Chapter 18
Eighteen
“You’ve lost the plot if you think I’m going to let you be the reason we’re cut out of our daughter’s life. Our grandchild, Danny! She’s having a baby with one of the nicest, most protective men I’ve ever met. What is wrong with you?”
Hawk closed the front door behind him. Beau and Hayes walked into the living room, stopping as soon as they laid eyes on him.
“I have just one more thing I need to say to your dad before I leave.”
They nodded, heading out the door without saying a single word.
“His life is dangerous, Doll! In the time those men have been in Silver Springs, they’ve been targeted by a crime syndicate, a serial killer, someone they knew from the SEALs.
She was already taken from us! The first time she decided to spread her legs for him…
boom. We get a frantic call that she’s gone and they don’t know where the fuck she’s been taken.
Our daughter knows better.” Danny turned and his eyes finally found Hawk’s.
“She’s meant to be a respectable young woman in this community.
Not some fucking whore who chases after an adrenaline rush with a man fifteen years older than her! ”
Hawk’s fist slammed down on the table.
“Now, I know this is your house, which is why I’m biting my tongue this time.
But I want you to understand with unwavering certainty that whether we are standing on your property or not, if I ever hear you speak about the mother of my child, the woman I fucking love and plan on spending the rest of my life with, like that again, you’ll see just how dangerous of a man I really am.
Do not disrespect a member of my family like that again. ”
Hawk turned and marched straight out of the house. He didn’t want to make things worse for Jessie, but her father and brothers needed to know that there was no way he’d let the way they’d spoken to—and about—her stand.
When he stepped out onto the porch, Hawk’s eyes narrowed on Jessie’s red eyes and tear-stained cheeks.
“Jess?”
She wiped at her face. “I’m okay.”
Colt stood, walking towards Hawk with his hand extended. “Congratulations, man. I’m sorry I didn’t say it earlier. I’m happy for you and Jess.”
Hawk shook his hand. “That means a lot to me… to us, Colt. Thank you.”
“I’ll talk to my brothers. I’m not sure if I’ll get through to the old man, but something tells me whatever you just went in there to say probably already did the job.”
Hawk nodded. “I just told the truth.”
Colt chuckled. “I’m sure you did.”
“You ready to go, Pretty Girl?” He was ready to be off the ranch and in bed back in his apartment, with his arms wrapped around her and the baby.
“I’ll leave you guys to it. Jess, I’ll let you know what happens with the investigation, but for now, you either have Hawk with you, or you call me if you need to go somewhere on your own.”
She nodded, smiling as she got off the porch swing and walked into Hawk’s open arms.
“Oh, Colt! Wait a second. I have something for you.” Jessie pulled away and Hawk shoved down the urge to growl from the loss of connection as she walked down the porch steps towards his truck, opening the back door before grabbing the gift bag from the seat.
Then, she marched back over to her brother.
His brows furrowed as he looked at the present in his hands.
“Open it. I made Hawk go through the trouble of listening to me freak out over making everything perfect for tonight. Since it all went to shit, you can at least do this for me, right?”
Colt smiled. “Right.” He rifled through the tissue paper until he hit fabric and Jessie watched his smile grow as he pulled the shirt out, letting it fall open to reveal the phrase ‘World’s Best Uncle’ printed on the front.
“I made you all the same shirts,” she laughed. “But I really mean it with yours. Don’t tell the others.”
“Are you kidding me? I’m bragging about that until the end of time.” Colt set the bag on the floor before pulling the shirt over his head. “I plan on living up to this, Jess.”
“I know you will.” Jessie moved, her hand slipping around Hawk’s arm. “I know you want to get back to the apartment, but I want to show you something before we leave. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
“Be careful. It’s nearly dusk and the dogs are already inside the barn.” Colt warned.
“We won’t be long. We’re just going to walk to Nana Rosie and Poppy’s house.”
Her brother smiled again. “I think that’s a great plan. Have fun, you two.”
Hawk’s shoulders fell as they walked down the old path. He was silent. No words. She could barely even hear his steps beside her.
Jessie bit down on her lower lip. “I’m sorry my dad reacted like that,” she whispered.
Please don’t believe him. Please don’t leave me.
Hawk stopped walking, her arm tugging his when she didn’t stop in time. His fingers tightened their grip on her hand. And then his free hand came up to caress her cheek.
