Chapter 3
THREE
CHLOE
I was probably going to regret this.
But there was no turning back now. Not after I’d made up my mind.
Maybe that was a curse of being Zane Cunningham’s daughter. He had determination like no other, and some of that resolve had rubbed off on me.
It had been a few days since Hawk showed up to grab the cake sampler I’d put together for Joyce, and I hadn’t seen him since.
But that didn’t mean he hadn’t crossed my mind, that I hadn’t heard the touch of tenderness in his voice when he told me it was sweet that I wanted to share cake with everyone.
If that had been all that happened, I wouldn’t have been here now, doing what I was about to do.
Then, yesterday happened.
Joyce showed up at the cake shop to officially order the cake for her great grandson’s birthday, and while she was there, I couldn’t stop myself from mentioning Hawk.
“I was surprised to see you sent Hawk to pick up the cake samples,” I’d said as I pulled out my notepad to take down details of the cake she wanted for Gus.
Joyce offered an uneasy smile in return. “I hope you don’t mind. Dale and I saw how things were the day before at the furniture shop when you offered him a cupcake, and we just wanted to nudge things along.”
My brows shot up. “Nudge things along?”
She nodded. “Despite how things were that day, Hawk’s a great guy. But he tries to keep himself focused on work, away from others. He prefers to keep his distance.”
That information only made me more curious. “He gets angry around people?”
Shaking her head, Joyce insisted, “That’s just it. Hawk isn’t an angry guy. He’s just a bit… quiet around most people. And compared to someone like you, who’s bubbly and extroverted, it’s such a stark contrast.”
“I don’t know if I’d say he’s shy, though,” I countered.
“He’s not shy. Hawk just gets… uncomfortable around others. Especially when he doesn’t know them well. And the discomfort manifests as harshness to those he might come into contact with. I promise he’s a nice guy.”
I tipped my head to the side and allowed that to sink in. Hawk had been harsh with me when I offered him that cupcake. But when he’d shown up the next day, he’d been much softer. Sweeter, even.
“I appreciate you sharing that, but I guess that only makes me more curious. If you know all of this about him, why would you put him in the position of asking him to come here to pick up the cake?”
Joyce reached out and placed her hand gently on my forearm.
“Chloe, some people have a hard time seeing what they need. Life hasn’t been kind to Hawk, and that’s changed him a bit.
But nobody deserves happiness and joy in their life more than that man.
” She squeezed my arm. “I sent him here after I noticed the way you looked at him. I was young once. I looked at Dale in the same way. I didn’t think you’d mind seeing Hawk again. But more than that, I’ve got a hunch.”
“And what’s that?”
Her thin lips curved into a smile. “You’re just the kind of woman Hawk needs in his life.”
I stared at her, unsure what to do or say.
“I’m not asking you to do anything you don’t want to,” Joyce added. “But if there’s any sort of interest in him on your part, and you have it in your heart to forgive him for being so curt with you, I think your persistence would go a long way in helping to heal that man.”
“Heal him from what?”
She released my arm and shook her head. “That’s his to share, sweet girl.”
Joyce never said another word about Hawk for the remainder of her time in the cake shop. We focused solely on the details for Gus’s birthday cake. But I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about that conversation.
I was curious about Hawk, yes. And there was no question that I felt a physical attraction to him. But there was something else there. Something nagging at me to try to be whatever it was this man needed.
And maybe that required a bit of sacrifice on my part. A willingness to suck up my pride and be myself regardless of his attempt to steer clear of others. I could do that. I’d done much harder things in my life.
That’s why I’d taken Joyce’s words to heart and decided to do something about it.
That’s why I was on my way to do something bold.
But with each step I took in the direction of the furniture store, I wondered if perhaps I was going about this all wrong.
Yesterday’s determination, which had carried through to this morning and afternoon, meant very little as I closed the distance between myself and where I’d find a man who needed healing.
Hawk had said he didn’t like cupcakes, and here I was carrying another small box of four of them to him.
After the conversation I’d had with Joyce, I questioned whether Hawk had been completely honest about the cake.
I figured I’d know for sure after this encounter, but I had to prepare myself for it backfiring.
Earlier today, I’d called the furniture store and asked Joyce what time Hawk would be finished. I wanted to be there when he left for the day.
With near perfect timing, I’d made my final approach just as Hawk walked outside. His eyes immediately locked on me, and I couldn’t miss the tension building in his frame. Joyce hadn’t been kidding. He really was uncomfortable around people.
Wanting to do what I could to put him at ease, I smiled brightly. I wanted to say that I saw something flicker in his gaze, but I couldn’t be sure. At the very least, I was reassured by the fact that he wasn’t sneering at me.
“Hi, Hawk.”
He jerked his chin down. “Hi.”
“I’m so glad I caught you.”
Surprise littered his features. “Pardon?”
Holding up the container, I said, “I wanted to bring you these.”
Surprise turned to confusion. “What are they?”
Licking my lips, I shifted back and forth on my feet. God, I hoped this would go over well. “I know you said you weren’t a fan of cupcakes, but I don’t know how to make ice cream. So, I tried to come up with a way to merge what you like with what I know how to do. These are Neapolitan cupcakes.”
“Are you telling me you made cupcakes specifically for me?”
