'Let me hold her while you're gone,' Sarah offered. 'I've never particularly wanted one of my own,' she admitted, 'but I don't mind borrowing someone else's occasionally.'
'You can give them back that way,' Leonie acknowledged with an understanding laugh, leaving Holly with the other woman as she went out to the kitchen.
She hesitated outside the study, aware of Hawk's raised voice, wondering whether she should go and see what was wrong with him or if she should just mind her own business. As she heard him swear she decided on the former.
'—For God's sake, Bob, it isn't only my son's wedding today that's holding me back,' he rasped down the telephone line, his back towards the study door. 'I'm getting married myself tomorrow. Don't be clever, Bob,' he growled. 'My bride might be willing to wait, but I'm certainly not!'
Leonie smiled at his vehemence, pitying the poor man on the other end of the line for daring to suggest such a thing; it had taken all Hawk's patience to get him to wait this long before marrying her. He had come to her only yesterday and suggested they elope to Las Vegas instead of waiting until tomorrow!
She gently touched his arm. 'What is it?' she prompted as he turned to her sharply.
'Just a minute, Bob,' he snapped tersely to the other man, putting his hand over the mouthpiece. 'He wants me to go over and complete the deal immediately,' Hawk explained impatiently. 'The shareholder who has the balance of power in my favour is seriously ill and not expected to last more than a couple of days, and his son isn't in favour of selling to me.'
'You'll lose the deal,' she frowned.
'It doesn't matter—'
'You'll lose the sale,' she nodded. 'Tell him you'll be there tomorrow.'
'But—'
'Hawk, if I'm going to be a business man's wife then I'd better start acting like one,' Leonie told him firmly. 'From what I can tell you've been planning this business deal for months, so waiting a few extra days for our wedding isn't going to matter.'
Hawk looked rebellious, not liking that idea at all, obviously. Then his face lit up with suppressed excitement; Leonie doubted if he would ever lose complete control. 'Come with me,' he suggested eagerly. 'We could spend a few days in New York finalising the deal and then go on to Las Vegas the way I wanted to.'
It was impetuous, mad, it would completely upset the plans they had already made. 'And then a few days in Los Angeles to see how the Winnie Cooper series is going?' she prompted pertly.
Hawk gave a rueful grimace. 'That has to be part of the deal?'
She shrugged, her eyes glowing mischievously. 'It seems a pity to go all that way and not pop into the television studio.'
'Los Angeles isn't just around the corner from Nevada, you know,' he said dryly. 'Oh, all right,' he gave in as she looked disappointed. 'Calm down, Bob,' he ordered the other man as he went back on the line. 'My fiancée thinks she'd like to be married in Las Vegas.' He winked at her as she gave an outraged gasp. 'I don't blame her for that,' he answered a remark the other man made in return.
'Blame me for what?' Leonie demanded in a whisper.
Hawk put his hand over the mouthpiece once again. 'Not wanting to let me out of your sight long enough for me to change my mind about the wedding,' he revealed with a challenging glint in his eyes.
Leonie glared at him as he returned to his conversation with the chairman of Alton Hotels. They both knew very well that he would never change his mind about marrying her!
Going to America with him was madness. It wasn't as if their wedding couldn't have waited another week or so, she couldn't even be a proper wife to him yet because of—Oh, goodness!
She pulled on the sleeve of Hawk's jacket. 'We forgot all about Holly,' she burst out at his frowning look.
'We'll take her with us,' he decided instantly. 'No, Bob,' he drawled as the other man heard his half of the conversation, 'not my mother-in-law! We were just deciding to bring our month-old daughter with us,' he explained.
And make of that what you will, Bob Norman, Leonie thought with a groan.
'Thanks,' Hawk accepted the other man's obvious congratulations. 'We're rather pleased about it too.'
Maybe she was the only one who found it odd that she was marrying the father of her child when that child was already five weeks old! Everyone else seemed to think it was perfectly normal.