“That apology is not yours to make, Pretty Girl. It’s his. And it’s not an apology that needs to be made to me.”
“He’s never… My dad has always been so proud of me.
I mean, sure, he’s tough. He expected me to be just like my brothers, my whole life.
None of that princess treatment, but I loved that.
He’s never, ever, told me he was disappointed in me,” her voice hitched and she swallowed down the emotion churning in her stomach.
“He’s disappointed that our sweet baby exists. ”
Hawk must have caught her looking down at the device on her wrist because his hand moved off her face to gently rub the pressure point in the space between her thumb and pointer finger.
“How long have you been nauseous?”
She laughed, but it was hollow. “It never really left after the whole bedroom intruder situation.”
“Jess–“
“I know. It’s okay.”
“Level?”
“Just a six, or…” She paused, her eyes refusing to meet his.
“Or?”
“A seven.”
“Well, I think that means a walk is off the table. Let’s get you back to the apartment.”
“No!”
“No?”
“No. Let’s keep walking. It’ll pass…” Jessie forced herself to take a steadying breath. “I already feel better. And I was excited to show you this. I am so excited.”
Hawk raised an eyebrow, challenging her. But Jessie wanted to show him her great-grandparents’ place. The place she always imagined raising her family in one day.
“You know I don’t believe you, right?”
“Yeah,” she smiled. “But that’s okay. I didn’t touch my dinner, so there’ll be nothing to throw up if I’m lying.”
Hawk groaned, reaching into his back pocket. “Nope. That’s no good.” He held out his hand, her favorite protein bar appearing on his palm.
“Where did you get this from?” Jessie asked as she unwrapped the bar. It was a little warm, but that was okay. She bit into it, the salty peanut butter flavor immediately settling her stomach.
“I have a few in the truck. And some at my desk. A bunch squirreled away at the apartment. Just in case.”
Her heart beat thumped wildly in her chest. “That was very sweet of you.”
Hawk’s hands slipped into his pockets. “I just want you to feel good.”
“I do. Especially when I’m with you. You make me feel so safe.” His whole body tensed at her words, and Jessie couldn’t stop herself from reaching out, her free hand landing on his forearm. “I know you’re not a dangerous man, Hawk.”
“Your dad was wrong about what he said about you. There is no room for argument there. What he insinuated about Bee and how she came into existence. But what he said about me was true. I am dangerous. And I’m not going to apologize for that.
Because I will use every single skill set I have to make sure you and Bee are always safe. ”
A shiver worked its way down her spine.
“Does that change how you feel about me?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then why did you tense up?”
She felt her face heat. “You have to know how you sound.”
He kept walking, but his head tipped up as his brows creased. “Nope. Not one clue. Why don’t you tell me, Pretty Girl.”
“It’s just… when you get all growly, and you talk about putting me and the baby first, always keeping us safe like we’re the most precious things in the world to you… it’s very hard to resist.”
“Are you trying to resist me?” When had they stopped walking again? Jessie looked across the field at their destination, still a little over halfway to go. And she felt him get closer. His hand pressed firmly along the ridge of her hip.
“I think I was,” she admitted.
“And now that our secret is out? Now that your family knows? Are you still trying to resist me, Jess?” His breath warmed her neck.
There were a million things she could say—no, that she should say—to the incredible man standing in front of her.
But she didn’t say anything at all. She just leaned in on her tiptoes, pressed her lips to his, and melted into a kiss that held a million confessions of her feelings for him as his arms wrapped around her waist.
“I don’t want to anymore. I want us. Together. Our family,” she whispered. The admission washed over her like a gentle hug. It felt right to finally say it out loud.
Hawk’s smile was blinding. Butterflies erupted in her belly, replacing the nausea that had been pressing there for hours in the blink of an eye.
Hawk tracked her movement like an expert marksman, which of course, he was. Her hand landed on her belly, and she sighed.
“What is it?” he asked, his fingers gently running over the back of her hand.
“Butterflies.”
Hawk’s eyes went wide, and suddenly his hand was there on her belly, spread wide across the small curve, pressing down firmly.
“The baby?” he asked.
“Maybe. Maybe just from feeling free with my confession.”
They stood together in the field like that for another minute. Jessie placed her hand on Hawk’s arm before she started walking again.
“Come on, I’m excited to show you this!”
“You’re excited to show me a dilapidated house?” he asked a few minutes later as they walked up to the old homestead.