“Oh, not a career, I wouldn’t call it that.”
He looked at me, silently inquiring.
“I’m a waitress, at a bar,” I shrugged, wishing I had a different answer. “A strip club, actually. I don’t strip though. It pays well.”
He nodded, smiling gently.
Too much information, Evie, I thought to myself.
“What about you?” I asked.
“Oh, you know,” he shrugged. “A little of this, a little of that.”
I nodded, wondering now if he was purposefully being vague.
“Would you like to go for a stroll with me, Evie?” he asked. It was so charming and formal, I couldn’t help but nod firmly. A stroll.
“Absolutely,” I said.
“Splendid,” he replied, nodding with a smile before we headed down the trail together. “I’ve roamed these woods for many years, Evie. Rarely do I see a creature as beautiful as you in them.”
“Oh,” I said, blushing, taken aback by his compliment. “Thank you, Hawk.” I was used to receiving compliments, it was part of my job, in fact. But somehow, it meant so much more coming from Hawk than some guy who was trying to grab my ass at work.
“What creatures have you seen?” I asked, suddenly curious what he was comparing me to.
“Bears, black bears mostly,” he said. “A few cougars. Deer, of course. Lots of those, too. Birds of all kinds, snakes, chipmunks, raccoons, skunks. Every now and then, you’ll run into an elk. They’re huge. Massive, truly.”
“What about the Gods?”
“The Gods?”
“You’re on the God’s property.”
“Oh, the bikers?” he asked. “Yes, of course. I’ve run into a few of those, too.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I said. “They said they don’t usually have trespassers.”
“I’m hardly trespassing, Evie,” he replied. “Does that concern you?”
“No, not really,” I said. “But they may feel differently.”
“Well, I’ve never had any complaints,” he replied, his voice turning cold, “but I’m confident I can handle anything that might arise.”
I shrugged it off. It wasn’t my job to police their property.
And besides, he was obviously harmless. Slade had sent Shadow to protect us needlessly. Mushrooms…he was merely looking for mushrooms.
“I’m glad you came back,” I said, turning to face him. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”
He smiled, his grin spreading across his gaunt face quickly.
“That’s lovely to hear, my dear,” he said. “I’m glad we ran into each other again.”
His eyes were mesmerizing. My heart skipped each time he gazed at me. I longed to reach out to touch him, but he’d kept a respectable distance between us while we walked, and touching him seemed completely inappropriate, at this point. His manner was so formal, yet so kind and inviting and warm.
The desire to be wrapped in his arms washed over me like a tidal wave and I shook my head, trying to get a grip.
I barely knew this guy.
Why did I want him so badly?
“Oh, look! It’s a painted lady!” He pointed to a nearby branch and a yellow and black butterfly was perched there. He reached out a finger and it jumped onto his fingertip.
“Wow,” I said, “that’s amazing.”
“Put your hand out,” he said. I reached up and gasped as the butterfly hopped onto my finger. Immediately, I thought of Oliver sitting on me the other day and my heart melted.
“I’ve never touched a butterfly before,” I whispered in awe. “It’s beautiful.”
“They truly are, aren’t they?” he replied, beaming over at me. I smiled back, my heart fluttering. “But again, Evie, not as beautiful as you. Although, you’re glowing right now, and that kind of beauty is impossible to surpass.”
“You flatter me, Hawk,” I said, feeling flustered. “Nobody else talks to me like you do.”
“Well, that’s a shame,” he said. “Because a woman like you deserves nothing but kindness and flattery.”
I shook my head, torn between watching the butterfly perched on my finger and gazing into his gorgeous eyes. My stomach flipped with desire.
He was just so beautiful himself and all he could do was tell me the same. It was almost too much.
I couldn’t stop staring at him, though. Surrounded by the deep mossy green of the forest, in his old, worn clothes, he looked almost timeless. He talked of poetry and butterflies and blanketed me in compliments.
How was I supposed to resist a man like this?
“Hawk, can I see you again?” I asked, knowing I sounded bold and brazen.
His eyes dilated as he smiled at me.
“Of course, my dear,” he replied. “Of course. We’re friends now, Evie. You’ll never get rid of me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
HAWK
Of course she won’t get rid of me.
Where would I go?
The question was almost laughable.
She didn’t know it yet, but she was mine. Forever.
I yearn to touch her.
Watching the joy in her eyes at the mere flutter of a butterflies wings had my heart aching with her pureness. What a beauty she was, all disheveled and sweaty from her run, her hair pulled back to show off her stunning jaw line, her pretty eyes glowing, her alabaster skin all dewey from the mist of the forest.
It was too much for a normal man to endure.
But I’m not normal.
I never was.
It’s absolutely delightful, just to be in her presence.
To know that I get to be with her forever leaves my heart soaring.
Sure, I still have to get rid of that burgeoning obstacle of a man back at the cabin, but that will be easy.
I have plans for him already.
Getting him out of the way will be as simple as shooing away a fly.
