Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
HAWK
My ears were ringing.
This was not my usual scene. And if given the choice, it wouldn’t have been my first pick for how to spend my night.
For two years, I’d done everything I could to avoid anything like this. I preferred to be where I didn’t have these types of crowds.
But considering I was quickly learning how difficult it was becoming to deny Chloe anything, I was here at Big Lou’s Restaurant and Saloon.
From the very start of our relationship, I’d made it clear to her that outings like this, in private businesses, weren’t something I was comfortable with, mostly because it made other people uncomfortable. The situation could get awkward fast, and it just wasn’t worth it to me.
But it was Kingston’s birthday, and Chloe had asked me if I’d be willing to try for her tonight. Because she wanted to celebrate with her brother and their friends. She wanted me with her.
So, I agreed, desperately hoping the night would go off without a hitch. Not for me. It didn’t matter to me what anyone else thought. But I wanted this for her.
It had been two weeks since the Fourth of July picnic at her parents’ place, and I had to admit that I was surprised by how things had changed since that day.
After learning what I’d done to defend Chloe from an attacker, and seeing the way Zane had a change of heart, Kingston and the rest of the guys had turned things around with me.
They’d spent the rest of the day including me in the conversations and even asking about me.
It wasn’t something I ever thought I needed. But getting it taught me differently.
And that was another reason I’d agreed to come tonight. Not only because Chloe wanted me to, but because I wanted to as well. There was no telling where things would lead between us long term, but if they went where I hoped, I thought it’d be a good idea to get to know everyone better.
Plus, I liked them. The guys were cool, the girls were sweet, and it was nice having good people around me.
“You look out of your element, Hawk,” Archer said.
I shrugged, doing my best to appear indifferent. “It hasn’t really been my scene for a long time. That’s all.”
“It was cool of you to come,” Kingston said. “Chloe’s over the moon about it.”
My eyes shifted to the dance floor, where all the girls had ventured a while ago.
Chloe was dolled up, looking utterly gorgeous, moving her body to the music.
I stifled the groan that threatened to crawl up my throat at the sight of her and said, “Something tells me she would’ve been okay either way. ”
“I don’t know about that. Not if the way she was when we were here the last time is any indication.”
Tipping my head to the side, my brow furrowed. “What happened the last time you were here?”
“We were here for Archer’s birthday,” Ace shared. “And Chloe wasn’t her usual self.”
I was even more confused. “When was this? And how was she, if not herself?”
“Middle of May. Just after Mother’s Day,” Phoenix said.
Taj added, “She was so bummed. And we can only assume now that it was over you. She wouldn’t share specific details with any of us, but we could tell by the few things she said.”
“Chloe said something to both Olivia and Tessa about how lucky they were to have found someone,” Ace said.
“She wouldn’t talk much in front of us, but when we pressed her on it, she merely said she’d met a guy that wasn’t even remotely interested in her.
Chloe was so bummed; she wouldn’t even get up to dance. ”
Something tightened in my chest as my eyes shot to her.
That was after we’d had lunch together, and I’d told her I wasn’t interested in her the way she’d made it clear she was interested in me.
Obviously, I’d had my reasons, and we’d since moved on from that, but I hated to think I’d done anything to upset her so much.
“Yeah, that was my mistake,” I admitted. “I thought she’d be better off without me, that she deserved someone better than me. For nearly three weeks, I was miserable without her, and we hadn’t even been dating. I hate that I hurt her like that.”
Phoenix clapped a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t sweat it, man. All that matters is that you two figured it out in the end, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I guess that’s true.”
Before anyone could say another word, the girls came back to the tables, where we were seated. Olivia cozied up to Taj, Chloe sat right in my lap, and the rest of the women found chairs among the mix.
Framing my face with her hands, Chloe pressed a soft kiss to my lips and asked, “Is everything okay?”
With one arm wrapped around her back, the other draped over her thighs, I said, “It’s fine. Are you having fun?”
A huge smile spread across her face. “The best time. Though it’d be better if you’d join me on the dance floor.”
I squeezed her leg. “This is already a lot for me. I might need a few more trips here before that’s going to happen.”
“That’s a possibility?” she questioned me, her back going ramrod straight.
“Probably not any time soon.”
“But at some point?”
