Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
Dress up for yourself, not for a man. He’ll notice anyway. ~ The Lady Elks Secret Archives.
They’d worked for hours to transform the upstairs of the Elks Lodge into a winter fairyland that coordinated well with the existing Christmas decorations, and the room was almost finished. Sleet mixed with snow outside, slashing down, causing slush that would probably freeze before too long.
Dawn leaned back and flicked glitter onto a white tablecloth, making it shimmer blue. “Perfect.”
Luann frowned and shoved her wild hair over a shoulder. Her eye shadow was a deep purple today, giving her a very cool, smoky look Dawn could never quite achieve. “Okay.”
“Not everything can be pink,” Dawn countered, jerking her head toward the sparkly white dust covering the bar. “I like the winter look.”
“You’ll like it in Paris even more,” Luann countered.
Dawn grinned. “I probably would.”
“You’ re just staying here in case Hawk wants to stay, and he’s not going to,” Luann countered, her eyes sizzling, her frame nearly vibrating.
Maybe. Dawn rubbed her eyes. Was she missing out on life in the hope that Hawk would come to his senses and stop courting danger? “I told you I’d think about it, and I will.” She turned to where a group of Lady Elks were setting up the buffet table.
The door opened, and Adam strode in, carrying a keg. Muscles rippled in his back and arms as he marched around the bar and set it down. His dark hair was brushed back from his rugged face, and his eyes scanned the room before he visibly relaxed.
Luann hissed out air. “That man is fine with a capital F.”
Dawn snorted.
Adam stood and turned, stretching his back. “Freeze? I need to talk to you.” His brown eyes were veiled, and his dimples lacking.
“Ruh-roh,” Luann whispered.
Dawn ignored her and crossed the room. To her surprise, Adam took her arm and led her into the back kitchen, which was empty. His hand encircled her entire bicep. She looked up. “What?” she asked.
He released her and leaned back against the door of an industrial steel refrigerator, crossing his arms. A shadow covered his jaw, and in a black T-shirt and ripped jeans, he seemed more of a rocker than a bar owner. “Explain.”
She blinked. “Huh?”
His gaze narrowed, and he dug out a card from his back pocket. “Now.”
Okay. Sure, Adam was a bit bossy when she was in the bar working in the band, but usually he used more than one word sentences. She took the card and opened it.
Hi Adam,
You’re hot, I’m hot, and I think we should be hot together. Tonight at the dance? XOXO Dawn P.S. I love your ass.
Heat climbed into her face. She tried to speak, but nothing came out.
Adam yanked the card from her hand. “What the hell is going on?”
She looked up at him, her eyes widening. Geez. “You’re mad?” Disbelief and then wounded pride slammed through her. “Seriously? If I did hit on you, you should be shockingly grateful.” She had no clue what her mouth was doing, but all of a sudden, she just couldn’t take any more.
He waved the card in front of her face. “You didn’t send this?”
She sighed and tried to count down from five. “Of course not. I’m sure Mrs. H. did, because she wants Hawk to make a move.” Jealousy, huh? Yeah. That could work.
The atmosphere changed. Adam’s brown eyes warmed.
Dawn took a step back. He’d never looked at her like that. Even though her heart was elsewhere, Adam had some potency. “I didn’t send that note.”
He nodded. “But you did use me the other night to make Hawk jealous. Right?”
She shifted uncomfortably. “Not really. I mean, you’d already offered to take me home, and I had no clue Hawk would be at the bar.” But yeah, it had worked out nicely .
Adam stepped toward her. “Listen up, Freeze. You wanna play? I’m up for playing.” He ran a knuckle down the side of her face. “But I play for keeps.”
She swallowed.
“If you wanna make Rain jealous, we could give it a shot, but I gotta tell you. If you’re in my bed, you’re not getting out.” Adam released her and headed for the door. “Think about it. If that’s not where you want to be, take care of this problem, and no more notes.” A second later he was gone.
She shook her head. Wow. Seconds ticked by, and the door opened again. She stiffened, and then sighed as Quinn poked his head inside. “Hi,” she said.
He pushed a brown Stetson back on his broad forehead. “What’s wrong?”
Everything. “Nothing. Are you here to help decorate?”
