Chapter 6
SIX
CHLOE
“Okay, Kara, I’m going to grab lunch now. I’ll be back shortly.”
Kara looked over at me from behind the counter and arched a questioning brow. “Are you sure you’re not going to go order more new furniture?”
“I’m not.” I narrowed my eyes on her, took in her disbelieving stare, and finally caved. “But I think I’m going to go grab some food from one of the spots closer to the furniture store. You know, in case something does suddenly pop into my head that I might need.”
She giggled and waved her hand in the air. “Enjoy yourself, Chloe. I’ll hold down the fort.”
And she would.
The two of us had been working together for long enough that I didn’t question her ability to run the place solo for days on end, as long as I baked and froze all the cakes in advance. So me leaving her alone while I ran out for a lunch break wouldn’t be an issue.
I stepped out onto the sidewalk and strolled down the block in the direction that would lead me to Enzo’s, the Italian restaurant that sat nestled just one building away from Joyce and Dale’s store.
As I made my way there, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about what I’d done ever since Hawk had stepped out into the rain to help me several days ago.
Between how promising our conversation had been that day and the encouragement I’d gotten from my sister the day she’d called me about her book, I’d decided to go ahead with my plan to purchase a bunch of new furniture for my home.
Joyce and Dale had been surprised when I showed up, eager to order, but once they learned why I was doing it—with me specifically hinting at having Hawk make the delivery—they’d given me a smoking deal.
Even if getting Hawk into my space hadn’t been my goal, I’d have been a fool to pass up the deal they offered.
And yes, I’d ordered myself a new bed in the mix of it.
After Kara had made that wild suggestion about Hawk delivering the bed and helping me break it in, I couldn’t get the fantasies to stop playing out in my head.
I didn’t suspect I’d get so lucky that quickly with him, but the thought was a nice one.
And even if there was a slight possibility of it happening, I was willing to take it.
Just as I stepped up to the door outside Enzo’s, I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. Looking in that direction, I saw Hawk outside. He was pacing in the small grassy area near the back of the building, just off the parking lot, talking to someone on the phone.
It had been a few days since I last saw him, and it had been a few days too many. I wondered if I’d ever get used to the sight of him. Hawk stole my breath every single time I laid my eyes on him.
But there was one thing about what I was seeing now that had me rooted to the spot, unable to look away. It was far beyond the typical physical attraction I felt to Hawk, because it was something I hadn’t ever seen before.
It was his smile. Big, bold, and with the power to completely transform him. He looked… happy. Genuinely happy. And unguarded.
The sight of him like that made something at the center of my chest ache. What had happened to him that made it so he wasn’t like that all the time? Better yet, who was on the other end of that call, making him light up that way?
I figured it didn’t matter. Someone was bringing him happiness, and it was beautiful to witness.
On that thought, I decided I’d try to be one more reason he smiled. So, I stepped inside Enzo’s and bought lunch for two people instead of one.
While I waited for the food, I continued to glance outside in Hawk’s direction.
I hoped he’d continue talking on the phone at least until my order was up, so I could catch him before he went back inside to work.
I’d admit to seeing him and deciding to spend some time with him over lunch when he was already outside, but I wouldn’t seek him out to do that after he’d already gone back to work.
As soon as lunch was ready, I grabbed the bag and scurried outside. Fortunately, Hawk was still there, and he seemed to spot me as I made my way in his direction.
I watched as he said something into the phone, and a moment later, he disconnected his call.
“Hey, Hawk,” I said as I approached him.
“Cunningham.”
I still wasn’t entirely sure if he knew my first name and refused to use it, or if he had no clue what it was. Sadly, I was too much of a chicken to ask what it was, because I’d have a ton of questions if it was the former, and I’d be utterly devastated if it was the latter.
“Have you had lunch yet?”
He shook his head. “No.”
Holding up the bag from Enzo’s, I asked, “Would you like to have lunch with me today?”
“You bought enough for both of us without knowing if I already ate?” he countered.
I shrugged. “I figured I’d take my chances. If you ate already, and didn’t want to join me, I’d either give you the other portion to have later, or I could take it home myself. Considering it’s from Enzo’s, nobody loses.”
“I’ve never had.”
I blinked. “Did you just say you’ve never had Enzo’s?”
“I did.”
My jaw fell open. “How is that possible?”
Hawk shrugged and appeared to grow uncomfortable.