“I should be going now, dear,” I whisper to her now, as we wander back towards the cabin. “I have some business to take care of.”
Her face fell and I hated to be the cause of it.
“When will I see you again?” she asked.
“Oh, darling, don’t you worry about that,” I said. “We will see each other when the universe allows it.”
“Or, we could actually make plans?” she asked, hopefully.
She was adorable. Her eyes wide with hope and innocence.
“What would be the fun in that?” I asked.
She laughed softly, looking at me curiously.
“You aren’t like other men, Hawk, do you know that?”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I replied. “Have a wonderful day, my dear. I’m sure we’ll see each other soon.”
“Alright,” she nodded, her smile returning. “It was good running into you again, Hawk.”
“Likewise, dear,” I said, my fingers clenching into fists at my sides in frustration. Oh, how I wanted to reach out to her, embrace her, make her mine in the way that a real man was supposed to do.
If this was a different world, I’d take her right there on the forest floor, throw my coat over a blanket of leaves to protect our naked bodies while I sank myself into her sweet warmth.
But that won’t happen.
At least, not today.
Maybe someday, I’ll be strong enough for that.
In the meantime, I’ll have to settle for the satisfaction of putting a smile on her face and watch with unleashed hunger, as she slowly walks away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
EVIE
My body was on fire for him.
And yet, he seemed almost untouchable.
I ran the rest of the way back to the cabin alone, my body singing with desire for Hawk. I was ecstatic that I’d had the chance to see him again.
When I burst through the front door, I was smiling from ear to ear.
I stopped in my tracks when I saw the condition of the living room.
The furni
ture had all been pushed back and a huge fort had been erected in the living room, using about a dozen different sheets and various anchoring items, such as candlesticks, side tables and firewood.
“What in the world?” I cried.
Jeremiah’s head poked out from a corner, his hair on end from static electricity. I burst out laughing.
“We made a fort, Aunt Evie!” he shouted, proudly.
“I see that,” I nodded, leaning down to peek under the canopy.
I laughed even harder when I saw Shadow. He was sitting down with his enormous legs spread out in front of him, bathed in an eerie orange light from the peach colored sheet covering his head. Between his legs on the rug were a scattering of hot wheels of every sort, including about a dozen toy motorcycles.
He scowled at me, his eyes full of disapproval.
I’d obviously interrupted a very important game of pretend.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You two look like you’re having a blast,” I said, dropping the sheet and standing back up.
“We are!” Jeremiah said. After a quick hushed conversation, the other side of the fort began rustling and Shadow scrambled out. I turned away to go back in my room, but he stopped me.
“Hey,” he called, gruffly.
I turned, not swayed by his sour mood.
“Good morning, Shadow,” I said, my voice light and airy. He squinted at me with suspicion.
“You’re in a good mood,” he said.
“I certainly am. It’s amazing what a good run in the morning will do for your mood. You should try it sometime,” I said, winking at him.
He grunted, squinting his eyes even more.
“You know, its hard for me to protect you if you keep running off like that.”
“Then don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t protect me,” I said, shrugging. “You’re not here for me. You’re here for Jeremiah.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he said. “You’re just as valuable to Slade as the boy is.”
“I doubt that,” I said. “But think what you want. Either way, I’m not going to stop jogging. It’s good that you’re here, actually. Gives me a chance to spend some time alone. It’s good for the soul, you know?”
I flashed him a huge, honking smile and then turned away, disappearing down the hallway.
I knew I was throwing him for a loop with my sudden change in attitude, but I didn’t care.
It was impossible to stay pissed off.
I’d seen Hawk again…
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
SHADOW
Well, someone stuck a feather in her cap.
She wasn’t just smiling, she was fucking beaming.
Something was up, and I didn’t like it. I didn’t buy it.
Maybe she was just playing me. Or, at least trying to. I wasn’t going to fall for it, though. She could smile and flip her fucking hair and bat her eyelashes, for all I cared.
I wasn’t going anywhere. And that was that.
Only, she’d just said it was good I was here, so now I’m all sorts of confused, but whatever.
I needed to figure out a way to keep her from running off, but at least she was safe. It was true what I’d said. Slade would kick my ass just as hard if anything happened to her. I was definitely sent here to watch over both of them.
But what put that damned smile on her face? Her eyes had a goddamned twinkle in them, for fuck’s sake.
It’d been a long time since I’d made a woman twinkle like that, but I still recognized what it meant.
That was a look of a certain kind of happiness — a joy, a bliss — that only one thing could bring.
Suddenly, it all made sense.
The guy!
Evie likes the fucking guy. She didn’t want me here. She told Diana she wasn’t afraid. There was a reason for that lack of concern.
Maybe she was meeting up with him.
I mean, seriously, who takes off to jog in the woods once it’s dark outside? Nobody. Unless you’re having a goddamned rendezvous or something.
“Damn it,” I muttered.