I nodded, the smile back on my face. “Consider it a peace offering. I think we got off on the wrong foot, and I wanted to do something to make the other day up to you. I shouldn’t have pushed the lemon cupcakes on you the way I did.”
His eyes darted several times between the container in my hand and my face. When they finally settled, he said, “So, you brought cupcakes to make up for offering a cupcake to a guy who doesn’t really care for them?”
Oh boy.
Maybe I’d made a mistake.
Pushing through the nerves, I let out a laugh.
“I know it seems silly. But this is what I’m good at.
I just thought that maybe if I made cupcakes with a twist on a classic ice cream flavor, you might be more inclined to give them a chance.
The cupcake is a layered mix of milk chocolate cake topped with vanilla bean cake.
Then I topped it with a strawberry buttercream frosting. ”
Hawk stared at me like I was crazy. He also appeared to be unsure of what to do.
I took the reins. “Look, I’m not going to force you to try one in front of me.
I just want you to accept it as a kind gesture from someone who feels bad about how she behaved.
You can take them home and throw them out or give them to a friend if you really don’t want them, and I’ll never know.
But at least I’ll be able to sleep better at night, knowing I did what I could to make amends. ”
More silence stretched between us, Hawk using that time to study me. I could make a sacrifice and keep trying with a guy who was going to be tough to get through to, but even I had my limits. He had to be the one to say something next.
Though I was certain it was only a few more seconds, it felt like whole minutes passed before Hawk reached his hand out to take the container from me. My belly flipped, and it was all I could do not to jump for joy.
“Thanks, Cunningham. This was nice of you to do.”
I beamed at him. “And thank you.”
“For what?”
Placing my hand lightly on his wrist, I said, “For accepting them.”
Hawk’s eyes darted to my hand, something intense happening in that dark stare. I saw enough to know his response to that could go either way, so I snatched my hand away and tucked my chin toward my chest.
“I should get going,” he said.
“Yeah. Me, too.” I tucked a rogue strand of hair behind my ear. “It was nice to see you again, Hawk.”
His eyes narrowed slightly, and I was certain something harsh was going to escape those perfect lips. But no such thing happened. “Take care, Cunningham.”
Well, he didn’t say that it was nice to see me, but his response could’ve been so much worse. I’d happily take what he’d given instead.
A moment later, I turned and walked back down the block toward my shop. I didn’t look back, but I wondered if the strange feeling I felt come over me was Hawk’s lingering stare.
HAWK
One choice.
One single choice had changed my whole life.
I understood, better than most, what a reckless decision could do to a man’s life. Even if I didn’t regret what I’d done twelve years ago, I still struggled with the impact. The effects had lingered like I never imagined they would. The last two years had been the worst of it.
All I wanted now was some semblance of a peaceful life. I wanted to spend my time with the few people who mattered most to me.
There was no expectation of anyone else ever coming into the picture. That was the one thing I was reasonably confident wouldn’t have been a problem. I didn’t have people lining up to be part of my life.
I understood it.
I respected their choices.
I even expected the looks I received on occasion, when it was unavoidable to remain secluded.
But over the last few days, I’d been thrown off kilter. Because of one woman. One woman who looked at me unlike anyone else had in the last twelve years. She talked to me like I was a human, like I was no different than Joyce or Dale or anyone else who might’ve walked into her cake shop.
The woman with long brown hair, hazel eyes, and sinful curves. The woman whose personality was as bright as the flavor those lemon cupcakes had been. The woman who’d been gracious enough to accept my apology and follow it up days later with a peace offering of her own.
Neapolitan cupcakes. She’d taken the time to make them especially for me. Because it mattered to her that we were on good terms.
I hadn’t always been a dick to people. Things happened, my life changed, and I had no choice but to live up to what they were all saying. It was easier that way.
At least it’d keep me in check, prevent me from wanting more than what I had now. I’d resigned myself to the empty, hollow feeling inside. There was nothing I could do to change what my future held.
And I’d been doing okay adapting to that reality.
Until now.
This woman was persistent. And boisterous. And so incredibly beautiful.
She was also off-limits.
Someone like her… I’d destroy her. I’d ruin every good thing she had in her life. And I didn’t doubt for one second that she had a lot of good surrounding her. She wouldn’t be the woman she was if that wasn’t the case.
Despite what everyone thought about me, and believing every word they said, I had enough decency not to ruin somebody else’s life the way I’d destroyed my own.
And considering I felt no remorse over what I’d done, that if given the chance, I’d do the same thing all over again, it was obvious I was no good for a woman like that.
A woman who brought happiness and sunshine and cupcakes to the people who worked along the same block as her.
So, I’d do whatever I could to steer clear. To make sure I didn’t bring any of the dark shadows of my life into her bright future.
The only problem would be getting her to see she was better off not trying to be my friend. Because I’d tried being a dick to her, and I’d never felt worse in my life than when I saw the light leave her eyes. I couldn’t do that again.
I could only hope now that I’d accepted these cupcakes she’d made specially for me, that gorgeous woman would forget I existed.
She’d have to be the one to do it, too. Otherwise, we’d be in trouble.
Because she’d placed those soft, delicate fingers on my arm, and suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. Maybe it’d just been a casual gesture for her. It was anything but for me.
And when she walked away after giving me the cupcakes, and I couldn’t bring myself to look away from her, there wasn’t a single doubt in my mind that she had the power to make me desire things I hadn’t longed for in a very long time.