And only Hawk could have so calmly suggested they take along a month-old baby on such a trip. He could have no idea of all it would entail, the special arrangements they would have to make taking such a young baby with them. But of course he did, she remonstrated with herself, he had already been the father of a baby before. Well, if he thought they could cope with it, why not?
Hawk was just bringing his call to an end when Sarah came quietly into the room with Holly, quite capably feeding her the bottle she held.
'I'm so sorry,' Leonie closed her eyes apologetically, 'I completely forgot!'
'Don't worry about it,' Sarah assured her with a smile. 'My brother has two kids that I've practised on a little. I guessed you must have been tied up,' she shrugged dismissively.
'Ah, Sarah.' Hawk turned to her briskly, his telephone conversation over. 'Don't worry about that.' He took Holly into his own arms, feeding her absently. 'Phone the airline and get two seats booked to New York for tomorrow.' He looked down at the baby he held. 'Oh, and include an infant in that booking,' he added with satisfaction. 'Leonie and I are going over to complete the Alton Hotel deal.'
Sarah looked up from her shorthand pad. 'Just the two seats?' she arched blonde brows.
He grinned. 'Well, I think Holly is a little young to need a seat of her own just yet!'
'No, I meant—'
'I know what you meant,' he smiled. 'But you and Jake might as well stay here, I can meet up with the lawyers in New York. Come on, Leonie, we'd better go and tell Hal and Laura about our change of plans,' he told her briskly, striding from the room with Holly still held in his arms, feeding her with an ease born of habit.
Leonie shot Sarah a rueful grimace before following Hawk from the room.
No announcement was made of their own wedding plans after all, but Leonie knew that no one at the reception could be in any doubt of Hawk's proprietorial claim to her as he continued to feed Holly in front of everyone, maintaining that hold on his daughter even when she had fallen asleep after all the excitement of the day. Not that it mattered what anyone thought; Leonie would be Mrs Henry Hawker Sinclair the Second by the time she returned from America. That title was going to take some living up to.
Hal's idea had been a good one. The four of them relaxed together over a candlelit dinner before Hal and Laura left the next day for their honeymoon and he and Leonie left for the States.
Leonie had protested that the newly married couple should be alone on their first evening as husband and wife, but Hal and Laura had been adamant that they join them for this private celebration now that they weren't going to be present at their wedding after all.
Hawk was glad they had insisted; he had never seen Leonie as relaxed as she was tonight. She finally seemed to have come to terms with the fact that they were a couple, that nothing was ever going to part them again. That didn't include loving him, but seeing her almost as sparkling and carefree as she had been the first time he met her was reward enough for him at the moment.
This time alone with her and Holly in the States was going to—'Oh, my God!' he groaned suddenly, and three pairs of eyes turned to him anxiously. 'Holly doesn't have a passport,' he said frantically. 'And—'
'Calm down!' Leonie patted his hand just as if he were an over-anxious little boy. 'Holly is on my passport; Laura and I intended taking a trip over to the States ourselves next month at the invitation of the television studio.'
Hawk had forgotten all about that promotional visit his executives had planned for the Brandon sisters. Hell, he had forgotten everything lately except this temptress whose hand still touched his.
Hal chuckled softly. 'I wish the two of you had got t
ogether sooner,' he grinned. 'I think I like seeing my always-in-control father in a panic.'
He realised it was probably a condition he was going to have to become accustomed to now that he had Leonie permanently in his life; as he had known, boredom was not going to be a problem with Leonie as his wife.
'Very funny,' he drawled, meeting Hal's amused gaze. 'Might I remind you that this little witch's twin is now your wife!'
He listened appreciatively to the husky sound of Leonie's laugh, wanting her new relaxation around him to go on for ever.
But all too quickly the evening had to end, and he and Leonie shared a smile of silent amusement at Hal's over-acted displays of tiredness. Hell, he wouldn't even have bothered with the act if he and Leonie had been married today; he would have spent the entire evening in bed with her sharing the delights they could have together. Only another week or so and Leonie would be able to know all the pleasure he wanted to give her. He hoped she realised they weren't going to remain celibate until then!
