Well done, Sinclair, groaned Hawk, you just blew it again!
* * *
Leonie bent over Holly as she lay sleeping in her cot, just watching her daughter for the sheer joy of it, letting all the tension of the morning drain out of her.
It was obvious what Hawk had been implying just now, the assumption he had made about her having lunch with Stephen.
But she shouldn’t have reacted so emotionally; the tears were wet on her cheeks even now. She didn’t like to cry, she never had; she had found it to be a complete waste of time and energy, solving nothing. But Hawk had made her cry just now, with his mistrust of her.
She was coming to care for him. In spite of herself she was falling in love with Hawk Sinclair!
* * *
He had known he would find her here; he had instantly realised she would seek peace with their daughter.
She was so lovely as she bent over Holly’s cot, her strength and beauty having returned to her almost completely during the last few days, erasing the frail waif he had looked at when he returned to claim her for his own. He didn’t fool himself that her recovery had anything to do with him; he knew that it was her love for Holly that had given her the will to regain her strength.
Tears glittered on her cheeks, and he knew he was responsible for those, had made her cry with his unwarranted suspicions. Of course Leonie wasn’t interested in Stephen, she wasn’t even interested in him, despite agreeing to marry him.
‘Leonie,’ he called to her softly, full of self-disgust when she gave a nervous start.
Her eyes were full of apprehension again, and—and fear. My God, he thought—yes, she feared him!
He gave a choked groan, crossing the room in long strides, enfolding her in his arms as she straightened warily. ‘I am jealous,’ he acknowledged gruffly. ‘I’m a jealous fool. Forgive me!’ His arms tightened about her.
‘It wasn’t just you,’ she admitted with a sniffle against his chest. ‘I—The morning was a disaster, and then Stephen came along and cheered me up, and—’
‘Then I came along and acted like an idiot because you’d had lunch with him and not me,’ he said wearily. ‘How are you going to like having a fool for a husband?’ he added dryly.
He achieved his objective as she gave a watery smile. ‘You aren’t a fool, and you know it,’ she reproved.
He grimaced. ‘Not from anything I’ve done lately, I don’t.’
‘Turn around,’ she encouraged softly, and the two of them looked down at Holly. ‘We must have done something right nine months ago,’ she said huskily.
The daughter he loved. And the woman he was coming to love to the point of insanity! How else could he explain his uncharacteristic jealousy and possessiveness?
As soon as Leonie was well enough they were going to do that ‘something right’ again, and they were going to go on doing it for the rest of their lives!
Hawk kept his arm about her waist as they left the nursery, reluctant to let her go when, for once, she wasn’t trying to free herself from his touch. And he didn’t want to go downstairs either. Hal and Laura were out in the garden together, Sarah and Jake busy working in the study. He wanted the moment of closeness to continue.
‘Hawk, there’s something I need to talk to you about.’ Leonie looked up at him with a frown. ‘Privately,’ she added earnestly. ‘Let’s go into my bedroom.’ She opened the door.
He had never been invited into a woman’s bedroom just to talk before, but then the whole of his relationship with Leonie was unique, always had been. Always would be. He had absolutely no doubts about that.
He felt a moment’s regret as she moved away from him, but knowing her need to get away was because she had just realised she had let him get too close.
That was all right—she had agreed to marry him, they had the rest of their lives together for her to get used to him touching her. He just prayed it wouldn’t take that long!
Yesterday, loving her, touching her, he had almost gone out of his mind, had lain awake most of the night with an ache in his body only this red-haired sprite could satisfy. He had heard her go in to Holly just after three o’clock this morning, and longed to be with both of them, but he had kept to the promise he had made her. The hours until morning had seemed never-ending. As soon as Hal and Laura were safely married he and Leonie were quickly going to follow their example; at least then he could share Leonie’s bed, even if she wasn’t ready for anything else!
At the moment she looked uncomfortable just having him in her bedroom, glancing nervously at the bed, as if the intimacy they had shared there was suddenly too vivid in her mind. Good—he never wanted her to forget the beauty they had known together.