The hope in her tone would’ve had me doing just about anything she asked, even if it was something I hadn’t been willing to do. “Yeah, sweetness. At some point.”
Happiness washed over her, and a moment later, she perked up. “When’s your birthday?”
“October.”
“October what?”
“October 2nd.”
“That’s two and a half months away.”
“And? What’s wrong with that?”
She shrugged. “Nothing. I just thought maybe I’d be able to convince you to dance then.”
My fingertips drifted over the smooth, bare skin of her thigh. “Shouldn’t it be on your birthday that you try to convince me to dance? My birthday should be spent doing something I want, don’t you think?”
Chloe groaned. “But my birthday isn’t until December.”
“I know.” A huge grin spread across my face.
Narrowing her eyes, she said, “You’re lucky you’re so handsome, or I’d likely get real mad right now.”
Laughter spilled out of me as I urged her closer. Bringing my mouth to her ear, I whispered, “I’ve seen you all riled up before. It’s a huge turn-on. If you’re still feeling frustrated after we leave, I promise I’ll make it up to you tonight with a different kind of dance.”
Her body shivered.
When she pulled back to look at me, I couldn’t miss the way her eyes had brightened and were nearly entirely green. That was always the way I knew she was turned on.
“Maybe you could do that even if I’m not frustrated when we leave.”
Damn.
Lucky.
I was so hopelessly in love with this woman, and now, I needed to figure out a way to tell her.
Because I didn’t think I could hold it back much longer.
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be tonight when we were celebrating someone else.
It would be another time, a time when the moment would be just ours, and I could demonstrate just how hard I’d fallen for her.
CHLOE
When the door to my shop opened behind me, I was putting the final touches on a cake Kara had started decorating before Brett surprised her here twenty minutes ago to take her to lunch.
Evidently, she’d shared with him how she was jealous that I got to have lunch with Hawk every day, and she never got to eat with her guy.
So, Brett decided to do something about it and found a way to haul himself here this afternoon to have lunch with his girl. When Kara saw him walk through the door, it was only by divine intervention that the cake hadn’t fallen to the ground.
She’d been prepared to finish the cake, but I told her to go. I’d had weeks upon weeks of lunches with Hawk. I wanted Kara to experience it at least once with a guy who made the effort for her.
Twisting my neck to look behind me, I saw my guy had walked in. My lips tipped up as I turned fully to face him. “You!”
His brows shot up. “Me? What did I do?”
I crooked my finger and said, “You’re just going to have to come back here so I can show you.”
Chuckling, Hawk made his way past the display cases and rounded them at the end before he strode toward me. “Alright. I’m here. What’s the problem?”
Holding up one finger, I scooted backward until I was positioned right where I needed to be.
Then, I reached for my problem drawer, tugged on the handle, and watched Hawk’s face as it slid open without any hesitation.
I closed it, opened it again, and closed it once more.
“Do you know how long this drawer has been a problem for me?”
His lips twitched. “Doesn’t seem like it’s a problem.”
“I know. It’s not a problem now. But it’s been a problem… forever!”
“Well, that’s good. Isn’t it?”
“Of course, it is. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so happy about anything in my life. What I want to know is how it was absolute crap yesterday, and today, poof! It’s working perfectly.”
Hawk shrugged. “How would I know?”
I narrowed my eyes on him. “Oh, I think you know. In fact, I’m willing to bet it was you who made this happen.”
He sighed. “Fine. It was me. But what did you expect me to do? I come in here just about every day to have lunch with you, and at least three times a week, I see you fighting with that drawer.”
“So, you fixed it for me?”
“Yeah.”
“When did you do it?”
“Yesterday. You ran into the back to use the bathroom, so I looked at it. Didn’t even take me five minutes.”
I knew it.
I knew all morning long that he was the reason I now had a functional drawer, and yet, hearing him confess to it did something to me. Warmth spread through my body.
Hawk paid attention. He noticed things. From the very first day he met me and remembered every detail of that encounter until now. Maybe Danica knew precisely what she was doing when she gave him his nickname.
Feeling so good, I stepped forward, closing the distance between us. Then I draped my arms over his shoulders, pressed my body tight to his, and whispered, “I think you deserve to be rewarded for your kindness.”
His arms came around me and squeezed. “It took no time at all, Chloe. It wasn’t a big deal.”
I arched a brow. “Are you turning me down?”