Hal and Laura excused themselves as soon as they entered the house and he and Leonie once again shared a smile of complete understanding, although Hawk sobered slightly as the bedroom door closed upstairs seconds later followed by complete silence.
He gave a start of surprise as a tiny hand crept into his, looking down at Leonie as she gazed back up at him.
'I understand, Hawk,' she said softly.
And he knew she did, that she had known he had just realised the loss of his son, that Hal was completely a man now, with the responsibility of his own wife.
He gave a rueful smile. 'Let's think of it as: I've gained a daughter and you've gained a brother.'
'Let's,' she agreed encouragingly.
June stood up as they entered the lounge together. 'Did you have a nice evening?' she greeted warmly.
One thing about June Gaynor, when she forgave and forgot, she did just that. The other woman had completely accepted Hawk's new role as Leonie's husband-to-be, and was starting to treat him with the same clucking concern as she did the two sisters.
'Very nice,' Leonie was the one to answer her. 'Has Holly behaved?'
'She's been a little restless since I gave her her bottle an hour ago,' June frowned. 'So I should leave it a few more minutes before you go in to check on her.'
Leonie faced Hawk nervously across the lounge once the housekeeper had gone up to her bedroom, the ease they had known with each other all evening completely gone. And he suddenly knew why; Leonie was unsure about whether or not he intended kissing her goodnight!
His gaze dropped to her lips; just the way her top lip was fuller than the bottom was enough to arouse him. Oh God, how he wanted to kiss her, but not goodnight!
The last few days had been full of frantic activity as they prepared not only for Hal's and Laura's wedding but for their own, and there hadn't been a lot of time for them to be alone together. Consequently their contact had been brief too, the merest brushing of his lips against hers, which she seemed only to tolerate. Now they had the chance to be alone for more than a few minutes, and how he wanted to make full use of them!
Leonie's hands moved nervously together. 'I suppose I should go up and make a start on my packing for tomorrow. I didn't realise there'd be quite so much to do, and—'
'Leonie,' he gruffly cut off her nervous speech, standing so close to her he felt as if he were drowning in the sweetness of her perfume. 'Leonie, let me love you,' he encouraged intensely.
Let him love her. She knew he meant physically, and for that she was glad; allowing him to love her in any other way was something she was still frightened of.
But Hawk hadn't touched her in an intimate way since she had realised she was falling in love with him, and she had no idea how she would react in his arms now that she knew she loved him so deeply.
He had been a tower of strength to her for the last three days, always there to help when she needed him. She had even allowed him to proofread the work she had finally been able to do on the Winnie Cooper book everyone was waiting so anxiously for, something she and Laura had never allowed before a book was completed before. She still smiled when she remembered Hawk's admission to having become a Winnie Cooper fan! So much for those 'fourth-rate detective novels' he had once spoken of so scathingly.
If he touched her now was she going to go up in flames? Soon he was going to have the right to touch her whenever he chose to, and she wasn't going to be able to hide her feelings then. Nevertheless, she baulked at having her emotions laid bare.
'Please, Leonie,' he urged huskily as he saw her hesitation.
Hawk wasn't a man who begged for anything; he had known the full power of being Henry Hawker Sinclair the Second too long for that. And yet he felt no qualms about pleading with her, of showing her just how vulnerable he was where she was concerned. She owed their relationship the same honesty, at least.
'I'd like that,' she told him breathlessly, and was rewarded with the sudden blaze of desire that burned brightly in his eyes.
His mouth was gentle against hers, his hands on her shoulders drawing her against the hardness of his chest. Her lips parted beneath his, her senses leaping at the hard probe of his warm tongue, engaging in the duel he seemed to want, her breath catching in her throat as she felt the caress of his hand as it moved ever closer to the throbbing peak that instantly knew the touch of its master.
The silky material of her dress was no barrier to his questing hand; he pushed the material aside as he bent his head to draw the pulsing nub into the warm caress of his mouth.