I was hoping the sighting of this guy was a one time thing. Now, it had escalated to a real situation I needed to deal with.
I leaned down and poked my head under the sheets.
“Hey buddy, I’m going to step outside for a few minutes. You stay here, okay?”
“Okay, Shadow,” he said.
Damn, he was a joyful kid. So sweet, never said a negative word.
That’s what happens when you love a kid. They turn into love personified.
Treat them badly, and they turn into bad people.
The good ones are the rare ones. They’re the lucky ones.
I stepped out onto the porch and took a deep, cleansing breath.
It was time for me to take this job a lot more seriously.
I walked over to my bike and unlocked one of the saddle bags. I pulled out my gun and shoved it into the waistband of my jeans.
There was a threat out there.
I just needed him to show his face.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
HAWK
A gun?
A gun!
Standing in the woods watching Shadow shove his gun into his waistband like a thug has me laughing so hard, there are tears falling down my face.
He thinks he can defeat me with a bullet?
If it wasn’t so funny, it would be pathetic.
Of course, he has no idea what he’s up against. How could he?
Poor chap.
Poor, pathetic man. He’s young, though. He hasn’t yet learned that there are threats in this world that he can’t conquer with his size or violence. But, maybe someday soon, he will learn that valuable lesson.
I sigh, supposing it will be me that will be forced to teach it to him.
I dread the fall, to be honest. His spirit will be crushed. Everything he held true till now will be shattered, any security and stability and confidence he feels will be blown to the wind.
The fall will be hard.
It will take him a long time to recover.
But I suspect his spirit is strong enough to bounce back. It’ll be good for him. Every man needs be to taken down a notch or two in their lifetimes.
In the meantime, I will laugh at him from the shadows.
I will mock him in silence.
For now, I will allow him these last few moments of bravado. Let him think he is doing some sort of good in this world, fighting against an enemy he can’t see.
Gleefully, I will anticipate the moment I can strike him down and show him just how weak he truly is.
CHAPTER THIRTY
SHADOW
It’s her smile that’s wrecking me.
Up till now, she’d been scowling at me like I’d just killed her puppy. But now, she wouldn’t stop smiling.
It was unnerving.
And goddamned irresistible.
Her smile lit up her entire face. Her eyes were still fucking twinkling dammit, and she just eluded pure joy. She bounced around like she’d just won the lottery. Hell, she was even singing.
Singing.
Some silly old hymn I’d never heard, something with a lot of thous’t in it or something. I don’t know, but whatever it was, she wouldn’t wipe the smile off her face.
As for me, I couldn’t stop scowling. I was confused as hell.
And yet, my body was responding to her in ways that I was not happy about. Which only pissed me off to no end.
She was cooking. Apparently, she likes to cook in this state of mind, because she’s been in the kitchen now for hours, cooking everything in the pantry she can find. She’s baked brownies and a carrot cake from scratch, roasted a chicken, steamed carrots and made a humongous salad that I probably won’t touch.
“Let’s eat,” she said. Of course, she doesn’t have to tell me twice. Anger makes me hungry, so I dive in and dammit, if it isn’t heaven on earth.
“It sure is,” Jeremiah says, with a full mouth.
“Thanks, guys,” she sings out. “I’m glad you like it.”
“The meatloaf was amazing yesterday, too. I’m sorry I forgot to tell you,” I grumbled.
She turned her smile on me and it felt like my soul lit up.
“Thank you, Shadow,” she said. “That means a lot to me. It was my Dad’s recipe. He only made it on special occasions.”
I nodded, a lump in my throat, as she turned away.
I wanted her to look at me like that again. It was warm and happy and it made my freakin’ heart soar in a way I’d never felt before.
But I just couldn’t take it again, even if she did. It was too much.
I looked down, concentrating on the delicious food in front of me and forcing myself not to think about her.
Impossible.
I looked up again and she was staring at me thoughtfully.
“What?” I growled.
“Nothing,” she smiled, this time wistfully. “Nothing at all…”
I nod and stare back at my food, now trying to ignore the swelling in my pants, as well as my heart.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
EVIE
I guess he’s not so bad.
I mean, he’s definitely not my type, but I can’t be too mad at the guy for leaving his Hawaiian vacation to come back here to protect us. It was noble and selfless and I figured I should be a little more kind to him.
Now that I’d seen Hawk again, nothing could bring me down.
Diana called to check in, before Jeremiah fell asleep after dinner on the couch watching television. Despite my irritation, I didn’t make a big deal with her about sending Shadow. I’m pretty sure it was all Slade’s idea, and I know there’s no arguing with that man, so I let it go.
Shadow picked him up and put him in bed, and while he was sleeping, we reassembled the living room together. It took ten minutes just to fold the sheets back up. Once we had everything back in place, we fixed a couple of drinks, put on a Springsteen record and headed out to the porch swing.
GHOST OF CHAOS: GODS OF CHAOS MC (BOOK TWELVE) Page 7