Chapter 26 Hawk
TWENTY-SIX
hawk
Kendra: What are you doing?
Me: Watching the Bears.
Kendra: Can I come over?
I responded with a view of the game from the suite where I watched it in the Garden and followed up with a ticket to the game.
Me: Send me your location and I’ll have a car come get you.
Kendra: I could get used to this treatment…
Me: Please do.
Kendra arrived just before the second period, and while I loved the skirt she wore this morning, the jeans she wore now somehow showed off her curves perfectly. I stood to greet her, and the friends who had joined me in the box tonight all turned their heads when she arrived.
I couldn’t help the grin on my face; her smile carried a lightness, too. As she stood in front of me, she asked, “Who are these people?”
“Just some friends.”
“I want to kiss you. Is that okay?”
I answered by pulling her into me and taking her mouth hard and fast. When I pulled away, the eyes in the suite burned into me. “I’m taking you home tonight.”
“Thank God,” she whispered.
“Now that we have that straight, let me introduce you to the guys.”
The Bears lost that game, but it didn’t matter much to us.
I loved how passionate Kendra was about sports, but I also loved when her analytical side kicked in.
She loved the game, but she also had it in her to make the tough decisions based on what was best for the team, even if it didn’t benefit her favorite player.
“Kelsey’s son’s father plays in Colorado. They won’t say the quiet part out loud, but they’re all hoping for a trade to the East Coast. Boston would be ideal.”
“Shit. That’s an impossible schedule to navigate. Between Sam’s and then the hockey season—”
“They’re looking to hire a nanny for the next season. Kelsey’s doing the bulk of the traveling with Crew right now. Sam helps when he can, but there’s not much time before pitchers and catchers head to training.”
I was greedy for every bit of information she shared about her life.
My friend Miles had watched us quietly and eventually made his way over to where we sat.
“Are you going to introduce us? Or will we need to stare at you two and wait for you to remember your manners?”
“Miles Baxter, this is Kendra Colette.” I stood back and watched while they shook hands, and Miles studied her.
“Is your sister Kylie?”
“She is. Do you know her?”
“She’s Lily Bradshaw’s roommate, right?”
“Correct. How do you know Lily?”
Oh damn. Miles and Lily had been in a five-year situationship. I couldn’t wait to see how he explained it.
“We’ve been dating on and off for a while.”
Kendra pointed to the name on the ice, where Baxter’s law office proudly sponsored the Boston Bears. “Any relation to you?”
“Yes. I come from a long line of ambulance chasers.”
Kendra laughed. “Well, your commercials were always the best.”
“It’s great to see Hawk bring someone around.”
“It’s not like Jonathan could avoid me. I seem to turn up almost everywhere he goes.”
Miles caught my eye, and I shook my head.
After I broke up with Giada, I had mainly let her spin the breakup narrative.
He was the only one who knew the truth. What Kendra just said scarily hinted at a stalking situation.
Which was exactly what had happened with Giada.
He also wouldn’t have missed her use of my given name.
“We work together,” I said by way of explanation.
“I’m going to use the ladies’ room.” Kendra excused herself, leaving me to face Miles and whatever question he felt he had the right to ask.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Miles lit into me. “Have you fucked her yet?”
He knew after Giada’s manipulation that I had avoided intercourse. I wished now I had never shared that information with him.
“I’m not sharing that with you.”
“Either way, it’s telling. You like this woman.”
“I do.”
“Is she the reason you held out on committing to the game tonight?”
I responded late to the game invitation, only accepting after I found out Kendra had plans.
“She is.”
“I hope it works out then.”