil threw up his hands and let them drop back to his sides. “We’re not even together anymore, thanks to you.”
“You mean you,” Desiree shot back.
Neil leaned into her face. “How about I tell her the real story?”
Desiree didn’t back down. “You want visitation. You know what you need to do.” Desiree turned back to her. “He is not allowed near Krystal. I have full custody and need to be somewhere.”
“And you expect me to watch her after the bomb you dropped on me?”
“Yes. Because you love her like she’s yours. And no matter what’s happened, I’m still the best friend you ever had.”
“With friends like you, I don’t need enemies. You knock me down enough.”
Desiree fisted her hands. “I can’t do this with you right now.”
Lucky caught Krystal staring at them wide-eyed and pale at the table. This wasn’t the time to finish this. “Fine. Then you and Neil will meet back here tomorrow at two and we’ll hash this out.”
Neil folded his arms in front of him, blocking the exit even more. “Fine. Maybe you can talk some sense into her, so she’ll let me see my daughter.”
Desiree huffed. “I’m leaving and so are you. Tomorrow we’ll talk about the dirty little secret you kept from the woman you supposedly loved more than anything, including me.” Desiree shoved Neil out the door and slammed it behind her.
Suddenly, Lucky felt tiny hands wrap around her leg from behind. She turned and put a hand on Krystal’s back.
“Is he really my dad?”
She couldn’t lie, or leave Krystal in the dark. Her mother lied and withheld the truth long enough. “Yes, honey. His name is Neil and he very much wants to see you.”
“But Mommy said no.”
“She did. But I’m going to fix that tomorrow. I promise.” She hoped nothing kept her from keeping that promise.
Hawk squatted next to Krystal. “In the kitchen you’ll find a cupboard door next to the dishwasher. Open it and you’ll find something special.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Lucky brushed back Krystal’s hair and kissed her on the forehead. “Uncle Hawk picked up some treats just for you.”
“Thank you, Uncle Hawk.”
He smiled at the little girl. “You’re welcome. I’ll keep it stocked for when you come visit. That will be your special cupboard.”
Krystal ran to the kitchen.
Hawk cupped Lucky’s cheek. “I hate to rush off after all that, but I’m due at work in half an hour and it’s a twenty-five-minute drive.”
“It’s fine. We got what we wanted. A meeting tomorrow.”
“What about that book?”
“I’m going to send the pics to Mason and see what he thinks. I’m hoping it’s proof of her blackmail.”
“We’ll see if Jase discovers anything today while he tails Desiree.”
“I hope so. Do you think the scene with her, me, and Neil made her suspicious?”
“It didn’t seem that way, but we’ll find out either tonight when she picks up Krystal or tomorrow when she shows up to talk about the past.”
“Nothing she can say is going to make what she did any better. But if she confesses to nearly killing me, I’ll be happy to see her behind bars.”
Hawk kissed her like he’d never get to do it again. “I don’t think she’ll do anything with Krystal here, but keep sharp. Don’t let her get you alone. Don’t let her out of your sight. I’ll try to be back before she gets here.”
“Until then, I’ll set the alarm and be anxiously awaiting your return.”
Hawk kissed her one more time, then squatted again to say goodbye to Krystal, who’d found a berry applesauce fruit pouch and a bag of fish crackers. “Be good for Auntie Lucky. I’ll see you later.”
“Bye, Unc.” Krystal slurped up more berry applesauce.
Hawk stopped in his tracks and stared at the little girl, his heart in his eyes as he turned to her. “Wow. That was…” He didn’t have to say it. She could see it in his eyes. He was so humbled to be someone Krystal called family. “Are we doing the right thing?”
“Yes. Or do we give her another shot at me?”
Hawk shook himself out of the love bomb Krystal dropped on him, his gaze narrowing. “Sorry. I got caught up in how sweet Krystal is.”
“I don’t blame you. I want that little girl to have the best of everything. But there’s one person in her life who may not always see her as innocent and untouchable.” And it broke Lucky’s heart to think that, let alone say it out loud.
Hawk kissed her one last time, the look in his eyes telling her he loved her and hated to leave her. Then he walked out the door, ready to rescue someone else when the call came in that someone needed him.
Her hero.
And then Lucky was alone with her niece, her simmering rage, and a plot to take down Desiree once and for all.