Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
If a man can dance, he knows how to move in bed. ~ The Lady Elks Secret Archives.
Dawn finished swiping on lip gloss and tugged down her short skirt. Her very short skirt. But with her cowboy boots, low-cut blouse, and sassy cowboy hat, she looked hot. Yeah, hot.
After she’d helped to decorate the Elks Lodge, she’d puttered around and worked from home, balancing ledgers for the business. Numbers made sense to her, as did music, and the correlation of those things was why she enjoyed the financial aspect of Lodge-Freeze enterprises as well as singing in the bar. But, for the first time, she began to wonder. Should she want to explore more? See the world?
She hustled into the home office to turn off the computer and glanced at the wall. Photographs she’d taken took prominence—black and whites, action shots of her family. Capturing the right moment held the symmetry of numbers for her, too. Now that she was home for good, she could take up photography again as a hobby. School had taken most of her time, and she hadn’t had the chance to play behind a camera for too long.
With a sigh, she glanced out the snow-framed window to the men stationed outside. Hawk’s men. He’d had them on her, watching her cabin, since he’d left earlier.
Now there was a man who just didn’t add up neatly.
Not that she’d ever wanted him to, actually. Wildness pounded in her blood, and Hawk was her match. Most guys would’ve run for the hills after being poisoned. Not Hawk. He’d rocked her world and then assigned men to guard her house.
She could understand the need for men with guns, but her brow furrowed anyway. Hawk didn’t see her as an equal and hadn’t even asked to station guards. While she appreciated the sense of safety, he needed to work with her and not around her.
A truck rumbled down the drive, and Hawk rolled to a stop, already out of the rig before the engine died.
Wings batted through her stomach, and she took a deep breath. He rapped on the door.
“It’s open,” she yelled.
He stomped inside. “Why the heck is your door unlocked?”
She grinned. It had been unlocked for about five entire minutes—since she’d noticed his rig churning up snow from the road at the base of the mountain. “You have guards everywhere,” she answered.
He strode into the room, arms already crossed. “You’re not taking me seriously. ”
Holy hell. He stood in dark jeans, an even darker T-shirt, with a black Stetson perched low on his head. Broad, badass, and for the moment, all hers. His eyes glittered an untamed green, intense and knowing. Hard cut, his face angled into lines of masculine beauty only found in the wild. He lifted one black eyebrow. “Dawn?”
She smiled. “I am. Stop worrying.”
His shoulders went down, and he studied his boots, obviously trying to gain some control. Finally, with an exhale, he glanced at the walls of the office, stepping closer to examine one black-and white photo from years ago. He and Colton raced horses across a spring meadow, their hair flying back, their faces intent, every muscled line of their bodies rippling with those of the animals. “I remember that day,” he said.
“Me, too. It’s my favorite picture, and when I get down, I look at you two. It cheers me,” she admitted.
“I have one, too,” he murmured.
Dawn stepped around the desk. “One what?”
He turned to her, and he paused. That gaze raked her, head to toe. Once and again.
She shivered, head to toe. Twice. Then she swallowed, her heart pounding somewhere in her abdomen. “One what?” she repeated.
Holding her focus, he reached for his wallet and pulled out a worn and dog-eared picture. “Come closer.”
Her skin heated. She stepped closer, not surprised when he snaked an arm around her waist and tugged her into his side. He held a small photograph in his hand, one that had been sized down to fit in his wallet.
She had been maybe twenty, riding Titan full bore over a snowy landscape, her hat flying off, her face pink, and sheer delight across her features. Her hands were bunched in the mane, her butt off the saddle, her body free. She’d seen the bigger picture at her parent’s house, knowing her mother had snapped it years ago. “Hawk,” she whispered.
He glanced down at the photo. “That day, that expression, all you, Dawnie. I’ve wanted to ride that wildness, to hold it true, since that shot was taken.”
She blinked, surprised at the tickle behind her eyes, and at the way his thoughts echoed her earlier one. “Most guys don’t like that much wildness.”
He tucked the picture back into his wallet. “I do. Don’t want to tame it. Don’t even want to mellow it. I just want to possess it and keep it close, wrap myself in it and keep it safe.”
Seriously.
How was she supposed to protect herself from something like that? From a declaration like that? Possess it? Possess her? Sometimes the man spoke in a language she barely understood yet felt down deep, beyond her bones. Only Hawk. “You see the world your own way.” She went to move away, and he held her tight.
He ducked his head, catching her gaze, holding it for a moment before he spoke. “Right now, you’re with me, you’re in my world. This means I keep you safe, and I’m hoping you trust me to do it right.”
