Chapter Six
Brooklyn
I hear a car in the distance. As it comes closer, I see it’s a police cruiser. It slows down as it approaches, and the window rolls down. Hawk leans his head out.
“Ginger, what are you doing?” he asks.
“Just walking into town.”
“Why the hell isn’t Kip taking you? Weren’t you in a car accident today?”
“Oh, I like to walk.” I shrug.
He frowns. “What about the moose?”
I tilt my head. Are they really that big of a problem?
“I’ll take you into town,” he says. Before I can protest, he does a U-turn.
“Get in,” he calls.
“Okay,” I say, getting in. I have a feeling Kip won’t like this.
He seemed like he was ready to rip Hawk’s head off today, and it wasn’t lost on me how tense he got when Hawk walked into the restaurant at lunch.
There’s some sort of history there. I don’t dwell on it too long and hop into the car. It will save me time.
“So you and Kip, huh?” He says as he drives. He’s letting his eyes drift over to me.
“Yup.” I figure less words are better. I’m a terrible liar.
“How did you meet anyway?”
Oh god. I hadn’t thought this far.
“Online.”
“Really? That doesn’t seem like Kip.”
I shrug. “I guess he’s full of surprises.”
“Kip?” Hawk’s face looks so confused. I need to go back to less words. Less words were better.
He’s glancing over at me. “You look familiar.”
“So do you,” I say as I’m studying his face, his broad shoulders, his sharp jaw, his biceps too big for his shirt.
My hand flies over my mouth.
“What’s wrong, Ginger?”
“Hawthorne.”
His eyebrow arches.
“You’re Hawthorne.”
“Um...yeah. Hawk. Everyone calls me Hawk. Hawthorne’s a mouthful.”
“Brothers,” I whisper. They look a lot alike. I don’t know how I didn’t see it before.
His brow is even lower now. “He didn’t tell you?”
I shake my head.
“That grouchy fucker.”
I smile. “He is a grouchy fucker.”
Hawk laughs. “Ginger, I think we’re going to get along just fine.”
I smile back at him. I like his smile.
“How did someone like you end up with Kip?” he asks.
“Am I not his type?” I respond.
“I wasn’t sure he still had a type.”
I’m too confused to come up with a response.
“He just hasn’t had any type in a few years,” he says, stealing a glance at me.
“Oh.”
Well.
I clear my throat.
“Well, the heart wants what the heart wants,” I say.
“Is that right?” The corner of his mouth turns up just slightly.
“Well, that’s what they say at least.”
As we pull into town, he says, “Where are you heading?”
“Library if you have one.”
“Of course we have one,” he says. His hair is a touch lighter than Kips, but Kip’s is wavier and longer.
His face is smooth and clean-shaven. Kip sports just the slightest bit of scruff that I’d love to run my fingers over.
I flick my eyes away, so Hawk doesn’t catch me staring and making a mental note of all their similarities and differences.
He pulls the car in front of the library.
“You got yourself into a decent little car crash today. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” I say. Besides, you know, the pounding in my head, full body aches, and broken wrist.
“Melvin did a pretty good job,” he says, leaning closer to look at my stitches. Heaven help me, they smell the same. Both amazing. Both like sandalwood.
Hawk doesn’t move back. His face is so close to mine that I can see his blue eyes flickering.
“You can call me if you need anything – anything,” he says as he hands me a card with his number.
I smile. “That’s kind. I appreciate it.”
He nods as I get out of the car and walk into the library. I give him a little wave before I go inside. He’s nice, and not nearly as exasperating as Kip. Too bad I’m in a fake relationship with his brother. Sigh.
The library is small but cozy and quaint. The first order of business is to check for any international incidents involving me or my family. I stop at the front desk. An adorable pixie of a person stares back at me.
“Can I help you?’ she asks.
“I’m new in town, and I’d like to use the computers if possible.”
She jumps up from her seat - a bright smile on her face. “Oh, of course, I’d love to help.”
As she walks to the other side of the desk, she holds out her hand. “Rose.”
“Ginger,” I reply, shaking it. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” she leans in closer and whispers. “We don’t get a lot of new people in here.”
I follow her over to the computer stations, and she has me fill out a form. I feel a bit guilty lying on a library form, but I can’t use my real name, that’s for sure.
She clasps her hands together in front of her when we’re finished. “You’re all set. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“I will. Thanks for your help, Rose.”
I wait until she’s completely out of sight to start searching. First I just open a news website. Okay. Good. No wars have been started. Nothing about my name so far. I let out a little sigh.