Watching him was an eroticism in itself, long dark lashes fanning his flushed cheeks as he took the fullness of her breast in his mouth. Her breathing became ragged as she suddenly found herself looking straight into his darkened eyes, the raw desire there making her tremble anew.
He watched her as his tongue laved the dusky-rose tip of her breast, drawing it into his mouth before slowly caressing it once more with the tip of his tongue.
Her heart was leaping, her pulse racing, her whole body shaking with a need that evoked a burning ache between her thighs. She could feel herself already moist there, and felt feverish, crying out as Hawk transferred his attention to the other nipple while his fingers tugged against the aching hardness of the other.
Her hand moved up of its own volition, cradling his nape as she held him against her, pressing him into her, shuddering uncontrollably as he eagerly accepted the invitation, using his teeth too now as he caressed the nipple that needed his loving so badly.
Leonie needed his loving badly, she acknowledged that, knowing only wonder and beauty in Hawk's arms, needing more than they could share here.
'Let's go to my room,' she gasped as his hand played over the flatness of her stomach to curve over the mound that ached so badly for his touch. 'Hawk, I'm going to explode if you don't soon love me completely!' she cried out her desperation.
He slowly released her. Leonie felt faint with a hunger of her own; she was shaking so badly she wasn't sure she would be able to make it up to her bedroom.
'Hawk,' she looked up at him with big green eyes, 'are you going to let me love you tonight?'
He became suddenly still, his eyes fevered at the images her words projected. 'If it's what you want,' he answered gruffly. 'But only if it's what you want,' he added tensely.
She had felt his desire throbbing against her as he made love to her, vividly remembered the feel of him, the steel encased in velvet, and she wanted more than anything to give him the same pleasure he gave to her so unselfishly.
'More than anything,' she confirmed shakily. 'But you'll have to teach me, show me what you like—'
'Teach you?' he repeated softly, very still.
She nodded. 'Hawk, I know I'm not technically a virgin; I couldn't possibly make that claim when I've been married and have a child,' she acknowledged ruefully. 'But the only pleasure I've ever known was with you, the only pleasure I've ever wanted to bestow has been with you. I want so much to p
lease you, Hawk,' she added huskily. 'But I'm afraid I won't know how!'
His arms went about her as he pressed her face against his chest. 'Just being with you pleases me,' he told her gruffly.
She shook her head. 'I want to make love to you.'
He trembled. 'You will, Leonie,' he assured her shakily.
She looked up at him with pleading eyes. 'You'll help me?'
Hawk released his breath raggedly. 'I'll help you,' he agreed. 'Although just thinking about it's driving me insane!'
She smoothed his hair back from his brow. 'It makes me feel hot and weak,' she said softly.
'That too,' he acknowledged with a tiny shudder.
They stared at each other for long timeless minutes, their eyes saying all that needed to be said. Finally Hawk was the one to break the tension, putting his arm about her shoulders as they went slowly up the stairs.
'I'll go and check on Holly,' Leonie said softly as they reached the nursery door.
Hawk smiled. 'I'll come with you. I'm finding it's one of my greatest pleasures just standing over her cot watching her sleep.'
Leonie eyed him pertly. 'And here was I convinced I was one of your greatest pleasures!'
His mouth quirked. 'You're the ultimate pleasure!'
Her cheeks were burning as she entered the nursery, her bravado leaving her as she shyly avoided Hawk's teasing gaze.
Then her shyness turned to panic as she moved to Holly's cot and found it empty!
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Leonie turned frantically back to Hawk. 'What—'
'Now calm down,' he told her firmly. 'Maybe she woke up and June or Laura took her in with them as we were still downstairs.'
She pushed past him out of the room, knocking sharply on June's door and walking in before she had time to receive an answer, her face ashen as she backed back out of the room, knocking on Laura's and Hal's door this time, waiting slightly longer than she had outside June's room, then going in as she heard the murmurs of muffled surprise inside the room. Laura and Hal stared back at her from their bed just as dazedly as June had from hers seconds earlier.
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