Leonie twisted her hands together nervously. ‘Stephen said something at lunch that I think you may be interested in,’ she frowned. ‘It seems he’s dropped out of college,’ she revealed concernedly.
Hawk was interested, very much so. No wonder Jake was walking around like a bear with a sore head believing himself to be a complete failure. ‘What the hell did he do that for?’ he asked impatiently, running a hand through the thickness of his hair.
Leonie shrugged. ‘He said he’d had enough.’
Hawk sighed. ‘Jake had such plans for him—Why the hell didn’t he discuss this with me?’ he burst out irritably. ‘Maybe I could have helped.’
‘Jake or Stephen?’ she probed gently.
‘Both,’ he bit out. ‘Jake obviously feels this is a reflection on his parenthood, Stephen believes leaving college has all the answers. Both of them are wrong.’
She gave a sympathetic smile. ‘I know that Jake and Stephen are like family to you, but—’
‘They wouldn’t appreciate my interference,’ he acknowledged dryly. ‘Stephen’s made his decision, I don’t suppose there’s anything I could say to him to get him to change his mind…? No, I thought not,’ he sighed as Leonie shook her head. ‘Then maybe I can help Jake see that this isn’t the end for Stephen, that he can change his mind back again and still go to law-school like Jake wants. The two of them are heading for a complete rift in their relationship if someone doesn’t make one of them see sense,’ he scowled. ‘Having almost made the same mistake myself I can assure Jake it isn’t worth it!’
‘Stephen seemed very adamant that he wouldn’t be going back,’ Leonie frowned.
Hawk nodded abruptly. ‘We’re always so sure we know what we want at that age. Jake just has to give Stephen time to realise he can’t drift for the rest of his life. Thanks for telling me all this,’ he said gratefully. ‘Maybe I can even persuade Jake that he isn’t the one who needs to change his life—Stephen is,’ he added ruefully. ‘Hell, changing his job isn’t going to alter anything.’
‘I hope you can help.’
It was a long time since Hawk had confided any of his problems with a woman. It felt good. Real good.
‘Thank you kindly, ma’am,’ he affected the Texan drawl that had faded from his accent years ago, tipping an imaginary hat, and was rewarded for his efforts when Leonie gave a girlish giggle.
She bobbed a curtsey. ‘You’re very welcome, sir,’ she returned mischievously.
He might have been acting like a fool lately, but he wasn’t going to be one any more today, so he left her while the shared warmth still existed between them, a smile still curving his lips as he made his way slowly down the stairs.
He sobered somewhat as he entered the study in search of Jake. Sarah sat alone in the room, looking up with a smile.
‘Jake?’ he prompted without preamble.
‘In the kitchen, I think,’ Sarah said lightly. ‘There’ve been several telephone calls for you while you were at lunch—’
‘They can wait,’ he dismissed; the damn phone had been ringing night and day since the word had got out that he had set up his headquarters here. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with any of it right now.
Jake had obviously just finished his lunch, and was sitting across the kitchen table f
rom June, the two of them looking very self-conscious as he walked unannounced into the room. June blushed as she stood up to clear away, while Jake scowled at him for the interruption. Maybe the idea of Jake being attracted to this woman wasn’t far wrong after all!
‘I need to talk to you, Jake.’ Hawk shot June an apologetic smile. The housekeeper was polite enough to him, but she still didn’t seem to like him. It could make things a little awkward around here when he moved in permanently—as Leonie’s husband.
‘If it’s about the Alton Hotels—’
‘It isn’t,’ he cut him off softly. ‘It’s personal. Very personal.’
Jake frowned, his expression clearing as he gave an agreeing nod of his head. ‘Let’s go into the lounge. Thanks for the lunch, June,’ he smiled at her warmly.
The blush that still coloured her cheeks made her look almost girlish. ‘You’re very welcome,’ she murmured huskily.
Hawk grimaced ruefully to himself as he and Jake went into the lounge; June served his meals as if she wished she dared add a touch of arsenic to them! He wasn’t conceited enough to think that every woman he met had to be attracted to him, but he couldn’t remember ever encountering this veiled dislike from a woman before. The problem would have to be settled once he and Leonie were married; he refused to be treated like an interloper in his own home.