I click on a news video about my brother. He gave a speech earlier today outside the White House to celebrate a group of first responders who helped in the synagogue attack last year.
James looks tired. I doubt anyone else will notice, but he looks a bit off to me. Elizabeth, my sister-in-law, is standing behind James with dark circles under her eyes that concealer is not quite covering.
Guilt washes over me. Maybe I should have told them what I was doing?
Maybe I should have done more than sent a text?
Or maybe I should have given more information in the text?
I told them I’d be fine and not to worry, but I’m surprised James hasn’t declared me kidnapped and closed all borders.
I made a point to go to a few places with cameras before I left to show I was leaving willingly on my own.
Filling up gas. Popping by an ATM. Running into a coffee shop with my car parked out front.
Until I crossed the Canadian border, I wanted them to follow me.
I sigh again. I know he’s tracking me. I know they are looking. I hate that I’m worrying him - all of them.
We’re a tight group. James adopted all of us when I was still a kid.
He’s like a father and brother. We lived in the same foster home until our foster mother died.
James was in his early twenties and adopted all seven of us.
I can’t imagine being closer or loving a family more.
I’m incredibly lucky, but sometimes I need a little space.
My brothers are incredibly protective. I know they love me, but sometimes I just need to live life without them interfering.
I tap my fingers on the desk. I wish I had a way to communicate without giving my location away. If he figures out where I am, he’ll come. If he comes, he’ll ruin everything.
I do a quick search for my name. Nothing of any interest.
Good. I hope it stays that way.
A few minutes later, I walk back over to Rose at the front desk. She greets me again with a huge smile. “Need something else?”
“I have two questions.”
“Shoot.”
“Well, I need a job while I’m in town. Know anywhere that’s hiring?”
She doesn’t hesitate before saying, “Head and Tail - they always need servers this time of year with all the tourists in town. I heard Sadie say the other day they were short staffed.”
I nod. Waiting tables. I can do that.
“That’s perfect. Thanks,” I say. I lean my arms onto the counter and lower my voice. “I was also wondering where I’d find local information about things like property records, arrests, local news, that sort of thing.”
I was expecting a raised eyebrow or some sort of sign of curiosity, but Rose is still wearing her bright smile. I guess this isn’t an odd request.
“I can help you with that. It’s a few different places. We have access to some of that here, but some of it is at the courthouse.”
Another patron walks up to the desk, and Rose flashes her smile in his direction. “Mr. Brinley, how are you today?”
I whisper. “I’ll come back in a few minutes.”
She nods and continues her conversation with Mr. Brinley.
I decide to pop down to Head and Tail and see about a job while I wait.
As soon as I walk into the restaurant, heads turn. I almost want to wave and curtsy or something if I’m going to be the center of attention. Sadie spots me.
“Hey there, good to see you again,” she says.
“Oh, thank you. You too,” I say.
“No Kip?”
“Just me.”
“Are you wanting a table?” she says, grabbing a menu.
“No, actually, I was wondering if I could speak to someone about a job. I heard you were hiring servers.”
Her eyebrow arches. “Does Kip know you’re here?”
Why the hell would Kip care whether I was here?
Oh right...fake boyfriend. News travels fast in this town.
“Of course,” I say with a smile.
She frowns and studies my face for a moment.
“Well, yeah, we need someone, but can you work with that?”
She points at my cast.
“It’s my left hand. It won’t be a problem.” I’m all confidence on the outside and none on the inside.
She takes in a huge breath that moves her whole chest. “Fine.”
“Oh perfect, when can I start?”
“Saturday. Come late afternoon. You okay working late?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Tips are better in the evening anyway.”
“That’s great. Thank you so much.”
“And Kip knows you’re here?” she asks again.
Um...do women in this town need their boyfriend’s permission to work or something? Why does she keep asking this?
“Yes. He knows.”
“Ok.” Her eyes narrow just slightly.
“Ok. Perfect. See you tomorrow.” I wave and rush out before she can ask any more questions.
As I walk back to the library, my spirits lift. This morning was bumpy, but things are picking up. I have a place to stay and a way to earn money. I’ll have this whole situation back on track in no time.
I notice clouds have rolled in, and the sky has grown a bit dark as I walk back into the library. I hope it rolls back out before I need to walk home. I don’t think they have Ubers around here, and my burner phone doesn’t have the ability to download Uber anyway.
“Ginger, you’re back,” Rose says. “I went ahead and got started.”
“You did?”