She pushed away, exasperation heating her throat. “Usually I can follow Hawk-speak, but you just lost me. Try it in English, say, from this century, Hawk.”
He smiled. Slow and dangerous. Knowing. “The fact that you want modern day English tells me you read me right, blue eyes. ”
She couldn’t quite quantify how much the statement pissed her off, or even more importantly, how to express what was wrong with it. “You’re a freakin’ throwback.”
He chuckled. “I wish. Truth is, I’m as modern as possible. I’ve seen death, I’ve dealt death, and I’ve fought death. Created my own world, one I control, in order to deal. You’ve been on the fringe for years, as family, and I would’ve given my right arm for you. Now you’re the center. You made it so, and you can’t back out now.” He turned her toward the door. “Let me at least try to keep you safe.”
“I should’ve used more strawberries,” she muttered, reaching for her jacket.
His laugh, full and deep, stopped her short. Masculine and beautiful…a laugh she hadn’t heard nearly enough. The sound vibrated through her body in a delicious quiver.
Strong hands helped her into her coat. Her phone dinged from the pocket, and she drew it out. “Hello?”
“Dawn? It’s Adam. Are you messing with me?” Adam asked.
Dawn stilled. “Um, no. What are you talking about?”
Adam sighed, the sound obviously aggravated. “Babe. Yes or no. This one looks like it’s in your handwriting. Did you send me an invitation to be your date at the Elks dance tonight?”
Dawn’s head jerked. “My date?”
Behind her, Hawk stiffened. “What is going on?” he muttered.
Dawn turned, sorry to see the smile that had been on his face now gone. “Um, Adam? I didn’t send you an invite. Sorry.”
“Didn’t think so. I’ve given you the only warning you’re going to get, Freeze. Get this under control. See you at the dance.” Adam clicked off without a good-bye, in true Adam style.
Dawn chuckled and shoved her phone back into her pocket.
Hawk zipped up her jacket and drew the lapels toward him to plant a hard kiss on her mouth. “Somebody matchmaking?”
Dawn’s head whirled. “Adam received an invite to be my date, which would make you jealous, theoretically, so yeah. Somebody is probably matchmaking.” And she knew who. Exactly who.
Hawk rocked back on his heels. “Full truth here. Anything between you and Adam?”
“What? You didn’t believe me the first million times you asked?” she asked.
He didn’t respond, just waited her out.
Dawn shook her head. “Just friends. He gave me a ride home the other night because I had new snow tires being put on. Never made a move or treated me as anything other than the Lodge-Freeze boys’ little sister.” Like the rest of the town. Except Hawk.
“Good. I’ve been friends with Adam for years and would hate to have to kill him.” Hawk reached around her to open the door. “I’m leaving men on your place for the night, but I’d appreciate it if you came home with me after the dance.”
She shoved into the snowy night. “See? You can take care of that attitude and ask nicely, Rain.”
“I’m doing my best.” He kissed the top of her head. “Though it might kill me.”
The Elks dance was in full swing when they arrived. Literally. Two-stepping cowboys tossed their partners in tune with the music. Winter decorations glimmered from the ceiling, while sawdust covered the floor. A guy needed sawdust for a decent swing-dance.
Hawk didn’t miss the appraising looks as he walked in with Dawn, and his gaze immediately sought out her family at the far end of the dance floor. Colton and Melanie sat at a round table decorated with glittery shit, while the rest of the gang seemed to be taking over the dance floor.
His arms itched to draw Dawn near and tuck her close.
Instead, he put a hand to the small of her back and guided her through the crowd, returning greetings on the way. Nobody seemed too surprised to see him and Dawn together.
Of course, she had poisoned him.
In Maverick County, that was as good as a declaration of love.
He grinned and leaned over to press a kiss to Melanie’s smooth forehead. “How’s the mama-to-be?”
“Huge,” she said, patting her belly, a smile in her chocolate eyes. “You’ve obviously forgiven Dawn for trying to kill you.”
He drew out a chair and waited until Dawn sat before sitting next to her. “The woman never could cook.” A lie. A total lie.
Melanie snorted.
Colton tipped back his dark brown hat. “I have men on all three ranches, and Quinn has called in favors from other counties. We’re covered.”
Hawk nodded. “Good. I have a call in to Reese but haven’t heard back. Hopefully he’s heading this way.” They were undoubtedly overreacting, but as far as he was concerned, that was just fine. Being safe rather than demolished worked for him.
