Chapter Four
Kip
Why the hell is Hawk driving toward the house? He hasn’t been out here in months, and today of all days, he decides to pop by.
I walk out to the front porch to meet him.
“What do you want, Hawk?” I say.
“Good to see you too,” he says, walking closer. He’s not in uniform. Good.
I walk down the stairs, Ginger’s right on my heels. She’s standing behind me like I’m a human shield - which I guess in this situation I am.
“Heard you had an eventful morning.” He’s trying to peer around me, but I’m happily blocking his view.
“How so?” I’m being a dick; of course I know what he’s talking about.
“A car crash. Running into Paul’s without a shirt. A visit to Melvin.”
“Oh, that,” I say.
He doesn’t stop. “People overheard that your friend tried to rent that phantom scam vacation rental.”
“Did they?” I say. I feel Ginger take a step closer to me. Her breathing has sped up.
“I don’t know anything about the vacation rental,” I respond.
His eyebrow arches.
“Really?”
He steps to the right, and I shift my weight, blocking his view.
“What’s going on, Kip?” he says, his voice low and angry.
I sigh. I’m going to regret this. I’m really, really going to regret this.
I step to the side and grab Ginger. As soon as Hawk lays eyes on her, his eyes linger on her face and then fall to her body - drinking in every inch of her.
Hell if I’m going to let that happen.
I wrap my arm around her shoulder. I can feel her trembling, and I'd love nothing more than to make her stop, but right now, my priority is getting Hawk to go the hell away.
“This is Ginger. We’ve been in a long distance relationship. She’s come to visit me, but she had some car trouble today.”
I can feel that she’s stopped breathing. I pull her a little closer and kiss her on the head. Fuck me, everything about her is soft and inviting, and her hair smells like fucking roses.
Hawk’s eyes widen just slightly.
“I don’t know why there would be a rental though. She’s staying right here. Isn’t that right, cupcake?”
I’m still not sure if she’s breathing. I squeeze her shoulder, and she jerks back to life.
“Yes...yes, that’s right.” She’s not really selling this.
“Hawk, is it?” She holds out her hand. I don’t want him to fucking touch her - not even her hand, but he reaches out and shakes it. They don’t linger though. Probably because I’m staring at Hawk like I’m going to rip his head off if he so much as breathes wrong around her.
“You got pretty banged up,” he says, stepping back.
That’s right. Step back. Far back.
She looks down at her wrist.
“She sure did. I’m taking good care of her though,” I say. “Don’t worry.”
“Well, I guess people were mistaken earlier.”
“I guess they were,” I say. “Anything else I can help you with?”
“Naw, just checking in.”
I smile tightly. Time for him to move the fuck along.
“Well, let me know if you need anything,” he says.
Not a chance in hell.
“Sure thing,” I say. I’m leading Ginger by the hand back up the stairs. She waves and calls, “Nice to meet you.”
I drag her inside before Hawk can even respond.