Right. He kept to himself.
“I guess that doesn’t matter,” I said, waving my free hand in the air. “You can try it now. Plus, if you don’t eat at least half of this, it’s a sure thing that I’ll consume far more potatoes than I should.”
Curiosity and a hint of amusement washed over him. “Isn’t Enzo’s Italian?”
“Yes.”
“So, potatoes?”
“I didn’t exactly go for the traditional Italian cuisine of pasta dishes or pizza today. I bought sandwiches, fries, and tater tots. And I can promise you I’ll eat all the fries and tater tots if you don’t share with me.”
The silence stretched between us as Hawk’s lips twitched. The sight of his enjoyment made my belly flip. He really was so breathtaking when he was happy.
Finally, he turned, swept his hand out to the side to indicate the bench, and said, “I guess we’re having lunch together.”
I grinned at him, noting the way his eyes darkened as I walked past him toward the bench.
Once there, I pulled out both sandwiches. “So, I wasn’t sure what you’d like—”
“I’ll eat anything, Cunningham.”
I jerked my chin down. “Right. Well, I got a fried chicken sub, which has lettuce, tomato, and mayo on it. And I picked up a meatball parmigiana sub. You can take whichever you’d like, or we can split them. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“Which do you want?”
“I like both.”
“Then I’m sure I will, too. So, if you hadn’t seen me outside, which would you have gotten for yourself?” he pressed.
I sighed. “The chicken.”
A satisfied smile spread across his face. “I’ll take the meatballs then.”
I held out the sub to him before reaching back into the bag and pulling out the sides. “Fine. But we’re sharing the fries and tots because I want some of both.”
He chuckled. “I can have just the sub, and you can have all the fries and tots.”
My head snapped up as my hand paused with a fry halfway to my mouth. “That’s not funny.”
“I was being serious.” He gestured toward the sides. “Clearly, you enjoy them.”
Sending him a look of disbelief, I said, “I do love them. Potatoes might be my favorite food of all time. And I like all varieties. Mashed, baked, scalloped…” I held up a fry in one hand and a tot in the other.
“I especially love them turned into different shapes and fried. But I’m at an age where I need to be mindful of how many I consume.
Especially when I make cake for a living. ”
Hawk clenched his jaw, his eyes sweeping down over the length of my body. A shiver ran along my spine at the intensity in that assessing stare. Whatever thoughts were going through his mind, he didn’t share. Instead, he asked, “How old are you?”
“I turned twenty-seven back in December.”
He’d just lifted one half of his meatball sub in his hands when he stopped and stared at me. “Twenty-seven?”
I nodded. “Why? Do I look older than that?”
“No. No, I just… Wow. You’re young.”
I couldn’t have rolled my eyes harder if I tried. “Right. And let me guess, you’re so old.”
His brows shot up, his expression serious.
When Hawk didn’t clarify, I pressed, “Are you old?”
“I’m thirty-four.”
I choked on my sandwich and burst into a coughing fit. It took a few seconds for me to calm down, and when I did, Hawk was smirking at me.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Are you… Was that a joke?”
“No. I’m actually thirty-four, so if one of us is old, it’s me.”
Much like he’d done to me only moments ago, I allowed my gaze to sweep over him from top to toe and back again. It didn’t matter that we were sitting; I could see all I needed to see. And there wasn’t a thing about him that indicated he was old. Except, perhaps, his slightly grumpy demeanor.
“Wow,” I marveled. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks.” His cheeks pinkened as he glanced down at the sandwich in his lap. “For what it’s worth, whatever you’re doing is working. Fries, tots, cake… it all looks great on you.”
I tucked my chin toward my chest at the compliment and smiled at him. “Thanks.”
For a few moments, the two of us ate in silence. I couldn’t speak for Hawk, but I suspected he was likely feeling a lot of the same that I was—nervous, excited, and, despite our ages, like we were teens in high school with crushes on each other.
Eventually, I broke the ice. “So, what do you think?”
“About?”
I jerked my chin toward the meatball sub. “Enzo’s? Is it worthy of another try sometime?”
“It’s pretty good. You made a good choice with the meatballs, Cunningham.”
“Do you want to try the chicken?”
I held my sandwich out to him, and after hesitating for a beat, Hawk leaned over and took a bite. He chewed, nodding the whole time, and said, “That’s pretty good, too.”