For now, he was with the prettiest girl in the county, and he was going to dance. “Dawn.” Standing, he grasped her arm and helped her to stand. The band was slowing down, and he wanted her against him.
She lifted an eyebrow but followed without arguing, settling into him with a soft sigh as he pulled her around. “I take it we’re not hiding ‘us’ any longer?”
He flattened his palm over her lower back and drew her in. “You tried to kill me with strawberries, and the entire county knows about it. Hiding us is no longer an option.”
She snuggled in. “What about my brothers?”
The punch to the face had already occurred, and they knew he’d keep her safe. “We’re good.” Hawk swung her around, drinking in the scent of woman and huckleberries. His blood hummed, and his cock hardened. “Are you good with me and now us in public?”
“Yes,” she said against his neck. “So long as you realize that I’m an equal partner in everything, including dealing with psychopath killers.”
The woman wouldn’t know a psychopath if he showed up with flowers and spiked candy. Hawk dropped a kiss to the top of her head, enjoying her body against his. “I’m in a good mood, Dawnie. Have a soft and sweet girl against me, am surrounded by friends and family, am for once out of the crosshairs, even temporarily. Let’s just pretend there aren’t killers out there.”
Her fingers curled into his waist, and her other hand tightened in his. “Sounds good to me. Let’s enjoy the dance.” She rested her face against his upper chest, her body going lax and following his.
He tightened his hold, wanting to protect her sweetness with everything he had. “I agree, but then we’ll need to talk about being careful and protected for a while.”
She snuggled in, again, and a sharp bite pinched into his chest. “Relax.”
The minx had bitten him. The edge of pain slid through him, pulsing down to his cock. He smiled against her hair. Yeah, she was perfect. “I bite back, Dawnie. Just wait.”
She shivered, her body against his, and he smiled wider. Why had he wasted so much time staying away from her? At the thought, an answer appeared, and he lost the grin. Oh yeah. Sniper, military, PTSD, and now dumb-ass drug dealers hiding from him. That’s why.
But he was all in now, and they’d pretty much gone public. So all he could do was find Meyer and fulfill his promise to put the guy away. Anybody who knew Hawk, even slightly, wouldn’t question his determination on that path. After he secured Meyer in prison, then he’d dismantle the entire drug operation. Hopefully he’d live through the mission, because man, he sure had something worth living for now.
His gaze caught on Quinn’s. The sheriff leaned against the far bar, his arm around his redheaded wife, his eyes sober.
Hawk didn’t flinch, and he didn’t look away. He figured Quinn knew what he’d do, and he also figured Quinn, as the sheriff, would do his job. So be it. Hawk would deal with that if and when. For now, all that mattered was Dawn .
A tap on his shoulder caught Hawk’s attention, and he turned to stare into blue eyes the exact color of Dawn’s. Tom Freeze stood well over six-feet tall, still a definite badass in his sixties. “I’m cuttin’ in.”
Hawk handed over the man’s daughter, only to be captured by a petite Loni Freeze, who stepped right into him. “You leading or am I, Hawk?” she asked, grinning up, her black eyes sparkling.
Hawk met her smile and gentled his hold. “How about I lead, and you tell me if I do anything wrong?”
“Just like old times,” she said, laughing, her small-boned hand warm in his. Her light yellow dress swirled around her tall boots, giving her a feminine look that was natural to her.
“Yeah.” He swung her gently, enjoying her free laugh. The woman had practically finished raising him when his mother had died, and she’d taught him to dance. “You look beautiful tonight, Loni.” Not only was it the polite thing to say, it was the truth. Long black hair, sprinkled with gray, smooth skin, sharp Native American features. Loni Freeze, no matter her age, was a looker.
Just like her daughter.
She patted his shoulder. “I’m not the type to interfere, Hawk.”
Somewhat true, somewhat not so much. “Yes, ma’am.” He tried not to stiffen. While he loved Loni Freeze, his heart belonged to the woman’s daughter, and rejection was gonna hurt. “I, ah…”
Loni smiled up at him. “All I’m going to say is that you have the right to be happy, sweetheart. I know you’ve had rough times, really dangerous times in the military, and I know you’re torn up about that. But you’re a good boy, Hawk, and always have been. If you find happiness, hold on with both hands.”
His throat clogged.
The song ended, and she drew him toward Colton. “Now you mind what I said, Hawk.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, watching her turn and barrel through the crowd toward the bar, where Mrs. Hudson was laying out cookies and pretending to ignore Henry Bullton as he filched a couple. Man. The Freeze women.
They sure knew how to steal a guy’s heart.