Chapter 18 #2
“It’s not dilapidated. It’s just worn from a few years of neglect.
This was my great-grandparents' place.” She walked up the front steps, stopping at the top to run her fingers along the banister.
“I always thought about bringing my babies up here, like my great-grandma did. Wash out on the line, a pie in the oven. Kids playing out in the garden and a baby on my—”
A sharp pain stung through her pointer finger and Jessie hissed as she pulled her hand off the old wood railing.
“What happened?” Hawk had her hand in his, inspecting her finger before she’d even realized he was moving towards her.
“How the heck did you get up here so fast?” she laughed. “It’s just a splinter. I’ll be fine.” Jessie tugged her hand back, but Hawk held on.
“Hold still. I know a trick for getting splinters out fast,” he winked as he brought her hand up to his mouth, and then his lips sealed around her finger while he sucked against her skin.
Oh lord. Maybe they did need to head back to the apartment. She felt like she needed to lie down… with Hawk between her legs.
“There.” His fingers moved towards his face, plucking the offending splinter from his tongue. “Does it feel better? I think I got it all.”
“Thanks,” she squeaked as her whole body flushed hot at his confused expression. “So, uh, what was I saying?”
Hawk stepped closer, and Jessie pressed her back against the railing as his arms caged her in. “Something about babies. Lots and lots of babies growing up in this house. I like the sound of that…”
His lips settled a gentle kiss against hers. “But it’s not safe right now. I’m scared to death you’re going to fall through these floorboards.”
Jessie smiled as she pressed her hands into his chest and gave him a playful shove. “Where’s your sense of adventure, Chief? Come on, I just want to show you inside a little bit, so I can make sure you see the vision.”
The front door opened with a loud creak as Jessie grimaced.
The place was a lot more dusty and run down than she remembered.
It had only been a few months since she last popped over.
Even if she couldn’t afford to get the place up to code on her own, she still loved spending time there.
But looking around now, as the last little tendrils of sunlight were fading from the sky…
yeah, the place looked less than welcoming.
“Jess.”
“I know, I know. But just come in for a second. The house was updated in the eighties, and it just needs a little polish because no one’s been living here for a while.
Can’t you see it? A Christmas spent by the fireplace?
” She pointed to the boarded up hole in the wall that sported a rustic, hand carved mantle.
“Or Bee sliding down the banister on their birthday, laughing and squealing with excitement for their birthday pancakes?”
“Birthday pancakes?” he asked, an eyebrow cocked in curiosity.
“It’s family tradition.” Jessie’s heart squished in her chest. Because maybe this was all a fantasy she’d never get to have. Maybe what happened earlier, the things that had been said, broke her family apart forever.
There was something to be said about the space.
Hawk hadn’t ever walked into a house before and had it feel like his home…
but he could see what Jessie was saying.
And the bones of the place really didn’t seem to be as bad as he was thinking.
It might be worth crunching some numbers to see if he could float the repairs and upgrades—
“I’m ready to go.” Her abrupt admission had Hawk spinning to look at her.
“I thought you’d want to show me more. Where the baby’s room would be.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Where we’d make more babies.”
“Not today. I think… I just want to go back to your apartment. That’s where home is now.”
“It is?” God, he was such an asshole for sounding so excited when she looked devastated.
“I thought… Do you not want me there now? I could stay above Lachlan’s shop—”
Hawk closed the distance between them and took her hand in his. “Don’t even finish that thought. Home is with me. My apartment is yours. Now. Forever.”
“I’m ready.”
“Are you sure? If this is because of what happened at dinner—”
“It’s not. I promise. I was going to tell you tonight. Before the break-in. Before everything went to shit. I’m ready. I want our family to be together. I want to be with you.”
He bent down, his hands wrapping around her bottom as he lifted and spun the two of them across the floor.
“Careful,” she giggled. “I still feel a bit off.”
“Shit. I got so excited I forgot. I’m sorry.” He placed her back on the ground and swept some of her hair from her face.
The floorboard above their head creaked, and Hawk’s stomach dropped as he instinctively pulled Jessie behind him.
“What was that?” she hissed.
“Shh.” Hawk pressed his fingers up to his lips before his eyes went to the ceiling. The creaking continued, foot falls clomping quickly. It sounded like multiple people were about to walk right down the stairs. Who the hell was up there?
“Is it the person from before?”
“I don’t know, Jess. Just try to stay behind me and I’ll handle whatever it is,” he whispered.
Jessie inhaled sharply as two white, furry legs came into view.
“Oh my god! I’m going to kill Beau!” Jessie darted from behind Hawk. “Baby! What are you doing here? Did Beau leave the gate open again?”
“I said stay behind me,” Hawk groaned.
She laughed. “You don’t need to protect me from this fur ball. He’s my baby.”
“I’m about to get jealous, you’ve called him ‘baby’ twice now. Who exactly is this creature that seems to be my competition for affection?”
Her eyes darted up at Hawk, who gave her a smirk and winked. “Hawk, meet Lucky. Lucky, this is Hawk.”
The goat bleated, and Jessie sighed.
“We need to get him back to his own house. Lucky, this place isn’t fit for any inhabitants. Two or four legged. You know better. Don’t make me tell Beau you don’t need your afternoon snacks.”
Lucky huffed at that, prancing towards Hawk. He held his hand out as Lucky lowered his head and playfully rammed into his thigh.
“Ouch! Easy there, buddy. Come on. Back to the barn for you. I’ve got to get my family home.”