“Do you want the other half?”
Hawk held his hand up. “No. Thank you, but this is already more than enough. Besides, I suspect that since you ordered me to share the fries and tots with you, it’s possible you’ll be hungry later.”
“Alright. But it’s yours if you want it.”
We returned to our lunch, and I divided my time between looking at Hawk and forcing myself to look away from him, so he wouldn’t think I was a total creep.
We exchanged a few sweet smiles, and I caught his eyes dancing once when I dared to look over at him.
I was completely giddy and so glad I’d decided to walk down this way for lunch today.
Having finished one half of my sandwich, I focused my efforts on the fries and tots.
And that’s when it happened. I’d been watching folks walking along the sidewalk when I blindly reached for a fry.
Hawk had done the same, and when our hands touched, the sensation sending tingles up my arm, my head snapped in his direction.
He seemed to have frozen momentarily, but there was certainly something happening beneath that tough-looking exterior.
Hawk pulled his hand away. “Sorry.”
I smiled, picked up a fry, and held it up to him. “There’s no need for apologies.”
“I… You can—”
“Take the fry, Hawk.”
He didn’t immediately move to honor my request. But eventually, after waging whatever war was happening inside his head, he lifted his hand and took the fry from between my fingers.
Not exactly what I’d had in mind, but it was better than nothing.
From that point forward, I noticed Hawk being careful about reaching for a fry or tot, waiting until I’d taken one before he went for his.
We finished, and after a few minutes, Hawk said, “I should probably head back inside and get to work before Joyce and Dale fire me. Plus, I’m sure you’ve got some cakes to make, too.”
I nodded. “I do.”
Standing, gathering up the garbage, he said, “Thanks for this today, Cunningham. The food was delicious, and the company was even better.”
The smile had become a permanent fixture on my face when I was around him. “You’re welcome. I had a really nice time. Maybe we can do it again, and I can learn what food you would consume too much of if left to your own devices.”
“That sounds like a plan,” he said through a chuckle.
This was it. This moment, all that had happened from the second I walked up to him today until now, felt like a sign.
From the way we’d both outwardly checked each other out and the admissions we’d made about appreciating each other’s looks, to the sweet smiles, engaging conversation, and Hawk eating from my hands, I had little doubt about what I was going to do next.
It was the right thing, the necessary thing.
Because Hawk had been the shy guy, the uncertain one from the start.
I could say things to make him blush—had done just that today—so it was likely I was the one who was going to have to make that move if I wanted to steer us to a place where there was more than just a single encounter every few days.
“I hope you know I’m up for it whenever you are,” I told him, my voice a slight raspier than usual, as I stood.
Something I couldn’t read washed over his expression. “What?”
Maybe he’d forgotten what I’d told him the day it rained.
I closed the distance between us, felt his body tense as I placed my palm against his chest, and said, “I told you I liked spending time with you. That it’d be nice to see you more often.
Whenever you want that to happen, all you’ve got to do is tell me. ”
Concern leaked onto his features, and I got the distinct feeling he was experiencing some regret.
Wanting to ease whatever was on his mind, I stroked my fingers lightly back and forth, and said, “I don’t think it’s a secret that I’m wildly attracted to you, Hawk. If I’m not mistaken, I think you might like me, too. I’m just saying that we could—”
“Stop,” he clipped, cutting me off as his fingers clamped around my wrist. “Just stop.”
I froze, my lips parting in shock.
He shook his head and peeled my hand away, letting it go as soon as I was no longer touching him. “I apologize if I’ve given you the wrong impression, Cunningham. You’ve been sweet, and I appreciate your kindness, but I’m not interested in you like that.”
It was like he’d taken a blade right to my heart and twisted it. My hand flew to my chest and rubbed at the center of it to ease the ache. “Oh my God,” I murmured.
“This was my fault. I’m sorry.”
Tears filled my eyes, and I rubbed harder at my chest. How had I gotten it so wrong?
I didn’t think I’d ever been so humiliated in all my life. I desperately needed to get away.
Grabbing my purse, leaving everything else on the bench, I whispered, “Excuse me.”
Hawk reached for my hand. “Wait.”
I didn’t wait.
I dodged his hand.
Then, I was gone.
As fast as my feet would carry me without breaking out into a full-blown sprint, I took off back to my shop, feeling nothing but embarrassed.