Jake turned to him, the sun shining in the window behind him outlining the bulk of his body. ‘She told you, then,’ he said with some relief.
Hawk frowned. ‘Who?’
‘Leonie,’ Jake supplied impatiently.
Now how the hell had he known—? Maybe Stephen had been to the kitchen and spoken to his father since his return? What the hell, it was all out in the open now, maybe they could deal with the problem.
‘Yes, she told me,’ he nodded. ‘I’m just glad somebody did.’
Jake frowned. ‘I know I should have come to you, but—’
‘You don’t owe me any explanations, Jake,’ Hawk cut in softly. ‘I have to admit I was a little disappointed you didn’t feel you could confide in me, but that was your decision,’ he shrugged.
‘And Leonie’s,’ rasped Jake.
‘She only found out just now—’
‘Is that what she told you?’ his friend sighed heavily. ‘The little fool!’
Anger burned within him. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ he snapped.
Jake shrugged. ‘Leonie has known about him for a lot longer than that. I warned her yesterday, but she has some ridiculous idea that she can handle him.’ He gave a scathing snort. ‘If you could have seen the way he looked at Holly…!’ He shook his head.
Hawk had the feeling that some of this conversation had been lost on him. Jake made it sound as if Stephen were some sort of threat to Leonie and Holly, and that he couldn’t believe.
‘Did Leonie tell you he was at the hotel the night you took her there for dinner?’ Jake’s eyes were narrowed. ‘That it’s only a matter of time before he realises you’re Holly’s father and tries to cash in on the fact?’
‘Stephen?’ said Hawk disbelievingly.
Jake scowled. ‘What the hell does he have to do with this?’ He was suddenly very tense.
‘I’m not sure.’ Hawk shook his head dazedly. ‘I wanted to talk to you about the fact that you’re upset because Stephen has dropped out of school, and you—’
‘That’s what Leonie told you?’ Jake groaned raggedly.
‘Yes,’ Hawk gave a puzzled frown. ‘What did you think I was talking about?’
The other man drew in a harsh breath. ‘I don’t know. I—er—’
‘Yes?’ prompted Hawk warily as Jake became suddenly evasive.
‘Maybe you’d better go back and talk to Leonie some more,’ he grimaced.
Hawk shook his head slowly. ‘Why don’t you talk to me, Jake?’ he asked softly. ‘Who exactly was it that was at the hotel that night?’ His eyes were narrowed to icy slits.
Jake groaned. ‘Leonie’s going to kill me for opening my big mouth!’
‘Not as painfully as I am if you don’t open it again,’ warned Hawk softly.
Jake’s expression darkened. ‘I’m going to tell you because I think you have a right to know, not because of any threats you might make,’ he said. ‘Spencer,’ he bit out. ‘Michael Spencer saw the two of you together that night at the hotel. He came to the house yesterday—’
‘Here?’ Hawk ground out disbelievingly; why the hell hadn’t Leonie told him that bastard had been creeping about the place?
Jake nodded. ‘I saw the two of them talking together in the garden. Leonie seemed—upset, so I went out to make sure she was okay. He seemed to be threatening her in some way, so I warned him off. Then he picked Holly up—Calm down, Hawk,’ he advised softly as a murderous gleam flared in Hawk’s eyes. ‘He put her into my arms—but not before he’d made a couple of veiled threats concerning Holly and Leonie. I—’
‘Why the hell didn’t you tell me?’ Hawk attacked. ‘He’s the sort of man who likes inflicting pain on a woman!’
And Spencer had been right here, within his grasp! God, what he wouldn’t have given to have had his hands on him!
The ‘friend’ Leonie had been meeting in town for lunch today, the one who had ‘let her down’! Why the hell would she have been meeting Spencer? And yet he knew, somehow he just knew, that was who she had gone to Claymont to see.
‘I could see that,’ sighed Jake. ‘I wanted to come to you straight away, but—well, Leonie wanted to tell you herself.’ He grimaced.
She hadn’t mentioned her ex-husband to him, had preferred to meet the other man in secret instead. Why?