“No. Let’s grab lunch.” He waited for her to approach and follow him, which she did with a resigned groan.
They were finished decorating, and Luann had already taken off, apparently. Adam still fiddled with the keg behind the bar, and Dawn figured they’d had enough alone time for a while. Sure, he’d just been messing with her, but even so, Adam wasn’t a guy you pushed. Much.
Dawn walked outside and climbed up into the cab of Quinn’s sheriff truck and waited until he’d driven out to the quiet road before speaking. Pine trees bowed under their heavy, snowy burden on either side of the road. “Did you let Hawk know the guys on duty could take off?” she asked.
“Yep.” Quinn tossed his hat into the backseat.
Dawn studied her older brother. Long and lean, Quinn Lodge was all intelligence and muscle. Yeah, he was her brother, but she figured he was quite the looker. “Are you going to lecture me?”
He cut his eyes toward her before focusing back on the icy road. “Do you need a lecture?”
“Don’t use that tone with me.” For goodness sake. Yeah, Quinn had caught her more than once sneaking out of the house as a teen, and he’d always used that tone with her, but he’d never ratted her out. Of course, his punishment was blackmail, in that she’d always ended up mucking out stalls for him so he wouldn’t tell. “I’m all grown up.”
He cracked a smile. “You’ll never be all grown up to me, Dawnie. But I get your point.”
She shifted in her seat. If he wanted to get personal, she could totally play. “Isn’t it your turn to give mom and dad a grandkid?”
He chuckled. “According to our mother…yeah.”
Dawn swiveled toward him. “Are you, ah, trying?”
Quinn shook his head. “You want to talk about sex, Dawn Eleanor?”
No, no, no. “Nope. Good point.” She sat back and readjusted her seat belt. “Not at all. Never, really.”
“Works for me,” Quinn muttered. “I just wanted to see if you’re doing all right, and make sure you’re not being pushed into doing the books for the family businesses.”
Dawn narrowed her gaze. “Did Luann talk to you?”
“Yes.” That was Quinn. He didn’t evade or even try to be smooth. “While I’d worry about you, and I’d hate to see you go, traveling Europe at your age sounds like fun.”
She tried to follow his logic. “Is this about Hawk?”
“No. This is about you,” Quinn said.
She reached for the button on the dash and turned up the heat on her seat. “Is there something wrong with me?” she mused.
Quinn angled her way even while taking a corner. “No. Why?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure I want to go explore Europe right now. I’ve been away from home studying for so long, and now I want to be here. To play with my niece and nephews, and whatever babies Melanie has. To see mom and dad…and you guys. I want to be home.” As she said the words, she settled right into them.
Quinn’s dark eyes warmed. “I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t because of Hawk.”
“What if it was?” She knew her mind, and she knew what she wanted. “What’s wrong with Hawk?”
“Nothing. I love him like a brother.” Quinn drove through the town entrance. “But he’s got issues, and he’s obsessed right now. Even if he comes back, he has stuff to deal with.”
“Like you did?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Quinn said.
Dawn bit her lip and waved out the window to some friends outside the yogurt shop. “Juliet handles your issues fine.”
“Juliet is one of a kind.” Quinn waved at Mr. Poppins outside the grocery store.
Dawn stiffened. “I’m not as strong as Juliet?” Sure, Juliet was all graceful and tough. But geez.
Quinn chuckled. “Baby girl, from the second you took your first step at a full run and landed on your face, only to stand right back up, I knew you were one of the strongest and most stubborn women in the entire world.”
Warmth glimmered through her. “Well then.”
“I’m just saying, don’t plan your life around Hawk,” Quinn said.
“I’m not.” She leaned back, crossing her arms. “Honest, Quinn.” But again, she wondered. For so long, she’d wanted Hawk, and now she’d had more than a taste of him. He was, well, Hawk. That said it all. But she didn’t know him, not this side of him, and she wasn’t even sure he’d let her love him. If not, she had to let go. Man, that was gonna hurt.
Quinn pulled into the freshly plowed parking area for the pizza shop. “I changed my mind. Lunch is on you.”
She glanced around. “Oops. I left my purse at the lodge.”
Quinn laughed full out. “Now that’s a new one. Not.”