‘If anything had happened to her—’
‘I know,’ Jake said wearily. ‘But she was so adamant about wanting to tell you herself. And—well, she can be damned persuasive,’ he added defensively.
‘When it comes to her and Holly’s welfare you’d do well to remember that you owe your first loyalty to me,’ Hawk bit out coldly, turning towards the door.
‘Where are you going?’
He gave an angry sigh. ‘Back to Leonie to get the full story,’ he rasped. ‘Don’t ever let me down in that way again, Jake,’ he warned softly. ‘I’ll talk to you about Stephen again later.’
Jake stiffened. ‘There’s nothing to talk about.’
‘We’ll see,’ said Hawk softly, closing the door behind him with forceful anger.
Why hadn’t Leonie told him about Spencer’s visit? She didn’t still care for the bastard, did she? He knew she didn’t love him, and there were some women who continued to love a man no matter how cruel he might have been to them. He wouldn’t have believed that of Leonie, but she had never actually said she hated the man who had once been her husband, despite all that he had done to her!
* * *
Hawk’s conversation with Jake didn’t appear to have gone well, Leonie realised as he strode purposefully across the lawn to where she sat with Laura and Hal, his expression thunderous.
She picked up the jug of iced lemonade that stood on the table in front of her. ‘Would you like some—’
‘I want to talk to you. Now. Alone,’ he grated coldly.
Hal made a protective movement. ‘Dad—’
‘Stay out of this, Hal,’ Hawk ordered harshly. ‘Leonie and I need to have a little talk about her first husband,’ he added gratingly.
Leonie gave him a startled look, her hand shaking badly as she carefully replaced the jug on the table. Surely Jake hadn’t—
‘First husband,’ Laura repeated frowningly, a sudden glow in her eyes as she looked at them excitedly. ‘Does that mean the two of you—’
‘No—’
‘Yes!’ Hawk spoke gratingly over her denial, taking a firm grasp of Leonie’s arms. ‘There aren’t going to be any more secrets, Leonie,’ he told her softly. ‘None at all. You understand?’ he prompted in a controlled voice.
She understood only too well; she knew that he would demand the
whole truth from her now. And that was something she hadn’t told anyone, not even Laura.
She nodded. ‘Let’s go into the house.’
Hal eyed his father aggressively as he spoke to Leonie. ‘Are you sure that’s what you want to do?’
‘Hal, I asked you to stay out of this,’ Hawk reminded him, dangerously soft. ‘This is between Leonie and me.’
‘But—’
‘He’s right, Hal.’ Leonie put a reassuring hand on his arm, touched that he cared for her enough to want to defend her against his father.
‘But if the two of you are getting married—’
‘We’ll talk to you about that later,’ Hawk cut in decisively. ‘Let’s go inside,’ he added, keeping a firm hold on her arm as he walked at her side.
She flinched a little as they faced each other across the lounge. She had seen Hawk angry before, furiously so, but that anger had never been turned directly on her before, his disapproval over Laura and Hal always taking precedence. But right now his anger was focused directly on her, and it was a daunting thing.
‘You might well look guilty!’ he rasped suddenly. ‘Just when were you going to get around to telling me you still have assignations with your ex-husband?’
Leonie gasped at the injustice of the accusation. ‘That’s a lie!’
Hawk’s mouth twisted. ‘You met him today, didn’t you?’ His eyes were narrowed.
Her face paled. ‘Stephen…?’
‘Stephen told me nothing,’ Hawk snapped. ‘He didn’t need to, I was able to guess that all on my own. After Jake told me Spencer was at the hotel that night we went there for dinner, and that he also came here yesterday morning!’ He glared at her angrily.
‘I was going to tell you—’
‘When?’ he scorned.
‘When I felt the time was right,’ she flared.
‘And just when was that going to be?’ he challenged. ‘You’ve known almost forty-eight hours that Spencer was in the area!’
‘Michael is my responsibility—’
‘Not when he threatens you and our daughter he isn’t,’ challenged Hawk.
Just One Night (Presents Plus) Page 16